41: Trees and Thrones

Others came to Manwë to speak in private as well. At Eönwë’s plea, Námo accompanied the Máya to an audience that took place in an inner courtyard of Ilmarin, as the mansion on Taniquetil was being called. It was still under construction but this particular courtyard was somewhat private and Manwë had ordered others to stay away.

Eönwë was nervous, not sure how his lord would react to his request. He had confided in Námo and knew the Ayanuz would support him. When the three were alone, Manwë waited for the Máya to speak.

"It is this, lord," Eönwë said. "I was given a... a mandate from Atar just before the war."

Manwë gave him a surprised look and turned to Námo, who nodded in confirmation. "Go on," he instructed the Máya.

"As you know, I remember everything that is told to me. I never understood why I had such a... a gift, but Atar has since told me that I will be responsible for recording the oaths of the Children when they finally awaken." He had already decided not to mention the other oaths he was required to record to anyone; only Lord Námo knew about that part.

Manwë did not speak, merely nodded encouragingly and Eönwë continued. "I need a room, lord, here in Ilmarin, a room where I can keep a record of the oaths given. It needs to be a private room to which only I have access."

Manwë frowned slightly at that and Námo decided to speak. "The record of the oaths will be available to the Ayanumuz at need, Manwë, but the Máyar should have no access to it. I do not think Eönwë’s request is unreasonable under the circumstances."

"Oh, I agree," Manwë said. "I was simply thinking where we can construct this room for you, Eönwë. Perhaps somewhere along the eastern wall where it looks out upon the ocean."

"Actually, I would prefer the room have no windows, lord. An inner room would work best."

"As you will. Go to Aulë and tell him your requirements. He will see that you are given whatever you need."

Eönwë bowed to Manwë and gave Námo a grateful smile before departing. Manwë gave his fellow Ayanuz a considering look. "And what do you have to request from me?"

Námo smiled. "Not a request as such," he said. "It’s more a... suggestion."

"And what are you suggesting?"

Now Námo looked pensive. "I do not understand why, but I keep getting images of a place just outside of our city, to the west of it actually, of a great green mound and then beyond it fourteen thrones encircling a grassy field. I have had these images come to me for some time but their import is hidden from me."

"Hmm...." Manwë said, looking thoughtful. "This mound that you saw... was there anything on it?"

Námo shook his head. "Yet I deem it of great importance to us."

"Then at the next council meeting let us discuss your... vision, for lack of another word, and see what the others have to say. What do you think is the significance of the thrones?"

Námo shrugged. "I am not sure, but whenever I see them in my mind’s eye, one word comes to mind — judgment."

Manwë raised an eyebrow at that, looking thoughtful.

****

The matter of Námo’s vision of the mound and thrones was brought to the attention of the other Ayanumuz shortly thereafter. Yavanna was complaining that the light they had managed to salvage was insufficient to allow her plants and animals to flourish. "I need more light and heat," she said. "Why can we not construct other Lamps for our purpose?"

Aulë shook his head. "I fear the Lamps proved too vulnerable to attack. In that we were rather foolish and naive. If we are to construct anything it should be smaller, easier to guard."

Yavanna looked thoughtful. "I suppose I could come up with something more... organic for our needs."

Námo looked at Manwë, his expression one of surprise as he felt the revelation of Yavanna’s words hit home. Manwë, understanding what Námo was feeling, nodded back. "Perhaps you can... plant something," he suggested, keeping the smile that threatened to break free hidden.

Yavanna’s eyes lit up. "Trees! I could plant trees that give off light and heat, but they would have to be situated high up for the best effect."

"A mound, then," Manwë said, giving Námo a surreptitious smile. Námo’s own eyes brightened though his expression remained politely impassive, as if the discussion of light-bearing trees was only mildly interesting. "We can construct an artificial mound. I think somewhere outside the city, to the west, perhaps, where the plain opens up more."

Yavanna thought for a moment and then nodded, a pleased smile brightening her face. "I think that would be perfect. Thank you."

Manwë merely nodded. Námo was hard pressed not to start laughing, but then the image of the thrones intruded and he sobered immediately. Turning to his fellow Ayanumuz he cleared his throat. "There is something else that needs consideration."

They all gave him his attention. Námo gave Manwë a glance and the Eldest nodded encouragingly.

