|
SITÄIKUR
Tablet 1
Original Translation
Luta kaku iltur api autir hainnä Aino. Erres iltur autir iltur vasti Aino, ia kaku iltur autir
Aino. Uriassëvalti uta Aino akälarin Ulurmo uto Aino. Aino pirsorin atsa ia tähen luomrin ëväli
ossä ulirrauto. Ia Aino tatulrin Luta ia Rinä, luomhë ulëkhë uta aikehë.
Aino pirsorin atsa ia allëlëkhë rista ulëväli. Luta ia Rinä, Aino sakurin api autir hainnä Aino.
Tähen Aino ömmörin öurmo ossär ulëväli nen että tema urmo ahërinsu vara atsalti. Aino sakurin
tema urmo, ia tema urmo autir ei Aino.
Nik Aino sakurin tema lurmo autir uto atsalti vasti eisenä öviro uta atsalti. Tähen an
allëahmörin atsalti, ia är annen vara urmo an saetrin ulahmö Vaiku. Aino sakurin että Vaiku
allëlëkhërin raekën, kolto ossä ulëväli. Vaif ulëväli uto Aino että hölrin miall Vaiku autir
että uto luomva.
Aino autir vau ehässin ehi ukolto Vaiku ia an autir moninen an hölrin tedärin Vaiku. Aino intari
nuomirin är kifä Vaiku ossär atsa vasti Vaiku taekarin. Aino vau isakrin är maëdda Vaiku vasti
Vaiku autir raek...
...Aino hollassirin ia inta luefha ömmörin öurmo atsalti, ia Lukkai allëlëkhërin rista ulëväli.
Vaiku sakurin Ulukkai ia lëkrin är sä, härashë är ëssä Ulukkai.
Ortuisrin ehi Ulukkai, Vaiku tuafin eisaku Aino tia. Aino maëddarin Vaiku är harra annet. Vaiku
ydrissrin ossär meiki irurmo, pairrin ossär Ulukkai uta Aino. Ululkair uta Vaiku vau maëddarin
Ulukkai uta Aino, tähen pairrhë ossär tommu keitu ulëväli.
English Translation
Before all else there was only Aino. Naught else was there but Aino, and all else was Aino.
From the Awakening of Aino came the Thought of Aino. Aino knew himself and thus created expanse
in the void. And Aino realised Before and After, creating the movement of time.
Aino knew himself and moved through the expanse. Before and After, Aino saw there was only Aino.
Thus Aino sent a thought into the expanse so that this thought would be separate from himself.
Aino saw this thought, and this thought was not Aino.
Now Aino saw this thought was of himself but no longer a part of himself. Thus he named himself,
and to his separate thought he gave the name Vaiku. Aino saw that Vaiku moved swiftly, restless
in the expanse. For the thought of Aino that had become Vaiku was that of creation.
Aino was then disturbed by the restless Vaiku and he was sorry he had made Vaiku. Aino first
tried to gather Vaiku into himself but Vaiku fled. Aino then sought to smash Vaiku but Vaiku was
swift...
(here the characters are too worn to decipher)
...Aino pondered and once again sent a thought from himself, and Light moved through the expanse.
Vaiku saw the Light and went to it, desiring to possess the Light.
Enthralled by the Light, Vaiku did not see Aino approach. Aino smashed Vaiku to destroy him.
Vaiku shattered into many thoughts, scattered into the Light of Aino. The pieces of Vaiku then
smashed the Light of Aino, thus scattering into dust across the expanse.
Tablet 2
Original Translation
Nik umeiki ulkainno uta Vaiku aurin finneor ir irurmo uta luomva. Vasta anir iar hölrin
anirön öukki irurmo. Aino autir allëlëkhëhë ossä ulëväli, äussokinir ehi upuoska hinnën annet.
Uvaiku hinëorin anirön tahti ossär puoska ia Aino tuarin iparën osupar.
Sä akälarin är kuolhe että Uvaiku pirsorin ivara elti ia anir kifärin oltoimi uosuparhë Aino.
