Tar-Elendil and the Númenóreans Sail East

The fourth King of Numenor was Tar-Elendil who was born in 350 Second Age and died in 751. He was a lover of lore and created many books and legends from the stories his grandfather, Vardamir Nólimon, had collected. He married late in life and had two daughters and a son (the youngest). His eldest daughter, Silmarien, had a son Valandil. "Of Valandil came the Lords of Andúnië, of whom last was Amandil father of Elendil the Tall, who came to Middle-earth after the Downfall" (p. 165, Unfinished Tales). This would be Elendil killed by Sauron (a scene from the prologue of The Fellowship of the Ring) whose son Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand.

It was during Tar-Elendil's reign (not to be confused with Elendil the Tall) that the Númenóreans ventured east on the seas and set foot once again on Middle-earth. Vëantur was the name of the mariner who reached Middle-earth in 600 Second Age. He and his crews were welcomed by Gil-galad, High King of the Elves in Middle-earth, and an alliance was formed. News of their arrival traveled quickly and Men in Eriador were filled with wonder. For they had been east of the great wars of the First Age and thought all Men beyond the western mountains had been killed.

A meeting was arranged for the mariners of Númenor to meet with the Men of Eriador, "...and to that meeting with the Númenóreans came twelve Men only out of Eriador, Men of high heart and courage, for most of their people feared that the newcomers were perilous spirits of the Dead" (p. 213, Unfinished Tales). The Men of Eriador marvelled at how the newcomers resembled the Elvish Lords but a kinship was felt by all. Through great effort, though separated by generations, they found that they could make basic speech together. In time the Númenóreans thought all Men left in Middle-earth were bound to Morgoth's will. "But now they looked upon faces free from the Shadow and Men who could have walked in Númenor and not been thought aliens save in their clothes and their arms" (p. 214, Unfinished Tales). These men were likely descendants of Hador and Bëor who had not crossed over the Blue Mountains into Beleriand during the First Age.

Middle-earth timeline: Second Age, 350-751

Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, pages 219; 213-214