PROPHECY: Changing the Future

SUMMARY: The Lord of Mandos is said to have uttered a Second Prophecy concerning the End of Days, but its interpretation has been hotly debated down through the Ages. On the eve of the departure of the Edain for Númenor, two Men decide to do some ‘creative’ prophesying of their own, but it may be Námo who has the final say.

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"What are you reading?"

"Something called ‘The Second Prophecy of Mandos’."

"Oh? I didn’t know there was one."

"Hmmm.... not many people do."

"Why’s that?"

"Well look what it says:

"Well, that doesn’t sound too bad."

"Read further."

"‘Thereafter shall Earth be broken and re-made, and the Silmarils shall be recovered out of Air and Earth and Sea; for Eärendil shall descend and surrender that flame which he hath had in keeping. Then Fëanor shall take the Three Jewels and bear them to Yavanna Palurien; and she will break them and with their fire rekindle the Two Trees, and a great light shall come forth. And the Mountains of Valinor shall be leveled, so that the Light shall go out over all the world. In that light the Powers will grow young again, and the Elves awake and all their dead arise, and the purpose of Ilúvatar be fulfilled concerning them. But of Men in that day the prophecy of Mandos doth not speak, and no Man it names, save Túrin only, and to him a place is given among the People of the Valar.’

"So what does that mean?"

"It means that while the Elves get to survive the End, Men don’t seem to fare as well, or at least there’s nothing known about our fate."

"That doesn’t seem fair."

"Whoever said life, especially for us Secondborn, was fair?"

"So what do you think we should do about it?"

"Come again?"

"Who’s to say this here prophecy is even the real thing? Could be something those Elves made up to make themselves look even more special than they already are."

"Hmmm.... you do have a point."

"Well?"

"Well, this is Lady Galadriel’s copy. She said I could make my own to take with us to Númenor."

"So, when you’re writing out the prophecy, just change the last bit to make it look good for us Mortals. Why should the Elves get all the glory?"

"So how should we word it?"

"Let’s see... how about we drop the final two sentences and replace it with... um.... something like: ‘Yet of old the Valar declared to the Elves of Valinor that Men shall join in the Second Music of the Ainur; whereas Ilúvatar has not revealed what he purposes for the Elves after the World’s end, and Melkor has not discovered it.’"

"I like it. Has a nice ring to it, especially the bit about Melkor."

"Just don’t tell Elros about the change in the wording. You know how he dotes on the Firstborn for all that he’s chosen to become Mortal."

"Tell me about it. Last week he actually wanted me to make a copy of his brother’s book on Herbal Medicines to take with us. He said Mortals could not light a candle next to the Elves when it came to the healing arts."

"You have to wonder why he even bothered to become a Mortal then."

"Maybe he heard about this Second Prophecy and wants to make sure he ends up singing in the choir."

Their laughter was long and loud.

****

"You knew they would do it, so why are you so upset?"

Námo gave Manwë a jaundiced look as the two of them stood on a balcony in Ilmarin overlooking the Pelóri. "Knowing something as a possible future is one thing, but to see them blatantly alter one of my prophecies...." He shook his head, his expression darkening. "Nothing good will come of it, mark my words."

"Perhaps," the Elder King said smoothly, "but ultimately, the fate of us all lies in Atar’s hands, so it matters little what these Children believe or do not believe."

"I know," Námo agreed with a scowl. "It’s just that I spent a lot of time crafting that prophecy. It’s one of my best, you know."

Manwë nodded amiably. "A work of art to be sure. Well, it will be interesting to see just who has the last laugh."

"Ah, that gives me an idea," Námo said with a wicked gleam in his eyes as he took his leave of the Elder King.

"Where are you going?" Manwë asked in surprise.

Námo gave him an innocent look that did not fool the Elder King. "Why, wouldn’t you know it? I’ve just been granted a Third Vision... and this particular prophecy I’m not sharing with anyone." He bowed to Manwë and left.

The Elder King of Arda merely shook his head and smiled as Námo’s laughter rang throughout Ilmarin, echoing even unto the borders of the Timeless Halls, where, unbeknown to anyone, Atar sat by a fountain smiling at the antics of His Children as he idly fashioned a Fourth Prophecy.

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NOTE: The quotation of the Second Prophecy of Mandos is from The Shaping of Middle-earth, HoME vol. 4, with some modifications of wording to reflect later concepts of the Valar by Tolkien. The replacement text is taken directly from The Silmarillion, The Quenta Silmarillion: Chapter 1, "Of the Beginning of Days".