"Akäla nouma kuet kifä Ulukkai vaif airtamesu," lukarin ul en örovoimel uta Uvaiku.
"Eilim, vasti nouma kuet tedä raistu irättuaro," lukarin saitli, an ku hölrin surin tö utellourmo
uta Ainoön urmottim. "Kuet rehë teki mitä kuet kaiva tahtialti osuparhë. Ia vulla mitä kuet
teki, irättuaroluka kuet rehë luom, reimu ultaen örotättuaroluka ättu Ulukkai." Vasti en
örovoimel uta Uvaiku autir maiken ia an lëkrin är kifä Ulukkai ilpu atsa.
Vau Uvaiku tekirin mitä anir härasrin annentirtahtialti ia taekarin keitu ulëväli. Aino
riassërin ia an lossärin, vaif an autir sommir.
Sä akälarin är kuolhe että Uvaiku kifärin tö ulalaispa uta ulëväli. Vau, vulla mitä anir hölrin
tekirin Ainoalti anir alkärin är luom. Atri api autir ia nekarti, ivara Vaiku arimhë sommir, ia
eilainu uta Uvaiku autir apiemir vulla mitä autir tedärin. Uvaiku paitakkärin anirön arimelöva
ia kuenrin haiköna unekarti.
Vau annenir läho ku hölrin hillaeturin iran är kifä Ulukkai akälarin ia sakurin unekarti ia
annenir kuenitva. "Saku tö laniön turiha arimelöva," an ikkurin. Uvaiku paitakkärin annenir
kuenitva är saku mitä anir hölrin tuarin, ia anir lossärin ossä hupar. "Ainan rehë ymla haiköna
laniön nekarti Ulukkai ainan höl vasta kifärin," lukarin Uvaiku uta Lukkai.
English Translation
Now the many shards of Vaiku were alive as thoughts of creation. Yet they also had their own
thoughts. Aino was moving in the expanse, overwhelmed by the chaos around him. The Vaiku
circled their father into confusion and Aino did finally sleep.
It came to pass that the Vaiku knew each other and they gathered beside the sleeping Aino. "Come
let us gather the Light for ourselves," said the mightiest of the Vaiku.
"Nay, but let us fashion great wonders," said another, he who had been at the forethought of
Aino's mind. "We shall take what we need from our sleeping father. And with what we take,
splendors we shall create, even more splendorous than the Light." But the mightiest of the Vaiku
was angry and he went to gather the Light for himself.
Then the Vaiku took what they desired from their father and fled across the expanse. Aino awoke
and he wept, for he was alone.
It came to pass that the Vaiku gathered at the bottom of the expanse. Then, with what they had
taken from Aino they began to create. Soon there was a muddle, each Vaiku working alone, and
none of the Vaiku were pleased with what was fashioned. The Vaiku ceased their labors and fought
over the muddle.
Then their brother who had forsook them to gather the Light came and beheld the muddle and their
squabbling. "Look at your futile efforts," he mocked. The Vaiku stopped their squabbling to see
what they had done, and they wept in shame. "I shall set above your muddle the Light I have so
far gathered," said the Vaiku of Light.
Tablet 3
Original Translation
"Nena airta tahti ahë akäla ia saku mitä fëmio lani höl tuarim vulla mitä lani rikklofin alti annet." Ia mitä että an ymla annetön lukkai haiköna unekarti. Uvaiku varistin anirön irsavalö ossä hupar apaiksä leskëtuaro uta Ullakai uta anirön läho.
Aino vau sakurin raistu lukkai ia an akälarin turiapö ia sakurin unekarti annetön irylkia hölrin tedärin. Ia an sakurin että annetön irylkia väfistirin ossä hupar. "Misä tua lani pirhal ossä hupar?" an lukarin. "Ainan saku imähön irylkia irau öanaipka hiam ia anir taeka anirön tahtialti. Mitä Ainan saetrin lani autir uspiatö är luom vasta Ainan saetrin lani erres vulla ettäno är luom vulla. Nen lani tekirin imälti mitä rehëfin höl surin saethë är lani. lähtin lani höl uhäras är tedä raistu irättuaro, Ainan rehë opasto laniön irarimelö nen että lani tihä taisë laniön arimelöiva." .
