WINTER TRADITIONS: First Solstice

Author’s Note: In lieu of a weekly prompt for the week of Christmas, a challenge was issued in which the theme is ‘Winter Traditions’. The challenge requires the incorporation of the following elements into the story: the word ‘estel’ because this is the season of Hope; a tree; snow; the colors red, blue, green, black and gold; an animal; a warm drink; and a rock.

SUMMARY: In the first year of the Sun, as Arda enters its first winter, the growing darkness is troubling to many.

****

"They’re not going to understand what is happening or why," Námo said to the other Valar as they sat in counsel in the throne room of Ilmarin.

Aulë nodded. "They have either had the constant light of the Trees or starlight as their guides. They have no experience of the natural astronomical phenomenon of the nights getting longer and the days shorter."

"Some of the Elves are complaining that we cannot keep even these great lights in the sky properly," Yavanna said with a scowl and the others smiled sympathetically.

"I never understood why we couldn’t simply create a star for this system from the very beginning," Varda commented. "I think this has caused more problems than necessary. We can explain to the Children here in Aman but I wonder how those in Endórë will react to it?"

"Melyanna is there," Irmo reminded them. "She will be able to reassure them."

"One can only hope," Manwë replied.

Námo nodded, a grim smile on his fair face. "It is always well to keep estel in one’s heart when the darkness comes."

****

"It is a natural phenomenon, my husband," Melian said calmly as she and Elu Thingol sat with Thingol’s council. Their daughter Lúthien was there along with Prince Celeborn and Beleg, who, in spite of being a member of the royal family, eschewed all titles but ‘Marchwarden’. The Lady Galadriel and her brother Prince Finrod were also in attendance, being recent guests of Doriath.

"There is nothing natural about any of this, my love," Elu said with a scowl. "Long have we held sway under starlight, and now we must contend with these two strange lights in the sky which you say are the last fruits of Telperion and Laurelin." This last was directed at Finrod and his sister.

Finrod nodded. "We were there and witnessed their deaths."

"And do you not say that your fellow Maiar guide these new lights, my lady?" Galadriel asked.

Melian nodded. "Arien and Tilion, both of the People of Orma. We fought together in many wars against the Fallen One in ages uncounted."

All of them, even Thingol and Lúthien, stared at the Maia Queen of Doriath with no little awe. Finally, though, Celeborn spoke. "Getting back to the purpose of this council, you say that this is a natural phenomenon, my lady?"

Melian nodded, a slight smile on her lips. "The world turns and as it turns it also moves around Anor...."

"But clearly that cannot be!" protested Lúthien. "Anor it is that moves."

"Only in seeming, my daughter," Melian said with great patience. She shook her head. "When it came time to create Arda Lord Bannoth told us that the star that would normally sit in the center of this system could not be created at that time, for Eru had decreed that the Firstborn were to awaken in Ennorath under starlight."

There was a troubled silence among them as they tried to understand what Melian was telling them. Then Beleg shook his silvery-grey head and gave them a snort. "I care not the how or the why of all this; I care only that our people are fearful that, with the lengthening of the nights, Morgoth will use this against us."

"It will not continue forever," Melian said. "There will be a day when it seems as if the sun is standing still. On that day the night will be the longest, but afterwards the sun will appear to move northward and the days will lengthen."

"And the dying of the trees?" Finrod asked. "Is that also a natural phenomenon?"

Melian nodded. "Yes. For the first time Arda is experiencing what the Belain call ‘seasons’ in which the climate changes from warm to cold and back again. You remember the longest time of daylight shortly after your arrival in Beleriand?" She looked at Finrod and Galadriel, who both nodded.

"We noticed the length of time in which Anor was in the sky was longer and longer," Galadriel answered. "We thought for sure that at some point she would remain in the sky forever."

"Instead, the days are growing shorter again and the dark is encroaching upon us," Finrod added.

Melian gave them all a sympathetic smile. "As I said, it is not a permanent loss of light. In a few short weeks the days will lengthen again. It is a never-ending cycle of light and dark that is played out on countless worlds throughout Eä."

"And we’re no different," Thingol said, his tone making it not quite a question but not exactly a statement either.

"No, beloved," Melian answered gently, "except for one minor detail."

"And what would that be?" Thingol asked in surprise.

"Arda is the only world in which Eru’s Children — all of them — reside."

Finrod nodded. "That makes Arda special whatever else it may be."

The others all nodded in agreement. Then Beleg spoke up. "What then are we to do about it?"

