The continuance of Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth. Finrod felt that Men should see Death as a release, a going home, so to speak. Andreth still could not view Death in this way; she felt that this disharmony (that the body dies and the spirit lives on) was unnatural. Men had only thought of their bodies and spirits dwelling ever together in joy. This sparked a new thought, tidings of great joy, in the mind of Finrod: "'This then, I propound, was the errand of Men, not the followers, but the heirs and fulfillers of all: to heal the Marring of Arda, already foreshadowed before their devising; and to do more, as agents of the magnificence of Eru: to enlarge the Music and surpass the Vision of the World! For that Arda Healed shall not be Arda Unmarred, but a third thing and a greater, and yet the same'" (p. 318, Morgoth's Ring). For refresher purposes Arda and Middle-earth are synonymous.
He spoke on about how the Valar, mighty as they are, did not know the End of the Song they had sung in the beginning. Seeing how Eru is free since He is the One Finrod thought that he could have unrevealed plans yet for Arda. Andreth asked about, as she coined it, the supreme moment of Eru. Finrod described the image of Arda Remade that formed in his mind when Andreth spoke of the body and spirit living together. Since Arda would be Remade, through Eru's redemption of Man, the Elves would not end, since they are confined to Middle-earth, and they would spend eternity walking the hills and singing to Men, their deliverers. Andreth asked what they would sing which made Finrod laugh. His best guess would be the songs of Arda before Men came to be: of great deeds such as the making of the Silmarils. Still Andreth said "'We look for no Arda Remade: darkness lies before us, into which we stare in vain'" (p. 320, Morgoth's Ring). To which Finrod asked a very important question: "'Have ye then no hope?'" (p. 320, Morgoth's Ring).
I think this is a fundamental question to humanity and not just in Middle-earth. What is our hope? Your hope and mine? Is that hope worthy of placing one's faith into? Finrod and Andreth's discussion of hope is the most applicable aspect of their debate for me. "'What is hope?' she said. 'An expectation of good, which though uncertain has some foundation in what is known? Then we have none.' 'That is one thing that Men call "hope",' said Finrod. 'Amdir we call it, "looking up". But there is another which is founded deeper. Estel we call it, that is "trust". It is not defeated by the ways of the world, for it does not come from experience, but from our nature and first being. If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of Estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End: of all His designs the issue must be for His Children's joy'" (p. 320, Morgoth's Ring).
Andreth felt that Men had been cast off forever by Eru and therefore Estel did not have a place among them which greatly distressed Finrod. He felt she confused the matter of what hope actually was by seeing akin to a dream while waking reality more certain. She conceded to Finrod that there were those among Men of the Old Hope and he wanted to know more about them. "'They say' answered Andreth: 'they say that the One will himself enter Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end'" (p. 321, Morgoth's Ring). Andreth did not count herself among those of the Old Hope. For she, and many, saw the world as fight between Light and Dark (with Manwë and Melkor equally powerful in the struggle). Whereas Eru may be more powerful but He does not reside in Middle-earth therefore He is like a king who leaves his realm in the hands of stewards. In this case, Andreth implied, it was not known which steward would win the kingdom. Finrod felt that her words were tinged by lies of Morgoth: "'But which, think you, is more likely to lie: those who make themselves humble, or he that exalts himself?'" (p. 321, Morgoth's Ring).
Andreth then asked how it could be that Eru could enter into that which He created, that which is He is far greater than? "'He is already in it, as well as outside,' said Finrod" (p. 322, Morgoth's Ring). Still Andreth was confused for the Old Hope stated that Eru would enter into Middle-earth and it seemed to her that would utterly destroy the world being greater. Finrod responded: "'But such words may not be used of the Measureless. If Eru wished to do this, I do not doubt that He would find a way, though I cannot foresee it. For, as it seems to me, even if He in Himself were to enter in, He must still remain also as He is: the Author without. And yet, Andreth, to speak with humility, I cannot conceive how else this healing could be achieved. Since Eru will surely not suffer Melkor to turn the world to his own will and triumph in the end. Yet there is no power conceivable greater than Melkor save Eru only. Therefore, Eru, if He will not relinquish his work to Melkor, who must else proceed to mastery, then Eru must come in to conquer him. More: even if Melkor (or the Morgoth that he has become) could in any way be thrown down or thrust from Arda, still his Shadow would remain, and the evil that he has wrought and sown as seed would wax and multiply. And if any remedy for this is to be found, ere all is ended, any new light to oppose the shadow, or any medicine for the wounds: then it must, I deem, come from without'" (p. 322, Morgoth's Ring).
Andreth asked Finrod if he was ready to believe in that Hope. He could not say yet for now ideas like this had ever been given to the Elves; this message came to Men only. Indeed, Finrod felt that perhaps it was ordained for Men and Elves to meet to bring news to one another and thus find Hope that would span the gulf that divided the two races. This made Andreth wept. At this point the conversation changes to another topic not of eschatological nature. In the midst of this new conversation it's revealed why Andreth, at many times, was rather harsh during the debate. For Andreth loved Aegnor, Finrod's brother, and she felt her love was scorned: "'I was young and I looked on his flame, and now I am old and lost. He was young and his flame leaped towards me, but he turned away, and he is young still'" (p. 324, Morgoth's Ring). Finrod assured Andreth that Aegnor did love her and for her sake would take no other bride. This comforted her little as she wondered why Aegnor would not then take her to wife for a little time. Finrod's answer was because while close in nature, Elves and Men are not the same: "'...if any marraige can be between our kindred and thine, then it shall be for some high purpose of Doom. Brief it will be and hard at the end'" (p. 324, Morgoth's Ring).
Finrod revealed that he and his brother had little hope that the siege of Angband would long contain Morgoth and while peace lasted Aegnor was comforted by the memory of Andreth in her spring as he explained to her: "'...we (if not ye) would rather have a memory that is fair but unfinished than one that goes on to a grievous end'" (p. 325, Morgoth's Ring). As Finrod prepared to leave Andreth asked that he take a message to Aegnor; not to be reckless nor to seek danger. "'I will tell him,' said Finrod. 'But I might as well tell thee not to weep. He is a warrior, Andreth, and a spirit of wrath. In every stroke that he deals he sees the Enemy who long ago did thee this hurt'" (p. 325, Morgoth's Ring). There is so much good stuff in Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth that I can only skim the surface. I love the idea of Estel that was spoken of; how it is not defeated by the ways of the world but comes from deeper within. Plus Estel will be a very key character in the future of Middle-earth and he is a man not an Elf. As I quote liberally from the text each time I type Morgoth's Ring I am reminded, in this essay, that Middle-earth itself was his ring; as the One Ring is to Sauron. I think it was interesting how Finrod noted that even if Morgoth could be defeated and taken from Middle-earth the malice of his shadow would never be gone unless the One enters in and remakes the world.
Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 409
Today's reading comes from: Morgoth's Ring, pages 317-326
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