UT Discussion - Aldarion and Erendis

[Earniel]

SUMMARY

Aldarion's Youth

We’re in Númenor, under the reign of Tar-Elendil. Eventually he will relinquish his sceptre to his son Meneldur who will be King for the most part of this story. Tar-Meneldur is considered a gentle soul with a great interest in stargazing and understanding the heavens; a hobby he had to let go to move to Armenelos, the city of Kings, where he would have to turn his mind to the more terrestrial activities of Kingship.

His son Anardil was also a man of great interests, but one seemingly more inclined to pursue these passions rather than Kingship he was to inherit. Aldarion, as he was later known, had inherited a love for the sea from his maternal grandfather Vëantur, and this love was further nurtured by a two year-long voyage when he was 25. Afterwards, Aldarion started to go on more voyages, exploring the coasts of Middle-earth, making at least four great voyages before he turned forty.

This guy was a traveller all right.

Occasionally Aldarion could be gently persuaded to linger at home, such as when his father received the sceptre from Tar-Elendil. But Aldarion’s mind was still on ships, even when he was on dry land. He turned his mind to improving the harbours so he could envision and build larger and larger ships and even prepare for multi-vessel journeys. For this he formed the Guild of Venturers. And eventually he even built himself a boat to live on so he wouldn't have to live on land.

All this did not sit very well with Tar-Meneldur who did not see the merit in these exploits, but as the Queen still supported her son in everything he did, the King mostly let it pass. But he opposed Aldarion indirectly where he could, such as by setting a curb on the felling of trees for ship-building. This only drove Aldarion on more journeys to seek timber elsewhere. He turned to Middle-earth and founded the harbour Vinyalondë.


The King's Heir

The dispute between the King and his son was only brought to rest when Aldarion was proclaimed the King’s Heir. With such a proclamation, a feast was necessarily in order. And it was on this feast that Erendis, a beautiful woman of the Line or Bëor, first entered in the story.

Erendis noticed Aldarion, and apparently like what she saw, even though we do not know whether Aldarion had similar ideas at the time. But if he didn't, the Queen Almarian certainly was going to make sure he would, by having Erendis join her household.

Aldarion’s mind was not yet on marriage -despite suggestions of the King in that direction- and soon afterwards he took to sea again. But not before seeing Erendis. Nevertheless, the lass would have to wait another seven years before they actually would get to meet again.

While Aldarion continued to go on voyages, his father continued to try and keep his son at home, by denying the women of his household to bring Aldarion a Green Bough. This Green Bough was a branch cut from a ever-green tree named oilolairë. This branch was then set upon a vessel’s prow on its departure, in a custom the Númenoreans had taken from the Eldar. Erendis twice helped Aldarion acquire a Green Bough in subterfuge. This move appeared to endear her to him as he returned to Númenor earlier than he had planned Ã*nd with a pricely gift for Erendis.

But eventually Aldarion would set sail in open rebellion against the King’s wishes and in turn Meneldur took counter-measures such as taking away Aldarion’s authority as Lord of the Ships and Havens. Aldarion was not a happy camper when he found this out upon his return and he quickly took to sea again. He took a full 14 years before coming back, during which Erendis decided to return home.

This journey was far from easy and for once Aldarion seemed happy to be home and was even reconciled with the King. He decided not seek out Erendis, but by chance he met her in the forests of the Westlands and finally started to woo her in earnest. This time it was Erendis who's holding back, as she could not help but noticing the differences between them. Wood against sea.

Erendis’ reluctance did not seem to engender much sympathy. Her mother Núneth rebuked her for wanting everything or nothing, and that was high time she saw some grandchildren. Despite Erendis not minding her mother’s advice, she and Aldarion did find themselves bethrothed at the Erukyermë festival later that year.


Finally Married

But good times don’t last and Aldarion started getting antsy again. He tried to get Erendis to come with him, but she declined so he went again alone. His journey was beset by difficulties but Erendis welcomed him courteously and they managed to tie the knot the following year. Even the Eldar came over to join the party and gave Aldarion a white tree and Erendis a pair of birds. Here it became obvious, that despite of having received the name Aldarion, the King’s Heir still thought of trees as material only. He even prized the gifted tree for its wood after which the Elves said they wouldn’t know, since they don’t fell these trees because they preferred the leaves and flowers rather than just the wood.

Two years later Ancalimë, Aldarion's and Erendis' only daughter, was born. This was the height of their marital bliss, and it only went downward from here. When Ancalimë was but four years old, off he went again. This parting caused a significant souring in the marriage and Erendis relocated to Emerië, as far from the sea as she could and she dismissed the birds the Eldar had given her, while Aldarion stayed away far longer than he had promised her. And so Ancalimë grew up in a household of women only, and was taught and instructed by an embittered Erendis.

Upon his return Aldarion found his house empty, and his welcome cold. He left his father with a letter from Gil-galad and travelled to Emerië where his welcome was possibly even frostier. But he did little to address it and left again early the following day. Before he left, he demanded to see Ancalimë, and content to see his daughter had a mind like his own, he commanded her to come to the palace in Armenelos so she would receive a proper training as it was becoming obvious he would not have another heir besides her.

