The Stones of Arnor: The Loss of the Palantiri
by Malbeth the Seer (TA 2003)

        Chapter 1 - The Creation of the Palantiri

        Chapter 2 - The Early History of the Palantiri

        Chapter 3 - The Stones of the Faithful

        Chapter 4 - The Stones of the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor

        Chapter 5 - The Fate of the Northern Stones (Years 4-1407)

        Chapter 6 - The Fate of the Northern Stones (Years 1408-1950)

        Chapter 7 - Arvedui's Flight and the Doom of the Northern Stones

        Chapter 8 - Concluding Remarks on the Loss of the Palantiri of the North

        Chapter 9 - Addendum: The Ithil-stone


    Chapter 1 - The Creation of the Palantiri
    =========================================

In this chapter I will be setting out some basic questions concerning the
palantiri, such as who, when, where. As for the question of why, I think the
years have shown this all to clearly and so I will not dwell upon this matter.

The Great Stones were wrought in ages past. Some men say that the greatest
Eldar artificer, Feanor himself, wrought the stones or had a guiding hand in
their devising. The Eldar have never said yea or nay to this idea, probably
because for most, the events predate even them. The Noldo Galadriel may have
knowledge of their origins but she will never speak of her half-uncle for the
ill that his Oath wrought.

However, from my own researches on the matter, I have concluded that Feanor,
and probably Feanor alone, was the creator of the stones. This is a result of
retranslating extant copies of the tales told in the Quenta Silmarillion. From
the text concerning the younger days of Feanor, translating from the Quenya, I
read that:

 "...and other crystals he made also, wherein things far away could be
  seen small but clear, as with the eyes of the eagles of Manwe."

To my mind this is positive proof that even if Feanor was not the creator, the
tellers of the first tales of Feanor at least believed him to be the designer.

When the stones were fashioned is also unclear so some manner of speculation
is necessary. Since before the rising of the first sun, the years passed
differently from today, so we have to extrapolate based on the occurance of
events that unfolded between the first fashioning of jewels, and the flight of
the Noldor from Aman. This period approximates to some three to five thousand
years of the sun. Hence, as of this time this makes the palantiri possibly the
oldest artifacts in Middle-Earth at an age of between nine and eleven thousand
years. This is in itself a testament to the near-indestructible nature of the
orbs.

Since Feanor lived in Eldamar, in or near Tirion for many years, where the
stones were fashioned is probably the most clearly answered question, if we
assume the above. However, since Feanor was independent of spirit and taken to
extended journeys, possibly some of the wondrous gems were crafted elsewhere.

    Chapter 2 - The Early History of the Palantiri
    ==============================================

Not much survives of the role to which the orbs were put in the earliest days.
What there is surmised is mainly by inference but we will continue.

For reasons which are unclear, when the Noldor left Aman in pursuit of Morgoth
and the Silmarilli, Feanor and his sons did not take any stones with them, or
at least they were never mentioned in any annals of the exploits in Beleriand.
Given the nature of events which took place, the Union of Maedhros would
surely have benefited from them. Perhaps some were taken and were later lost
in the drowning of the realm, we cannot be sure. However, I think it is 
unlikely.

I suspect that after crafting the first stone, Feanor crafted many more and 
possibly passed on the knowledge to other Eldar who sought to fashion
wondrous things. Some of these stones passed into the keeping of the Eldar of
Tol Erresea, as was later recorded. Undoubtedly the greater store of them were
to be later locked away in Formenos, as Feanor grew distrustful of others. In
so doing, he lost them all when Morgoth and Ungoliant later came and slew 
Finwe and sacked the vaults. Ungoliant is said to have soon afterwards
devoured all the gems and great stones of Formenos, save the Silmarilli and so
the greater number of Feanor's stones were destroyed. As Feanor was in such
great haste to pursue, there undoubtedly was no time to recollect some of his
dispersed gifts from Tol Erresea and elsewhere. This leads to our next point
in time. 

    Chapter 3 - The Stones of the Faithful
    ======================================

The stones of Middle-Earth now enter history in the latter years of the Second
Age. Whilst the mood in Numenor darkened as Ar-Pharazon's court fell under the
Shadow, only one of the nobles spoke out. That was Amandil, the last lord of
the western port of Andunie. As the corruption spread, he resisted Sauron's
words and maintained his friendship with the Eldar who sailed to Andunie from
the port of Avallone in Tol Erresea.

Due to the continual friendship, the Eldar gave a gift of seven palantiri to
Amandil. Given the powerful natures of the stones, this boon cannot be quickly
ignored and also by itself seems rather incredible. After all no stones had 
ever been presented to the Kings of Numenor, even in the greatest days of the
kinship between the the eldar of Eldamar and the Numenoreans.

