Of the Taurethar, the Great Ones and the Powers of Aeriador

Author: Ithryn Emrais

Page 1: Aeriandë — The Shaping of Aeriador

Of The Taurethar

The Taurethar are named the Powers of Aeriador. For among them are counted both the Great Ones, whom Men call Gods, and the lesser who are the Celestials.

Now the mightiest of all are the Gods, the Kings and Queens of the Taurethar and of all Aeriador, and of these there are Eight. But among the Eight four are exalted above the rest, and they are named the Aratar, the High Ones of Aeriador. The Aratar are Aerendyl, Zemira, Celeborn, and Amara; and these rule not only over Aeriador, but hold dominion also over all the Powers beside. To them is given the chief governance of the world, and to their counsel all others bow.

Of the Aratar, Aerendyl is the greatest, for he is the Creator of Aeriador, Lord of the Night, the Nightstar. Beside him in majesty stands Zemira the Bright, Lady of the Dawn and the Fountain of Light. Though they are not joined in union, yet Aerendyl is named High King of the Taurethar and Zemira is High Queen of the Taurethar, and in honor they are set together as King and Queen of Aeriador. These two are highest among the High, and even their peers hearken to their word. Celeborn, the spouse of Zemira, and Amara, the consort of Aerendyl, are also mighty, yet in renown they are less than Aerendyl and Zemira.

The other Gods, though great in power, are accounted lesser beside the Aratar, and they are Faeryl, Finduilen, Mielikki, and Selene. Each of them are Kings and Queens of their domains, yet lesser than the Kings and Queens of the Aratar. Faeryl, alone of the gods, has union with a mortal. Husband of Faeryl is Arothir, High King of the Tel’Lasien Elves, and of their union was born Aeredhel, fairest of all Tel'Lasien elves, and only Eärmin is greater in beauty among all elves. Finduilen took to wife Selene, Goddess of the Moons, and their daughter is Miriel the Radiant, greatest of the Celestials. Mielikki alone goes unwed, yet her might is not diminished, for she wanders in solitude and her dominion is wide.

Beneath the Gods are the Celestials, angelic and radiant, whom some name the Maia of Aeriador. These serve the will of the Gods, and through them is much of their power made manifest in the world. Foremost among the Celestials are the Children of the Gods: the Ladies Miriel, Aeredhel, Melina, and Mira, and with them the Lord Iraborn. High are they in wisdom and might among their order, and yet they remain ever subject to the will of the Gods.

Yet Aerena, though the daughter of Aerendyl and Amara, is not numbered among the Celestials. For she was born before the Primordial Age of Aeriador, before Aerendyl and Amara ascended into godhead, and she is wholly of the Elves of Aeriador, though her lineage is of the blood of the High Ones and unmatched in nobility and royalty.

Thus are the Taurethar ordered: the Aratar, who reign in majesty; the lesser Gods, who serve beside them; and the Celestials, who fulfill their will. And above all sit Aerendyl as High King and Zemira as High Queen of the Powers; and though their thrones are apart, yet in glory they are joined, and their rule extends over all Aeriador.

The Taurethar

Aerendyl is the greatest of the Powers of Aeriador, High King of the Gods. He is Lord of Knowledge and of Magic, of Nobility and of Trickery, and the flame of Chaos is in his spirit. But above all he is renowned for the might of his mind, for of all the Powers his intellect is unsurpassed, and no thought lies beyond his grasp. Deep are the hidden things of his counsel, and many are the secret works of his hand. He is named the Nightstar, for his throne is set in darkness, and his dominion reaches into all the hidden places of the world.

Zemira is the High Queen of the Gods, the Bright Lady. Zemira is next in might to Aerendyl. She is the Fountain of Light, the Dawn-bringer, healer of wounds, and shield against all peril. To her belong the fires of heaven and the light of hope. Too great is her beauty to be declared in the words of Men or of Elves, for the light of the heavens lives still in her face. Yet above all is her wisdom, for none of the Powers surpass her in counsel, and even Aerendyl hearkens to her word. Though she is spouse to Celeborn, yet she reigns beside Aerendyl, and together they are King and Queen of Aeriador.

Celeborn, the Strong, is Lord of War and of Strength, of Glory in battle and the renown of victory. Celeborn has might little less than Zemira, but in stature and in courage he is greatest of all, and none of the Powers may contest with him in physical might. In his hand are set the arms of war, and the hosts of battle rally to his call. He is the spouse of Zemira, and with her he is a bulwark of light and power against the darkness that stirs in the world. The children of Celeborn and Zemira are among the most high of the Celestials, and they are the Ladies Melina, Mira, and the Lord Iraborn.

Amara, the Dark Lady, is consort of Aerendyl, and Aerena is their daughter. She is mistress of Desire and of secret Knowledge, of Darkness and the deep arts of the Mind. In intellect she is second only to Aerendyl, but in beauty none surpass her, and even the Powers tremble at her radiance. Perilous is her loveliness, and her will is strong; and though many fear her shadow, none may withstand the enchantment of her presence, for she is counted among the Aratar, the High Ones of Aeriador.

Faeryl is Lady of the forests and of living things, guardian of the hidden folk of shadow. She is greatest of all archers among the Powers, and in battle with the bow none are her equal. She is also the most renowned ranger to walk in Aeriador, and all the creatures of field and tree answer her call. She wedded the mighty Arothir, High King of the Tel’Lasien Elves, and of their union was born Aeredhel, among the most beautiful of all the Children of Aeriador.

Finduilen is Lord of the waters and the airs. He governs the seas and the flowing rivers, the rains and the storms, and all the living hosts of the waters are his. In strength he is second only to Celeborn, and in wisdom he is surpassed by Zemira alone. He is the spouse of Selene, Goddess of the Moons, and together they bring forth both tempest and calm, and of them was born Miriel, brightest of the Celestials, and of the Children of Aeriador, her beauty is only surpassed by Eärmin.

Selene is Lady of the Moons Silmerana and Elennómëa, and of the Night. In dancing she delights, and she dances unclad beneath the moonlight. In beauty she is second only to Amara, and her form is held to be nigh to perfection. Yet she is not dark in her arts, for her dominion is over the gentler lusts and the secret charms of love. She is the spouse of Finduilen, and their daughter Miriel is fairest among the angelic host.

Mielikki walks alone. She is the Lady of the wild woods, of sylvan paths and all the wanderings of free creatures. She is the supreme ranger and the queen of forests, and her dominion is wide and unbroken. In the craft of the hunt and in the mastery of the bow she is second only to Faeryl, and many are the spirits of the wild who follow her call.