A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
Prompts: vagrants, testimonies, free, resolute.
Thingol frowned from his throne. "And who are these vagrants for whom you speak?"
Finrod spoke persuasively for nearly half a day, giving testimonies to the resolute Secondborns' opposition to the Enemy. Every time Thingol sought to cut him off, Melian gestured and Thingol subsided. At last Thingol looked at Melian, and she nodded. "Very well, cousin. They may live in Estolad," he said. "Let the Fëanorions look to them."
Galadriel mind-spoke to Finrod from her spot behind a carved tree. "He offers land over which he has already lost control."
Finrod nodded, answering both. "Yet they will be free."