Penned in the House of Healing,
In the Realm of Dorwinion

I spoke today with Lord Iavasdir and told him of my concerns and my intent therefore to depart his realm, but after gently delving into my mind with his, he allayed my fear that I am tainted by the Shadow; indeed, he remarked with astonishment, that neither could he discern any sign of the lingering darkness that commonly lies upon the hearts of all the race of Men. I did not understand his words, and so he told to me an ancient tale that the Wise among the Atani have long kept secret, even while the memory of all other Men faded. For it is said that Men were seduced by Melkor when they awoke at the beginning of the First Age of the Sun, and he deceived them to forswear Eru Ilúvatar.

Now the first Voice heard in the hearts of the first Men was that of Eru, and It told of their making and purpose in Middle-earth, and they heeded It. But afterwards they oft asked for aid, and Eru gave it not, for he wished them to perceive the world and become wise on their own accord; thus many of the Secondborn heeded His Voice no longer. However Melkor had, since the Ainulindalë, desired to increase his dominion in Eä, and he appeared among the first Men in fair guise and gave unto them the knowledge that the Voice of Eru would not, and so they hearkened to his teachings. But, alas, his words were of the power of the Darkness, and he feigned that the Voice of Eru was the Voice of the Dark that sought to devour them, and that he was their protector, saying unto them:

"Greatest of all is the Dark, for It has no bounds. I came out of the Dark, but I am Its master. For I have made Light. I made the Sun and the Moon and the countless stars. I will protect you from the Dark, which else would devour you. (...) Ye may have the Dark as Lord, or ye may have Me. But unless ye take Me for Lord and swear to serve Me, I shall depart and leave you; for I have other realms and dwelling places, and I do not need the Earth, nor you." ¹

And the first Men were fearful of his abandonment, and in obeisance they gave to him their fealty; and he charged them to raise a House to his worship, wherein they should pray to him and hear his commands. And every Man is said to have bowed there, and brought the Shadow upon them all. Thus did the Voice of Ilúvatar speak one last time, and He pronounced the Doom of Men for their benighted deeds:

"Ye have abjured Me, but ye remain Mine. I gave you life. Now it shall be shortened, and each of you in a little while shall come to Me, to learn who is your Lord: the one ye worship, or I who made him." ²

So it came to pass that Men began to die, either though misfortune as the beasts of Arda turned against them, or through the brutal oppression of Melkor's servants against their kin; and many began to fear Melkor, and to hate him, and sought therefore to escape his dominion. Though many of them were pursued by those Men loyal to the Dark Lord and burned as sacrifices in his House, some fled to the West to become the Atanatári.

   "Nai!" I cried, but Lord Iavasdir said, "Áva sorya! For this is indeed the Gift of Men, and not its bane, though it is darkened by Morgoth's shadow; it is said among my kin that after death, the fëar of Men are gathered in the Halls of Mandos, and then depart  beyond the confines of Arda for a destination unknown even to the Valar. And we, who must live as long as Arda endures and become burdened with its sorrows, oft begrudge this Gift given unto Men, and it is said that even the Valar shall do so too. And though Men have since come to view death with great dread, however, those with the greatest understanding treat it as the Gift it was intended to be, and when their time comes they gladly give themselves up to it."
And he glanced at me askance and added, "But you, friend Greybeard, carry not this shadow from ages past... this is indeed puzzling, and I shall bend my thought to it. Nevertheless, I hope that you no longer feel the need to depart the hospitality of my humble haven?"
I gratefully shook my head, and bowing, I thanked him for his wisdom and kindness, and took my leave.

   "One more thing," he called to me as I departed from his hall. I turned and looked back towards him, and smiling he said, "Until we have tidings from my messengers to the West, where else can you call home?"

And inclining his head, he added, "Á rice alassen!"

With these words did he lighten my heart, for though I have thought of Dorwinion as my refuge, never have I deemed it my home. Thus have I resolved that although "áva lave huinen" is my watchword, "á rice alassen" shall ever be my maxim!

1. Morgoth's Ring, "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth"
2. Ibid