#meneldil

"The Silmarillion" - J.R.R. Tolkien

I can think of various explanations, but I don’t think we really get a conclusive one, though Isildur’s grief for Anárion factoring into his decision wrt the Ring seems relevant. And the Silm says Isildur “forsook” Gondor. It’s an odd situation and an odd decision—with, of course, major ramifications that he may not have ever foreseen.

Yes yes, some self promotion here too. Celebrimbor faces a turning point in the history of Ost-in-Edhil as Galadriel and Celebrían get ready to leave. Annatar tries to help, but Celebrimbor's feelings towards him just makes everything more difficult. Some Christmas-y fluff written for last year’s TSS.

          Meneldil was the only son and youngest child of Anárion, and the last man born in Númenor before its fall. He was raised in his father’s new-founded kingdom of Gondor. He ruled as his father’s steward in Minas Anor during the War of the Last Alliance, and when Anárion died he claimed inheritance to Gondor’s throne. After the war, Meneldil’s uncle Isildur declared himself High King of the Dúnedain, but granted Meneldil the leadership of Gondor after a year of managing the kingdom’s affairs himself. Meneldil was pleased upon the departure of Isildur and his sons, for though he loved his uncle and cousins, he was eager to take up the mantle of king. When Isildur was slain not a month later, Meneldil grieved, but did not send aid to the now-kingless kingdom of Arnor, instead focusing on solidifying his own rule by moving the seat of the king to Osgiliath, the city his father had died to defend.          Meneldil took the musician Nyellelírë to be his queen. She passed her love of song onto her son Cemendur, who as king sponsored many great plays and symphonies among the artists of Osgiliath, including some pieces from the time of Tar-Vanimeldë that survived the Atalantë. It is through the arts that he met his wife Tinweriel, a dancer originally from the coast.           Eärendil was the son of Cemendur and Tinweriel, named both for his mother’s love of the sea and his father’s famous ancestor. He was a renowned fencer who initiated a tradition of tournaments among his knights and often participated himself. He was bested only by Lady Aldalótë, a shieldmaiden of great renown, and in time their friendly rivalry led to their marriage. Their son was Anardil, who while not as great a swordsman as his parents was skilled in the bow.           Anardil’s wife Elquassë was a devoutly religious woman descending from a lord of Arnor. At her bidding, Anardil reached out to Gondor’s distant sister-kingdom and attempted to arrange a great feast of reuniting with Eldacar of Arnor, bringing the two realms together in kinship once more. However, Anardil and Eldacar were both men of quick tempers, and much to Elquassë’s dismay relations soon soured and the plans were discarded. Gondor and Arnor ceased communications entirely for nearly a century, and no future attempts at reconciliation bore much fruit until the coming of King Elessar.

          Anárion was the younger son of Elendil. He and his brother Isildur were born and raised among the Faithful in Númenor shortly before its fall. Though they were heirs of the House of Andúnië, neither ever saw their ancestral homeland, as their people had been forcibly removed to Rómenna. While in Númenor, he wed the astronomer Elennúmen, and together they had four children, the last of whom was the final man to be born upon Elenna.           When the Downfall occurred and Númenor began to be swallowed up by the sea, Elendil and his sons were prepared. In nine ships, they fled with their people to Middle-earth. With them they took heirlooms: seven Seeing Stones, the Sceptre of Annúminas, the Ring of Barahir, the sword Narsil, and the seedling of Nimloth.           Isildur and Anárion were separated from their father during the tumultuous voyage to the mainland. They landed in the south, by the mouths of Anduin, and there established the kingdom of Gondor while their father founded the kingdom of Arnor in the north. At length, their family was reunited, and though their kingdoms were far apart they kept in contact through the Seeing Stones.           Gondor was ruled jointly by the brothers, who held court in Osgiliath. Isildur settled in Minas Ithil and Anárion in Minas Anor, where he and his family knew peace for a century. Elennúmen taught their eldest daughter, Ringelenë, the ways of the stars, guiding her to become an astronomer like their parent. Almameldë became a dancer and organized many festivals in Osgiliath. Aspenindë learned healing, and her skill inspired Anárion to create the Houses of Healing where she would teach her art to all who came to learn. And his only son, Meneldil, Anárion taught to rule.           When Sauron, diminished from the fair and glorious form he had taken in Númenor, returned to the east as a shadow, he settled in Mordor and rebuilt his strength before attacking Gondor and forcing Isildur from Minas Ithil. While Anárion held Osgiliath, Isildur and his family moved north to Arnor, and aided Elendil in forming an alliance with Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor.           The Last Alliance of Elves and Men arrived in the south just in time to save Gondor from Sauron’s assault. Anárion led his people to the Dagorlad, where they laid siege to Mordor for seven years. Anárion did not live to see the end of the war; he was slain by a thrown rock a year before Sauron was defeated. In his memory, Isildur planted the seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor and passed leadership of Gondor to Anárion’s descendants.

Hyarmendacil I, born Ciryaher, son of Ciryandil. Ciryaher is Quenya for “Ship lord”, while Hyarmendacil means “South-victor”.