"There is nothing that can be done to stop this, Beleg," Melian answered. "All we can do is let our people and the Noldor, if they have not figured it out already, know that there is naught to fear. The growing darkness is not a sign of Morgoth’s rising, but it is certainly a consequence of the destruction of the Two Trees and the subsequent creation of Anor."

"Is there aught we can do to mark the day, though?" Celeborn asked, looking thoughtful. "If there is a longest day and longest night perhaps we should consider marking them and celebrating them in some way."

"You are correct, Celeborn," Thingol said approvingly. "Does anyone have an idea?"

For a space of two or three minutes there was only silence as each thought of Thingol’s question. Finally, Finrod looked up. "What about a ball?"

"A ball?" Melian asked. "You mean a formal gathering of our people in dance to celebrate the return of light?"

Finrod nodded. "We should illuminate Menegroth as it has never been illuminated before and don our gayest robes and dance the darkness away."

They all stared at one another for several minutes, and then, one by one, they nodded and there were smiles all around. Elu then stood and the others followed. "An excellent idea, Nephew," he said to Finrod. "We will hold a great ball on the longest night. Let us see if our gaiety will drive away the darkness. Come, we have much to plan."

With that, all left the council chamber, all, that is, save Melian. The Maia Queen of Doriath sat in contemplative silence. Finally she shook her head and smiled ruefully. "I never thought I would be giving these Children a lesson in elementary astronomy," she said out loud. Then she gathered herself together and left the chamber in search of her family to help plan the upcoming ball.

****

Ingwë stared at the Valar in surprise. He, along with Arafinwë and Olwë had been summoned before Lord Manwë and had listened in stunned disbelief at what the Elder King told them.

"This... darkening is something natural?" he finally asked, trying to assimilate all that he had been told.

Manwë nodded. "I assure you that it is a temporary state. You may recall not long ago soon after Anar rose that the length of daylight increased over time."

All three kings nodded. "Yet now the light is waning again and our nights grow longer."

"And this cycle of the day lengthening and shortening will continue for all the ages of Arda in a never-ending rhythm," Varda stated.

"I am not sure if I care for the fact that on top of that the days grow colder and our crops are dying," Ingwë said with a frown.

"Again, a temporary state. With the destruction of the Two Trees, Aman is no longer protected from the vicissitudes of Arda’s changed state due to Melkor’s machinations," Manwë told them, his expression sorrowful. "I assure you though that in time you will find that it is no bad thing, merely different from what you are used to."

"I confess I rather enjoy seeing the stars in all their glory at night rather than having to travel through the Calacirya to see them," Arafinwë said.

Varda smiled. "So you see, something good has come of all this."

"What then should we do about the... waning of the light?" Olwë asked, looking troubled.

"Nothing," Manwë replied. "There is nothing any of us can do for or against this phenomenon. As I said, it’s a natural consequence of the creation of Anar."

"There will always be a longest day and longest night?" Ingwë then asked and all the Valar nodded. "Then perhaps we should mark these days in some way."

"That is a good idea," Arafinwë said, his enthusiasm rising; Olwë nodded in agreement.

The three kings looked at one another, some silent communication passing between them and then Ingwë turned to Manwë and bowed. "With your permission, my lord, we will retire and think upon your words and decide how best to inform our people of this phenomenon."

Manwë nodded. "Go with our blessing and the blessing of Ilúvatar."

When the three kings had left the throne room, Námo raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what they will come up with."

"We’ll have to wait and see," Manwë said. "Now, how do you think we should celebrate this first solstice?"

"First?" Varda retorted with a smile. "Is this not the second?"

"It is the first that the Children have noted," Manwë reminded them. "It was only as the light began to decrease again that they even voiced a concern. Next year they will pay more attention to the other solstice."

"In time they may even notice the two equinoxes," Aulë added, "and give names to the different seasons as they come and go."

"A most interesting development in their growth of knowledge," Oromë said with a slight smile. "I look forward to seeing how it all plays out and what new customs and traditions they develop for these times."

The others were in complete agreement and then they began formulating their own plans for celebrating the longest night.

****

"What is this?" Elu Thingol enquired as he stepped through the gates of Menegroth to stare in wonder at the landscape before him. It was blanketed in a white powdery substance that, when he knelt down to scoop some in his hand, was also cold.

"We call it lossë," Finrod told him as he and Galadriel joined Elu and Melian. "It covers the peaks of the Pelóri mountains."

Melian watched with an amused smile at the expressions of wonder on the faces of her husband and daughter and all the denizens of Doriath as they examined the snow that had fallen overnight. Some of them had discovered that the substance could be packed tightly into a ball and thrown. Soon Beleg, Lúthien and Daeron were merrily fighting with Celeborn, Finrod and Galadriel, dodging between the trees and laughing whenever they were hit. "It is what happens to ross when it becomes too cold," Melian explained to Thingol as they stood together watching the antics of their subjects.