Uvaiku lossärin ia aurin moninen anir hölrin anaipirin anirön tahti, ia anir keppöfin iratsa luta Aino. Vasti Valotar, anirön läho ku härasrin Ulukkai uta Aino, sakutärin talsar, ylpira ia ylpirotu. .
Aino lukörin: "Valotar laniön läho, lähtin an ehöl nuomirin är allëhupar imähön irylkia, ia an ehöl kifärin niallo uta imähön Lukkai vaif atsa, rehë torlu ossä uvaro alahata Ulukkai ia apaiksä utumbar uta Uvaiku. Ul irlukkai rehë lëkhata haiköna utumbar uta Uvaiku ia luro ossär utumbar ut Valotar. Vasti api anir rehë sumiltrëtir nentë Valotar rehë eisaku iran lai an suvallanëfin luefha ehi anirön ättuaroluka.
English Translation
"Therefore our father will come and see what good you have done with what you stole from him."
And with that he set his Light above the muddle. The Vaiku bent their countenances in shame
under the glory of the Light of their brother.
Aino then saw the great Light and he came forth and saw the muddle his children had made. And he
saw that his children cowered in shame. "Why do you hide in shame?" he said. "I see my children
are a rebellious lot and they flee from their father. What I gave you was the power to create
yet I gave you nothing with which to create with. So you took from me what should have been
given to you. Since you have the desire to fashion great wonders, I shall direct your efforts so
that you may complete your task."
The Vaiku wept and were sorry they had defied their father, and they prostrated themselves before
Aino. But Valotar, their brother who desired the Light of Aino, watched from afar, proud and
disdainful.
Aino spoke: "Valotar your brother, since he has attempted to shame my children, and he has
gathered some of my Light for himself, shall dwell in the darkness beyond the Light and under the
realm of the Vaiku. The Lights shall journey over the realm of the Vaiku and down into the realm
of Valotar. But there they shall be extinguished that Valotar shall not see them lest he be
tempted again by their splendor."
(at the bottom of the back side of tablet three are some undecipherable etchings or patterns)
Tablet 4
Thereafter Valotar was banished beyond the expanse, under the foundation of the muddle
formed by the Vaiku.
Now Aino appointed Luominen as the chief among the Vaiku. "Luominen shall be master of the
heavens," declared Aino, "and through his realm shall my Light move." And Luominen then
fashioned the roof of the firmament which separated the realm of the Vaiku from the expanse of
Aino. Then Aino threw a net out and gathered the lights and set them on courses through the
firmament. The Vaiku beheld with awe the realm of Luominen and they wondered what part they each
would play.
Aino then spoke: "The muddle under the heavens I give to Alku, for he alone has a created a
splendor in this muddle that pleases me." At that the works of the Vaiku were swept under the
waters, the theme of Alku. Seeing that their father held regard only for Luominen and Alku, the
remaining Vaiku protested, for they knew not that Aino had yet to reveal their purpose.
Of those that protested, none raised his voice more than Rumar, for his spirit was hot and his
countenance ugly. Some of the Raiku chose to depart, and they sought their brother Valotar. Now
after the Vaiku had finally silenced their protests, Aino spoke: "Now shall Rumar fashion in the
midsts of the waters his own part." And from the muddle under the waters, Rumar caused to rise
dry land, and he fashioned mountains. Rumar gird his realm with a great belt of iron to hold
back the waters of Alku.
