139: Further Reflections

Glorfindel looked about him as he sipped on some wine, half listening to Finrod and Sador discussing some question concerning diplomatic procedures which Sador had raised that did not really interest him. He had to smile to himself. When Lord Námo had suggested looking at the younger elves for their leader, he knew from their expressions that some of the delegates were considering him as a possible candidate. Well, he wasn’t all that young and if being diplomatic was a desired trait for this Cáno of theirs, he was definitely not in the running. He was about as diplomatic as an orc and he wasn’t about to change anytime soon. A brief memory of a certain meeting of Turgon’s Privy Council rose before him and he forced himself not to laugh. Well, he could laugh now, though at the time it had been rather embarrassing. Ecthelion had ragged him about his gaffe for weeks afterwards.

Well, anyway.... even if someone was stupid enough to put his name forward, he would decline. He already had a job, as far as he was concerned. So, who might be a likely candidate? He reached for an almond biscuit and pondered that question a bit, still only half listening to what was being said around him.

"... still don’t see why Atar would come first after King Ingwë when he’s the youngest of the three High Kings," he heard Sador say.

"The age of the person holding the crown is not what is considered," Finrod answered patiently. "The Noldor arrived in Aman before the Teleri, so the Noldóran is considered to have precedence over the Lindaran, just as Ingwë as Ingaran has precedence over them all, for he was the first of us to step upon these shores."

"Yet, all three ambassadors set foot on these shores at the same time," Sador pointed out, "and they became kings."

"But only two of them returned to Aman as kings," Finrod said. "Elu Thingol never made it back and his brother, Olwë... hmmm... I just realized something."

"What’s that?" Glorfindel couldn’t help asking, putting aside his ruminations for a moment.

"Olwë was the youngest of the three brothers," Finrod replied. "Elmo was the second oldest, yet the Teleri who eventually continued to Valinor don’t seem to have considered him as their king. They chose Olwë instead."

"Maybe they asked Elmo and he declined," Sador suggested.

"Maybe," Finrod averred, though he looked doubtful. "It is interesting though to think that among the Noldor and the Teleri, the youngest eventually became king."

"Not just them," Ingwion said from the other side of the table where he was sitting with Lindarion, Falmaron and Olwen.

"What do you mean?" Finrod asked, looking as puzzled as the others listening to the conversation.

"Atar," Ingwion replied.

"Uncle Ingwë?" Finrod said. "What about him?"

Ingwion gave them a surprised look. "You didn’t know? My atar isn’t the oldest in our family. My Uncle Ingoldo is actually considered the older brother, though I’m not sure how they figured that. Why do you think he hates my atar so much? As far as he’s concerned, by rights, he should be Ingaran, not Atar."

Glorfindel wasn’t the only one to steal a glance further up the table to where Ingwë was seated with Elindis and the other royal couples. As if he felt all their eyes on him, Ingwë turned to look at them, his expression a bit puzzled, and everyone looked hurriedly away, trying not to catch anyone’s eyes for fear they would start laughing out of embarrassment.

"Well, that is interesting," Glorfindel said after a moment, seeing things in a whole different light.

"So, anyone have any ideas about who should be Cáno?" Finrod asked. "Who among us would be considered both young enough and wise enough to take on the job?"

"You mean stupid enough, don’t you?" Glorfindel corrected with a wicked grin and the others all laughed.

"I think the better question is, who among us has the respect of most of the Tol Eressëans, whether they are young or not?" Olwen said. "Without that, what matters if the person is young or old, wise or not?"

"She has a point," Amarië said.

"So who has their respect?" Sador asked. "Who among us is listened to by all sides?"

"That’s just the thing," Glorfindel said in a frustrated tone. "Those to whom the Tol Eressëans will listen are people like Finrod or Eärendil but neither of them will or can accept the position. So who does that leave us?"

There were sighs all around as they contemplated the impossibility of finding someone to fill the role of Cáno.

"Maybe we should ask for volunteers," Ingwion said with a smile.

Falmaron snorted. "I would be very suspicious of anyone who actually wants to be Cáno."

"He has a point there," Finrod averred.

"So perhaps we should find out who doesn’t want to be Cáno and choose the one who is the most adamant," Glorfindel suggested and everyone else laughed.

"Everyone who wants to be Cáno, raise your hand," Finrod said with a sly look and no one was surprised when they all raised their hands, including Finrod. "Well, I guess that lets us off the hook," he said smugly and there was even more laughter.

****

When they returned to the amphitheater after lunch, Lady Vairë was already there, waiting for them. She gave them a smile. "I understand that my lord husband left you with a suggestion," she said as she and the three kings made their way down the steps.

"He suggested looking for someone who was young," Ingwë replied, "but I have to wonder. Do we not want someone who is experienced in the ways of ruling?"

"Were you experienced?" Vairë asked. "Were any of you? You learned as you went along."

