Tianwen·Magweth Pengolodh

Elves or mortals, there are very few left.Most of those who evacuated were our old and weak women and children.They were sent away from the battle to the water's edge, and saw Elwynn's startling leap, and the mists rising to meet her.We survivors, all of us who pledged our allegiance to Gil-Galad, were allowed to live on the island of Balal.We, the rest of the Gondolin, were devastated by the loss of our home for the second time, but we did our best to start our lives anew.For a while, Ballal Island became our sanctuary, and the child who had saved me grew up and got married.

He is a good man.In order to repay his life-saving grace, I granted his wish and accepted him as an assistant.It was for him that I wrote "The Story of the Hurin's Children" for the first time.He did a lot of practical things, was calm and had a good temper.I can rely on him for any job.But he lacks that soul fire that sets Di Javier apart, whether that's madness or talent.I don't know what kind of life they would have had if they lived here and now.

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When Pengolod finished his last sentence, they sat for a while in silence.Pengolod was thinking that Di Javier was a muscular man even in Sirion, where food was scarce. If he enjoyed a sumptuous banquet in the relatively comfortable Númenor, he wondered what he would look like.

Alfwine put a weight on the newly bound book to keep the cover flat while the glue dried.He first broke the silence: "Those two people, which type am I? The pragmatic one, or the fiery one?"

"Neither. You are more savvy than one, and much more sober and rational than the other. If they are lucky enough to spend their youth peacefully, they may reach your balance." Pengolod thought, Alfwine After speaking with Rosenzil in the morning, he definitely became more enlightened.

He said casually: "I'm thinking, I'm going to live in Armenelos for a few days. Now that the ships are all out to sea and the nobles have gone to cool residences, I should be able to stay in Milan without being disturbed." Spend some time in the library in Nastier."

Elfwine said: "Cirjatan is out to sea, if that is what you mean."

They both nodded.Pengolod took out his wallet and took out a small token carved from whale teeth.He handed it to Alfwine and said: "Since I am going to Armenelos, I cannot go to the library of the Explorers' Guild. When I am away, you take this king's token and ask them to give it to you." open the door."

Alfwine eagerly took it: "I was about to say I'd miss you without you, but that almost made it up - wait, you got it wrong and gave me an extra coin, the gold one. "

Pengolod said: "Do I have it? Why don't you accept it so that you can keep my place and wait for my return? You shouldn't suffer losses because of my coming and going." When Alfwine wanted to protest, Pengolod Roz lowered his eyes, "If you were a mortal tenant, you would make this request, wouldn't you? And if I act unfairly, I will feel that I am not a good friend." After hearing this, Alfwine , before accepting the gold coins.

Pengolod was happy to imagine how Alfwine would enjoy the library of the Explorers' Guild, and how he would spend the sweltering summer nights without a lodger.When Pengolod returned, Rosenzil would have no more complaints, and he had already attributed to her concern the false claim that his and Alfwine's friendships were not equal.He smiled, convinced that he was one step ahead, dispelling the shadow that might have been between elves and mortals.

Tomb of Elros

An hour after midnight, Pengolod reached Armenelos.To avoid the midday heat, he rode from Romenna two hours before sunset.In any elf settlement this would have had people of higher rank awake to greet him, but at Armenelos at one o'clock in the morning there were only a few startled night guards.As he approached, he saw the high mountain Meneltamar looming heavily above Armenelos, and he couldn't help feeling an impulse.Realizing that he was free till daybreak, he left his mount and luggage with the guards, saying he would return early in the morning.He was going to visit the tombs of the dead kings and queens of Númenor.

Pengolod ascended the holy mountain for the second time, step by step into the mist.The strong winds carried the clouds across the land and into the mountain peaks, which were shrouded in moisture from the clouds and only faintly glimpsed the stars.Accustomed to the smooth paved roads of Romenna and Armenelos, Pengolod felt that when he stepped on the dirt and rock path with thin boots, there was a pleasant and natural feeling.At one point he turned off the path, only to stand once more on a patch of grass and enjoy a moment of soft comfort.Since the last time he returned to Romenna, he had never felt such a grassland, because Romenna was a port town and there was not much grass.Then Pengolod walked on slowly up the hill, breathing the moist cool air happily.

