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all about it; and its sails glimmered with silver as with foam at the stem it
rode towards the harbour. Thus the Eldar graced the wedding of Erendis, for
love of the people of the Westlands, who were closest in their friendship.
Their ship was laden with flowers for
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the adornment of the feast, so that all that sat there, when evening was come,
were crowned with elanor
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and sweet lissuin whose fragrance brings heart's ease. Minstrels they brought
also, singers who remembered songs of: Elves and Men in the days of
Nargothrond and Gondolin long ago; and many of the Eldar high and fair were
seated among Men at the tables. But the people of Andúnië, looking upon the
blissful company, said that none were more fair than Erendis; and they said
that her eyes were as bright as were the eyes of
Morwen Eledhwen of old," or even as those of Avallónë.
Many gifts the Eldar brought also. To Aldarion they gave a sapling tree, whose
bark was snow-white, and its stem straight, strong and pliant as it were of
steel; but it was not yet in leaf. "I thank you," said
Aldarion to the Elves. "The wood of such a tree must be precious indeed."
"Maybe; we know not," said they. "None has ever been hewn. It bears cool
leaves in summer, and flowers in winter. It is for this that we prize it."
To Erendis they gave a pair of birds, grey, with golden beaks and feet. They
sang sweetly one to another with many cadences never repeated through a long
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thrill of song; but if one were separated from the other, at once they flew
together, and they would not sing apart.
"How shall I keep them?" said Erendis.
"Let them fly and be free," answered the Eldar. "For we have spoken to them
and named you; and they will stay wherever you dwell. They mate for their
life, and that is long. Maybe there will be many such birds to sing in the
gardens of your children."
That night Erendis awoke, and a sweet fragrance came through the lattice; but
the night was light, for the full moon was westering. Then leaving their bed
Erendis looked out and saw all the land sleeping in silver; but the two birds
sat side by side upon her sill.
* * *
When the feasting was ended Aldarion and Erendis went for a while to her home;
and the birds again perched upon the sill of her window. At length they bade
Beregar and Núneth farewell, and they rode back at last to Armenelos; for
there by the King's wish his Heir would dwell, and a house was prepared for
them amidst a garden of trees. There the Elven-tree was planted, and the
Elven-birds sang in its boughs.
Two years later Erendis conceived, and in the spring of the year after she
bore to Aldarion a daughter.
Even from birth the child was fair, and grew ever in beauty: the woman most
beautiful, as old tales tell, that ever was born in the line of Elros, save
Ar-Zimraphel, the last. When her first naming was due they called her
Ancalimë. In heart Erendis was glad, for she thought: "Surely now Aldarion
will desire a son, to be his heir;
and he will abide with me long yet." For in secret she still feared the Sea
and its power upon his heart; and though she strove to hide it, and would talk
with him of his old ventures and of his hopes and designs, she watched
jealously if he went to his house-ship or was much with the Venturers. To
Eämbar Aldarion once asked her to come, but seeing swiftly in her eyes that
she was not full-willing he never pressed her again. Not without cause was
Erendis' fear. When Aldarion had been five years ashore he began to busy again
with his
Mastership of Forests, and was often many days away from his house. There was
now indeed sufficient timber in Númenor (and that was chiefly owing to his
prudence); yet since the people were now more numerous there was ever need of
wood for building and for the making of many things beside. For in those
ancient days, though many had great skill with stone and with metals (since
the Edain of old had learned much of the Noldor), the Númenóreans loved things
fashioned of wood, whether for daily use, or for beauty of carving. At that
time Aldarion again gave most heed to the future, planting always where there
was felling, and he had new woods set to grow where there was room, a free
land that was suited to trees of different kinds. It was then that he became
most widely known as Aldarion, by which name he is remembered among those who
held the sceptre in Númenor. Yet to many beside Erendis it seemed that he had
little love for trees in themselves, caring for them rather as timber that
would serve his designs.
Not far otherwise was it with the Sea. For as Núneth had said to Erendis long
before: "Ships he may love, my daughter, for those are made by men's minds and
hands; but I think that it is not the winds or the
great waters that so burn his heart, nor yet the sight of strange lands, but
some heat in his mind, or some dream that pursues him." And it may be that she
struck near the truth; for Aldarion was a man long-sighted, and he looked
forward to days when the people would need more room and greater wealth; and
whether he himself knew this clearly or no, he dreamed of the glory of Númenor
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and the power of its kings, and he sought for footholds whence they could step
to wider dominion. So it was that ere long he turned again from forestry to
the building of ships, and a vision came to him of a mighty vessel like a
castle with tall masts and great sails like clouds, bearing men and stores
enough for a town. Then in the yards of Rómenna the saws and hammers were
busy, while among many lesser craft a great ribbed hull took shape; at which
men won-
dered.
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