#arachon

          Baralin was an Edhel of the Mithrim people, a servant of Queen Aglareden and her wife Rívorn. He accompanied their daughter Amathluin to the Mereth Aderthad, where he met the Noldo warrior Mantariel, a soldier in the service of Aegnor. Much merriment was made at this Feast of Reuniting, and among the joys brought forth that year was the love between Mantariel and Baralin, which burned bright and strong from their first meeting and soon culminated in their swift and happy marriage.           Bidding farewell to his kinsfolk and liege-ladies, Baralin returned with his new wife to Dorthonion and entered Aegnor’s retinue at her side. Before long, they decided to start a family, and still early in their marriage Mantariel bore two sons, Gelmir and Arachon. While their sons were yet young, they dwelt in the lowlands of Ladros, but within a century they returned to the slopes of Dorthonion, where Gelmir and Arachon trained to be warriors like their mother.           As the elder son, Gelmir was the first to be fully inducted into the ranks Dorthonion’s soldiers, choosing to serve Angrod rather than his parents’ liege Aegnor. He served alongside Arminas, a Noldo of Tirion who alone of his family had braved the trials of the Helcaraxë. Arminas was a guarded person, but Gelmir’s youthful kindness and cheer lifted his spirits, and the two soon became the truest of friends, even swearing vows of partnership to one another and becoming melotorni, though they did not wed.           When the Edain came to Beleriand, Arachon was among the first of his lords’ followers to meet them, and delighted in visiting the settlements of the House of Bëor when they settled in Ladros. On one such occasion, he befriended a young Bëorian woman, Bregil, and the two quickly fell in love. Though Arachon was an elf and Bregil a mortal, they refused to allow fate and war to prevent their happiness, and they were married the spring after their first meeting in a small ceremony attended only by Bregil’s sisters and Arachon’s brother Gelmir.           The marriage was not kept secret long, for soon Bregil bore her husband a son, Brandir. Bregil’s kin had little choice but to accept their relationship, and though Arachon’s parents warned him this love would end in tragedy, they continued to live together in happiness for some time. Aegnor, mourning the loss of his own mortal lover, released Arachon from his service, granting him leave to be with his wife in the time allotted to them.           Their small family lived in the woods so dear to them, and soon little Brandir was granted a sister, Beldis. These two half-elven children grew slower than their mortal kin, but were doted upon by their aunts and uncles and much loved throughout their youth. In time, Arachon would re-enter the service of Aegnor, with his son at his side, while Bregil and Beldis returned to the people of Bëor’s House, though the family was never apart for long.           When the Siege of Angband broke and the Sudden Flame swept across Dorthonion, Arachon and Brandir were among the first to fall. In grief and fear, Bregil and Beldis fled Ladros with Emeldir the Man-hearted, wife of Bregil’s brother Barahir, and settled among the House of Haleth. Beldis eventually married Handir, Chieftain of the Haladin, and bore him a son, whom she named Brandir in honor of her fallen brother.          Baralin and Mantariel were both slain in the Dagor Bragollach, leaving Gelmir the last surviving member of his family. He and Arminas fled the destruction of Dorthonion and took refuge in the Falas, where they dwelt with Círdan as their lord. When the Falas fell after the Nírnaeth Arnœdiad, they followed Círdan to the Mouths of Sirion, where they worked tirelessly alongside the Falathrim to make a home for refugees fleeing the destruction in the North.           When Ulmo brought a message to Círdan, speaking of Nargothrond’s impending doom, Arminas and Gelmir were chosen to deliver the Vala’s warning to King Orodreth, the nephew of their former lord. Along their way they encountered another messenger of Ulmo, Tuor of the House of Hador, and showed him the way to the Gate of the Noldor. Alas, upon arriving in Nargothrond, where many of their kindred yet dwelt, they were unable to persuade Orodreth to listen to Ulmo’s words, for his mortal counselor, the captain Mormegil, scorned the prophecies of the Valar.           In grim sorrow, Gelmir and Arminas returned to the Havens of Sirion defeated. There they remained until the War of Wrath, enduring all manner of hardship and tragedy, and when Beleriand began to sink beneath the waves, Arminas found his heart too heavy with grief to remain. For his partner’s sake, Gelmir accompanied him to Valinor, where Arminas reunited with his family of origin, and in time Gelmir also walked among his reborn kin once more.

          Bregil was the eldest child and first daughter of Bregor. Much like her aunt Andreth, Bregil loved and admired the elves, and was eager to meet Finrod Felagund on the occasions he visited Andreth. One day while out in the woods with her sisters, Bregil came across a party of elvish hunters in the service of Lord Aegnor, Felagund’s brother and Andreth’s long-lost love. She befriended the youngest of the elven hunters, an ellon named Arachon, and the two quickly fell in love.          Where her aunt’s story ended tragically, Bregil refused to allow fate and war to prevent her happiness. She and Arachon were wed the spring after their first meeting in a small ceremony attended only by her sisters Hirwen and Gilwen and Arachon’s brother Gelmir. The marriage was not kept secret long, for soon Bregil bore her husband a son, Brandir. Her father had little choice but to accept her choice in spouse, but upon hearing of her niece’s marriage to an elf, Andreth’s bitterness returned to her, and her next encounter with Felagund would be one of harsh words.           Yet Bregil continued to live in happiness, Arachon at her side. Their small family lived in the woods so dear to them, and soon little Brandir was granted a sister, Beldis. These two half-elven children grew slower than their mortal kin, but were doted upon by their aunts and uncles and much loved throughout their youth. In time, Arachon would re-enter the service of Aegnor, with his son at his side, while Bregil and Beldis returned to the people of Bëor’s House, though the family was never apart for long.            When the Siege of Angband broke and the Sudden Flame swept across Dorthonion, Arachon and Brandir were among the first to fall. In grief and fear, Bregil and Beldis fled Ladros with Emeldir the Man-hearted, wife of Bregil’s brother Barahir, and settled among the House of Haleth. Beldis eventually married Handir, Chieftain of the Haladin, and bore him a son, whom she named Brandir in honor of her fallen brother.

very advanced in ripeness, very pleasant to drink now. a touch of bordeaux.

EDOUARD MANET. Interior at Arachon, 1871, oil on canvas.