"So are you suggesting that whoever becomes Cáno will need to do the same?" Olwë asked. "If so, then it seems to me that he is likely to be working at a disadvantage if everyone around him is older and supposedly wiser. They’re likely to be telling him what to do and not the other way around."

"Wisdom comes in many guises," Vairë said as everyone began taking their seats. "And youth is a relative term among those who are immortal."

"All this talk about the younger brother becoming ruler seems to be pointless, though," Galadhwen offered. "What does it have to do with anything we’re discussing here?"

"Well, it does seem to be a pattern, though I don’t think it’s a conscious one," Brethorn said. "And it’s not absolute, either. After all, Elu Thingol was the oldest of the three brothers who led the Teleri and he became king, if just not here in Aman. Also, Finrod is the oldest son of King Arafinwë and he was king once as well."

"By default more than anything," Finrod said. "Galadriel was ready to take over but whoever heard of an elleth ruling in her own right? Even Queen Melian, though she is a Maia, did not rule the Sindar, Elu did."

"Your ammë and your Aunt Anairë did well enough until I was ready to take up the crown," Arafinwë said with a pointed look at his son.

Finrod had the grace to blush. "Sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded."

"The point my husband was making," Vairë said, steering them back to the original discussion, "was to remind you not to limit yourselves to looking only at those who are older, but not necessarily wiser. Some of your younger people have had life experiences that many of the oldest among you have never had to face. They may be young in years but old in other ways."

"Still, who do we choose? How do we recognize this person?" Ingwë asked.

"That is what needs to be discussed," Vairë said with a nod.

Unfortunately, the discussion that followed proved inconclusive and frustrating for them all and tempers began to flare, so that Ingwë decided it was best to adjourn earlier than usual. No one was particularly happy about doing so, but they all realized that continuing was pointless.

"Might I suggest that we not meet again in Council for a day or two while we all deliberate on what has been decided or not decided," Eärendil suggested. "Perhaps we simply need to speak to one another in less formal surroundings. A solution may present itself on its own. I think right now we’re all trying too hard."

That notion was agreeable to all and after consulting with his fellow rulers and Lady Vairë, it was decided that as the next day was Valanya, they would not meet again until Anarya, two days later. Elindis, seated behind her husband, stood and suggested that the next two days be devoted to games and friendly competitions among the delegates. Brethorn immediately volunteered to have his delegation organize the games and contests with the help of the members of the Warriors’ Guild and Ingwë announced that he and his fellow rulers would arrange for a feast. Thus they adjourned in better spirits.

****

Valanya dawned and the Tol Eressëans were treated to the sight of nearly all of Eldamas, including the Amanian delegates, congregating in the Landamallë before the mansions of the Elder King and the Elentári where they lifted their voices in song in praise of the Valar. The ceremony lasted for about an hour and it appeared that there was a set order in the singing of the hymns and everyone knew them by heart. Some of the Noldor among the Tol Eressëans found themselves singing these ancient melodies, remembering earlier, happier, days when the Trees shone forth and it seemed that no evil would ever mar them. Not a few found themselves choking up with emotions.

"And they do this every Valanya?" one of the Sindar asked one of the Noldor standing next to her, who was wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Yes. Every Valanya without fail."

The final song turned out to be a solo, for it was customary to have someone sing a new song at the end. How the singer was selected remained a mystery to the Tol Eressëans but they were assured that every week a new song was sung, more for the entertainment of the crowd than in actual praise and thanksgiving to the Valar. Today, a young ellon with the golden locks of the Vanyar was singing, accompanying himself with a lute. The song was exquisite and, interestingly enough, it was in praise of snow in honor of the recent blizzard. It was also rather humorous as the singer sang of some of the things that went on while the elves were digging themselves out. Some of the verses were mild digs at the Valar for not lending a hand in the clean-up and there was much appreciative laughter among the listeners. When the song ended the applause was loud and long and there were demands for an encore. The ellon, who appeared to be rather young, shyly obliged them and many of his listeners were soon joining him in the chorus. When the song ended a second time, the applause was just as loud as before, but now the crowd began to drift away in pursuit of their own pleasures, many singing snatches of some of the more humorous verses.

"I have no doubt that youngster will be invited by the Valar to a private audience and asked to sing that song to them," some of the Tol Eressëans overheard Ingwë say approvingly and many of the Amanians voiced their agreement to that statement. The Tol Eressëans, listening to this, began to see the true relationship that the elves of Eldamas (and presumably the rest of Aman) had with the Valar, so different from what they themselves had experienced, both in the past and in recent days, and not a few wore thoughtful expressions as they joined the Amanians for the day’s festivities.

****

The contests that were devised, at least the physical ones, while competitive on one level, were mainly designed for fun and none were taken seriously. They were more like the games played by elflings and in fact it surprised no one to learn that some of the ideas for the contests came from Vorondil and the elflings under Finrod’s care. Other contests were in the realm of poetry recitations, singing and the playing of musical instruments.