Alku then spoke, his voice the sound of crashing waves: "So Rumar girds his realm with walls yet
forgets his realm stands astride my own." And Alku caused his waters to rise through the cracks
of Rumar's realm, and fountains burst open in the mountains. Soon all the realm of Rumar was
flooded, and only the encircling walls stood above the waters. "Now we see who is master,"
boasted Alku. Then Alku beat upon the walls of Rumar. But as Alku destroyed the walls, so too
did his waters rush down and out of Rumar's realm.
"Alas," said Rumar, "I can neither hold back Alku nor be drowned in his waters." Thus Alkus's
waters rise in Rumar's realm but always return to the Seas.
Tablet 5
Then Aino said to the Vaiku, "Now see you have fashioned a splendor from your muddle. Let me
rest and then you shall complete what you have started." So Aino departed.
Now the Vaiku were filled with joy at their work, and Luominen declared, "We shall give a
name to our labors. Because the body of our father was used to make this place, it shall be call
Ruho. My realm above I shall call Iltavar." The realm of Alku was called Impari, and Rumar's
realm was named Keskel--for it was below Iltavar but above Impari.
While the Vaiku awaited Aino's return so that they might resume their work, Valotar brooded
in his realm of Tyrma. Long did he obsess over the Light of Aino, and in the darkness he
fashioned fires to feed his desire. But he was not long placated by his fires, and his thoughts
turned again to the expanse above and the labors of the Vaiku. While Aino slept, Valotar wormed
his way upward into the lower depths of Ruho. And the servants of Valotar crept from cracks and
pits to spy on the Vaiku and their realms. Then Valotar's servants returned to their master and
related to him what they had seen. Seven...
(the back side of tablet five is unreadable and appears to have been deliberately
defaced)
Tablet 6
Valotar, seeing that Aino had departed, entered Impari and a great steam arose from the
Seas. And wherever he went the Seas boiled. Alku went to see what disturbed his realm and he
confronted Valotar. But Valotar filled Alku's ears with lies, and he told him about Aino's plan
to eventually give their brother Rumar mastery under Luominen. Valotar left Impari and made his
way to Keskel, and there he was confronted by Rumar, for Valotar's coming had broken many
mountains, and fires erupted from cracks where he had walked.
"I have not slept beneath the waters of Alku," said Valotar. "I have listened long to your
brother's mutterings, and I thought to come see this Keskel which he means to sink." Then Rumar
flew into a rage, as was his wont, and he armed himself with weapons to fight his brother Alku,
and Valotar gave him fire with which to hurl and burn.
Valotar then, having beset brother against brother, climbed to Iltavar where his brother
Luominen ruled. Great streaks of fire marked Valotar's passage as he made his way to his
brother. "My humble realm is forever disturbed by the fighting of Alku and Rumar. What sort of
weakling lord allows such chaos?" "For what reason do they fight?" said Luominen.
"Surely you are not deaf as well as blind," answered Valotar, "for even in my lowly realm we
hear they fight over who shall rule Iltavar." "But I rule Ilvatar," said Luominen. "Ai, you did
not hear our father's plan as plainly as did others," said Valotar, and he descended again down
into his own realm.
Now the battle between the three brothers--Luominen, Alku and Rumar--lasted many ages. Ruho
was left ruined. Mighty waves beat upon the lands of Keskel, and mountains rose from the Seas.
The wind scoured the mountains and created great storms at sea. Dust rose into the heavens,
blotting out the Light of Aino. Darkness fell over all of Ruho, and the Vaiku, seeing what they
had done, wept in shame and called out to their father.
Valtar (probably Valotar was meant) then rose again, wreathed in flame, and his fires lit up
the darkness. And the Vaiku were awed by Valotar's might, and he told them Aino had forsaken
them. "See how he left us with work to be done?" said Valotar. "Let us not wait idly while he
sleeps, but let us complete our work." And the Vaiku were deceived by his words and made Valotar
their master.
Tablet 7
Now it came to pass after Valotar had long sat upon his throne that the Vaiku saw they did
nothing but appease his every wish. And nothing was accomplished, nor was anything created.
