Tianwen·Magweth Pengolodh

name? "Rumil asked.

"I'll call it 'Song of the Rock,' Ondolindi."

"Good name," said Rumir, bowing politely.

After Turgon left, Rumir complained to me before I left: "Turgon is wise in every way, except for one thing - he is not a master of words. That city name is absolutely useless."

"Why doesn't it work?" I asked.

"Read it aloud. Onde-O-Lindy. There's that mora in the middle that speaks as badly as my legs. Oh, well, I'm not going to correct him. After all, he's in Courage was shown on the ice, and I chose to follow him because of what he did. If the name of the city should be changed, the people who use it will. Just wait and see." As it turned out, Rumir That's right.The founders of the valley soon invented a new nickname.They translated the Quenya city name taken by Turgon into Sindarin, and it became "Gondolin".

Before long, the name was successfully included in the letters they sent.When it was publicly known that only this one name was used, Turgon accepted it too.He could have forced people to keep his old name, but when Rumir finally mentioned it to him, I remember his answer.That's one of the noblest self-assured words I've ever heard: "They've got the heart and the meaning of that name. I don't mind—why should I? They're acting like they think 'Tour The words 'gong' and 'king' signify the same thing. They are obeying me; they leave the temple built here, and the free life of the seashore, all for the sake of my word. Whatever they call it What, in the end, there is no doubt that I am right."

If you want to hear the stories of the good-looking nobles, I must speak of other characters, not limited to Turgon's private council.I've heard mortals say that elves are considered adults at 50.Actually, that could be anywhere between 48 and 60.Elven women are thought to come of age earlier, but we say they are born wiser.I had lived 60 years when Rumir asked me to accompany him to a feast.

Turgon's people were not the only ones who chose to build big.Then the Elves were young and strong under the rising sun.The subjects of another king, Finrod, hollowed out a mountain and dug out a kingdom.Finrod thus earned the name Felagund, Lord of the Caves, and his kingdom was Nargothrond.Finrod gave a banquet in honor of Nargothrond, and Turgon and his kin were invited.Turgon took his sister, but left his daughter as the princess of the country, and Glorfindel, one of his lords, to handle political affairs.He went to Nargothrond with the strictest attendants and staff officers, including Rumir, and I, as his assistant, had to go too.

In later years I regretted that I had not seen more of the splendor of Beleriand and the splendor of the Elven-lands.The banquet in Nargothrond only gave me a glimpse of it.Fingolfin the High King remained in his fortress and ruled the army, and was not present, but most of the nobles of the Noldor were there, and among them was Aegnor the Great, a warrior with hair like bronze flames, and tall as a golden tree Beautiful sister Galadriel.She had just married a Sindarin nobleman - the handsome Celeborn.Proudly newlywed, and dressed in silk and pearls in the Sindar style, she caused a stir among the ladies in our party.At one end of the VIP seat gathered several of the sons of Fëanor, handsome in their own way—black-haired Karanthir, fair-skinned Kurufin, and the twins Amrod and Amrath.Their elder brother Maglor opened the feast with a song.

Rumir was lucky enough to have a seat in the VIP section, where most of the people who sat there were real nobles.The custom at that time was to be served by attendants during the banquet, and each nobleman had a servant.I am still an apprentice and it is my duty to serve, so I am also in the ranks of servants.As soon as I opened the seat for Rumir and took his crutch, I heard his name called.A clear voice called: "Rumir of Tirion! So the legend is true, and I am not the only one who came back alive from Angband. I will sit beside you."

Rumir sat up and hissed at me, "It's Maedhros! Firstborn of the dispossessed family."

I turned away eagerly at once.In those days the legend of Maedhros was known to all the Noldor.He survived the torment of Morgoth, and was rescued by Fingon, his closest friend.That rescue was hopeless.Fingon found Maedhros hanging from a cruel precipice, and had to cut off his friend's wrists to free him.The only flaw in Maedhros' body is a broken wrist, and apart from that, he is a glorious man.He was as tall as a tower, and his well-fitting black and silver gray clothes set off his graceful figure. What's more, he had an upright and firm face. Eye-catching like the fur of a red fox.Indeed, he was radiant, and the brilliance in his eyes was formidable, like the light of Aman too pure—wait, you've never seen a light like that.It is like a flash of light reflected off a sharp edge of pure steel.Knowing Rumir well I felt doubly that Maedhros was a miracle: he escaped from the torments of Thangorodrim and yet remained so beautiful--that was beyond handsome.I was overwhelmed, bowed halfway, returned to my serving position and stood up.And Maedhros didn't even look at me a second time.

However, when the noble prince was seated, his squire came and stood beside me, with a friendly wink.A squire in the service of such a member of the royal family had to be imposing in those days, and he was, though he was not as tall as I was.Judging from his auburn hair, he is likely to be a distant relative of Maedhros.He told me his name was Lodendil.Seeing how young I was, he asked me if it was my first time at such a banquet, and said he would show me how to do it that night.He did what he said, and it was brilliant.At that time I was grateful to have him as an example.And it sounded like the most convenient thing to be around while those two extraordinary survivors discussed their harrowing experiences.

"I have heard that you escaped from Thangorodrim by yourself much better than I did," said Maedhros.

"It's strange, I don't feel that way at all. You see, I only have to put up with him for a short moment," Rumir replied.He didn't explain who "he" was, because it was bad luck to have an evil name overshadow the feast. "Besides, we slaves are not imprisoned on a cliff like you, and we have something to eat—not much, I should point out," he said, taking more bread, and turning the tray of bread Passing it to Maedhros, "I have a wolf's appetite just thinking about it. I'm surprised you don't eat more."

"I've never had that habit," said Maedhros coldly.But he was Rumil's student after all, so he still took the bread handed to him. "Besides, you are toil, and I am tormented."

"You know, we slaves talked about you," Rumir went on, "and so did our guards."

Maedhros looked bright, and asked with a painful longing, "What did they say?"

"Those who haven't broken up say your survival and escape prove that even with his eyes on it's still possible. The guards curse your name because you inspire hope. They say, It's taking so much longer to tame us." Romil grinned derisively.

Maedhros leaned closer, his face within inches of Rumir's crippled features. "Does my escape mean that others will suffer more?" He asked quietly.The royal seated to his right was listening attentively.

Rumir took a sip of his wine and replied bitterly: "More than what? More tortured than you? More than Orc slaves? Long before you were born, he was cruel to our people. I It has to be said that the treatment of us slaves in the future is no different from that of the past...the same as those of the tribe who were able to be captured from Cuvier." He softened his tone, "Pain and torture are relative. If I lost my right hand like you did, and I would just let myself lie down and die because that would destroy my craft as a copyist. I'm not who I used to be, but I'm grateful for what's left.”

The strange gleam in Maedhros' eyes brightened.He sat up straighter. "I heard what you said clearly. His torture did not cause me loss, on the contrary, I gained something. Now that I know how we are hated and how the whole world is hated, I must stick to my Oath—he must be destroyed and our treasure recovered. Everything you have told me has proved to me how true that is. I hope, someday, I will see other slaves set free." His manner was So strong and confident, I trembled at these words—the great oath of Feanor's line was repeated before me.I said to myself, this is a memorable moment that will go down in the history books.Unfortunately, I was right.

The royal family sitting on the right of Maedhros said: "Rumir, you are wise. We will not forget your insight. However, we may be