The Coming of Lanenomen

On the day when Lanenomen, last of the folk of Feyhoth, came to the sacred hill of Orusen, the sun was rising on the Great Inland Sea, which afterwards was named the Sea of Ambori, as is told hereafter. When the remnant of the Traens saw it, their hearts were glad and their weariness was almost healed, for long had their eyes desired to gaze upon the Great Sea, which had been their home of old.

"The Sea! The Sea!" they cried, "who with Father Sky was of old our mother, and which gave birth to all our kin!"

But Lanenomen said: "It is not the Sea of our nativity, for to those shores there is now no returning unless the world be broken and remade, as it shall not be in the foresight of any who now live. But these shall be the waters of our children's children, and they shall hold it as a possession forever, and a memory of Feyhoth of old."

But there were other folk on the shores of that Sea--rude folk who dwelt in the forest on the western shore, and lived the life of simple hunters; but they buried their dead in great houses of stone. These were afeared of the strangers out of the West, who came among them with wondrous weapons, and who were tall and bright of eye, and who had done so much battle with the great Giants (who in former times had hunted the men of that wood for sport). But they were a stern people, strong of heart and jealous of their habitations after the manner of men. So their chieftain, who was called Orusen (for the tongue of the wood-folk is all but lost to the eons) came to Lanenomen and spoke thus:

"The Star-folk are a great people, though now you are weary, yet those who are wise can see that you were once greater still."

"It is true," said Lanenomen, "for we have wandered on our road for twice your generations."

"Yet," said Orusen, "there is more that you do not say. A shadow of loss lies behind all your kindred, and a peril waits for you still in the stormy West."

"It is as you say. But of it we will speak no more, for all of that is behind us now."

"It may be, lord, and yet I would not have your darkness fall upon my people. And even if it were otherwise, your folk will soon rule over my own, for though we are more numerous than you, yet you are high and masterful. But the children of men have a greater will than maybe you reckon, and we are not unused to arms." And he gripped his long spear.

"I would have no enmity between us," said Lanenomen. "Nor would I see your people subject to mine. But we have wandered long to find this water, and where now would we go?"

"If you will have Orusen's rede, I might tell you of a wide place which could be yours, in which the Star-folk might live in prosperity on the shores of this Sea. Many leagues East of here, where the shore turns again toward the South, are the Seven Hills of Jade. Those hills are rich in many things which the Star-folk value, and beside them is the Sea on one hand, and a wide and fertile plain on the other. Thus will you have both safe harborage for your ships and grazing land for your cattle."

And Lanenomen said: "Truly, if this land is so fair, we will travel thence, if only you will give us guides."

Orusen nodded and said: "This thing will I do, if the Star-folk will swear a solemn oath never to force or molest any of our folk, and that our woods may remain inviolate forever while both our kindreds last."

"I will swear it, by whatever oaths your people deem most sacred."

"Swear then by the Sacred Hill, which alone of all the Forest we hold to be most holy, by reason of the things which were done upon it by the Stone Kings in ancient days--of which men do not speak."

So Lanenomen and Orusen came together on that hill which in after days was called by Orusen's name, and Lanenomen swore a mighty oath. And this was what he swore: That only the heirs of Orusen should ever have the dominion of the Forest, and that the Traen would not rule over them, but would ever aid them at need, and further, that no man of the Traen kindred should build house or take land from the folk of the forest, save that he should first renounce his kin and tongue, and in this way would the two kindreds be preserved. This he swore by the Holy Hill, and that is an oath not lightly made or broken, even in these later days.

Then Lanenomen and his folk built tall ships, and rowing along the Northern coast they came at last to the Gold Harbor at the foothills of the Hills of Jade. And there, the Traens rejoiced at last to look upon the dominion which Raos had promised them.