RUMOUR: Whispers of War

SUMMARY: As the Valar war against Melkor, the Elves at Cuiviénen are only dimly aware of what is happening.

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'Then the Valar passed over Middle-earth, and they set a guard over Cuiviénen; and therefore the Quendi knew nothing of the great Battle of the Powers, save that the Earth shook and groaned beneath them, and the waters were moved, and in the north there were lights as of mighty fires.' — The Silmarillion, Chapter 3, ‘Of the Coming of the Elves and the Chaining of Melkor’.

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The earth shook for the fourth time during the span of time it took some of the stars to go from horizon to zenith and the waters of Cuiviénen actually receded from the shore only to come rushing back with tree-high waves that nearly swept away those standing on the shore in fear and wonder. Miraculously, or so it seemed to them, none were drowned. Indeed, several little ones were mysteriously swept into unseen arms and carried safely to higher ground. When their parents found them they insisted that ‘bright ones’ carried them to safety, but the parents looked dubious and said nothing, just holding their children close to them, thankful that they were still alive.

"What can this mean?" one of them asked in confusion. "Ever since Lord Oromë left us, the ground has shaken and the waters have moved. Even the sky has brightened as if on fire."

"I know not," said another, hugging close her child. "I only know that nowhere is it safe anymore. Look! That last tremor opened up another rift in the ground." She pointed to where a fissure, beginning at the shore and moving away into the forest that stood along one edge of the bay that was Cuiviénen, had opened up. Water was streaming into the ready-made channel and trees were toppling in all directions as the rift widened.

The two quendir stared in horror and dismay at the waters rushing away and hugged their little ones all the more tightly.

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Finwë glanced at Ingwë and Elwë as the three of them stood on another rise overlooking the bay, surveying the devastation this latest series of tremors had created. They could see flashes of lightning on the horizon and there was the sound of thunder rolling across a sky otherwise clear of clouds. Stars glittered serenely in the eternal dark of Arda, their music high and faint to the ears of the Quendi.

"What do you suppose it must mean?" Finwë asked and the other two shrugged.

"Lord Oromë only said that he must needs return to... Amanaphe... Amanaphel... Aman!" Ingwë finally got out with some exasperation.

Finwë and Elwë grinned. "The language of these Powers is rather difficult to get one’s tongue around, is it not?" Finwë said. "I think ‘Aman’ sounds much nicer."

Ingwë shrugged. "At any rate, Lord Oromë is not here. I think whatever is happening he and the other Powers are involved."

"Why though?" Elwë asked, looking troubled. "Do you suppose it has anything to do with... with the Hunter?"

The other two quendur just shrugged, as unsure of anything as Elwë. "Lord Oromë told us that the Hunter was one of the Powers who has forsaken Eru and wishes us ill." Finwë said. "I imagine that the other Powers have decided to... to meet? Seek? Face? No, those are not the right words." He grimaced in frustration at not being able to express himself clearly.

Ingwë gave him a grin. "I’m sure you will find the right word for what is happening." The Ñoldo clan were well known for their ability to craft beautiful words so Ingwë had no doubt that given time for reflection Finwë or one of the other Ñoldor would come up with an appropriate word. "In the meantime, I suggest we move everyone away from the bay and towards the hills. I think it will be safer."

A fifth tremor, more powerful than the other four, suddenly shook the ground and all around there were cries of panic and distress as quendur and quendir struggled to keep their balance. Little ones cried out in terror. Ingwë lost his balance and would have tumbled off the edge of the rise into a chasm that had opened up beneath them spouting scalding water but somehow he found himself not falling. Instead, he seemed momentarily suspended in midair and then he was standing upright on a flat piece of earth some distance from the rise. He could see Elwë and Finwë staring at him with their mouths gaping. They were both kneeling on the ground and Ingwë could only hope that they were not kneeling to him but simply hugging the earth to prevent themselves from tumbling into the chasm.

The pressure of invisible hands left him and he glanced about, gauging the damage. He noticed that several Quendi who had been sitting in some nearby trees had tumbled out, yet none seemed injured. One was even sitting cross-legged on the ground with the most bemused expression on his face.

By now Finwë and Elwë had run down to him, their own expressions one of fear mingled with awe. Before either could speak though, Ingwë held up a hand. "Let us see to our people," he said. "Time enough for talk later."

The other two nodded and then the three turned to render whatever aid was required.

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Calimo of the People of Námo gave his fellow Máya a smile as they met by the roiling waters of Cuiviénen where several Quendi were struggling to reach the shore after having been swept into the bay by the force of the tremors. "Good save," he said as he invisibly reached out and snagged an adolescent quendu and pulled him out of the water, safely depositing him on the beach where one of the other Children came and helped him to higher ground.

Aldarondur of the People of Oromë gave him a short bow. "Thank you. I almost dropped him when that geyser suddenly shot up, though. It surprised me."

"These tremors are increasing in wrath," Ancalequirindë of the People of Vairë said as she joined her two fellow Máyar by the shore and helped them with rescuing the Quendi still struggling against the undertow. "I wonder how our masters are faring against Melkor?"

"Eönwë will let us know as soon as he is free to do so," Calimo said. "Unless I miss my guess, I imagine they’ve found Utumno by now."

"One can only hope," Aldarondur said. "I wish I were there instead of here."

"Our masters have entrusted us with a more crucial task," Ancalequirindë said. "Protecting these precious Children is of greater importance than joining our fellows in one more war against the Fallen One and his minions. As it is I am unable to fight. I have never regained my full strength after... well after." She grimaced at the memory of the last battle she had been engaged in when the Children’s world was only newly built and Melkor was threatening the destruction of all of Atháraphelun.

The other two Máyar gave her sympathetic looks. "You are correct," Calimo said. "Protecting these Children is more important. Come. I see that Ingwë is ordering everyone further away from the water. Let us see that there are no stragglers."

With that the three Máyar, now joined by several others of their fellows, ranged the area in search of any of the Quendi in need of invisible assistance as Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë led their people to relative safety.

And far to the north the sky was lit as with mighty fires; and the war against Melkor raged on.

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All words are Quenya unless otherwise noted:

Quendir: Plural of quendi: Female Elf. The singular here is not to be confused with the plural Quendi (sg. Quendë), q.v.

Quendi: An older word for the Elves meaning ‘Those who speak with voices’. Eldar, ‘People of the Stars’, was a name given them by Oromë.

Ñoldo: Pronounced ngoldo meaning ‘The Wise’ and the name of the second clan of the Eldar. Known for their love of words.

Quendur: Plural of quendu: Male Elf.

Máya: An older form of Maia. The plural is Máyar. At this time the Elves had no knowledge of them.

Atháraphelun: (Valarin) Arda; usually in reference to our world but technically the solar system as a whole.

Note: Cuiviénen, according to the Elves, was a bay in the inland Sea of Helcar, rather than a lake as many readers suppose.