145: A Releasing of Oaths

The festivities in Kortirion continued for a week. During that time, meetings were held between Sador and his advisors, as well as with the Assembly members, in which they hammered out the rights, obligations and authority of the Cáno and the Assembly with respect to the city councils as well as with the mainland kingdoms. Ingwion was formally acknowledged as the Valar’s emissary.

“This is not the first time I’ve acted as an emissary, you know,” he confided to Sador after the ceremony recognizing Ingwion’s status. “Atar sent me to Tirion some years before the Darkening to act as his emissary.”

“Did you miss your family?” Sador asked.

“Oh yes, terribly,” Ingwion said, “but at the same time I enjoyed the challenge. I was even sorry that I had to leave.”

“Why did you have to leave?”

Ingwion’s expression became somewhat bleak. “The Trees died,” he said softly, “and everything changed.”

Sador did not know what to say to that, so he merely gave the ellon a hug.

Not everyone was happy with the new Cáno, however. A small delegation approached him two days after the Investiture, during a public audience where various groups could meet and speak briefly with Sador, taking his measure. Such audiences had been scheduled throughout the week. At this particular audience, most of the time was taken up with speaking to various heads of the guilds, but in the midst of the interviews with the guildmasters a group of ellyn and ellith, who were of the younger generations, approached Sador. Their leader introduced himself as one Gil-estel, who, when asked, admitted that he had been named after Eärendil’s Star, having been born shortly after the War of Wrath.

“And what is your purpose in meeting with me?” Sador asked politely, for the other members of the group belonged to no particular guild or seemed to have anything in common other than that they were all young, most admitting to being not more than a yén or so old.

“We are concerned by the fact that there was no consultation with the rest of the inhabitants of Tol Eressëa before you were foisted on us,” Gil-estel replied. “We wondered what made you so special that you were chosen as Cáno before anyone else and you’re not even from Tol Eressëa. I’m older than you are, I am very familiar with the ways of my people, I have sat in on the city councils of Kortirion and Avallónë and have studied the Laws and Customs by which we govern ourselves, so why am I not deemed acceptable as Cáno and you are?”

“That goes for the rest of us,” one of the elleth, who introduced herself as Gil-estel’s sister, Gilmíriel, said. “What have you done that we haven’t that makes you so special?”

There was no belligerence in either Elf’s tone, just honest confusion.

Sador sighed and glanced around at the others listening to the conversation. There were the three High Kings of Eldamar along with their heirs. Glorfindel, Eärendil and Elwing were also in attendance, as were many of the Assembly members. His anamillë stood next to him. The Valar were absent as they had been since the Investiture. Most of the listeners had sympathetic expressions on their faces. A few, such as Finrod and Glorfindel, were openly amused. He turned back to Gil-estel and the others.

“What you say is true, and under other circumstances my qualifications would be less than any of yours, but there is one thing I have done that none of you have, and that, apparently, makes the difference.”

“What is that?” Gill-estel asked.

“I died,” Sador replied simply, “and now I can count the Lord of Mandos as one of my personal friends.”

Glorfindel snorted while Finrod simply rolled his eyes. Arafinwë smiled broadly, Netilmírë raised an eyebrow and Brethorn, who happened to be in attendance, smirked, muttering something about name-droppers to Ingwion who was standing next to him. Ingwion struggled to keep his expression bland, but the brightening of his eyes gave him away. Gil-estel and Gilmíriel and the others in their group gaped at Sador and the calm, knowing gaze that he gave them, his eyes shadowed by memories too dark for these young elves to comprehend, affected them deeply.

“So, you are saying that... um... dying is a prerequisite to becoming Cáno?” Gilmíriel asked faintly.

Sador shook his head. “No, but it helps.”

The ingenuousness of that statement was too much and several people broke up in laughter. Netilmírë leaned down and gave Sador a kiss on the top of his head, thereby causing him to blush, much to everyone’s amusement.

****

By the end of the week, it was time for everyone to leave and for Sador and the new Assembly to get down to the business of governing. There were teary farewells on all sides, and promises to keep in touch.

“Don’t be afraid to call on me if you need to,” Arafinwë said to Sador when he and Eärwen were making their farewells to him in private. “You are no longer my ward, of course, but you are still my heart-son, and you will always be family.”

“And when in doubt, just follow your heart,” Eärwen advised, giving him a tender kiss and a hug.

“Thank you, both of you,” Sador said fervently. “Knowing that you are there makes all this bearable.”

“You’ll do just fine, yonya,” Arafinwë said with a smile, giving him his own hug. “Just remember the first rule of governing: You are always right, but only when you are not wrong.”

Sador grinned. “I’ll remember. I love you, Atya, Ammë.”

