But Manwл knew thereby that the Noldoli were gone for ever and their ships burned or abandoned, and Melko too was in the world, and the hunt of no avail; and belike it is in memory of those deeds that it has ever been a saying in the mouths of Elves and Men that those burn their boats who put all hope from them of change of mind or counsel. Therefore now Manwл lifted up his unmeasurable voice calling to the Gods, and all those about the wide lands of Valinor hearkened and returned.
There first came Tulkas weary and dust-covered, for none had leapt about that plain as he. Seven times had he encompassed all its width and thrice had he scaled the mountain-wall, and all those measureless slopes and pastures, meads and forests, he had traversed, burnt by his desire to punish the spoiler of Valinor. There came Lуrien and leaned against the withered bole of Silpion, and wept the wrack of his quiet gardens by the trampling hunt; there too was Meбssл and with her Makar, and his hand was red for he had come upon twain of Melko’s comrades as they fled, and he slew them as they ran, and he alone had aught of joy in those ill times. Ossл was there and his beard of green was torn and his eyes were dim, and he gaspe1d leaning on a staff and was very much athirst, for mighty as he was about the seas and tireless, such desperate travail on the bosom of Earth spent his vigour utterly.
Salmar and Уmar stood by and their instruments of music made no sound and they were heavy of heart, yet not so bitterly as was Aulл, lover of the earth and of all things made or gained by good labour therefrom, for of all the Gods he had loved Valmar most wholly and Kфr and all their treasures, and the smile of the fair plains without, and its ruin cut his heart. With him was Yavanna, Earth-queen, and she had hunted with the Gods and was spent; but Vбna and Nessa wept as maidens still beside the founts of gold Kulullin.
Ulmo alone came not to the Trees, but went down to the beach of Eldamar, and there he stood gazing into the gloom far out to sea, and he called often with his most mighty voice as though he would draw back those truants to the bosom of the Gods, and whiles he played deep longing music on his magic conches, and to him alone, lest it be7 Varda lady of the stars, was the going of the Gnomes a greater grief than even the ruin of the Trees. Aforetime had Ulmo loved the Solosimpi very dearly, yet when he heard of their slaughter by the Gnomes he grieved indeed but anger hardened not his heart, for Ulmo was foreknowing more than all the Gods, even than great Manwл, and perchance he saw many of the things that should spring from that flight and the dread pains of the unhappy Noldoli in the world, and the anguish wherewith they would expiate the blood of Kуpas, and he would that it need not be.
Now when all were thus come together, then spake Manwл to them and told the tidings of Sorontur and how the chase had failed, but at that time the Gods were wildered in the gloom and had little counsel, and sought each one his home and places of old delight now dead, and there sat in silence and dark pondering. Yet some fared ever and anon out upon the plain and gazed wistfully at the faded Trees as though those withered boughs would one day burgeon with new light: but this came not to pass, and Valinor was full of shadows and of gloom, and the Elves wept and could not be comforted, and the Noldoli had bitter sorrow in the northern lands.
Thereafter in a great time it pierced the grief and the weariness of the Gods that light is gone from Valinor for ever, and that never again will those Trees bloom again at their appointed times. Only the light of the stars remained, save where a glow lay about the fountain of Kulullin playing still or a pale gleam lingered nigh deep Telimpл,8 vat of dreams. Yet even these were dimmed and tarnished, for the Trees bore dew no more for their replenishment.
Wherefore does Vбna arise and seek Lуrien, and with them go Urwendi and Silmo9 and many of both Vali and the Elves; and they gather much light of gold and silver in great vessels and fare sadly to the ruined Trees. There singeth Lуrien most wistful songs of magic and enchantment about the stock of Silpion, and he bid water his roots with the radiance of Telimpл and this was lavishly done, albeit small store thereof remained now in the dwellings of the Gods. In like manner doth Vбna, and she sings old golden songs of t1he happier days, and bids her maidens dance their bright dances even such as they were used to dance upon the sward of the rose-gardens nigh Kulullin, and as they danced she flooded the roots of Laurelin with streams from out her golden jars.