"Yes, well... I have been having these... um... visions lately of fourteen thrones set in a circle upon a grassy field. I do not understand why but I think it important that we consider constructing them and...." — here he looked at Yavanna, giving her a smile — "I have seen the mound Manwë has suggested we build and the thrones lie just beyond them."

Some of the others looked at Námo with various degrees of surprise mingled with disbelief, though a few nodded, knowing that Námo’s visions did not occur for no reason. Varda was the first to speak. "I have reason to trust Námo’s visions, even if their import is unknown. Let us, then, build the mound for Yavanna and the thrones as Námo has seen them. In time, I am sure, Atar will reveal their purpose to us."

No one could advance an argument not to do as Varda suggested and so plans were made to construct the mound to Yavanna’s specifications and each of them began to think how they wished to have their throne built. If the Máyar were surprised at the orders given them after the council adjourned, they were wise enough to keep their opinions to themselves.

****

Building the mound proved easy enough, though Yavanna was quite specific as to how and with what materials it was to be constructed. Some of her instructions appeared strange to the others. "I wish for something from each of you," she told her fellow Ayanumuz. "It need not be specially important, but it needs to be meaningful to you."

The others went away to think on it. One by one they came to her with their gifts, often looking embarrassed, but Yavanna only smiled and thanked them warmly. Most of the gifts held no real value — Ulmo gave her a perfectly formed spiral seashell while Varda offered a lock of her hair, saying that Manwë thought it her best feature.

Manwë’s own gift was, surprisingly, a dead nermir. "I found it on the planet where Námo and Vairë were held captive by Melkor," he told her. "I felt responsible for setting the nermir as a diversion and when this one was killed I kept it preserved as a reminder of the price we must pay for this infernal war against our brother."

Yavanna didn’t say anything but she took the bright-hued creature into her hands and reached up to give Manwë a kiss. "You are full of surprises, my brother," she said.

Aulë gave her one of his smaller star cores. "Blasted thing is just getting in the way," he muttered before going back to the smithy he had had built on the far side of their mansion, not giving her a chance to thank him, though her smile held a promise of ‘rewarding’ him for his sacrifice later.

Nienna showed up at one point with a cut-crystal vial barely the size of her thumb. It was filled with what appeared to be water. "Tears," she explained. "I’ve been collecting them from all who have been wounded in these last wars, just one drop from each person."

Yavanna looked at the vial in awe, knowing full well the price many of their Máyar and even some of the Ayanumuz had paid, and thanked her with a warm embrace.

Oromë came to her with a leaf from one of her trees. The leaf was golden. He gave her an embarrassed look. "I just liked the way it looks," he muttered, shrugging.

She smiled. "So do I," she confided. "Thank you."

Her sister, Vána, brought her a bouquet of wildflowers she had picked, saying their beauty reminded her somewhat of the Timeless Halls, though she couldn’t say exactly why. Yavanna kissed her and said she had created them just because she remembered how much Vána had loved the flowers in Atar’s garden.

Irmo and Estë came together. He brought a bowl of water and she held a beautiful black stone flecked with red, green and blue. "The water is from our oasis on Nasarphelun," Irmo explained, "and the stone is from Dáhanigwishtelgun... the real one." He flashed her a grin and she laughed, giving them both a hug.

Nessa brought her a carving she had made of one of the small fish that swam in Ulmo’s artificial lake. It was quite life-like. When Yavanna asked her why she had carved the fish, Nessa just shrugged. "The piece of wood just seemed to want to be a fish," was her only explanation.

Tulkas thought long and hard about what he could give to Yavanna, despairing that he had anything to give her that would be worth giving. Finally, after much reflection he went to her and told her story after story about his misadventures in the Timeless Halls, stories he had yet to share with anyone else.

"I didn’t want to appear... foolish or anything," he said, blushing, when she asked him why he had never told the others these stories. She had been hard pressed to stop laughing long enough to ask her question.

She smiled gently at him and gave him a kiss and a hug. "You are not foolish, dear heart. Your love of life and your gift of laughter can never make you appear foolish to us. Thank you. I will treasure always that you trusted me enough to share yourself with me in this fashion."

Tulkas ducked his head in embarrassment and she gave him another heartfelt hug.

Námo and Vairë came to her together, holding one another’s hands, both looking somewhat nervous, even tense. "We couldn’t decide what we wanted to give," Námo told her. "Both of us have lost so much because of... of Melkor. I, especially." He stopped, giving Vairë a sad look.