"White rain," Elu muttered, then gave his spouse a sly look. Before Melian realized what he was about, he had already thrown his first snowball at her even as he was stooping to make another one. She was not slow at retaliating.

****

"I thought this stuff only stayed on the peaks of the Pelóri," groused Ingwion, heir to the throne of the Vanyar, as he looked out the window of his parents’ private apartments at the snow gently falling.

"Apparently not any more," Elindis, Queen of the Vanyar, said with a quirk of her mouth, her eyes bright with amusement.

Ingwion sighed. "This is rather confusing. I liked the way some of the trees changed color and grieved when their bright leaves fell, but this...." He shook his head. "Why can’t it be the same as before?"

"Nothing is the same as before," Elindis said softly, sorrow dripping from every word and Ingwion embraced her, his own grief nearly overwhelming him. "But that is not to say that what we have now is bad," Elindis continued. "As the Valar have said, it is merely different."

"I guess."

Elindis kissed him gently on the brow. "Come, let us finish these plans for the celebration your atar wishes to have. I confess, I rather like the idea of a ball to dance away the darkness, as your sister puts it."

Ingwion sighed. "It just means having to dress up even more than usual."

Elindis laughed merrily and gave her firstborn a warm hug. "I tell you what. Why don’t you have one of the servants bring some more of that hot spiced wine drink Vardamelda has created. We’ll forget about the ball for now and just sit beside the fire and watch the snow fall."

Ingwion nodded and went to do his amillë’s bidding.

****

"Did the Belain have any names for these... seasons, as you call them?" Elu asked Melian as they sat before a fire sipping on their hot drinks.

Melian nodded. "When we observed the same phenomenon on other worlds of our making, we called this time ‘winter’. Eventually winter will be followed by a warming of the earth and the springing of new life which will reach its height on the longest day, the gateway to what we call ‘summer’. The waning of the year we call ‘autumn’."

Elu mouthed the strange words to himself, sighing in frustration at the tongue-twisting language of the Powers. "Perhaps we can just call it rhîw," he finally said, rendering the name for winter into something that sounded more natural.

"I think that is as good a name for the season as any," Melian agreed.

"Rhîw it is then," Elu said decisively. Then he sighed again. "While we’re at it, we might as well come up with names for the other seasons. What were they again?"

Melian laughed and happily answered her husband and the two of them spent a pleasant hour or so devising new words for the other seasons.

****

"I think we should give these seasons names," Arafinwë said to Eärwen as they wandered through a snow-covered garden admiring the ice sculptures that several artists from Tirion had devised for the enjoyment of the city’s inhabitants. The Noldóran and his queen were not the only ones wandering the garden but they were presently alone, save for the ubiquitous guards.

"What do you suggest?" Eärwen asked. "Have the loremasters decided?"

Arafinwë shook his head. "If they have, they have not informed me," he said. "So I have decided to inform them." He gave her a sly smile.

Eärwen raised an eyebrow. "You mean, make it a royal decree?"

"Saves a lot of time and bickering over minutia, don’t you think?"

"Oh, I agree, my darling," the queen said with a light laugh. "I can just imagine their expressions when you tell them."

Arafinwë smiled somewhat wolfishly. "Well, I consulted with Ingwë and Olwë and they agreed to the idea. I’ve asked Lord Aulë for the Valarin words for these seasons. I think we can render them into acceptable Quenya easily enough."

"Then what shall we call this season of glittering white?" Eärwen asked with a nod.

"I was thinking hrívë...."

****

The ball was set for midnight. Menegroth had never looked so beautiful. There were candles everywhere and someone thought to bring in fresh greenery and holly, strewing them about the main hall where the dancing was to be held. Some of the ellith had even created wreaths of greenery with candles embedded in them that they wore on their heads with red and green ribbons flowing among their tresses. All around the Elves danced to lively music while Elu and Melian gazed contentedly upon the scene from their thrones. Galadriel and Celeborn were there, having just finished dancing one reel and now Finrod was on the floor with Lúthien, her gold and red gown, reminiscent of the flames of Anor, a pleasing contrast to his deep blue velvet tunic studded with diamonds. Her black tresses were adorned with a simple circlet of gold, her neck adorned with a gold necklace from which was suspended a single multi-faceted ruby. Finrod’s head was crowned with evergreen and holly and his only jewelry was the ring of two serpents which he had brought with him from Aman.

"A wondrous sight," Elu commented.

