144: Sador’s Investiture

Sador’s first act upon returning to Tirion was to seek out Netilmírë and tell her all that had happened. He did not speak at first about his own part in it, but regaled her with details of all the drama and pathos of the Council itself as he went about his duties in the workshop. Netilmírë let him speak, interrupting only to offer a pointed comment that usually had Sador laughing outright, or asking a question for clarification.

"So, who did they decide would be this Cáno of theirs?" Netilmírë finally asked. "Obviously they chose someone or you wouldn’t be here."

Sador stuttered to a halt, feeling the blood rush from his face and he found he could not look at his anammë. Netilmírë, who had been busy with glazing one of her pieces while listening to Sador’s narrative, looked up when she noticed the silence and saw Sador’s expression.

"Sador? What’s wrong, child?"

"Th-they... um... they... oh, anammë...."

"Sador!" Netilmírë put down her brush and went to the ellon who was beginning to cry. "Tell me, child. What is the matter? Why do you weep so?" She wrapped him in her arms and rocked him until he began to calm down.

"They chose me," he whispered so softly, his face buried in her shoulder, that Netilmírë wasn’t sure she had heard correctly.

"What do you mean, inyo?" she asked, feeling somewhat confused.

Sador lifted his head and looked at her with a mixture of terror and wonder. "They chose me," he repeated. "I’m their new Cáno."

Netilmírë blinked in disbelief. She could feel her mouth moving but no sound issued forth. Sador saw and in spite of his tears snickered and gave her a wry look. "My reaction exactly."

Gathering her scattered wits together Netilmírë muttered something about tea and Sador immediately went to make some. She followed him to the small kitchen area and sat there staring at him as he bustled about.

"You’re serious, aren’t you, about being named Cáno," she said.

Sador stopped as he was measuring out some tea leaves and nodded. "It was Lord Eärendil’s idea, his and Lady Elwing’s." He turned to face her. "I had no idea they were even considering me. If anyone had asked for my opinion on the matter I would have told them that someone like Brethorn would be a good candidate. He may be a Reborn, but he’s well respected and very capable. He already leads the Reborn Council. He’s very impartial and... and... well, he would make a good Cáno."

"I’m sure he would," Netilmírë said, "but the fact is, he wasn’t chosen, you were. What I want to know is why."

Sador sighed as he continued putting the tea things together, bringing everything over to the table where Netilmírë was sitting. She poured the tea while he told her what Lord Eärendil had said and what Lord Manwë and Lord Oromë had told him, ending with the revelation that the Lord of Forests and the Hunt considered him to be his apprentice.

"I asked Atar if I could be an apprentice to two masters, and he said that if one of them was a Vala, then yes," Sador concluded, taking a sip of tea, waiting for his anammë’s response.

"Yes, I can see how that would be possible," she finally said. "I find it interesting that Lord Oromë didn’t tell you for what you were apprenticed. Certainly he’s not going to teach you the fine art of pottery making. That’s my job."

"Lord Oromë conveniently disappeared after telling me I was his apprentice before I could ask," Sador said with a wry smile and Netilmírë snorted.

"Typical," was all she said and then they were silent for a while, each with his or her thoughts. Finally, though, Netilmírë put down her tea cup and gave Sador a considering look. "So, you agreed to this."

"I really had no choice," Sador said, looking embarrassed. "You don’t know how close everything was to breaking down. It was important for many reasons that the Council end successfully. If I had adamantly refused the appointment, I fear there would have been very hard feelings all around and the Tol Eressëans would have left in disgust, leaving King Ingwë looking the fool. I couldn’t do that to him or to Atar or King Olwë. They labored too hard and long to make this Council succeed and I couldn’t disappoint them."

"No, of course not, and I’m very proud of you, inyo," Netilmírë assured him. "It took great courage to do what you did. So now the question is, what next?"