Valotar then ordered Aurin to seize the Great Light of Aino so that it was anchored unmoving over
Ruho. "Behold," declared Valotar, "the glory of my light shall ever burn over my realm."
It came to pass that the Light disturbed Aino's sleep and he descended into Ruho. "Who has taken
hold upon my Light so that it shines only on Ruho?" he said. And when he saw that Valotar sat
upon a throne over his brothers and sisters, Aino's countenance grew angry. Many of the Vaiku
threw themselves down in shame, but Valotar fled to the shadows of Tyrma. A great multitude of
the Vaiku followed Valotar, fearing the wrath of Aino.
Then Aino commanded Aurin: "Since you have disobeyed and broken the course of the sun, it shall
forever be shackled to your heels. And you shall drag it behind you over Ruho and into Tyrma.
Your time with Silma shall be fleeting." Silma then changed into a great raven, and she flew
over Ruho. Her silver-glazed eyes, slowly blinking, forever chases the Light shackled to her
husband's feet.
Aino then spoke to Ikui: "To give solace to your sister Silma, you shall let shine my lights when
her husband traverses the shadow of Tyrma. And let the light guide her on her way so that she
does not become lost." And so Ikui took up the net and commanded the stars.
Then Aino sealed the cracks of Ruho, imprisoning Valotar. And he took away the fires of Valotar
and gave them to Tulim, commanding him: "Guard you the secret of fire, for it is both a power and
an evil."
Now the realm of Rumar had been broken by Valotar's footsteps when he had fled the face of Aino.
For Valotar had wielded a mighty hammer called Avasar, and his mighty blows had cleaved the land.
"What Valotar has done cannot be mended," said Aino. "And it may come to pass that the strike of
Avasar has some greater purpose." Aino then commanded Maelli, wife of Rumar, to begin the work
for which she was intended. And the other Vaiku marveled as vegetation of every sort blanketed
Ruho. Vast forests sprang forth, grasses covered the flat regions, and fruit and seed fell to
the earth. When Maelli finished her task she rested in the forest.
Tablet 8
Ahti, who is the wife of Tulim, and mother of all beast that breaths, was called by Aino.
"Fashion now the fish of the seas, the beasts of the land and fowl of the air. For your work
shall encompass all of Ruho, and no brother or sister shall deny your influence. Although Alku's
wife Lokki may hinder your efforts, and even the work of Maetti, every creature will have its
place and nature in Ruho." And so it was, and Ahti rested beyond the ice of Lokki.
Now two of the Vaiku had yet to fulfill their purpose, and they were brother and sister, twins
named Taitur and Uno. Aino set the twins aside, saying, "Your purpose has yet to come. Wait a
while longer."
The Vaiku marveled at their work, and long they tended Ruho with care. Then Aino descended and
set foot upon Ruho, and where he walked a garden of surpassing beauty emerged. There he gathered
the Vaiku and he commanded each to spit on the ground.
Luominen spat and there was form.
Ikui spat and the stars lent their power brightly.
Alku spat and waters comingled with the earth.
Lokki spat and the earth cracked.
Rumar spat and the form separated from the earth.
Maelli spat and an ash tree sprouted from the crack.
Aurin spat and the sun melted Lokki's ice.
Silma spat and her eye stared wide throughout the darkness.
Tulim spat and fire scorched the leaves from the tree.
Ahti spat and Man was formed from the tree.
Now the Vaiku gazed upon their creation, but it did not breath, and they wondered at its purpose.
"Behold," said Aino, "you have created Ilmëta, so it is named for it is in your likeness." Then
Aino blew upon Ilmëta and the creation had life and awoke.
Tablet 9
Ilmëta was of the Vaiku, and his breath was that of Aino. Therefore, Ilmëta had life
everlasting and did not perish as did the trees and the grasses and the beasts. When Aino was
finished he departed to sleep again. The Vaiku placed Ilmëta in the garden that had sprung from
Aino's feet, and that place was called Etäin, for it was remote, set aside from the rest of Ruho.