One contest consisted of groups of four people in which a simple musical phrase was sung by a ‘judge’. Then, having drawn lots as to the order in which they would participate, the first person had to sing the given phrase and then add to it. The next person then had to repeat both phrases perfectly before adding to it and so on. This would continue until contestants made an error and were eliminated. The one who could sing the entire sequence of phrases without error won and then the next group of singers would come up, but they would be given a different musical phrase to work with. Once the first elimination round was done all the winners of that round went into the semi-finals until there were only four singers left who would compete in the final round. The complexity of the initial phrasing grew with each round. And while the Vanyar were naturals in this type of thing, the other clans held their own so that, by the final round, there was an ellon of mixed Noldorin and Sindarin heritage from Tavrobel, a Telerin ellith and two Vanyar. One of the Vanyar and the Teler were eventually eliminated, leaving the other Vanya and the Tol Eressëan to battle it out. The competition was intense, and the spectators watched in awe as the phrasing became more and more complex until the Vanya, perhaps from overconfidence, sang one phrase wrong and the Tol Eressëan was declared the winner.

The respect with which the Vanya apparently had for her rival’s talents became evident when she invited the ellon to join the music academy in Vanyamar as one of its instructors. The ellon was so astounded at the offer he could only stand there nodding his head, but that seemed to be all that was necessary and everyone was quite pleased by the outcome.

Glorfindel and Galdor agreed to present an exhibition of their fighting skills against two of Lord Manwë’s warrior Maiar to show everyone the level of training they were receiving. Glorfindel’s abilities were greater than Galdor’s but only because he had been training longer. It was a stunning performance that left the spectators breathless. In the midst of the fighting between Glorfindel and Erunáro, Ingwë leaned over to whisper into Elindis’ ear.

"So, what is he? Valanya? Tulkas?"

She gave him a scathing look and then relaxed at his mischievous smile. "He’s all of them rolled into one," she whispered back and Ingwë nodded, returning his attention to the fighting and enjoying the show.

Eärendil, during this time, was taking to heart Elwing’s advice which he had solicited after the Council had adjourned, asking her opinion about who might be considered a likely candidate as Cáno, to which she had answered, somewhat cryptically, "Look to the one who is least noticed but most often there."

As she had never steered him wrong before, he took the opportunity during the next two days while the different competitions were being held to observe everyone, or as many as he could. It was not an easy task but he began to see a pattern. Whenever someone needed something, whenever a dispute arose that required someone’s mediation, whenever an opinion was requested, one person seemed always to be there, though barely acknowledged. Yet, for all that, he was apparently highly respected, for whenever he spoke, always in soft tones that nevertheless held the ring of truth and authority in them, he was listened to. What he had to say might not always be agreed upon by others, but he was never dismissed and he was always taken seriously.

And there was another thing Eärendil noticed about this person: he appeared equally at ease speaking to the High King as he was speaking to Vondo or one of the elflings and everyone in between. He would laugh and joke with the Reborn and then turn around and have a serious discussion with one of the Vanyarin nobles on the merits of translating Sindarin poetry into Quenya and vice versa. Whether his own views agreed with others or not, he was always courteous and attentive to all. He was young, oh so very young, and yet... not all that young. His eyes gave him away. He had seen horror and tragedy and had experienced it personally. Young he might be in the eyes of most, but he was also old in ways that many of the elves, even those of Tol Eressëa, could never fathom.

Was this the one, then? he wondered. It seemed an implausible solution to their problem. And he knew that this one had little in the way of practical experience in administration, but then, he thought wryly, he hadn’t been all that experienced either when he founded Aewellond with Elwing. He had learned as he went, depending on Elwing, who had more practical experience in such matters, to guide him. So experience wasn’t necessarily a requirement; having excellent and trustworthy counselors would be.

Well, he would speak to Elwing about it and get her opinion, but of all those who were at the Council, this one person seemed to be the only viable candidate. He knew he would have the instant support of the Noldóran and the Lindaran and their families, and probably even Ingwë and Ingwion. Of the Tol Eressëans, the Reborn and the Warriors would accept his proposal, possibly Marthchall and those of Angobel and even Tavrobel, but he wasn’t entirely sure about the Guilds or Kortirion and Avallónë, or the Nandor. If Elwing agreed with his assessment, then they would have their work cut out for them, sounding out the other delegates. But one thing at a time.

He looked around for his wife and found her, ironically enough, speaking to the very person he was considering for the position of Cáno. As if she felt his gaze on her, she looked at him. He raised an eyebrow and through that silent communication common among married couples, gave her to understand that he had found who he was looking for standing next to her and did she agree. She gave him the very barest of nods before turning her attention back to her companion.

Well, that settled that, Eärendil thought in satisfaction as he looked around to see whom he would approach first. Time to get to work.