"Gilvagor is looking for a place for me to live in Kortirion," Sador said, "and I guess I will be busy packing and making arrangements to move as well as helping with the Investiture ceremony. It’s not like being crowned king so the ceremony has to be created from scratch, though Finrod said that something along the lines of when a king appoints a regent or steward might work."

"And what about us?" Netilmírë asked. "What about your apprenticeship with me?"

Sador sighed, refusing to look at her. "I don’t know, Anammë. I just don’t know."

Silence settled over them for several minutes and then Netilmírë smiled. "You know, now that Tol Eressëa has a government, the other kingdoms will need to send ambassadors and trade delegations. What if I were part of that? I can move to Tol Eressëa with you and continue your training as a potter. Frankly, you’re nearly at master level now, but I think we should follow propriety and have you promoted to journeyman status before you leave. That way you will have greater standing with the Tol Eressëan guilds."

"I had thought to invite you to come live with me, if only for a little while," Sador said shyly. "I know you don’t want to live there forever, but...."

"It’s true that my life is here," Netilmírë said, "but I think a change of scenery will do me good. Why don’t we close up shop and go see his Majesty and talk to him about this?"

Sador agreed and soon they were making their way to the palace where they had to wait for about a half an hour until Arafinwë was able to spare them some time. When Netilmírë told him about going to Tol Eressëa with Sador, he smiled.

"I think it’s a wonderful idea," he said. "If you have no objections, I would appoint you as head of the trade delegation that I am planning to form."

"Won’t there be a conflict of interest, though?" Sador asked.

"A good point," Arafinwë said with a nod. He gave them a considering look. "Why don’t we have you go in an unofficial capacity," he suggested. "You will be Sador’s advisor on trade and the guilds. That way you can continue his apprenticeship without raising any questions about conflicting interests."

"I think I can live with that," Netilmírë said, "that is, if Sador agrees."

"Oh, yes," the ellon said enthusiastically. "I like that idea very much. I will need to send word to Gilvagor to find a residence that might have an outbuilding that could be converted into a potter’s workshop. We’ll need a kiln, too."

"Gilvagor hasn’t yet left for Tol Eressëa," Arafinwë said. "I’ll have him sent for and you can tell him your requirements."

When Gilvagor was summoned and apprised of what had been decided, he smiled. "I think I know just the place. It’s actually an estate just outside the city that was abandoned by its owner who moved back to Avallónë. It isn’t very large, but it has a lovely orchard and gardens. The main house has plenty of room for a small household but some of the outbuildings could be converted into living spaces as well. A kiln would be easy enough to have built. Yes, I’m sure that the place would suit and the price should be reasonable."

"Oh," Sador exclaimed. "I forgot about that. How am I supposed to pay for anything when I don’t have any money?"

"Oh, not to worry," Gilvagor said. "Each of the delegates has pledged a portion of their own wealth or that of their guild towards creating a treasury. The various city councils will set aside part of their budget towards financing the Assembly."

"And I spoke with Ingwë and Olwë and we will contribute monies into your personal account which is already set up," Arafinwë said.

"How can I have a personal account?" Sador asked.

"One was created for you as soon as you became my official ward," Arafinwë explained. "Also, the wages to which you are entitled under your apprenticeship contract with Netilmírë have been deposited into the account all along."

"And as for buying the estate," Gilvagor said, "I think that will be done by those of us who were at the Council. We know you are sacrificing much to leave Tirion, so that is one burden you should not have to shoulder."

"Thank you," Sador said sincerely. "The estate sounds wonderful. I wish I had time to go and see it for myself, though."

"I will have someone draw pictures of it and send them to you," Gilvagor suggested. "Would that be sufficient?"

"Yes, it would," Sador said. "In the meantime, unless you find something better, go ahead and begin looking into purchasing it for me, for us." He gave Netilmírë a shy smile and she smiled back, giving his hand a warm squeeze.

"Then that’s settled," Arafinwë said. "Now all we have to do is put the rest of your household together, decide on the form of the ceremony, get you measured for appropriate court clothes and then make sure you actually show up for the Investiture."

