#erendis

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@numenorweek Day 2: The Mariner's Wife ⇢ Erendis

Opinions range from “they’re so hot and arrogant, ugh I just want one to tie me up” to “they’re hot but they’re man babies who will ruin your life.”

Eowyn: “‘Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor?' she said. 'And would you have your proud folk say of you: "There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?"'

Arwen: “But I say to you, King of the Númenoreans, not till now have I understood the tale of your people and their fall. As wicked fools I scorned them, but I pity them at last.”

@tolkienseaweek day seven | escape, avoidance, freedom | tar-aldarion x erendis

Her love for him was not lessened, nor did she retreat out of guile; but she feared now in her heart that in the war between herself and the Sea for the keeping of Aldarion she would not conquer. Never would Erendis take less, that she might not lose all; and fearing the Sea, and begrudging to all ships the felling of trees which she loved, she determined that she must utterly defeat the Sea and the ships, or else be herself defeated utterly.

As we descend deeper into the story, it is time to discuss the two families that are– as we’ll find out -- rather involved in this tale. 

Aldarion’s family: The Line of Elros

Aldarion (or, as he originally was called, Anardil) was the son of the fifth King of Númenor, Meneldur, and his wife, Queen Almarian. At this point in time, the royal family practiced agnatic primogeniture in succession, which meant the Crown was always passed to the male line . Thus, Meneldur’s two older sisters were excluded from inheriting the sceptre. Silmariën, the eldest, married Elatan of Andúnië, and from her came – in the fullness of time -- Amandil, Elendil, and his sons.

Queen Almarian was the daughter of Vëantur, the Captain of the King’s Ships, who was the first of Númenóreans to return to Middle-earth and meet High King Gil-galad and Círdan the Shipwright – almost six hundred years after the Edain sailed for their island reward.

Much was expected of Aldarion as a royal prince from the Line of Elros– above all to care for Númenor and its people. He, however, had larger dreams, awoken in him by his very first voyage on sea -- as we recounted in our first part of this series.

Erendis’ family: House of Bëor  

Erendis was the daughter of Beregar and Núneth. Beregar’s family descended from one Beleth, daughter of Bregolas of the First Age. Bregolas was notable for being the brother of Barahir and the uncle of Beren Erchamion himself, as well as the grandfather of Túrin and Tuor. Although a very illustrious family, Bëor’s descendants amongst the Edain were known to have a shorter lifespan than even ordinary Númenóreans. We illustrated the difference in Part 2 of this series. 

As we’ll see later, Tolkien doesn’t paint any of the women in these families in a positive light. Queen Almarian indulges her son far too much, and Núneth often interferes with the developing relationship by giving Erendis questionable advice. As both Aldarion and Erendis have personality traits that aren’t exactly compatible (or even particularly worth cultivating), the advice of these two women often brings further conflict, exacerbating the already fragile bond.

Speaking of that, more developments next week! 

[image: Ted Nasmith - Aldarion Returns From His First Voyage]