[150 powerstones Bonus Chapter]
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When Kaen and his companions departed from Lothlórien, they did not scatter immediately, but journeyed together upriver upon the Anduin, until the silver waters brought them to the rebuilt city of Tusgar.
Under Lord Domhere, the city had risen anew from its ruins. The once-shattered western district now shone again, transformed into a settlement for the Caladhîn elves. Kaen appointed Andric to raise there a strengthened composite legion:
two thousand mounted archers, three thousand foot archers, one thousand Caladhîn elf guards, and one thousand heavy infantry ….to secure the valley and the upper river from whatever darkness still lingered in the north.
They rested in Tusgar for half a month before moving on together into the high passes of the Misty Mountains. There, amidst the eternal snows, Kaen and Arwen knelt and planted the Silver Tree – Eleneldo.
Unlike the vast and towering Blue Tree of Lothlórien, this one grew slender and proud, perhaps only ten fathoms high, gleaming like a spear of moonlight thrust through storm and frost. Even amid the snow it stood radiant, casting its silver sheen upon both sides of the range.
Its roots pierced deep through the mountain rock, drinking from the hidden rivers below. All foul things that had crept in the dark caverns felt its holy pulse and fled shrieking into the farthest shadows. None dared approach the high pass again for a hundred leagues.
And so the light of Eleneldo bathed both Rivendell and Tusgar. The Elves and Men of Eowenríel alike felt the peace in their hearts and the steady hum of life renewed.
Standing beneath the new-born tree, Glorfindel, the radiant Elf of Valinor, declared solemnly,
"I shall remain here upon this snowy crown. Henceforth I will be the Guardian of the Silver Tree. Unless dire need demands, I shall never depart."
He placed his own light within the heart of the tree, and built for himself a small stone dwelling beside it.
Under the holy boughs of Eleneldo, no frost could bite ,the air was warm as the first light of dawn.
The company bowed deeply to him, offering reverence rather than words.
Then a cry split the sky — a thunderous, noble sound that rolled through the heights.
The Great Eagles had come.
From the east they wheeled, vast and shining, until they descended upon the summit. Their leader, Sorondor, lord of eagles and herald of the West, folded his golden wings and spoke in a voice like the wind over high mountains:
"Manwë, King of Arda, has seen what you have done.
He bids me bring honor from the Valar to the Unfated One —
Kaen Eowenríel, whose deeds have stirred even the halls of Aman.
From this day, our kin shall dwell beside Glorfindel, guarding this holy creation and the high passes of the North."
Manwë Súlimo, the Lord of Air and Wind — whose eyes could pierce the world and whose breath moved the clouds — had spoken. It was no surprise to Kaen that such a being had perceived their work, yet the recognition of the Valar was a thing not heard since the age of the Two Trees.
Never since that time had the Powers spoken so clearly to Middle-earth. They had sent messengers, yes — Gandalf, Saruman, Glorfindel — but their will had remained veiled. Until now.
All bowed deeply. Only Kaen stood tall, his gaze steady, his voice clear as the mountain wind:
"I know that naught in this world is hidden from the eyes of Manwë, nor unheard by Varda's ears.
Thus I offer you my greetings.
But hear me also: Men and Elves alike are the children of Ilúvatar, born of His thought, not of the Valar's making.
We arose from Middle-earth, and here we have endured.
Now Middle-earth has forged its own light against the darkness , its own strength.
Those Elves who once fled to Aman for safety , let them know they may one day return,
for this land too belongs to the Children of the One."
His tone was calm, yet every word rang like a struck bell.
Kaen felt no awe for the Valar. He remembered too well their long silence , their withdrawal from mortal lands after kindling sun and moon, and their judgment upon Númenor when Men dared to sail west. Though Sauron's lies had fanned that tragedy, the doom had been theirs to pronounce.
They were mighty, but they were not masters.
For now, the Music of the World was played by another hand , his.
The Elves were no longer destined to fade. The melody had changed. And Kaen spoke not for himself alone, but for all free folk — Men, Elves, Dwarves — children of Ilúvatar.
"Let the Valar dwell in Aman if they wish," Kaen said within himself, his voice steady and bright. "But the fates of Middle-earth are ours to shape. They may guide us — but they shall not command us."
When his words ended, silence cloaked the summit. All stared at him in astonishment.
Gandalf and Saruman exchanged wide-eyed glances, struck dumb; even the Maia-lady Artemis stood still, her breath caught. Sorondor, mighty among eagles, blinked in disbelief.
No mortal had ever spoken so to the Valar.
Then — it came.
A voice vast as the sea, calm as eternity, whispered from the air itself:
"We honor the choice of all the Children of Ilúvatar."
The Valar had answered.
The wind died, and light poured over Kaen , silver and gold interwoven.
Those who saw it never forgot. A mortal king, standing upon a snow-crowned peak, had spoken across the sea to the very gods of Arda , and the gods had answered him.
…
Far beyond the waves, in the undying lands of Aman, within the Halls of the Valar, fourteen thrones blazed with glory. Their light filled the high dome like the first morning of the world.
They were:
Manwë Súlimo, King of Arda, lord of air and sky, chief of the Valar, whose blue mantle was the breath of the heavens.
Ulmo, master of waters, solitary among the Valar, whose voice was the song of the deeps.
Aulë Mahal, god of earth and craft, shaper of the world's bones, father of the Dwarves.
Oromë Aldaron, lord of forests and the hunt, awakener of Elves, the tireless pursuer.
Námo Mandos, lord of death and destiny, keeper of souls, judge and prophet.
Irmo Lórien, master of dreams and visions, husband of Estë, guardian of the Unseen Garden.
Tulkas Astaldo, the golden warrior, unwearied champion of strength and laughter.
Varda Elentári, queen of the stars, lady of light, wife of Manwë, protector of the Eldar.
Yavanna Kementári, giver of fruits, mother of life, wife of Aulë, goddess of growth and green things.
Nienna, lady of pity and tears, the purifier through sorrow.
Estë, goddess of healing and rest, gentle consort of Lórien.
Vairë, the Weaver of Time, recorder of history, silent witness and keeper of memory.
Vána, the Ever-young, bringer of blossoms, herald of spring.
Nessa, lady of dance and delight, swift as starlight, wife of Tulkas.
They had heard through Manwë all that transpired atop the Misty Mountains. For a long while, the Halls of Valmar were silent , until the King of Arda spoke.
"Once, the Music was ours to perform.
Now Ilúvatar has given the power to rewrite it into the hands of one unmarked by it — a mortal.
The Song shall no longer move by its old measure.
This player knows our strength and yet is unafraid, for he is beyond our bonds.
Then let it be so. Let us act as once we did under Ilúvatar's guidance.
Let us join our tones to his and play the melody he now writes — the new fate of Arda.
Lift the curse of the Noldor.
We have no right to bind the Children of Ilúvatar any longer.
Tell the Elves of Aman that Middle-earth has awakened with a new light.
Those who wish to return, may.
For Aman is no longer a cage, but a haven,
and the door stands open to the faithful."
And so, for the first time since the First Age, the gods of the West bowed their heads — not in defeat, but in awe — before a mortal who carried the light of creation in his hands.