Vairë smiled encouragingly at him before turning to Yavanna. "We decided that the only thing we both had worth giving you was our pain." She then proceeded to tell her about her experiences while being held captive and how she had felt afterward. She spoke in a low emotionless tone, not looking at anything in particular. Námo never let go of her as she spoke. When she finished her narrative Námo started speaking without giving Yavanna a chance to comment. The future Lady of Fruits stared at the two in horror and sympathy. As terrible as Vairë’s account had been to hear, Námo’s was positively heartbreaking. Even so, she had the feeling that he did not tell her everything, not even the worst of it, but she accepted what he was willing to tell her and before he was done she was holding them both in her embrace, rocking them as they started weeping and offering whatever comfort they would accept from her.

"I am so sorry," she finally said through her own tears, "and I am also grateful that you were both willing to confide in me. I will always treasure this moment. Thank you."

For some time after, the three of them sat upon the Mound talking about nothing and everything and when they eventually parted company for a time, the light from Námo’s and Vairë’s eyes shone clearer than before and they appeared calmer and more at ease with themselves than they had been for many long ages.

****

Even as the Ayanumuz were finding appropriate gifts for Yavanna, they were also busy crafting their thrones. Each of them had thought long and hard as to what their particular throne should look like. Unlike the thrones in Ilmarin, which were all the same, these thrones would be unique, with no two quite the same, reflecting in some way the characters of the ones who would sit in them.

The thrones were constructed of single gemstones created by Aulë to the specifications of the others. Manwë decided on a blue gem that Aulë called a sapphire; Varda’s was a diamond. Yavanna chose a green beryl that would one day be called an emerald by the Children, while Aulë himself chose a deep red gem called a ruby.

"It is very powerful," he said, "perhaps the most powerful gem I have ever created. I fear few will have the strength of will to handle it safely."

The other Ayanumuz chose other gems that were not as powerful but still spoke to them: Ulmo’s throne was crafted from a single marilla taken from the depths of the sea, while Nienna carved hers from grey nyéresar. Irmo’s throne was arnasar and Estë’s was a beautiful shade of purple amethyst. Tulkas chose amber wherein one of the strange creatures that had come into being from Melkor’s corruption was forever caught. Nessa’s throne was yellow topaz, Oromë’s was hendufion and Vána’s was a pleasing shade of apple-green laurelaiquaimírë. Surprisingly, Vairë chose a black opal while Námo’s was an orange-red carnelian.

The actual placement of the thrones took some thought. In the end, they set them in the same pattern as their mansions were situated in Valmar, so that Manwë’s and Varda’s thrones faced those of Námo and Vairë, respectively. That meant that Námo had an unobstructed view of the Mound, which they had started calling the Ezellohar, rising above them.

For some reason he could not articulate, Námo carved into the back of his throne a depiction of a sun being eclipsed. When Manwë asked him about it, he shrugged. "I just thought it would look nice, is all."

The others watched as the eclipsed sun took shape and began to think of what they would like to carve into their own thrones. For some, it was easy enough to come up with something. Varda, for instance, carved an eight-pointed star into hers, but Manwë’s throne remained smooth of any carving for a long time, for he could not think of anything appropriate.

"What should we name this place?" Nessa asked once all the thrones were in place. The Máyar were gathered just outside the ring, looking on with great interest as their masters and mistresses sat upon their thrones for the first time. There was silence at Nessa’s question as everyone pondered it.

"Mahananashkad," came a whisper and all turned to see Námo sitting on his carnelian throne, looking grim, "for it will be here that we will speak the dooms that will forever govern Atháraphelun until the Renewing."

For a long moment no one spoke. Then, Manwë nodded, his expression almost as grim as Námo’s. "So be it."

****

Finally, Yavanna announced that she was ready to bring forth her trees and they all gathered around to witness the event. She planted the various objects that the Ayanumuz had given her on the top of the mound. Tulkas’ gift and those of Námo and Vairë she held inside her and when she began to Sing a Song of Power, she incorporated their gifts in it, strengthening the Song with the power of laughter and pain overcome.