From my own experiences of the Eldar, my conclusion is that they would have
been foresighted enough to realise the importance of the stones for the
survival of the line of Amandil in later years in Middle-Earth. Perhaps they
even saw something of the great events that were soon to happen. This would
probably be due to their use of the stones which had allowed them a glimpse of
what the future may hold or may potential come to pass.

The fact that such a great number of stones were given into the charge of one
man seems to suggest this foreknowledge of the Eldar. Of how many stones the
Eldar of Tol Erresea had, no man knows. However, what is known is that the
Master Stone remained in the white tower of Avallone, which means the number
was eight or more. Given the tales of Feanor's fiery personality, I suspect he
would not have wasted so much time as to have created great multitudes of 
these far-seeing stones. He was far too gifted an artificer to endlessly
reproduce one artifact, even one as powerful as the palantir. So since the
greater number of the palantiri were probably stolen from Formenos, it is
conceivable that the Eldar had but eight stones remaining, of which they gave
all but the Master Stone to those who will need it most in the centuries to
come.

Now Amandil's son was Elendil, and in turn Elendil's sons were named Isildur
and Anarion. As the Great Armament approached completion, Amandil entrusted to
his son the stones and set sail for Aman to beg the Lords of the West for
mercy. His task seems to mirror that of Earendil in the last years of the 
First Age of the Sun. Yet it is clear that Amandil never succeeded and was 
never heard of again.

Now Amandil had urged his son to take to what ships of the Faithful they could
muster and lay off the east coast of Numenor, awaiting a sign. As the armada 
of Ar-Pharazon sailed west, Elendil's small company of ships still kept their
station off the coast. Then, on the thirty-ninth day since the sailing, the
world was changed and Numenor was sunk as a great rift opened just west of the
island. The ships of the Faithful were spared the destruction, but huges waves
and a great storm blew out of the west, driving the ships towards
Middle-Earth. With this storm, the ships of the Faithful were divided. The
four ships of Elendil were east to the shores of Eriador, whilst the three
ships of Isildur and the two commanded by Anarion were driven southeast to the
Bay of Balfalas. Of that perilous journey, it is rumoured that a lay exists.
However, the only fragment that has survived to this day is almost a rhyme
told to children about the past. Few parents fully realise the information
that it contains. It goes

                  Tall ships and tall kings
                     Three times three,
                  What brought they from the foundered land
                     Over the flowing sea?
                  Seven stars and seven stones
                     And one white tree.

It contains within it all the essential ingredients: the nine ships and also
possibly the three kings. Numenor is the foundered land, while the seven 
stones were each held on a ship, with the exception of one of the ships of
Elendil and one of Isildur. The banner of Elendil was the six-pointed star.
Why he chose this symbol is unclear, but it could refer to the six points of
Numenor: the five arms of the island, and the central summit Meneltarma where
Eru was revered. Whatever the reason, the ships which carried a stone also
flew the star-banner. It is from this that the ancient symbol of Arnor and
Arthedain was derived: the circle of seven stars. Finally, the scion of 
Nimloth is mentioned, a symbol which was to hold the greater value in Gondor.
Since it does not involves itself with the history of the Northern stones, I
will say no more on that issue.

    Chapter 4 - The Stones of the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor
    ==========================================================

Elendil established the realm of Arnor, while his sons founded the sister
realm of Gondor. Because they had been separated, it was a year before they
learned of each other's existence. To furnish the relationship between the
sister kingdoms, the palantiri were placed so that contact could be maintained
with all parts of the kingdoms. Elendil possessed three stones. The first (and
least) stone was located in the tower of Elostirion in the Emyn Beraid, one of
the towers built by the Eldar of Lindon. This stone could only look west, but
with the greatest range it could look along the lost road across the sea to
the Master Stone in the tower of Avallone. As such, Elendil granted the Eldar
access to the stone. The second stone of Arnor was placed in the newly 
established capital Annuminas. The third stone of Arnor was placed at Amon Sul
which was located near the centre of the realm. At over three feet in
diameter, it was the largest and greatest of the northern palantiri.

Of the Gondorian stones, three were placed at the tower of Orthanc, Minas Anor
and Minas Ithil respectively. The last and most powerful of all the seven, was
located at Osgiliath, the capital of Gondor. With this arrangement,
information could be transmitted from the far east unto the west. However, it
was not long before this arrangement was disturbed.