Ilmëta knew no fear.
As Aino slept, the Vaiku thought amongst themselves that Ilmëta required a mate just as each of
them were husband and wife. Taitur and Uno went into the garden where Ilmëta slept and they cut
the branches from him. The branches that had been cut were gathered together and from them the
Vaiku made woman. And the man they called Maa, and the woman they called Ёläma, for to her
was given the cradle of life.
The Ilmëtari had many children, sons and daughters, and to each was given a name. The Vaiku each
taught the Ilmëtari of the world and its wonders, and the Ilmëtari grew in mind and spirit as the
Vaiku. Nevertheless, unlike the Vaiku, the Ilmëtari knew not of fear, nor did they know of hate,
for out of fear grows hate. Fearing that the innocent Ilmëtari might wander throughout untamed
Ruho and become scattered, the Vaiku forbade the Ilmëtari from leaving Etäin.
Now in Tyrma the laughter of the Ilmëtari reached the ears of Valotar and his servants. And
Valotar wondered greatly. "Let us go up with a sorrowful countenance," said Valotar, "and while
Aino sleeps we shall ask the forgiveness of our brothers and of our sisters. Therefore we can
rejoin their circle and see this great wonder they have created." But Valotar's servants were
afraid and they refused to go up from Tyrma.
So, alone Valotar crept up from shadow and made his way into Ruho. Amazed he gazed upon Ruho and
its wonders. And although his desire was great to possess the wonders, he crawled to the Vaiku
with his head in the dust. The Vaiku were enraged when they saw Valotar and they bound him in
chains.
Tablet 10
"Better to lie in chains in the midst of my glorious brothers and sisters than to lurk in the
shadows of Tyrma," said Valotar, and he gladly accepted his yoke. The Vaiku intended to drag him
back down into Tyrma, but he begged and flattered them until finally they agreed to let him stay
chained in Ruho. However, the Vaiku refused to allow him to see the Ilmëtari.
It came to pass that Valotar had long sat chained to the rock that is called Uvankila, and the
Vaiku watched over him. However, Volotar's mind was greater than each of the Vaiku, and they
came to him for counsel in everything. Now it seemed that Valotar's greed and wickedness of
heart had changed, and the Vaiku felt sorry for their brother chained to Uvankila. "I can give
you no advice on that which I cannot see," said Valotar, and he persuaded his brothers and
sisters to let him see more of Ruho. But the land of Etäin was forbbiden to him.
Taitur was given the chain upon which Valotar was led throughout Ruho. And to the Vaiku it
seemed the advice of Valotar was keen and wondrous. "Why is it that the Ilmëtari remain
prisoners in that distant place?" said Valotar. "Because they know no fear, and not even the
perils of Ruho hold any caution of heart for them." "But do they not have everlasting life as do
the Vaiku?" "Yes, but they have bodies just as do the trees and the beasts, and injury will end
their lives," said Taitur.
After Taitur had shown Valotar all of Ruho aside from Etäin, he chained Valotar again to Uvankila
and left him alone. Valotar called into the deeps, into the shadow of Tyrma. The servants of
Valotar heard their master's call, but only the dragon Rauno came forth. Rauno breathed fire
upon the chains and they broke at Valotar's feet. Then in the guise of a salmon, Valotar swam
the seas and up the cold river Valko until he made his way into Etäin.
Tablet 11
Biding his time, Valotar watched the Ilmëtari from a pool. Amazed at their beauty and innocence,
he desired to possess them, to rule over them and to teach them. Many of the Ilmëtari sat beside
the pool to watch the salmon, its scales gleaming like jewels. Then they were startled when the
fish began to speak, for never before had they heard speech from any but themselves and the
Vaiku. The fish spoke at length, and it told them of a fabulous secret that Tulim held--the
power of fire. And the Ilmëtari greatly desired to see this wonder of fire, so the fish told
them where to go to find the fire. And the salmon swam away and out of Etäin.