"Do you think I wouldn’t?" Sador asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

"Knowing you, yonya," Arafinwë said with a smile, "it wouldn’t surprise me if you tried to sneak away and hide in the mountains the way Findaráto once tried to do."

"I would never do that," Sador said with a virtuous sniff. "I would most likely run away to sea and join Falmaron’s crew instead."

The others just smiled, knowing the ellon wasn’t being serious. Gilvagor then excused himself, saying he needed to make preparations for his trip home. Arafinwë invited Netilmírë to stay for dinner, which would just be a family affair, and she graciously accepted.

****

The weeks went by in a blur for Sador as he was drawn more and more into the role of Cáno. Arafinwë often sat down with him and spoke of how he ran his own Privy Council, what types of issues were decided at that level and how things were conducted. "Just to give you a basis for comparison," he told Sador. "While my powers are nearly absolute, that cannot be said for you. Still, even I must have the good will of my councillors and of the people in order to do my job. I am not autocratic. You must learn to walk a fine line between standing for what you know is right even if others disagree with you and caving in to the wishes of those in the Assembly who will have their own agendas. You must always remember that it is your Assembly. You must own it from the very beginning or it will own you instead."

"How do I do that?" Sador asked.

"By setting the tone of your rulership from the beginning," Arafinwë explained. "You need to let everyone know that you are the one in charge, not they. Be forceful, but respectful of the opinions of others, and do not be afraid to admit that someone else has a better idea than you. You are only one person and you cannot know everything. At the same time, let them know that when you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ you mean it and will not allow others to continue the argument after you have ruled on the issue."

"Sounds impossible," Sador said with a sigh. "Everyone in the Assembly is going to be older than I and will try to tell me what to do ‘for my own good’." He gave Arafinwë a disgusted look.

The Noldóran gave him a sympathetic smile. "The difference is that those who were at the Council know you and will be supportive of you. Gilvagor, Brethorn, even someone like Morcocáno, know your worth and respect you for your wisdom."

"Everyone keeps harping on that," Sador said with a frown. "The way they keep going on about my ‘wisdom’ you would think I wrote a book about it or something."

Arafinwë laughed. "Perhaps you should," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "You can call it ‘Everything I Know About Life I Learned in Mandos’."

Now Sador was laughing and Arafinwë looked on in approval. "Do not be overly concerned about all this, yonya," he said. "Take it one day at a time. Trust your instincts, yet don’t be afraid to go to those whom you trust if you have doubts. Netilmírë will be with you and Rúmillion. He is very wise for all that he’s not that old. He was very helpful with Findaráto when my son was a recent Reborn. Did you know that?"

"Oh yes," Sador said with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Rúmilion and his cousins were not shy about telling me all about the kinds of trouble Finrod got into when he first returned to Tirion. I found it rather amusing that he would yell at me for getting into trouble, as if he’d never done anything stupid in his entire life."

"The prerogative of older siblings," Arafinwë replied with a smile. "So, now, let us review your understanding of procedural matters while conducting a meeting of the Assembly...."

****

As promised, Finrod returned to Tirion at the beginning of Coirë, bringing with him the elflings, all dressed in new tabards and looking very proud of themselves. Laurendil and Manwen, well along in her pregnancy, accompanied them, bringing Vondo along. Sador expressed surprise that the ellon had been allowed to leave Lórien so soon again.

"It is a different case than most other Reborn," Finrod explained. "Having met his family before leaving Lórien and interacting with them has hastened his maturity somewhat, or at least that is what Lord Irmo claims. Personally, I think the Lord of Lórien is simply glad to get rid of him for a time. It seems that Vondo has set a new record in the fine art of disruptive behavior for which we Reborn are famous. He still has difficulty with authority and Lord Irmo will not release him permanently from his care just yet. This is just a sort of holiday."

