Of Aegnor and Andreth

inspired by ‘Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth’ by J.R.R. Tolkien (Credits goes to Tolkien and the artist.)

Of Aegnor and Andreth

inspired by ‘Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth’

by J.R.R. Tolkien

artist: Elena Kukanova

“Using the metaphor of his (Aegnor) name's meaning as a flame, she explained that when they were both young, his flame leapt towards her, she was drawn to him, but he turned away. Now, he remained young while she grew old. She asked if candles (Elves) pity moths (Men), and Finrod asked in response if moths pitied candles when the wind blew them out.[4]:324 He continued to explain that for her sake, Aegnor would not take any bride, and she asked then why he turned away when she would have been with him for the good years that she had. Finrod explained that the Eldar do not wed during times of war and only in fleeing this land could they have been together, but love and loyalty bound him here.”

 

Source The Tolkien Gateway " Aegnor and Andreth

http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Athrabeth_Finrod_ah_Andreth

Of Andreth and the Days of Youth

artist: Elena Kukanova

In those days of old, old indeed

I used to walk in the forests of Dorthonion,

under the pine trees, high and strong

and there in the highlands between the mountains

among wild heather plains and purple hills,

were once a lake called Tarn Aeluin

with cold, clear blue water, calm like a dream

 

 

where in the night the stars were sleeping

in the surface of its water dark and deep.

 

I was sitting by the lake at the time

when the evening settled down and

the stars shone brightly above me.

Gently the wind blew my hair

as dark as the night itself,

at the time in the mid-late summer

and nightingales were singing in the trees!

 

Of Aegnor and the Days of Youth

artist: Elena Kukanova

 

I was on my guard round, riding with my white steed

at the time of early twilight when I saw in wonder

her face in the reflected  of Aeluin, a star shining

in her hair as jewel to wear!

Her long hair like darkest veil and her eyes so bright,

‘Mae g’ovannen hiril vuin, pedig Edhellen?’* I asked bowing deeply

she smiled at me and said; ‘Iston i nîf gîn!’ I know your face!

‘I have seen thou riding with thy brother and thy white steed’

she said as her eyes twinkled merrily when she leaned on me,

her white dress shone like a light at dusk, and she looked at me

with innocent, young love in her eyes as my heart beat fast,

‘I meet thou at last,’ she said smiling and I gave a gasp!

 

‘Thou seem to know me, hiril vuin but who art thou?’ I asked

when she stroked my steed, looked at me and said;

‘My name is Andreth, but Elves call me Saelind, that is Wise-heart

and I’m daughter of Boromir of the House of Bëor’.

 

‘And thou art Aegnor?’ she said.

 

Again I bowed deeply, and tenderly touched her pale hand

‘Well met lady Andreth, who art known as the wise-heart!

Truly I’m Aegnor, son of Finarfin’.

 

* Well met my beloved lady, do you speak Elvish?

Of Andreth and Aegnor and the Days of Great Happiness

artist: Elena Kukanova

He knew me in those days of youth, he loved me in those days of old

and I loved him dearly as he held my hand and gently kissed my brow

I knew him in those days of happiness, and we loved each other so deeply!

 

His eyes so blue and his golden hair so wild and thick,

             Alas! Gi melin Aegnor, gi melin!

Behold! Fearless he was in the battle, eyes of him burning like a fire, a shining star by day!

Anywhere he rode with his faithful steed, the land trembled and enemy fled before him!

A High Star placed on his brow as a gift, for once he had lived in there

in that Blessed Realm, beyond the Sea where bluish rivers stream!

But for me, it is not my place in that Blessed Realm

for ‘Uin edhel!’ I am not an Elf!

Where my path takes, I cannot say.

For I am mortal, second-born and wise woman of Edain,

Alas! I would forsake my kin, my youth, my everything for thy sake!

So that I could have a brief moment with thy, who is

out of my reach, High Elven Lord, Lord of Noldor and fair!

Thou said that thou loved me but during the war time

thou cannot marry me!

Alas! Please thou do not pity one me

for the time passes forward and I’m getting older

but thou should pity on that love whom we lost!

Of Aegnor and the Days of Regret and Longing

My life is full of meaningless days, days without her and the memory of Andreth, it is alive in front of me by night and day!

No more, no longer the Shadow will not have the power to hurt her or her kin!  

À tulë asenyë, Finrod ah Angrod!*

Alas! Boe i waen! I must go! So it shall be that the sons of Finarfin will ride once again and the Nameless will be cast away!

 

* Come with me, Finrod and Angrod!

Of Andreth and the Days of Passed

‘Guren níniatha n'i lû n'i a-goveninc!’

meaning ‘My heart shall weep until I see you again’

 

Alas!

I’m old and grey

oh why it had to be on this way?

 

I’m old and grey

oh why didn’t you stay?

 

 Alas! Dear Aegnor, my High Lord

and my love, hear my word!

Thou art immortal and Elven Fair,

but for me, the Death is near!

  

My love bound me to you,

my mind said other

but I couldn’t leave!

 

The old hope, the tale of Adanel

It is my heart’s deepest desire,

that I could be by thy side!

 

 But Aegnor is gone.

 

Thou are lost, Aikanár the Sharp-flame

and there where thou have gone

I cannot follow thou, my love!

 

Behold! Someday, beyond this world

may we both find light and

when the Arda is made anew,

we’ll meet again, my love!

 

'Someday' 

artist: Elena Kukanova 

But for now

I’m old and become grey,

there’s nothing more to tell.

 

Gi melin, Aegnor!

Novaer, dear Aikanáro*

who fell on the deadly  fire.

* Aegnor's mother-name was Aikanáro (pron. [ˌa͡ɪkaˈnaːro]), meaning "Fell Fire" in Quenya (from aica = "fell, dire", nár = "fire", and -o = pronominal suffix).[7]

Source http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Aegnor#cite_note-1

Inspired by the last words of the Athrabeth

"Finrod’s last words to Andreth were that she was not for Arda, and wherever she goes, beyond the world, may she find light and “‘await us there, my brother - and me.’” (Morgoth’s Ring - p. 326)

Author's Note

“Using the metaphor of his (Aegnor) name's meaning as a flame, she explained that when they were both young, his flame leapt towards her, she was drawn to him, but he turned away. Now, he remained young while she grew old. She asked if candles (Elves) pity moths (Men), and Finrod asked in response if moths pitied candles when the wind blew them out.[4]:324 He continued to explain that for her sake, Aegnor would not take any bride, and she asked then why he turned away when she would have been with him for the good years that she had. Finrod explained that the Eldar do not wed during times of war and only in fleeing this land could they have been together, but love and loyalty bound him here.”

Source The Tolkien Gateway – Aegnor and Andreth
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Athrabeth_Finrod_ah_Andreth

I used here the language of the Grey-elves as known as Sindarin invented by Tolkien.

Credits goes to J.R.R. Tolkien

Also credits goes to the artist.

I used the pictures because I think they increase the effect of my very words.