"Indeed," Celeborn said. He and Galadriel were dressed in matching garb of white and gold velvets studded with sapphires. Elu and Melian also wore matching garb: dark green and gold, their heads adorned with emerald crowns. All the denizens of Menegroth had gone out of their way to create the most colorful array of garb, though most seemed to favor white, gold, red and green.

The reel finished, Finrod and Lúthien joined the others on the throne dais. Elu gave them both a fond smile. "So what are your kinsmen doing to celebrate this night?" he asked Finrod.

The younger elf shrugged. "I have no idea, Uncle, nor do I care."

"Ah...." was Thingol’s only comment. Then Melian indicated that she wished to join in the next dance and so king and queen rose and led the pavane as the people of Doriath continued to dance away the longest night of the year.

****

Turgon was sitting on a flat rock, gazing up into the star-strewn sky. Beside him was his daughter, Idril. Nearby were their horses contentedly grazing on winter grass. They had ridden out of Vinyamar earlier in the evening with the intention of spending this night star-gazing.

"Look," Turgon said, pointing to the west, "Menelmagor rises and there is his faithful hound right behind him."

Idril squealed with delight and snuggled closer to her Ada. Turgon had had little time for her of late being busy with the construction of their new home, so she had been delighted when he had suggested this little outing.

"Will the sun return, Ada?" she asked somewhat doubtfully. "Will the days grow longer once again?"

"So Cousin Finrod said in his last missive to me," Turgon answered. "We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?"

Idril nodded. "Ada, can we do this again next year and the year after that and...?"

Turgon gave his daughter a gentle smile and a kiss on the top of her head. "If that is what you wish, sell nîn. We will make it our little tradition. Every year we will come out and spend the longest night under the stars, just the two of us."

"You mean, the three of us, my king."

Turgon looked up to see Glorfindel riding up, laughing.

"What are you doing here, Glorfi?" Idril asked with excitement. "Have you come to watch the stars with Ada and me?"

Glorfindel dismounted from his steed and after giving his king his obeisance he smiled lovingly at Idril. "Nay, Little One. I came to watch over you, for you are the only star in my life."

Turgon raised an eyebrow at Glorfindel’s words. "Well, if you insist on star-gazing, pull up a rock," he commanded and with another bow and a laugh Glorfindel did just that. It did not escape Turgon’s notice, though Idril was unaware, that Glorfindel’s hand was never far from his sword. Long after Idril was fast asleep in her bedroll, king and vassal sat in companionable silence, watching over the only star in their lives that mattered.

****

In the courtyard of the High King of all the Elves of Aman, Ingwë was gathered with his family. Arafinwë and Eärwen were there as well along with Olwë and his queen, Lirillë. Others of the court were also there. Each person held a small unlit candle. At the moment of midnight Ingwë stepped forward.

"Tonight is the Andohrívë, in which we celebrate the longest night of the year. Tomorrow, Light will return once more unto all its glory. Yet, darkness has its place and proper sphere and so we honor it tonight."

At that a choir of elflings sang a hymn especially written for this ceremony, in which Darkness unsullied by fear was praised and Light eternal was glorified. As the hymn rose to a crescendo, Ingwë lit a taper from a single coal set in a brass brasier and one by one the candles were lit until the entire courtyard was ablaze with light. Then they processed into the main ball room, placing their candles in specially made holders. Musicians struck up a stately pavane and as Ingwë and Elindis, along with the other royal couples led the first dance, the solstice ball officially began.

****

High in the fastness of Ilmarin the Valar were gathered with their Maiar. There were no candles lit, all was in darkness, though none had trouble seeing. Beginning with Manwë, each of the Valar mentioned one thing for which they were grateful, then it was the turn of the Maiar. Anar was rising out of the east before the last of them finished speaking.

Thus ended the first winter solstice in Arda.

****

Endórë: (Quenya) Middle-earth; the Sindarin equivalent is Ennorath.

Orma: Sindarin form of Oromë.

Bannoth: Sindarin form of Námo.

Belain: Sindarin form of Valar.

Lossë: (Quenya) Snow; the Sindarin equivalent is Loss.

Ross: (Sindarin) Rain; the Quenya equivalent is Rossë.

Atar: (Quenya) Father; the Sindarin equivalent is Adar (Ada).

Amillë: (Quenya) Mother.

Rhîw: (Sindarin) Winter; the Quenya equivalent is Hrívë.

Ellith: (Eldarin) Plural of Elleth: Female Elf.

Menelmagor: Sindarin version of the Quenya Menelmacar: Orion

Sell nîn: (Sindarin) My daughter.

Andohrívë: (Quenya) Gate of Winter.