“We love you, too,” Arafinwë and Eärwen said and they both gave him a final kiss before departing.

Others also made private farewells. Glorfindel, Beleg and Alassiel all saw Sador alone. Finrod brought the elflings and Vorondil with him. Sador spent much time speaking to each of them, cautioning them to be mindful of what they had learned in the last year and to never forget him. Veryandur hesitantly offered to leave Narmollë behind to keep Sador company.

“So you won’t be lonely,” the ellon said.

Sador smiled and gave him a fierce hug. “Thank you, but I already have a stuffed toy of my own that Atar Arafinwë gave me, so you keep Narmollë. I’m sure he would be much happier with you than with me, anyway.”

Veryandur looked relieved and then the visit was over. Finrod gave Sador a hug and a kiss. “You know where to find me if you need me. I’ll see you in Tirion at Mid-summer.”

****

At the same time that the Ingaran and the Noldóran and their people were making their way to Tavrobel to take ship to the mainland, Olwë and the Telerin delegation left for Avallónë, for they were returning to Alqualondë by way of Falmaron’s ship. Falmaron would then make his way back to Aewellond before continuing his mapping expedition. Eärendil and Elwing and those of Aewellond who had accompanied them were returning to Vanyamar with Ingwë and Elindis, for that is where Vingilot was moored. When they came to Tirion, Ingwë spent a few days consulting with Arafinwë on matters of state, before he and the Vanyar, along with Finrod, Glorfindel, Eärendil and Elwing, continued on to Vanyamar. There, Finrod would release the elflings back to their families. Then Eärendil, Elwing and Glorfindel would sail back to Aewellond on Vingilot. They did not linger in Valmar but pushed through, arriving in Vanyamar late in the evening, though they were expected, for Ingwë had sent a messenger ahead to warn those whom he had left in charge.

Finrod had made his own arrangements for releasing the elflings from his care, creating a brief ceremony with Glorfindel’s help. The ceremony was to be held at sunset on the day after their arrival. The elflings were scrubbed to within an inch of their lives and dressed in their newly cleaned and pressed page’s tabards. Finrod was dressed formally in a robe of deep blue velvet heavily embroidered on the front with his personal device of a harp and torch. His hair was carefully braided and on his head he wore a circlet of gold with a single sapphire cabochon.

Glorfindel, acting as his second, was also formally dressed, wearing the garb he had worn to his audience with Lord Manwë on that fateful trip to Valmar when he had been kidnapped. Eärendil, Elwing, Ingwë and Elindis were also present, adding an air of solemnity to the ceremony, for the High King and Queen were regally dressed and Eärendil wore the Silmaril.

The parents were informed earlier in the day of the ceremony and their part in it, and advised to dress appropriately for the occasion. The ceremony itself would take place in Ingwë’s small audience chamber, a more intimate setting than the main throne room. As the hour approached, the parents arrived and were escorted to the chamber where Ingwë and Elindis greeted them and introduced them to Eärendil and Elwing. Glorfindel then came in and, acting as herald, announced Finrod’s arrival.

“His Highness, Findaráto Arafinwion, haryon Noldórano, once King of Nargothrond.”

Finrod then entered, carrying a sword in its sheath, followed by the elflings with Glorfindel bringing up the rear. Upon seeing their children, the parents instinctively started towards them, but a quick word from Ingwë stayed them. To the children’s credit, they did not acknowledge their parents’ presence, but kept their eyes on Finrod’s back. Finrod made his way to where Ingwë and Elindis were standing before their thrones and gave them his obeisance, as did the elflings and Glorfindel. Then, as they had rehearsed earlier, the children stepped to the right and into a line, facing their parents.

Finrod, standing before the thrones, turned to speak to the parents, his expression both glad and sorrowful. “This past year has seen many changes in your families,” he said, “and perhaps in the beginning you thought these changes were detrimental. I know you have missed your children terribly, as they have missed you, but I think you will find that your joy in your children will deepen now that they are returned to you. The children have been a delight and I feel privileged to have had a hand in their upbringing, if only for this little time. They have grown in many ways. They have had many adventures and have seen more of their world than is usual for ones so young. Their horizons have expanded and you may find that they will have their own ideas about what they want to do with their lives. For now, though, it is time for them to return to the bosom of their families, and to be guided by you once again.”

He withdrew the sword from its sheath, handing the sheath to Eärendil, who stepped forward to receive it. Glorfindel then called for Sorondil and Lindorillë to approach their lord. The siblings came and knelt before Finrod, who held the sword point-down before him. He gazed fondly at the two who looked up at him with adoration, a far cry from a year ago when they had looked upon him with fear and trembling.