Glorfindel snorted. "Holiday for whom, Vondo or Lord Irmo?"

Finrod laughed. "Who do you think? I heard that even Lady Nienna refused to take him."

There were smiles all around. "That’s not good," Glorfindel said. "Even I benefitted from my time with the Lady of Pity. Do you think his family is going to be any more successful in controlling him than the Valar?"

"Oh, I think so," Finrod said with a nod. "For one thing, all Vondo could talk about was his family: how much he missed them and did they miss him, what was Vorondil doing and was Selmacas treating him right, when was Aldundil returning, and so forth and so on. When Lord Irmo told him that he was being sent back to his family for good, he actually calmed right down and became more cooperative."

"Maybe if Lord Irmo allowed the families of the Reborn to visit them in Lórien while they are still adjusting to living they might mature more rapidly, and be able to leave Lórien sooner," Sador opined. "But, of course, that would only work for those who actually have any family waiting for them." He gave them a sad smile and Glorfindel hugged him.

"You have us," he reminded the ellon. "We’re your family until you can be reunited with your real family."

"Whenever that happens," Sador muttered, but he looked less pensive and when Finrod, attempting to lighten his mood, asked him if Gilvagor had found him a place to live, he brightened visibly and ran to his room to retrieve the drawings of the estate that the warrior had sent him and he and his gwedyr spent a happy hour going over the drawings and discussing the move.

****

It was decided that Sador would move to Tol Eressëa two weeks before the Investiture, which would be held on the eve of Yestarë, the first day of the New Year, thus giving him and his household time to settle in and become acquainted with Kortirion. Finrod and Glorfindel would go with him while Arafinwë and Eärwen would follow later as they meant to travel with Ingwë and Elindis. Ingwion, who arrived in Tirion with his own household four days before the scheduled move, would travel with Sador, Finrod and Glorfindel. He had purchased a townhouse within the city not far from the set of buildings in a small courtyard that had been set aside as the offices of the Assembly.

Kortirion experienced a small population explosion as those who were now on the Assembly made their way to the city, purchasing townhouses to live in while the Assembly was in session. It had been decided that the Assembly would meet four times a year, at the two equinoxes and at the two solstices. In between sessions the day-to-day running of the government would devolve upon Sador’s hand-picked Privy Council, drawn from the Assembly as well as from his own household, who would oversee the various governmental departments, though most of the burden of government would still fall upon the shoulders of the city councils. The Assembly would limit itself to handling trade agreements between the various island communities and the mainland kingdoms, as well as encouraging cultural exchanges. It would also deal with passing laws that would affect the entire island. This was the broad outline of how the new government was to be structured. Everyone was aware of the fact that there would be a period of trial-and-error involved. The new government was not a monarchy and people were still feeling their way through it. It would take time, but everyone was confident that they would be able to hammer out the flaws in the system so that it would run smoothly.

There was a great deal of excitement within the palace in Tirion as the day of the move drew closer and Sador began to panic. The reality of his new status became more conscious to him when his new wardrobe arrived a few days before he was scheduled to leave for Tol Eressëa. In fact, he disappeared entirely and Arafinwë ordered a search of the palace and the city. He was finally tracked down in a small out of the way tavern sitting in a dark corner with several empty flagons of wine on the table before him. He wasn’t quite drunk, but he was getting close. It took a great deal of persuasion on Finrod’s part to get him to return to the palace and only because he was able to convince the ellon that drowning himself in wine was not going to work in the long run.

Finally the day arrived and Arafinwë joined Sador and the others who were leaving as they made their way down the Calacirya to the harbor to see his ward off. Sador was white-faced and silent during the entire trip across the bay. Thankfully, there was little fanfare associated with his arrival, for Arafinwë had sent word ahead that the cavalcade should make its way to Kortirion unmolested by the curious.

"Let’s get him settled first," he explained in a missive to Councillor Dúlinn. "He is already panicking; we don’t want him to panic even more."

