Birth of Ancalimë

After their marriage Aldarion and Erendis toured Numenor for feasts and celebrations. Upon the last feast a ship came from the west with Elves who visited Numenor from time to time. "Thus the Eldar graced the wedding of Erendis, for the love of the people of the Westlands, who were closest in their friendship" (p. 189, Unfinished Tales). And the Elves brought gifts and singers who remembered the songs of Norgothrond and Gondolin so long ago. "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" (p. 189, Unfinished Tales). To Erendis they gave two singing birds who mated for life and would always be by her side and sing if she kept them free. And so it was as she never caged them and they stayed on her window sill.

Two years after their marriage Erendis gave birth to Ancalimë, a daughter. Erendis was glad thinking Aldarion would stay on land even longer wishing for a son as heir to his throne. She feared he would set sail again and with jealous eyes watched whenever he took company with the Venturers. Aldarion was fully devoted to forestry and now the timber supplies in Númenor were great and he truly was master of the forest. "Yet to many beside Erendis it seemed that he had little love for the trees in themselves, caring for them rather as timber that would serve his designs" (p. 191, Unfinished Tales). And Erendis' fears were not contrived as before long Aldarion turned his attention to shipbuilding to make the largest ship yet known to Númenor.

And in a playful tone she said, "'What is all this busyness with ships, Lord of the Havens? Have we not enough? How many fair trees have been cut short their lives this year?'" (p. 191, Unfinished Tales). He replied that he had work to do and more trees were ever planted than cut. "He spoke also in light tone, but he did not look her in the face; and they did not speak again of these matters" (p. 191, Unfinished Tales).

Obviously tension is mounting in this young marriage. Tension that was present before any betrothal even. Erendis is wishing to control her husband; thinking that not having a son would stay his mariner heart, watching jealously whenever he met with other mariners, and speaking "playfully" about his work with ships. And we have already seen in Aldarion, like many men, that when another will is forced upon his own he reacts poorly. I am thoroughly impressed by the authenticity to reality Tolkien has when chronicling this relationship. This is real relational fabric and not a story of lust or fairy-tale romance. And this is precisely why I've always like Tolkien's writing, though fantasy, it is grounded in more reality than most stories.

Middle-earth timeline: Second Age, 870-873

Today's reading comes from: Unfnished Tales, pages 188-191