It was not long before Pengolod arrived at the first tomb, that of Elros.The opening to the tomb is just off the path.This is the only one of all the mausoleums that really faces the west.The runes above the entrance to the tomb are simple, just the name of Elros and the number of years of his reign.Pengolod had to bend slightly to get in.

Inside the mausoleum is a natural cave, and there is only enough space for one person to stand beside the sarcophagus.The coffin lid was carved exactly according to the whole body of Elros, and was as long as a reclining man.Pengolod had seen Elros, and looked at it carefully, wondering if it resembled him.He felt that it was quite good, though not as exquisite as the art of Númenor today.It reminded him of those stone carvings of Dreweden, the wildlings of the woods.

Pengolod knew that mortal souls sometimes lingered as ghosts.He stood by the coffin and waited for a while, trying to probe the mists, shadows, and darkness, to see if he could sense ghosts.He thought that if there were souls returning from beyond the confines of the world, perhaps one of them could answer his question.

He felt nothing.The soul of Elros is gone, never to linger.Here, he won't find any answers.

Pengolod quietly walked to the next tomb.Norimon, the son of Erros, never ruled on the throne because of his father's longevity and his own satisfaction with writing books, but his tomb still received the honor of the ruler's tomb.Here, Pengolod tried harder to feel the tomb owner's spirit.He didn't feel it, so he continued walking up the mountain.As Númenor's founding became longer and longer, each tomb became more spacious, and the interior became more and more refined, with more and more pillars, brick floors, carved wall panels, and human statues sleeping on coffins. It is also becoming more and more detailed.Yet despite all the decorations, no soul remains in the mausoleum.

Before Aldarion's tomb, Pengolod paused.The door of the tomb was still blocked by souvenirs brought by people, new ones had been added since his last visit, for sailors who went to sea in the summer.What's more, there was a strange sharpness in the breeze, making the grass rustle uncomfortably.Suddenly, Pengolod wondered whether it was possible for people to climb Mount Meneltamar if it was not a holy day.He considered, hesitating on the path.In the end, although he was curious about other tombs and wanted to continue climbing to see if he could see the lights of Avalonni under the starlight, he still went down the mountain.Every step he took made him turn back more and more, and he became less and less sure whether his wanderings were against the law.At dawn, when the strong summer sun had already begun to appear, he returned to the gate of the palace without saying a word about where he had gone.

After the festivities, as in the great feast of Letale, Armenelos fell silent, almost drowsy.Pengolod realized that during this time of year the palace was not a place for nobles to come and go.The halls of Tar-Minastir were empty, as confirmed by his welcome. "You are very lucky to come here at this time. If we hadn't been wrapping up the war in Middle-earth, I would have set off for the western coast, dealing with state affairs by day and watching from my tower by night. If you came late this year Soon, I will leave for Romenna to welcome the last batch of troops back from overseas.”

"Tar-Minastir, I hope you will never miss the summer of Anduini after this victory - and even if you miss it, I hope it is for the benefit of all Arda's affairs, not Responsibility for war." Pengolod bowed.

Tar-Minastir replied: "Very well said, as always! I hope as much as you do, and add: May your words come true. Stay here if you will. Since you came back for our documents, you are free to consult them."

Pengolod was encouraged by this conversation, a much better start than the last time he had seen Tar-Minastir.Once upon a time, perhaps the never-ending crowd inspired the royal pomp and vanity of Tar-Minastir.

Much different from last time, this time Pengolod was left alone and allowed to act on its own.Minas Tire indeed had a great deal of state to attend to, and it was believed that Pengolod had received enough praise and made a sufficient impression before.The Pengolod kept an owl-like schedule, sleeping during the hot days.So day and night, and instead of dining with the king, he talked almost exclusively to librarians or servants.Armenelos is noticeably cooler than Romena, but Pengolod doesn't refuse ice and Armenelos' seasonal delicacies