So only Dúlinn and his fellow councillors were on hand to greet the new Cáno, as was Gilvagor, who would escort them to Kortirion. The meeting was brief enough so Sador did not feel overwhelmed with the need to engage in polite small talk and they were able to leave Tavrobel in good time, arriving in Kortirion the next day. Gilvagor led them to the estate that had been purchased and everyone spent some time wandering around and admiring it. Netilmírë examined the workshop and kiln and announced herself satisfied with the set up.

"What do you think, inyo?" she asked Sador after they had toured the estate. "Do you think this will do?"

For a moment Sador did not answer, merely staring about him while everyone waited for his answer. Finally, he sighed and went to hug Netilmírë who hugged him back. "As long as you’re here with me," he said softly, "I’ll be fine."

Netilmírë kissed him on the brow and smiled. "We’ll both be fine," she said.

Then Ingwion stated he would be continuing on to the city to get his own household settled. "But I’ll come back in a couple of days to see how you are all doing," he promised and left.

****

And so, the day of the Investiture came. The three Kings and their families arrived together the day before, settling in on Lady Meril’s estate at her insistence. Eärendil and Elwing were also there and it seemed that half the island’s population was streaming into the city for the ceremony. It was to be held in the central plaza so that as many as possible could witness it. A dais had been constructed along one side of the square and a throne-like wooden chair was placed in the middle. It had been specially carved by Brethorn as his gift to Sador. The ceremony itself would be very simple, and Lord Manwë would be the one to invest Sador as Cáno, making it clear to all that the Valar fully approved of him as Tol Eressëa’s new leader.

The day dawned clear, the sky a winter blue, but the breeze that blew was from the southwest and was warm. The city was decked out in streamers and banners and everyone was dressed in their finest festival clothes. Sador, along with Finrod and Glorfindel, rode from the estate into the city followed by an honor guard led by Gilvagor and Haldir. As they entered the square where everyone else was already waiting for them, a choir of elflings led by Finrod’s five and Vorondil broke out in a paean of thanksgiving to Eru, asking Him to bless this day and their endeavors. Sador and the others dismounted at the entrance to the square, their horses led away. Then they made a slow march up the central aisle that had been formed with Sador in front and his two gwedyr directly behind. Gilvagor, Haldir and the rest of the honor guards followed, then spread themselves in a cordon along the bottom of the dais once the three ellyn mounted the steps.

Standing there on the dais were the three High Kings in all their splendor, along with their queens and principal heirs, as well as a few others, such as Beleg, Eärendil and Elwing. Only when they were all on the dais and the choir had concluded its hymn did the Valar, along with Eönwë, make their appearance. Somehow, in spite of the crowding on the dais, it did not appear as if the Valar took up any more room.

As soon as the Valar appeared, Sador and everyone else on the dais made their obeisance to Lord Manwë, while the spectators just stood gaping at the sight of all the Valar together, whispers going back and forth as people tried to guess the identities of beings for whom most were just names. They quickly quieted when Lord Manwë raised his hand and addressed them all, speaking Sindarin, though somehow, even those who knew not the language understood his words.

"This day is a joyous day for us all," he said. "Today, the people of Tol Eressëa come into their own. Today, you are not just Noldorin Exiles or Sindarin and Nandorin refugees, you are not Once-born or Reborn, you are not former slaves or former warriors. Today, you are simply Tol Eressëans who have come together on this day to honor the one who will lead you for a time."

He paused for a moment, smiling benignly, and then continued. "Lord Sador Bronwegion is a scion of three clans, for his adar’s naneth is of mixed Noldorin and Vanyarin blood, while the blood of the Sindar also flows freely in his veins. He is a warrior, recognized as such by your own warriors, initiated into your Warrior’s Society by two whose deeds of valor can never be disputed. He is a Reborn and all that that implies. Since being released from Mandos, he has resided in Tirion as the ward of the Noldóran and is knowledgeable about good government and the art of diplomacy. He is also a potter, recently awarded his journeyman status, and so he is acquainted with what it means to be a craftsman. He is all these things and more, and for all these reasons and more the people who resided at the Winter Solstice Council in Valmar have chosen Lord Sador as Cáno."