Meanwhile Meneldur read Gil-Galad’s letter and was greatly disturbed. The letter, while praising Aldarion greatly, also spoke of a rising shadow and the prospects of a new war. Meneldur found himself unable to choose a proper path for Númenor and left the sceptre to Aldarion. This, naturally pleased Aldarion, who even as King continued to go on voyages when he desired to do so.


Ancalimë

Ancalimë grew up to a perfect mix of her parents and seemingly more a child of their dispute than of their marriage for she appeared to delight in opposing and vexing the both of them, at the same time if she could. Nevertheless, Aldarion changed the law so that she could become the first Ruling Queen of Númenor. He also decreed that the King’s Heir should only marry within the Line of Elros, in a apparent effort to saveguard future royal marriages from a similar breakdown as his own.

Ancalimë’s life afterwards cannot be called a happy one. Her own marriage started in deceit, as the shepherd she loved when living under cover in Emerië, turned out to be Hallacar, son of Hallatan, also of the Line of Elros who had assumed the guise of a shepherd to meet her. Eventually they were married. Many reasons could be found for this marriage, but love did not appear to have been among them. Indeed, it seemed the Royal family for two more generations nigh descended into inter-family warfare, with Tar-Ancalimë trying to dictate life and marriage of her family-members down to her granddaughters. I take it it was a happy day for the Royal Family when Tar-Ancalimë breathed her last. A bitter end for a story that started so promising.


ALDARION's VOYAGES:

I wanted to see just how many years Aldarion spent away from home since he took up travelling, until he became King. He didn't stop travelling when he did ascend the throne, but it becomes unclear from that time on when and how long he remains at sea.


NÚMENOR[......................................]AWAY AT SEA

25 years (early youth)
[.................................................. .]2 years
3 years
[.................................................. .]3 years
less than 2 years
[.................................................. .]4 years
[...............]several unspecified voyages over a period of 60 years
6 years
[.................................................. .]7 years
unspecified number of years
by counting back I estimate:
about 7 years
[.................................................. .]unspecified but he returns earlier than intended,
[.................................................. .]perhaps 1-2 years?
unspecified number of years
by counting back I estimate:
about 7 years
[.................................................. .]5 years
less than 1 year
[.................................................. .]14 years
18 years
[.................................................. .]6 years
8 years (including marriage)
[.................................................. .]5 years


QUESTIONS

1. Who do you think was eventually a better King, Meneldur who looked no further than the borders of Nùmenor but who managed his land and affairs well? Or Aldarion who spent as much time overseas as he did in Númenor but whose help and endeavours were much appreciated by Gil-galad in the fight against the rising Sauron, even though much of his efforts went to naught?

2. For all Aldarion’s taste for sea-voyages, he did not once look to travel west. Why? Was this the injunction of the Valar at work, then why did he not rebel against it, as he did against any order that barred his path?

3. The ships of Númenor continued to sail under the assumed protection of the Valar, and Uinen was held in high esteem but do you think the Valar actually influenced any event in the story of Aldarion and Erendis? If so, what?

4. Did Aldarion really love the sea, or did he see it more as something to conquer, a method merely than a reason to do his own thing and not be beholden to anyone?

5. Was the fact that Erendis came from the Line of Bëor (and therefore had a shorter lifespan) an important factor in the rift between her and Aldarion? Do you think they could have overcome this if they had tried?

6. Aldarion increasingly ran into unfavourable currents and bad weather as he continued to journey away from Númenor. His works on the Middle-earth continent continually suffered set-backs, ruin and attacks. Was this a sign of the displeasure of the Valar for disobeying his father? If so they succeeded only in keeping Aldarion longer away from home. But as is later revealed in the story, Aldarion did provide worthwile aid to Gil-galad, even as his own projects continued to fail. May this actually have been the intent all along?

7. Tolkien writes: “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 and the power of its kings, and he sought for footholds whence they could step to wider dominion.” Would you agree with this assessment of Aldarion’s character?

8. When Erendis’ parents see that Erendis has sent off the birds, Núneth says a curious thing: “And may the Valar send her wisdom – or guile, at the least!” Why would she want Erendis to have guile? Why would Erendis need to deceive Aldarion upon his return?

9. It is curious to see that Gil-Galad appears to have a better relationship with Aldarion than Aldarion has with his father. Would this be because Aldarion’s travels fitted well into Gil-Galad’s efforts and there was less friction between their own goals? Or did Aldarion just find it easier to share what was on his mind with one of the Eldar than one of his own people?

10. If Erendis had gone with Ancalimë back to Armenelos when Tar-Meneldur asked her to, would this have had any influence of the rift between her and Aldarion, who would now be king?

11. What do you think happened when Erendis at last sought out Aldarion again, when the records only mention: “Erendis perished in water in the year 985.” Do you think Aldarion had a hand in it?