You are a Nolde, yes Almiel? We each of us cannot blame nor praise the line into which we were born. We had no say in the matter. But what we do with that heritage is another issue. We can make our Ancestors proud or shamed.
I know, it was not meant to be that way. Our spirits are strong, strong so little can seriously afflict us. We heal swiftly after most accidents, we are immune to many conditions that bring down the Secondborn, we can communicate with many animals that we can most often pacify them and deflect any misplaced aggression. And we were not meant to perish in battle. We are created immortal. Our spirits are immortal. But alas, part of the Dark Lord’s contribution to Arda is death of the body. Sometimes worse. We are meant to dwell together, all generations, that our numbers grow despite not having the number of children the second race have. I am meant to enjoy the company of the great-great grandchildren of my great-great grandchildren, and more. You should enjoy the company of your great great grandparents and beyond. Some do. Sadly, there are not many. Your folk say you will all eventually be together in the Blessed Realm, after being re-embodied. For our part, we know not of surety. We know not the Valar as your folk claim to do. It is possible that in refusing to follow them, we lost the blessing of the One? Whatever the outcome for us, it was our choice. We did as we believed was right.
Would I go if slain and summoned by the Doomsman now, you ask? I have thought little on the matter, but as some of our people have recently faded from us, it is something I must consider. I do not know this Doomsman, though I know a little of what the Noldor say. Some like him not at all. He was the enemy of one of your Kings, many of my folk say. This is not a matter for us. He has neither helped nor hindered us, to our knowledge. That is my stance. May it be I learn something of him from you?
Ah, you are one who likes him not. I see. Thank you for making me aware of your position.
If I am convinced his call is truly the will of the One, then yes, I will answer. If not, then my spirit may fade and all memory of me retreat into the Great Garden. Time will tell.
Yes, Almiel, I am ‘well’. Memories sometimes weigh heavily, as even one as young as you understand. You lost your family also? My condolences to you. Grief is a long enduring condition. Slain by orcs, you say? I see. I share your grief. Let us stop for a few moments.
My thanks for your consideration. Those minutes helped me gather my thoughts. And you are correct in your assumption. My wife and children were taken by orcs. But let us continue. Some, a few of my people, still hold resentment towards yours. Let me explain. We were one clan, there were no Noldor, just the people of Tata. We were curious and eager to learn, more daring, I dare say, than most of the other two clans. The Minyar praised the star kindler, many of the Nelyar were fascinated by the Lake, and by song, but we wanted to study and create things. When Orome brought us gifts from Aule for the Great Journey, we all were interested. We had long sticks, and simple bows already, but this was the first sight of metal. Those who had chosen to remain were still fascinated by the weapons, and we considered what must be out there, away from Cuivienan, that the Smith of the Valar would arm our folk so. We said that to those determined to depart. ‘Worse faces you than you realise.’ ‘But we are guided and guarded by the Valar’ they replied. We Faithful have never taken to metal where wood sufficed, though our forges can produce metal weapons at need. Yet we were concerned for those who departed
But the heart of our dislike was Finwe convincing around half our number to flee to the safety of Aman. We were all in a struggle. We knew we had an enemy of great power and cunning. We understood he was not only our enemy, but that of life itself, unless it was some twisted half-life he formed. All three Clans resisted him, but it was us, the Tatyar, who bore the brunt. The Third kindred would reinforce our numbers most willingly and bravely, but usually only if any of us had been taken or slain. We were the ones who wandered forth and tried to take down the Shadows before they attacked. To protect ourselves and the land we were awakened in, it was wisdom to understand our enemy as best we could. We were physically the tallest and strongest in general. We were the Guardians of the people. And then, when we needed our full strength, Finwe wanted us to run away to a safe land? How could that be our purpose? We all knew Finwe to be no coward, we could not understand it. And then all of the Minyar said they were leaving. It would be us and around a third of the third kindred who would remain.
You shall be fine here, we were told by those departing. The Dark Lord has been captured and taken to Valinor.
And you go to where he has been taken, was the Remainer’s thought. Morwe even spoke then, that although the one named Morgoth was removed, a vast number of his underlings remained, and would reappear once Orome departed. ‘We shall be half our strength, and the Third Kindred, more numerous though they are, be vastly depleted, and that to hold off lieutenants and captains and armies of darkness. Deserters of your kin at need. Craven cowards, flee to your Undying Land.’
So we were sundered, with no great love left between us. Families were sundered, children and parents, brothers and sisters. We Faithful ones did what we could to fill the void. Those who left us were to become the Noldor. Wise Elves, Deep Elves…deserters.
There is much to say of those times between departure and return. And I shall speak of them in due course. But for now, I will say when the Noldor returned in force, with the light of fury and of the Blessed Realm in their eyes, some of us went out to meet with them.
They were not interested in us, declaring us weaklings, and ill-learned. They said we were jealous of their exalted status. We were the first, they the ‘improved’ version. But had they forgotten that the strongest, most beautiful, most gifted of all elves were the unborn, and those early generations that followed them?
Doomsman - Namo Mandos