    Chapter 5 - The Fate of the Northern Stones (Years 4-1407)
    ==========================================================

With the death of Elendil and the defeat of Sauron on Orodruin, the Second Age
of the Sun came to a close. Soon after, as Isildur marched north towards
Annuminas from Gondor to claim his kingdom, he was in turn waylaid and killed
in the Gladden Fields. So it was that Isildur's son, Valandil became the first
king of Arnor of the new age. For their crucial role in Sauron's downfall,
Valandil bequeathed the Elostirion stone to the Eldar of Lindon. Though the
Seerkind were still granted certain access, it was nevertheless the first of
the seven to be lost to men.

For the next eight centuries, Arnor prospered amongst relative peace and
harmony, despite the ominous warnings of the Council of Seers after the death
of Isildur. Also, though Gondor suffered wars with the Easterlings of Rhun,
the southern Dunedain prevailed.

However, in the year eight hundred and sixty-one, Arnor was sundered. With the
death of Earendur, tenth king of the realm, his three sons squabbled over
territory which each staked a claim to. Amlaith, the eldest son and heir
apparent, claimed the heirlooms of the kingdom such as the sceptre of 
Annuminas, but lost the southern and eastern lands to his brothers Thorondur
and Aldarion respectively. Thus was the North Kingdom split into three
independent, neighbouring, but lesser states: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur.

With the division, the stones of the north were also contested. Amlaith
rightfully claimed the Stone of Annuminas and had the greated influence with
the guardians of the Elostirion stone. However, the chief stone of the north
on Amon Sul stood on the borders of all three kingdoms, as later marked by the
Seroneldeon Tarma, the "Three friends' Pillar". Never could the three realms
agree upon the ownership of the fortress and its Seeing-stone, which all
coveted.

Arthedain successfully contested the claims and held onto the Tower of Amon
Sul on its south-eastern border. The Warden of the Tower was invariably an
arthadan but concessions were made to the sister kingdoms while there was no
bloodshed. These concessions included limited access to the stone. However, as
the stones responded best to those of Elendil's line, or appointed by one of
the line, invariably the mystics of Rhudaur and Cardolan had to be approved by
the arthadan King, who would bestow the privilege. For more details on this
and the related ceremonies of appointment, consult my earlier work "On using
the Stones".

The Arnorian capital of Annuminas was a set of both rulership and high
learning. It was here that one of the stones was held and where the Council of
Seers studied. Since Annuminas was within the boundaries of Arthedain, with
the division, the military capital of Fornost grew in prominence with the
passing of the centuries. With the transition of power, much of the work of
the Seerkind became divided between the two cities. The final shift of the
Council and the Annuninas-stone was to occur as a result of the first war with
Angmar and Rhudaur in the mid-fourteenth century.

    Chapter 6 - The Fate of the Northern Stones (Years 1408-1950)
    =============================================================

One of the great tragedies of the Northern Kingdom of the Dunedain was the
fall of the Tower of Amon Sul, the great fortress on the summit of Weathertop.
Due to its isolated nature, it had been a site for astrologers and mystics
since its building. The sacred knowledge of the Seeing-stone also contributed
to its spiritual and tactical significance.

With the division of Arnor, the Tower gained even greater significance, as
discussed in the previous chapter. But the forces of Angmar assaulted the
area close to the east of Weathertop in the year fourteen-hundred and eight.
Even with both Arthedain and Cardolan united, and not few Eldar assisting, the
Angmarim attack was swift and merciless. Commanded by the Witch-king
personally, the army besieged the hill, killing all those who defended it.
King Arveleg I of Arthedain was killed while defending the souther flank of
Amon Sul, while later King Ostoher of Cardolan was ambushed and killed after
escaping to the Tryn Gorthad. The orc of Mount Gundabad, used their siege
equipment to reduce the tower to rubble, toppling and burning the remains.

However, amongst this tragedy, the stone of the tower survived. Taken down
from the top of the tower into the labyrinthine passages below the hill, it
was carried by way of a long underground passage to the first fort of Emyn
Sul. From there it was transported by waggon to Fornost, though the waggon was
attacked by a mounted orc patrol. This rapid flight was no small feat, as the
stone measured some nearly three feet in diameter and could not be carried by
one man alone. As I have described in my earlier book, a few specially crafted
mithril cradles existed to support a stone, rendering them light enough to be
easily transported in an emergency, though they were still very encumbering by
nature of the bulk. Sadly, these devices were destined to disappear from the
North Kingdom with the Stones.

After this battle, the future looked bleak for the Dunedain. Annuminas was
subsequently torched and Fornost Erain was besieged but the Eldar of Lindon
and Imlandris interceded to turn the war. The Witch-king's forces were
wrecked by this new turn of events, ensuring five centuries of substantive
peace for Arthedain.

