He was not, if the Featulin Ivernum could be called 'he', a thing made as what he became. No, the west shores of the Anduin-at-Lorien did not always ring with the ghostly echos of harpsong as can be heard now, nor has there always been old unearthly cries of names long-forgotten. Why, there were days once in the world when the elf-docks were full of life and hope and beauty. The latter they have still, though it is much diminished and there are few minds left that recall the creatures that wrought the paths and crumbling stones, for abandoned they have been since the Fourth Age.
No, upon a once-time centuries before the last Eldar left for the Undying Lands, before the last light of the Golden Woods went out and the ageless King returned to his throne with a mortal-made-elfqueen, before even the fabled stand against Mordor's dark enemy and the great alliance between all the creatures of Middle-earth, there was a name the Featulin Ivernum could be called by.
That name... was Sila-rond.
Chapter One: Of Mithlond, Elves, and House High-Leaf
The Falathrim, of which House High-Leaf are borne mostly from, are dominated by certain substantial differences from all the other Elves of Lindon; they are sea-farers (perhaps only matched in shipbuilding craft and seamanship by the Numenoreans), living in towns, and retain the greatest continuity from the earliest Ages of any surviving culture in Endor.
Nonetheless, they are also among the least insular (in most respects) of the various Elven peoples of Lindon, intermarrying freely with the other groups, easily both serving under and ruling over their kinfolk, and preserving a complex and healthy culture, producing artists, warriors, scholars, sailors and a multitude of trades.
CÌrdan their lord dominates their governance, along with his nobles (some of whom ruled beside him in lost Eglarest and Brithombar), and has done so for all of their existence as a separate people. The Falathrim do not question his decisions as might a Noldor or Sindar his leaders, for his wisdom and long tenure have affirmed his right to rule. The Falathrim are sometimes uncomfortable with the more eccentric Noldor and the more secretive Sindar, but CÌrdan has shown more openness to dissidence and complexions of perspective than the bulk of his people.
This is not to say that the Falathrim are colourless, far from it. They express their individuality in their own personal ways, not in dramatic fashion. Being town-dwellers, they are gregarious and cultured. The density of population allows the pursuit of individual talents more fully than amongst the more rural peoples, where survival skills and interests of use to the community are encouraged.
House High-Leaf, in Sindarin Arlass, one of the six Houses of the Falas which are thus: Golden Gate (Glorannon) under Gaerbrith at Mithlond, Sky-Flower (Meneloth) under Gilathir at Mithlond, Watcher on the Shores (Tirith-in-Feles) under Mathil at Mithlond, Waterlilly (Ningloron) under Galdor at Mithlond, and Silver Fish (Celeblim) under Gaerdaer at Harlond, is under Lord Brilluin at Mithlond, who was the millitary commander of most if not all of the forces that CÌrdan had under martial law.
Now, the Elves of Lindon are the last remnant of a once glorious civilization: that of the Eldarin kingdoms of the First Age. The Three Kindreds of the Elves of Middle-earth first awoke millennia ago in the far East. Out of primal Cuivienen the Eldar hearkened to the call of Orome and made a long and dangerous journey west to Valinor. Their kin, the Avari, remained in the East, forsaking the guardianship and guidance of the Valar. Over time the distances and perils faced shaped distinct cultures and the Three Tribes of the Eldar formed from the ancient tri-fold division. Despite this, the basic psychology and interests of the Eldar everywhere have remained similar.
Eldarin society is slow to change and its history is made of centuries, not years, in the perception of its members. This is increasingly so as their dominion shifts to the mortal Men. Freed from the shadow of mortal death, most Elves live in the midst of the world, rather than apart, celebrating the cycles of time and growth as a great song and a great drama, known and beloved. As the capacity to effect change passes from Elvish grasp, the disruptions and pettiness of mortals becomes troublesome.
Like Gondorís is destined to be, the throne of Lindon is empty. The ritual and hierarchy of the kingdom is a shadow of its former glory. The authority of CÌrdan and the successor lords in Lindon derives formally from the legal framework established by Gil-galad and his council. As in Gondor under the Stewards, the muster and other highest functions of the kingdom are called in the name of the King of the West Elves, King of Lindon, Commander of the Host, Prince of the Lingerers.
To fill the void, household and personal obligations and authority were reconstituted by CÌrdan as owed to his person as Warden of the Havens, a position he held from the first councils in the Second Age. But this creates a significant constraint in that his lieutenants are only empowered to act within the powers conceived (admittedly broad) for his position. Within Mithlond he can act as prince of the Falathrim and thus assume de facto regal power.
The other major office (and entirely independent of CÌrdan's office, except where regards the defense of the Havens and the fleet) is the Warlord of Lindon, held by royal grant at Dagorlad, with the death of the old Warlord, Annaer. Annaer is entrusted with the mustering and overall command of the Host.
And so House High-Leaf owed its alliegence to CÌrdan, and when the call to muster a force across the land went out and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men was formed, the millitary leaders of Mithlond of which Lord Brilluin was proginator of were obligated to answer.
It is here that history first marks the passing of Sila-rond Maenpaur and his brother Sila-viel Candbôr, twins borne of Brilluien and Matheriel, for they two were the commanders of the force High-Leaf sent with the Elf-King, though this chronicle shall be focused upon the former more than the latter.