Then Manwë turned to Sador standing next to him. "Sador Bronwegion, dost thou of thine own free will accept this office to which thou hast been called by thine own people?"

"I do," Sador declared loudly and without hesitation. He was white-faced and obviously nervous, but he had accepted what was to be.

"Then, I would hear thine oath."

Sador immediately knelt and raised his hands in an attitude of a liegeman to his lord, though Manwë did not cover them with his own. Sador gave his oath first in Sindarin and then in Quenya. "I, Sador Bronwegion, do hereby declare my willingness to lead the people of Tol Eressëa with justice tempered by mercy, with fairness tempered by compassion, in time of plenty and in want, in time of war and in peace, with all my strength and with all my love, until the time when it is meet for me to step down and let another take my place. Valar valuvar."

Even as he was speaking his oath, the elves observed Manwë’s Herald standing between his lord and Sador with a large blue book in his hand, writing the words down. When Sador completed the oath, Manwë spoke.

"And I, Manwë, Elder King of Arda and Vice-gerent of Eru Ilúvatar, do witness and accept thine oath this day in the name of the people of Tol Eressëa."

Then Oromë stepped forward, holding in his hands a blue velvet pillow on which sat a beautifully crafted coronet. It was an intricately shaped circlet of intertwined vines and leaves in white gold with a single sapphire set in the middle. Manwë lifted the coronet so that all might see it.

"With this coronet I crown thee, Sador Bronwegion, and invest thee with the powers and prerogatives of Cáno of the peoples of Tol Eressëa. Bear it well, Child of the Firstborn, and forget not that all authority comes ultimately from Eru Ilúvatar and it is thy responsibility to rule thy people in the shadow of His love."

He reverently placed the coronet upon Sador’s bowed head even as the choir broke into song, a hymn of praise for the Cáno especially written for this occasion. Sador then rose and everyone stepped back to allow him room to walk to the throne and sit. At this time, while the choir continued singing, the Assembly members came to him one by one and offered their allegiance to him, followed by the heads of the town councils and the various Speakers of the Nandor. The heads of the various guilds then approached en masse to speak their oaths to him, followed separately by Saelmir, newly appointed to head the Reborn Council, and by Haldir, now head of the Warrior’s Guild since Brethorn and Gilvagor had resigned their respective offices to sit on the Assembly.

And all the while, Eönwë stood next to the throne and quietly recorded each and every oath.

While this was going on, Ingwion happened to be standing next to Lady Nienna, looking on. She bent down to whisper in his ear. "Do you recognize the coronet?" Her eyes were bright with amusement.

Ingwion gave her a shake of his head. "Should I?"

"Do you remember the elleth who was there working on a project for me the first time you came to me?" Nienna asked.

"Niélë, wasn’t it?" Ingwion answered. Nienna nodded. "Wait! Are you saying that was what she was working on at the time, coming up with a design for Sador’s coronet?"

Nienna gave him a broad smile and nodded. Ingwion’s eyes widened with the implications. "Even then?" he asked in disbelief. "Even then you knew this day would come and it would be Sador....?"

"Contingency plans," Nienna said, giving him a conspiratorial wink.

Ingwion wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he said nothing, merely continuing to watch as various people came to give their oaths to the young ellon who was now their Cáno, seeing Sador — and the Valar — in a wholly different light.

Once the last oath was uttered and recorded, the public part of the ceremony was ended. Pavilions were set up throughout the city where the populace could gather and feast, courtesy of the High Kings and the Valar, while Sador and the other leaders of Eldamar and their families retired to the city hall’s banquet room where they were feted long into the night.

****

Note: Yestarë is 6 April of the Gregorian calendar.