As she sang, slowly two tender shoots sprang up and silence reigned across all of Atháraphelun, save for Yavanna’s chanting. The saplings grew apace under her guidance, becoming fair and tall. One had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver and silver light dripped from the flowers that bloomed among his leaves. This tree was the first to come to full stature and flower, casting his silvery light upon them all, dappling them with purple shadows. The second bore leaves of a young green like the new-opened beech; their edges glittering gold. Flowers hung in clusters of yellow flame that spilled golden rain upon the Mound and great warmth and light came from them.

As the Two Trees came to the fullness of their height and bloom, Yavanna ceased her Song and all beheld her creations with awe and wonder.

"What shall you name them, sister?" Manwë asked reverently, after he invoked Atar’s blessing upon the Trees and hallowed them and the Mound upon which they stood.

Yavanna thought for a moment before speaking. She placed one hand on the silvery-grey trunk of the elder Tree. "Ibrínithilpathanezel I name thee, for the silver light thou dost cast, which shall ever soothe the soul and bring repose."

They all nodded in agreement. Then she placed a hand on the second Tree. "Tulukhedelgorus I name thee, for thou’rt golden and gladsome and thy presence shalt bring warmth where now is only cold."

Again, the other Ayanumuz nodded, well pleased with the naming. Then each of them walked up to the Mound, beginning with Manwë, and gave the Trees their blessings, marveling anew at the light and shadows that they cast. Tulkas and Nessa were the last to give the Trees their blessings and when they had finished, Irmo and Estë stepped forward.

"We have decided to celebrate this feat with another equally as bold," Irmo said with a wide grin. "Estë and I have decided the time is meet for us to finally espouse."

There were glad cries all around. Irmo found himself being simultaneously hugged and kissed by his siblings while Estë was surrounded by Vairë, Nessa, Varda and Yavanna. In the midst of the congratulations being bestowed on the couple, they heard someone clearing his throat and all turned to see Oromë standing there, red in the face as he held Vána’s hand. She was looking equally embarrassed and pleased at the same time.

"Er... um... care to make it a double wedding?" was all Oromë could manage to say.

For a second or two there was a surprised silence and then several Ayanumuz fell upon them, laughing and rejoicing that these two had finally come to an understanding. The Máyar also rejoiced, raising paeans of joy and thanksgiving as the two couples plighted their troths under the Lights of the Two Trees.

****

All words are Valarin.

Ezellohar: The Green Mound. It was also called, in Quenya, Coron Oiolairë, Corollairë or Corlairë, all with the meaning ‘Mound of Eversummer’.

Mahananashkad: The Doom Ring. The Eldar would later render the name in Quenya as Máhanaxar. It was also called Rithil-Anamo with the same meaning.

Ibrínithilpathanezel: Telperion.

Tulukhedelgorus: Laurelin.

****

The thrones and the meanings of the gems:

Manwë: Sapphire: Symbolic of wisdom and purity.

Varda: Diamond: A symbol of innocence and constancy.

Aulë: Ruby: Considered the most powerful gem in the universe, it is a symbol of friendship and love. It gives the wearer the ability to see things in a true and correct manner.

Yavanna: Emerald: Used to ward off demons and evil spirits.

Ulmo: Marilla: What we call Pearl and a symbol of purity and innocence.

Nienna: Nyéresar: Sorrow stone; what we would call Galena. Grey is the color of sorrow and galena is a stone of transformation and used while embarking on a spiritual journey.

Irmo: Arnasar: What we would call Imperial Jade and used to protect against nightmares and psychic attacks.

Estë: Amethyst: A healing stone symbolic of spirituality and piety.

Tulkas: Amber: A symbol of courage and the presence of Eru.

Vána: Yellow Topaz: Symbolic of friendship, strengthening one's capacity to give and receive love.

Oromë: Hendufion: Hawk’s Eye. Promotes clear thinking and insight. Usually known by us as Tiger’s eye.

Nessa: Laurelaiquamírë: What we call Chrysoprase, an apple-green gemstone. It helps to make conscious what was unconscious. It strengthens the workings of insight and the higher consciousness.

Vairë: Black Opal: A symbol of faithfulness, confidence and hope.

Námo: Carnelian: An orange-red chalcedony that has the power to ease fears about rebirth (for the Eldar) and death (for Mortals).

****

Note: Much of the description of the creation of the Two Trees is taken directly from the Silmarillion, however, except for Nienna’s tears, all the other ‘gifts’ are purely the invention of the author.