{"id":118457,"date":"2024-06-03T10:11:28","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T15:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=118457"},"modified":"2024-06-03T10:36:51","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T15:36:51","slug":"numenor-the-eagle-has-landed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2024\/06\/03\/118457-numenor-the-eagle-has-landed\/","title":{"rendered":"N\u00famenor: The Eagle Has Landed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On May 14 we got a (long-anticipated) first-look at Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power from Amazon Prime Video. TORn has already posted a staff trailer reaction<\/a> and some from-the-hip analysis<\/a>. There\u2019s still much to dissect from both teaser trailer and the accompanying behind-the-scenes video<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, however, TORn Discord regular Webcrawler <\/em>is eager to analyse some scenes from the teaser trailer that hint at the S2 plot of N\u00famenor, starting with one question…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

***************<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is Pharaz\u00f4n standing in front of an Eagle with a drawn sword?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by TORn Discord Regular Webcrawler<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some here at TORn have speculated this doesn\u2019t bode well for the eagle, nor for N\u00famenor. After all, Pharaz\u00f4n isn\u2019t one of the Faithful, and wouldn\u2019t hold them in the same sort of respect. But connecting some dots through other scenes and the lore may provide a clue about what\u2019s truly occuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pharaz\u00f4n draws his sword in front of an Eagle of Manw\u00eb<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles lived in the northern regions of N\u00famenor, in the northern cape of Forostar. Up until the time of Tar-Ancalimon, there was also a nest of golden eagles at the summit of the tower in the King\u2019s Palace. This would be the same tower where Tar-Palantir was held in The Rings of Power Season 1. Plus, there were three Eagles, known as the Witnesses of Manw\u00eb, that lived near the peak of the Meneltarma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe Forostar was the least fertile part; stony, with few trees, save that on the westward slopes of the high heather-covered moors there were woods of fir and larch. Towards the North Cape the land rose to rocky heights, and there great Sorontil rose sheer from the sea in tremendous cliffs. Here was the abode of many eagles.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Fall of N\u00famenor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The peak of Meneltarma is visible from the city of Armenelos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Map of N\u00famenor as drawn for The Rings of Power. Places said to be inhabited by Eagles are circled.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We have seen the King\u2019s Tower in Season 1 of The Rings of Power, and there was no indication that any eagles currently nested atop the tower. This is because in Season 1 the N\u00famenoreans no longer hold faith in the Valar and had let go of the old ways. So this could mean the Eagle comes from either the far north, or from the summit of Meneltarma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cTo the great eagles that were held sacred to Manw\u00eb, and never afflicted, until the days of evil and the hatred of the Valar began. For two thousand years, from the days of Elros Tar-Minyatur until the time of Tar-Ancalimon son of Tar-Atanamir, there was an eyrie in the summit of the tower of the King’s palace in Armenelos; and there one pair ever dwelt and lived on the bounty of the King.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Fall of N\u00famenor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The King\u2019s Tower in S1E8 with no sign of an Eagle\u2019s nest to be seen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In S1E3, \u201cAdar\u201d, Miriel makes a passing reference to the ban of elves by Tar-Atanamir. This would have marked the beginning of N\u00famenor\u2019s rejection of the Valar. The text above indicates that starting from the time of the reign of Tar-Atanamir\u2019s son, there would no longer be an Eagle\u2019s nest in the King\u2019s Tower as well as a ban on the elves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, does this mean that Pharaz\u00f4n means to take it one step further, and kill an eagle? To answer that we need to examine another moment revealed in the behind-the-scenes video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Miriel, dressed in a white gown, and with either a circlet or a crown on her head, descending down the stairs in the palace court in Armenelos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Upon closer inspection of the picture, it seems like Miriel is wearing the same circlet she wore in Season 1. Clearly, upon returning to N\u00famenor from the expedition, she hasn\u2019t lost her status as Queen Regent, nor as possibly the future Queen. The white outfit however is new, and looks quite ceremonial. A brief description in The Fall of N\u00famenor explains that the King would wear a white ceremonial outfit when it came to offering prayers at the Meneltarma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThrice only in each year the King spoke, offering prayer for the coming year at the Erukyerm\u00eb in the first days of spring, praise of Eru Il\u00favatar at the Erulaital\u00eb in midsummer, and thanksgiving to him at the Eruhantal\u00eb at the end of autumn. At these times the King ascended the mountain on foot followed by a great concourse of the people, clad in white and garlanded, but silent<\/strong>.