AelKennyr Rhiano
Uinen, the Lady of the Sea, Maia to Ulmo, Lord of the Waters of the World, reaches out a delicate thin hand and caresses the chin of the dolphin before her. Her hair gently sways with the motion of the waters, spread thoughout the entire of the world along the ocean bed. Above her was the harbor of Alqualonde, and if she but looked up, she could see the gracefully paddling of swan feet. The King of the Teleri had been restored, and for that her heart was lighter somewhat. Looking down, an oyster catches Unien's eyes, and she extends a hand, scooping it up carefully in the palm of one hand. She reaches out with the tapered forefinger of the other hand and rubs the tip along the ridges of the opening of the shell. Her lips purse together as she softly croones to the oyster. She remembers, as she croones, coaxing pearls from oysters in just this way, and scattering them upon the banks of the Swanhaven, for a small Earwen to find. Ah, yes, she remembers the squeals.
But, she thinks to herself as she gives the dolphin one last caress, sending him on his way, still burdened was the heart of Ulmo, Lord of Waters.
When the Ainur, at the direction of Er Ilúvatar, sang the world into being, it was Ulmo who sang into being the waters of the world, who caused them to have the fluid, never constant power they possess. For among the Ainur, Ulmo was the best singer, and sweet, strong, and from his part of the song of Creation did water gain the ability to transform from rivers, streams, oceans, ponds, to ice, and hail and clouds and steam and mist. Such was Ulmo's love of music that he taught the Firstborn, particularly the Teleri, the making of it, and when their voices, clear and bright and dulcet, blend and rise in songs, it is his melodies they sing, in truth. Above all others, the Teleri hear his songs in the babbling brooks, the tinkling of streams, the rush of waterfalls, the roar of the sea.
Yet for all this, rarely did the Lord of the Waters stride upon the surface of the world, nor did he take a place among his brothers and sisters. Seldom was his voice heard at the Council of Máhanaxar, the Ring of Doom, just outside the western gates of Valmar, where gathered the Valar in council. Attended by only his two Maiar, he resided in his watery palace, Ulmonan, on the bottom of Vaiya.
Unien is shaken out of her reverie by a change in the water currents. Schools of fish, responding to the distrubance, abruptly turn and swim off in different directions, confused, as she was confused by this brief chaos. Then she feels the finger like brushing of the thoughts of Ulmo, touching her thoughts. She bows her head and lowers her eyes in respect to the lone Lord of the Seas. Forgotten in the palm of her hand, the oyster opens up and unveils its treasure. "Yes, my Lord," Unien murmurs as she lifts her head. Without truly seeing the oyster, she returns it to its place upon the sea bed and, gathering herself about, she speeds to the watery palace of the King of the Sea. Her Lord has been summoned to the side of the Lord of the West and prepares, even now, to take himself to the sacred mount, Taniquetil. Heavy is the Heart of the Lord of the West, and disquieted is the Lord of Waters. Unien pauses in her journey back to the palace of Ulmo, Ulmonan, rising to the surface of the ocean and casting her eyes skyward. Overhead, the skies have darkened, clouds laden with rain gathering. Both sky and seas are troubled, thinks the Lady of the Sea. What bodes this for those who must exist betwixt the two? What bodes this for them all?
But, she thinks to herself as she gives the dolphin one last caress, sending him on his way, still burdened was the heart of Ulmo, Lord of Waters.
When the Ainur, at the direction of Er Ilúvatar, sang the world into being, it was Ulmo who sang into being the waters of the world, who caused them to have the fluid, never constant power they possess. For among the Ainur, Ulmo was the best singer, and sweet, strong, and from his part of the song of Creation did water gain the ability to transform from rivers, streams, oceans, ponds, to ice, and hail and clouds and steam and mist. Such was Ulmo's love of music that he taught the Firstborn, particularly the Teleri, the making of it, and when their voices, clear and bright and dulcet, blend and rise in songs, it is his melodies they sing, in truth. Above all others, the Teleri hear his songs in the babbling brooks, the tinkling of streams, the rush of waterfalls, the roar of the sea.
Yet for all this, rarely did the Lord of the Waters stride upon the surface of the world, nor did he take a place among his brothers and sisters. Seldom was his voice heard at the Council of Máhanaxar, the Ring of Doom, just outside the western gates of Valmar, where gathered the Valar in council. Attended by only his two Maiar, he resided in his watery palace, Ulmonan, on the bottom of Vaiya.
Unien is shaken out of her reverie by a change in the water currents. Schools of fish, responding to the distrubance, abruptly turn and swim off in different directions, confused, as she was confused by this brief chaos. Then she feels the finger like brushing of the thoughts of Ulmo, touching her thoughts. She bows her head and lowers her eyes in respect to the lone Lord of the Seas. Forgotten in the palm of her hand, the oyster opens up and unveils its treasure. "Yes, my Lord," Unien murmurs as she lifts her head. Without truly seeing the oyster, she returns it to its place upon the sea bed and, gathering herself about, she speeds to the watery palace of the King of the Sea. Her Lord has been summoned to the side of the Lord of the West and prepares, even now, to take himself to the sacred mount, Taniquetil. Heavy is the Heart of the Lord of the West, and disquieted is the Lord of Waters. Unien pauses in her journey back to the palace of Ulmo, Ulmonan, rising to the surface of the ocean and casting her eyes skyward. Overhead, the skies have darkened, clouds laden with rain gathering. Both sky and seas are troubled, thinks the Lady of the Sea. What bodes this for those who must exist betwixt the two? What bodes this for them all?