The two palantiri now resided in Fornost Erain up until my time as High Lord
Seer. However, only the Annuminas-stone was used in court. With its great
value now to the kingdom, the Amon Sul-stone was kept locked away and
shrouded. Its main use in latter years had been to communicate with the stones
of Gondor, to which I briefly turn.

In the lull between the fall of Amon Sul and of Fornost Erain, Gondor suffered
several strifes. Amongst them, the most bitter was the Kin-Strife when dunadan
was pitted against dunadan for control of the lands of Gondor. In the years
fourteen-hundred and thirty-two to forty-eight, the Southern Realm was wracked
by deadly civil war. In fourteen-hundred and thirty-seven, the capital 
Osgiliath was sacked and ruined by forces loyal to Castamir, and the Chief
stone of Middle-Earth was somehow lost to the waters of the Anduin.
Communication between the Northern and Souther Realms decreased to mere 
cordiality, the information now passing by more mundane routes than the 
Seeing-stones.

    Chapter 7 - Arvedui's Flight and the Doom of the Northern Stones
    ================================================================

Although the arthadain held out for many centuries, with each year they
declined inexorably in power and influence. However, some little hope seemed
to be brought in nineteen-hundred and forty when Prince Arvedui was wed to
Firiel, daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor. This sealed a loose pact of mutual
assistance between Arthedain and Gondor, though this was muddied by later
political turmoil.

The hope was soon to prove forlorn for but three years later I saw in the
Annuminas-stone what will come to pass: Arvedui would be the fifteenth and
"Last King" of the North, and many years of sadness will accompany his demise.

When I later proclaimed this, I was not made welcome in court for many a year,
only being mildly tolerated. Yet what came to pass matched very closely what I
saw, as I describe below. For more on this aspect, the reader is directed to
an earlier compendium of my prophesies "The Long Shadow".

So it was that on the death of King Araphant in nineteen-hundred and sixty-
four, Arvedui grasped the Sceptre of Annuminas and so became the unwilling
servant to the doom prophesied for him and his kingdom. And so it was in the
fall of nineteen-hundred and seventy-four, with visions of an imminent attack
by Angmar, that King Arvedui sent an urgent plea to Gondor for help. Though
King Earnil sent his son Earnur with a large fleet to Mithlond where they
joined with the Eldar of Lindon to march east, it was too late. Fornost Erain
had already been besieged and fell that winter.

Arvedui had been forced to flee his capital with a small company of retainers,
while others tried to delay any pursuit. With him he carried some of the
heirlooms of the Kingdom: the two palantiri, the Ring of Barahir and a few
other saved treasures. (The Sceptre of Annuminas and the Elendilmir I later
found had been smuggled to Imlandris). Isolated from friendly forces and
harassed by wolf-riders, the king first escaped west to the Ered Luin. With
capture still imminent, he then fled north to the wastes of Forochel.

What followed is unclear and partly based on my own scryings but it seemed the
king sought refuge with the Lossoth, the northmen of the Forochel. There they
passed the winter, mindful of an attack by the Witch-king's forces. They could
not have known that the Gondorian and Eldarin armies had finally met with the
Angmarim, totally annihilated the evil army. Though the Witch-king escaped
destruction, his power in Eriador was eliminated to this day.

In March of the year nineteen-hundred and seventy-five, the worst of the
winter had past, and the ice of the Bay of Forochel began to break up. With
this, a ship sailed into the bay: an Eldarin ship sent by Cirdan to rescue the
king.

Eager to return to restore the remains of his realm, the dunedain made ready
to sail with the Eldar to warmer climes. As a mark of gratitude, King Arvedui
gave the leader of the Lossoth f the bay a token-the Ring of Barahir. Thus in
later times, he told him, the dunedain will pay handsomey for it.

And so it was that the ship set sail out of the bay, but as they approached
the mouth, a great storm blew up to hinder them. So savage did the weather
become, that even the mighty ship was forced onto the ice, where it foundered
in the night. All hands perished, and so did my king and the palantiri of
Annuminas and Amon Sul.

    Chapter 8 - Concluding Remarks on the Loss of the Palantiri of the North
    ========================================================================

With this final act, this history ends. Seemingly linked to the crucial events
of the north, with the passing of the Kingdom of the North into memory, so the
stones also passed away. One stands still, maintained by the Eldar in
Elostirion, yet the other two northern palantiri now lie drowned deep in the
sea until the End.

    Chapter 9 - Addendum: The Ithil-stone
    =====================================

While I have been writing this text in Tharbad, news has come from Gondor of
the rise of evil once more in Mordor. With orcs and no little sorcery, the
tower of Minas Ithil was overcome. Now evil controls the fortress-city and the
seeing-stone that it contained now belongs to the Enemy. What role this
palantir will play in the future is unclear, but it will undoubtedly be great.