[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio and Mith's posts

BACKSTORY: Mithadan and Piosenniel

Mithadan was born the third and youngest son of Galasmir, lord of the small port town of Lond Lefnui which lay in the Anfalas of Gondor. It was said that Galasmir and his sons were descended in direct line from Elros, son of Earendil, and thus were possessed of a degree of Elven blood. Indeed the loremasters of Gondor had presented Galasmir with a scroll, naming each of his ancestors back to the First Age and, on feast days, he would produce the scroll for his guests and point proudly the names which appeared at the head of the list: “Beren Erchamion (Camlost) and Luthien (Tinuviel).”

But the days of the First Age were long passed and now rarely did any sign of Elvish blood appear in that line. Indeed, Galasmir had fair hair and brown eyes as did two of his sons. But Mithadan was born with grey eyes and their colour did not fade or change in the weeks before his naming and thus his name was chosen. And his hair was not fair but rather raven black, the colour of the midnight sky. He grew tall and straight and when he reached his manhood, some whispered as he passed, “Verily, it is true the ancient saying that the line of Luthien and Beren shall never fail.”

Yet he remained the youngest son of a lesser, though prosperous, lord of Gondor. He had barely reached the age of twenty years at the time of the War of the Ring and had been left behind by his father to guard the town and its port while Galasmir and his other sons marched proudly to Minas Tirith. While his role was a honourable one and indeed did the Corsairs of Umbar land a force of many men in Anfalas seeking to take the port, Mithadan was ever ashamed that he did not take part in the greater events to the east. And ever and anon some foolish cot holder, whether out of spite or besottedness, would name him Mithadan the Meaningless and it cannot be said that word of this did not reach his ears.

Thus, when his brothers returned from the War (Galasmir was slain in the Siege) Mithadan resumed his studies with renewed vigor and soon, taking some few tokens of his house with him, apprenticed as a mariner. Not long thereafter, he demonstrated sufficient skill and valour in repelling a raid out of Umbar that he was given command of his own vessel and began trading along the coasts traveling even as far as the Grey Havens far to the North. And Mithadan loved especially his visits to this Elven port for, as a child, he had explored the then deserted haven of Edhellond which lay to the east of his home. With a few friends, he had snuck secretly from his house and, ignoring the legends that the haven was haunted, had journeyed there and stayed for several days with his fellows, fighting feigned battles in the defense of Gondolin where his ancestor Earendil had been born. When he returned days later, his father had beaten him soundly and forbade him from returning to the ruined city. But ever after, he fondly recalled those few days when he and his friends had been counted among the mighty of Beleriand.

Now, on one such journey to the Grey Havens, he returned with both cargo and passengers and among these was a strange Elf named Piosenniel. Tall and fair as any Elf, Piosenniel had dark hair which was oddly curled for one of the Eldar. On a leather belt, Piosenniel carried a sword and a number of sheathed knives. The belt held up breeches which in turn covered the tops of worn leather boots; a wanderer clearly this Elf. But what was most strange was that this well-armed, soldierly Elf was a maiden.

Mithadan knew that Elves valued their privacy but he found himself very curious about Piosenniel. Elven maids rarely bear arms except at last resort, it was said though none could deny their valour if old tales be true. However, she was aloof and singularly disinterested in speaking with him.

The extent of their first conversation was that she was bound for Gondor, her errand was her own thank you, and no she would not join him at the Captain’s Table. If the youngest son of a lesser lord learns little, one thing he learns is politeness. So he troubled her little, though politeness does not satisfy curiosity.

From other passengers, Mithadan learned that Piosenniel was well known in both the Grey Havens and Rivendell and had been rumoured to join the traveling companies at times, whatever they were. She was typically well mannered, if quiet, but was known to be impatient and said to be brave to the point of foolhardiness. She was also rumoured to be of odd heritage though none knew, or told, why.

No more could Mithadan learn and he resolved to let the matter drop as his vessel approached the Mouths of Anduin. Here his helmsmanship and navigational skills were needed and there was little time to think of the secretive Elf. He assumed that Piosenniel would assume some small place in his memory along with the many others who passed briefly through his life. But this was not to be.



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Piosenniel was born in the year 504 of the First Age. Her mother was a Kuduk, Holly, living in the Dor-Lómin region of western Beleriand. Her father was Nenwë, the son of Falastur, a captain in the service of Olwë.

Now Olwë was brother to Thingol who with Melian dwelt in Menegroth, the Thousand Caves. In I 505, the Sons of Fëanor attacked Menegroth, in hopes of regaining the Silmaril. It was during this battle that Nenwë fought alongside Dior, Thingol’s heir and ruler of Menegroth at that time, and both were killed in this Second Kinslaying.

Now one year old, Piosenniel was sent, with her mother, to be under the protection of Turgon’s daughter, Idril, in Gondolin. Most of the Hobbits dwelling in Beleriand had been taken to the Hidden City to be kept safe from Morgoth. It was a frightening time in Beleriand for both Elves and for Hobbits, as Morgoth’s minions harassed the Elven populations and he sought control of all Beleriand.

Piosenniel was separated from her mother and escaped from Gondolin at its fall in I 510 with Idril and her family. When Morgoth was at last overcome, and Beleriand sunk beneath the waves, Idril sent her to foster among the Teleri, Piosenniel’s kin, along the Gulf of Lhûn.

This was one of the times she held most dear. Simpler days among the Solonelli - the Surf-singers, the Falinelli - the Foam-singers. For these two words were the names the Teleri gave themselves. The harmony of their voices and the graceful rhythms of their movements adding truth to their naming.

They had taken her in as one of their own, teaching her to love the sea. A child of Ulmo she had become, brown under the sun, her arms and legs taking her far into the currents and deep below the glassy surface of the water. She had reveled in the freedom, and often, in her long life, found herself wishing she could sink once again into the salty arms of the waves.

Life was sweet to her and wondrous, and as she grew older, she had a thirst to taste all the offerings of Arda. And so she left her Elven haven and traveled out wherever her feet or a sailing ship would take her. It was during one of these journeys that she first met the young captain, Mithadan – a meeting which she did not recall.

Many years passed before Piosenniel was to meet again with Mithadan, then captain of The Lonely Star. She and her boon companion, Birdland, were in port - Harlond, just south of Minas Anor. It was there that fate conspired to bring them together with Mithadan and Cami Goodchild and set them the task that would cement the friendship of Man. Elf, Shapechanger, and Hobbit.

The journey was a long one, through time and distance. Many perils beset the companions as they strove to fulfill the task laid before them, as well as many joys, not the least of which was the love which grew between the Elf and the Man.

This was a perilous journey, in itself, but in the end they were wed, and the joyous product of their union was to be the twins, a boy and girl, who were to be born on Midyear Day, Year 12 of the Fourth Age

[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]