Súlimëo Quentar: March Stories by Elleth

Safe Haven

Phazganôn, son of Pharazôn and governor of Pelargir, has a secret name that is not altogether secret.

(Grisly subjects, though nothing graphic. AU.)

Phazganôn has a secret name that is not altogether secret.

"Amandur," his people hail him when he buys bread on the Pelargir market, or come crying at some minor injustice, for even the Faithful, law-abiding as they are, are subject to the whims of mortal men. He does his best to bring their wrongs to right, lower the crippling taxes that his father imposes from across the sea, works with the councils to deceive in records: Sixteen Faithful to the flames, he writes.

His father begins to question the smooth sailing after a time, desiring proof, but the Zigûr will not let him leave to Pelargir; instead he sends some high lord of the court. Amandur becomes Phazganôn then, donning Adûnaic robes and titles, and Melissë the draper, his betrothed, is forcibly called Izrê. Her glares at Lord Ûrêbalak would melt a glacier, but her saving grace is that she's fair, and a foothold with the Faithful, to better undermine them – or that is what they say. She is not there by force at all.

Ûrêbalak stays months, indulges in Umbari luxuries, drinks wine laced with herbs that make him easily susceptible to lies, and others that will make him tired, enough to be convinced that this climate means him ill, but that Phazganôn is working well – there are Faithful prisoners aplenty in the dungeons, quailing (though unbeknownst, they are fed well, their families are reimbursed for trouble, and the captives may walk free at night), and at the time the twentieth is caught for some minor disobedience, he gloats about the burning a week hence. A great fire it shall be, all honour Mulkhêr. Amandur appears to be chewing lemons by the faces that he pulls, but only behind closed doors, and arranges for ships to depart just-so with the first set of missives homeward-bound to calm the thoughts that wing his way from Númenor, although it costs him dearly. It is the price to pay to match his father's guile.

A day before the burning, Ûrêbalak takes ill with a sudden, crippling fever, and dies the next night, while flames of the supposed sacrifice dance red before his sickroom windows. His last word and testament again praise Phazganôn's work and curse the darkness coming onto him. Melissë supplies the shrouds and funeral cloths – a long time ready, made in secret - and (so Phazganôn's letter says) Ûrêbalak is embalmed and put to rest with pomp befitting any of the Adûnâim, in mock-faith to the Zigûr's preaching. After all, there is good hope that he will not need to sleep for long, and, having risen experience not only the burning of all Faithful, but of Amatthâni proper. Phazganôn is certain that will please his father. Pharazôn is many things more than guileful – predictable in his hatred one of them.

Pelargir, for a time, is a safe haven once more; the Faithful go free again. The human ash that Phazganôn encloses in his letters is not theirs. With love, he signs his reports, knowing his mother at least will read them as they are intended.

Chapter End Notes

Amandur: Quenya for 'Aman-servant'
Phazganôn: 'Conquerer', tentatively, in Adûnaic
Melissë/Izrê: Quenya and Adûnaic for the same meaning, 'beloved'
Ûrêbalak: Adûnaic for 'Sun-vessel'
the Zigûr: The Adûnaic moniker for Sauron, meaning 'wizard'
Amatthâni: Adûnaic name for 'Aman'.

Written for the following prompts:

B15: Economy: Taxation; Landscapes: Glacier
G50: AU card: In 3285, Ar-Pharazôn installs his son and heir as governor of Pelargir among the Faithful...; In a Manner of Speaking: Silent as the grave; Occupations: Draper; Skills: Weaving