Now the Vaiku found that Valotar's chains had been broken, and they searched all of Ruho for him.
But he had slipped back down into Tyrma again. While the Vaiku searched, the Ilmëtari left the
bounds of Etäin to journey to the Halls of Tulim. When Taitur returned to Etäin, he found the
Ilmëtari dancing in a ring around a great blaze. "We have created!" they exclaimed. Taitur was
enraged and greatly afraid for that Aino should discover what had happened, and he stomped out
the flames with his mighty feet.
Aino had indeed awakened, for the smoke rose high above Ruho, and he descended down into Etäin.
"What is this smoke which rises from the garden of my children?" he said, and the Ilmëtari knew
fear, for they had never before heard the voice of Aino. They hid themselves from Aino and the
Vaiku. "Now you know fire and you know fear," said Aino, "and because you know fear your spirit
will not endure, but yet you will eventually die." Thus the Ilmëtari became mortal and he was
called Man. Then Aino departed and the Vaiku were saddened.
The Ilmëtari fled Etäin, fearful of the mighty voices of the Vaiku, and whenever the Vaiku
approached them, the Ilmëtari hid in caves and the wild places of Ruho. Maa and Ёläma grew
old and died as did their children, and their people were called the Hirhan, for they were lost.
Tablet 12
Now Aino refused to regard the Vaiku and he turned his back on Ruho. "How can we contain all the
hordes of Tyrma," the Vaiku wondered, and indeed the denizens of Tyrma, seeing Aino had turned
his back on Ruho, prowled up out of the darkness. There were terrible wars in those distant
days, and the Hirhan shook with fear as the earth trembled and the skies flashed. But the Vaiku
were finally victorious, and Valotar and his minions dug deep into the mountains to hide from the
Vaiku.
As the years went by, the Vaiku saw that the life of the Hirhan diminished. "Alas," they cried,
"a thousand Springs are all they shall see, and then to dust they fall." And the Vaiku were
troubled when any of their people died.
Now Taitur was closest to the Hirhan, and he walked openly among them. Of the Hirhan, there was
none as lovely as Esserena, for she was proud and did not hide in darkness of cave or thicket.
To Taitur it seemed the light of the stars had been captured in her eyes. He loved her. (The
bottom of the tablet is broken off. It is not known if more runes were carved here)
To Esserena was born twins, brother and sister, and they were named Annen and Luvenar. The
people wondered at their beauty and the light that shone from their eyes. As they grew it seemed
to all that they excelled not only in beauty and stature, but also in mind and spirit. People
grew old and died, but the twins appeared to never age. They only became more beautiful. Their
mother, Esserena, grew old and died. Taitur was distraught and he grieved alone. The Hirhan had
jealous hearts as they gazed upon the twins, and they drove them into the wilderness and they
were forgotten.
It came to pass that Valotar made his way to the northern lands where he found a small band of
the Hirhan who had forsaken the others. They hid in desolate hills. And that place is called
Nahud, for upon its highest hills, many leagues could be seen. (The bottom of the tablet is
broken off. It is not known if more runes were carved here)
Tablet 13
The people fled before Valotar, for although he was magnificent to behold, his hide stank, and
vapors rose up from his head. He drove the people into crack and hole, and there his minions
enslaved them.
In the West, Annen and Luvenar dwelt beside a lake, the far shore of which they could not see.
And there they bore three sons and three daughters. The sons were named Fineor, Elahö, and Sihë.
To the daughters were given the names Melöva, Ylvitari, and Tuisri.
From these six arose the Täntui, or the Fiery People, for life burned hot and everlasting in
their hearts. Other names were given to them by the people of the Hirhan: Tuä by the Southern
people beyond the Sea, Atanu by the people who dwell beside wide rivers, and Ylve by the people
who forge iron.
(I suspect that these names may refer to mythical beings, such as elves, hence the "Ylve"; I
will, until I prove--or am proven--otherwise, use the word Elf or Elves to describe the more
obscure "täntui" name. --A.T)
|