\u201d [Ed.: emphasis added]<\/p>\nThe Fall of N\u00famenor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is the same royal court we see in Season 1, and we have another picture of Pharaz\u00f4n in this location wearing his new red outfit. All these images are from the same single scene. Clearly, these seems to be a ceremonial event taking place; instead of at the Meneltarma, the show has decided to do it in Armenelos. The text also tells us that three eagles circle the Meneltarma during the prayer offerings, and this is seen as a sign of a blessing from the Valar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cIf anyone approached the summit, at once three eagles would appear and alight upon three rocks near to the western edge; but at the times of the Three Prayers they did not descend, remaining in the sky and hovering above the people They were called the Witnesses of Manw\u00eb, and they were believed to be sent by him from Aman to keep watch upon the Holy Mountain and upon all the land<\/strong>.\u201d [Ed.: emphasis added]<\/p>\nThe Fall of N\u00famenor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, the text also says the eagles do not descend during the prayers, so why does it do so here? We know from the lore that Tolkien\u2019s eagles are wise, and are messengers of Manw\u00eb. So is it possible it\u2019s come down to give the N\u00famenoreans a message?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One major plot point that could be covered in Season 2 of The Rings of Power is the Battle of Gwathl\u00f3, or the arrival of the N\u00famenoreans in Middle-earth to aid and defend Lindon after the Siege of Eriador. We\u2019ve mentioned previously<\/a> that set leaks have shown the Siege of Eregion is happening in Season 2. We see images of the siege of Eregion in the teaser trailer. In the text the siege and further attack on Eriador by Sauron\u2019s forces takes place long before Elendil\u2019s time, but obviously for the show the timeline has been rearranged and condensed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1697 Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.
1699 Sauron overruns Eriador.
1700 Tar-Minastir sends a great navy from N\u00famenor to Lindon. Sauron is defeated.
1701 Sauron is driven out of Eriador. The Westlands have peace for a long while.<\/p>\nThe Lord of the Rings. Appendix B. The Tale of Years.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So it\u2019s quite possible, given that the elves of Middle-earth and Lindon have no communication with one another, that the eagle of Manw\u00eb is used as a messenger to call N\u00famenor to arms once again. There is another leak<\/a> by Fellowship of Fans that mentions a \u201cTelperi\u00ebn Bay\u201d as a location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fellowship of Fans “Telperien Bay” rumour<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is no Telperi\u00ebn Bay in the Legendarium, but there is a Tar-Telperi\u00ebn, the tenth ruler of N\u00famenor and the second ruling Queen. Here is what it says about here rule in the Unfinished Tales:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

X Tar-Telperien
She was the second Ruling Queen of N\u00famenor. She was long-lived (for the women of the N\u00famen\u00f3reans had the longer life, or laid down their lives less easily), and she would wed with no man. Therefore after her day the sceptre passed to Minastir; he was the son of Isilmo, the second child of Tar-S\u00farion. 8 Tar-Telperien was born in the year 1320; she ruled for 175 years, until 1731, and died in that same year.<\/p>\nUnfinished Tales: The Line of Elros: The Kings of N\u00famenor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It was during her rule that Tar-Minastir sent the N\u00famenorean forces in 1700 to help Lindon against Sauron\u2019s forces. So it is quite possible this \u201cbay\u201d is a sly hint to Tar-Telperi\u00ebn’s actions in lore. Thus we could infer the formation of a N\u00famenorean naval force to come to the aid of Lindon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And who could lead this force? Well, maybe, the person drawing the sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that eventually Pharaz\u00f4n arrives with an army at Umbar to assail Sauron. At this point, Sauron surrenders himself. But that happens long after Tar-Minastir\u2019s time. And so, having condensed the timeline of the show, what seems most likely is that the show is moving Pharazon\u2019s fleet arriving in Middle-earth to right after the Siege of Eregion, during the War of the Elves and Sauron just as Sauron\u2019s forces assail Lindon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why does Pharaz\u00f4n draw his sword? If he meant to attack the Eagle, he would draw it towards the eagle; but he draws it while facing his fellow N\u00famenoreans with the Eagle behind him. Lindon calls for aid. And well…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About the author: Webcrawler is a full-time data analyst and a part-time Tolkien aficionado who frequents the TheOneRing.net Discord Server.<\/em> When he\u2019s not working or in the discord, Webcrawler is horsing around on Twitter<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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