“Wouldst thou, Sorondil, and thou, Lindorillë, be released from your oaths to me?” Finrod asked.

“Nay, lord,” Sorondil replied on cue, “for we love thee, yet we love our parents also and would be reunited with them. It will be as thou dost think best.”

“Then I will release you from your oaths but not from my love,” Finrod replied. He then nodded and Sorondil and Lindorillë placed their hands upon the sword hilt, tears streaming down their cheeks. “Upon this sword ye did swear your oaths of service to me,” Finrod continued. “Ye have been good and faithful vassals and I would fain keep you in my service, but the time hath come for you to return to your family, and so I, Findaráto Arafinwion, once King of Nargothrond, do formally release thee, Sorondil, and thee, Lindorillë, from all oaths to me. Yet, if a time comes when ye would renew your oaths, I will gladly accept them, but know that whatever you decide you will always have my love.” He then gave the sword to Glorfindel and bent down to raise Lindorillë up, giving her a kiss as between liege and vassal, and then did the same with Sorondil. He then turned to where the children’s parents were standing, an arm around each child.

“Here are your children returned to you,” he said. “Receive them joyfully.” He gave the children a small push and then they were in their parents’ arms, with tears of joy all around. When they were calmer, Finrod turned to receive the sword from Glorfindel, who then called Oromendil to step forward. The ceremony was the same and then it was Eruanna’s turn.

When it came time for Veryandur to be released, though, the youngest of the elflings was too wrought with emotion to answer Finrod correctly. He just clutched Narmollë tightly to him and shook his head, trying hard not to cry and failing miserably. Finrod smiled down at him and, after handing the sword back to Glorfindel, he took the elfling up into his arms and walked over to where Veryandur’s parents were standing.

“Here is your son,” he said to them. “He has been a joy and a delight and has brightened many a dull day with his cheerfulness. He is a treasure and I will sorely miss him.” He then kissed the still weeping child on the brow and gently handed him over to his amillë who accepted him gladly, mouthing a thank you to Finrod who simply nodded and then turned around, taking the now sheathed sword back from Glorfindel, who smiled at him and nodded in approval. Finrod took a moment to pull himself together and then turned to Ingwë, giving him a bow.

“Thank you for allowing us this time, Uncle,” he said.

“You are most welcome,” Ingwë replied with a smile. “And now, I think a small celebration is in order. Ceremonies always make me hungry,” he gave the adults a wink and there was gentle laughter among them. “We have prepared a small feast for you,” he said to the parents. “The children are eager to show off their new skills to you and will act as pages this one last time.” He and Elindis then stepped down from the dais. Elindis invited them all to follow her to where the feast would be held, the children, including a now calm Veryandur, going with Glorfindel to attend to their duties.

The meal was elegant in its simplicity, yet there was no doubt in the parents’ minds that they were being royally treated. They were impressed by their children’s courtly manner and Eruanna’s atar wondered aloud how any of the children would be able to return to their previous lives. Ingwë informed them that he would continue to see to their education as pages in the royal court as well as elsewhere, assuring the parents that if the children wished to pursue certain careers then he would see that they received the necessary education, including admission into the Royal Academy. The parents were naturally astounded by the king’s offer and thanked him for his interest in their children.

“I have as much of an interest in their lives as Findaráto,” Ingwë said, “seeing as how I permitted him to take the children into his service. They are, after all, my subjects, not his. I merely… loaned them to him.” He cast Finrod a warm smile which the ellon returned.

When the feast was over Finrod gave each of the children a hug and presented them with a small gift: a pendant with his personal device on the front and the child’s name etched on the back. “If ever you need me, send this pendant to me or to King Arafinwë, and I will come, but it has to be for a very good and important reason,” he told them, “not just because you miss me.”

Then with grateful thanks, the parents led their children away, Veryandur waving farewell.

“Well, that’s over with,” Finrod said with a heavy sigh.

Glorfindel threw an arm around his shoulders. “You’ll miss them and they’ll miss you, but at least you don’t have an ocean between you. You’ll see them often enough in the years to come and when they are of an age I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them ask to take service with you again.”

“Glorfindel is correct,” Ingwë said. “Take comfort in knowing that you were as good and faithful a lord to them as they were good and faithful vassals to you. You should be very proud of yourself, yonya.”

Finrod nodded, but his expression was still unhappy.

****

The next morning, while Eärendil, Elwing and Glorfindel were making their own farewells, Eönwë appeared, startling them all. He bowed to them and silently handed Glorfindel a fine piece of vellum sealed with the eagle device of Manwë. Glorfindel stared at the piece of parchment for a moment.

“What is this?” he asked the Maia.

“You will have to open it to find out,” Eönwë replied with an amused look on his face.