Yet all their singing and enchantment is of little worth, and though the roots of the Trees seem to drink all that they may pour yet can they see no stir of life renewed nor faintest gleam of light; nor withered leaf glows with sap nor blossom lifts its drooping stem. Indeed in the frenzy of their grief they had poured out all the last remaining stores of brightness that the Gods retained, had not of a fortune ManwГ and AulГ come upon them in that hour, being drawn thither by their singing in the gloom, and stayed them, saying: вњo, O VГna, and thou O LГrien, what is this rashness? And wherefore did ye not first take counsel of your brethren? For know ye not that that which ye spill unthinking upon the earth is become more precious than all the things the world contains; and when it is gone perchance not all the wisdom of the Gods may get us more.в/p>
Then VГna said: вњardon, O ManwГ SГlimo, and let my sorrow and my tears be my excuse; yet aforetime did this draught fail never to refresh the heart of Laurelin, and she bare ever in return a fruit of light more plentiful than we gave; and methought the Gods sat darkly in their halls and for the weight of their grief essayed no remedy of their ills. But behold now have LГrien and I put forth our spells and nought may they avail,вand VГna wept.
Now was it the thought of many that those twain LГrien and VГna might not avail to heal the wounds of Laurelin and Silpion, in that no word of the Earth-lady, mother of magics, was mingled in their spells. Therefore many said: вњet us seek PalГrien, for of her magic maybe these Trees shall again know some portion of their ancient gloryв”nd then if light be renewed AulГ and his craftsmen may repair the hurts of our fair realm, and happiness will be once more twixt ErumГni and the Seaвsup>10в”ut of the darkness and ill days that had long been without the hills few recked or thought.
Now therefore they called for Yavanna, and she came and asked them what they would, and hearing she wept and spake before them, saying: вњnow ye, O Valar, and ye sons and daughters of the Eldar, Children of IlГvatar, first offspring of the forests of the Earth, that never may these Two Trees bloom again, and others like them may not be brought to life for many many ages of the world. Many things shall be done and come to pass, and the Gods grow old, and the Elves come nigh to fading, ere ye shall see the rekindling of these Trees or the Magic Sun relit,вand the Gods knew not what she meant, speaking of the Magic Sun, nor did for a long while after. But Tulkas hearing said: вњhy speakest thou these words, O KГmi PalГrien, for foretelling is not thy wont, and that of evil least of all?вAnd others there were who said: вњy, and never before has KГmi the Earth-lady been hard of counsel or lacked a spell of deepest virtue,вand they besought her to put forth her power. But Yavanna said: вњTis of fate and the Music of the Ainur. Such marvels as those Trees of gold and silver may even the Gods make but once, and that in the youth of the world; nor may all my spells avail to do what ye now ask.в/p>
Then said VГna: вњow then sayest thou, AulГ, mighty contriver, who art called iВTalka Mardaв”mith of the Worldв”or the might of thy works, how are we to obtain light that is needful to our joy? For what is Valinor without light, or what art thou an thou losest thy skill, as, meseems, in this hour thy spouse has done?в/p>
вњay,вsaid AulГ, вњight may not be fashioned by smithcraft, O VГna-Laisi, nor can any even of the Gods devise it, if the sap of the Trees of wonder be dried for ever.вBut PalГrien answering also said: вњo, O TuivГna, and ye beside of the Vali and of the Elves, think ye only and always of Valinor, forgetting the world without?в”or my heart saith to me that already were it time for the Gods to take up once more the battle for the world and expel therefrom the powers of Melko ere they be waxen to oв™rwhelming strength.вBut VГna comprehended not PalГrienв™ mind, thinking only of her Tree of gold, and she abode ill-content; but ManwГ and Varda, and with them AulГ and Yavanna, fared thence, and in secret conclave they took deep and searching counsel one of another, and at the last they bethought them of a rede of hope. Then did ManwГ call together all the folk of Valinor once more; and that great throng was gathered even in VГnaв™ bower amidst her roses, where Kulullinв™ fountains were, for the plain without lay now all cold and dark. There came even the leaders of the Elves and sat at the feet of the Gods, nor had that before been done; but when all were come together AulГ arose and said: вњearken ye all. A rede has ManwГ SГlimo ValatГru* to declare, and the mind of the Earth-lady and of the Queen of the Stars is therein, nor yet is my counsel absent.в/p>