Hesitating for another moment, Glorfindel finally reached for his knife and slit the seal, opening the missive, silently reading its contents. Everyone there saw him go nearly white and both Finrod and Earendil had to grab him to keep him upright. Ingwë gave the ellon a shrewd look and turned to Eönwë.

“The last time Glorfindel received a missive from one of the Valar it was from Lord Námo admonishing him to behave. What has he done now?”

Eönwë actually laughed. “Nothing that I know of,” he answered. “This is merely the invitation Glorfindel has been waiting for. Lord Manwë has finally asked him to come to Ilmarin to speak with him.”

“Olórin once told me that if I went to Ilmarin I wasn’t to go alone,” Glorfindel said faintly.

“Nor should you,” Eönwë replied with a nod. “I was told to ask Lord Eärendil to accompany you and you may ask one other to come as well.”

Glorfindel glanced mutely at Finrod who nodded.

Eönwë smiled. “Make your way to Ilmarin in your own time. Lord Manwë will expect you when you arrive.” Then he was gone, leaving a troubled Glorfindel behind.

“What do you think Lord Manwë wants with me now?” he asked in a small voice.

“Nothing bad, I assure you,” Eärendil said with a smile.

Glorfindel gave him a searching look. “Is there something I should know?”

“When I was here before, Lord Manwë and I had a long discussion,” Eärendil stated. “We spoke of many things, not the least being you.”

“Me?” Glorfindel went pale again.

“You are, after all, under my, shall we say, guardianship, are you not?” the Mariner reminded him. Glorfindel grimaced but did not contradict him. “You are as much my responsibility as is anyone else who lives in Aewellond and Lord Manwë wished to be assured that you were happy there. He is aware of how restless your spirit is at times.”

“When do you want to leave?” Finrod asked Glorfindel.

Now the ellon looked troubled again. “I... I don’t know.” He gave them an anguished look.

“Eönwë said to go when you are ready,” Ingwë reminded him. “I think you will not be leaving for Aewellond today, so why don’t you go now while the day is still young? Take your time. The climb will steady you and you will arrive in a better frame of mind than you are now.”

When Glorfindel still hesitated, Finrod took him by the shoulders. “This is what you have been wanting for some time now, Glorfindel. Do not fret, for I will be with you, and Eärendil. You will not be alone.”

Glorfindel nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’m just being stupid.”

“No, not stupid. Never that,” Finrod said and gave him a fierce hug. “Well, let’s go then, if we’re going.”

“We’ll leave a candle burning for you,” Ingwë said with a smile.

Eärendil gave his crew some orders and Vingilot was secured. Then, after giving Elwing a kiss, he joined Glorfindel and Finrod as they set off for Ilmarin.

****

The journey up the mountain did indeed steady Glorfindel. As the three made their way along the tree-lined walk, across a bridge surrounded by rainbows and past a towering waterfall, they speculated about what Lord Manwë’s reason for inviting Glorfindel to Ilmarin now might mean but they could draw no conclusions and finally Eärendil said that they would learn soon enough.

Reaching the gates with the eagle statues, Glorfindel stopped and gazed into the courtyard where the statue of Varda stood eternally holding up a miniature blazing star. He paled and his eyes were full of emotions that he was hard-pressed to understand or identify. Finrod and Eärendil did not hurry him, but gave him the space he needed, their expressions ones of concern and compassion rather than impatience.

“The last time I was here,” Glorfindel finally said, never taking his eyes off the gateway, “I was sick and weary and in such pain and all I could think was I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be on the mountain and I needed to get off it before anyone found me.”

Finrod gave him a hug, trying to comfort him. “It wasn’t your fault, you being here then,” he said softly. “No one thinks badly of you because you were. That was beyond your control.”

“I was so scared,” Glorfindel whispered and began shaking, trying hard not to let go.

Eärendil then took him in his embrace. “Of course you were,” he said in a gentle tone, “and you had every right to be, but that was then and this is now and now you are invited. There is nothing to fear.”

Glorfindel nodded, wiping the tears from his eyes with his hands. “I’m sorry. It... it just suddenly came rushing back. I thought I’d put all that behind me.”

“I doubt you ever will, my friend,” Eärendil said with a smile. “That sort of experience... one never truly ever recovers from it. One can only put it in perspective, accept that it happened and move forward.”

“Thank you,” Glorfindel said sincerely, pulling himself together, “both of you.”

“It’s why we’re here, gwador,” Finrod said with a smile. “Are you ready to go in?”

Glorfindel nodded. “Let us see what Lord Manwë has to say to me.”

He squared his shoulders, straightening his tunic and stepped through the gate under the watchful eyes of the silent, still statues of the eagles. Finrod and Eärendil followed him.