Disclaimer: This fic goes as a birthday present to Cirdan, who requested to have a fairy tale adapted to Middle Earth. I have chosen as an inspiration The Three Princes of Serendip, a persian folktale. The characters on this story belong to Tolkien, and some parts of it, to persian tradition. Thanks to Henneth-Annun and Silmfic group members for being a continual source of inspiration, thought-provoking discussions, and sleepless nights trying to avoid those creeping nuzgul!
Happy Birthday, Cirdan, and hope you enjoy!
THE THREE PRINCES
Note on the TextThe version of this tale that has reached us is but the result of the passing of time, and a good example of the oral tradition of our people. As it now stands, it has gone through several changes of style, and issues such as the geography, names, and the true nature of the quest have been affected by the different storytellers who have added or supressed elements in their true efforts to entertain and educate their audiences. As a direct consequence of this, there are several versions in circulation, each drawing from the other, and all reflecting traces from the original. But, they are not the original itself.
The origins of this tale can be traced to an ancient time. Several sources (not all oral, but some in the form of manuscripts and art manifestations such as engravings or paintings) suggest that the actual events from which this tale draws, came to pass some time before the first rising of the Moon and Sun, when a new reckoning of time began.
As it has been stated, the events of this tale do not belong to Middle-Earth in its actual form, but to what has been known to us as the blessed realm, Valinor, the home of the Valar and the Eldar, and which has been often confused with 'The Grey Havens.'
Evidence suggests that there were at least three important urban centers in this land, the home of possibly three or four distinct groups of people, mostly of the elder race, although some of higher lineage dwelt there in peace and friendly intercourse. It is said that one of these cities was the abode of a wise and learned king. The truthfulness of this has been verified among various documents preserved in many cities in Arda during the first and second ages, belonging to some families who claimed descent from this king through any of his three sons.
The tale goes on to mention that even though the king was father to all three sons, they had not the same mother, for the eldest of the children had been born to the king from a lady who died shortly afterwards. The ages of the three boys make the student suppose that it was a while before the king re-married, thus begetting two more sons from his second wife, known as 'the fair.'
Without getting into further discussion about the events inmediately preceeding those of the present story, it may be safely assumed that the journey of the three sons actually took place, bringing with it the beginning of a short period of peace that ensued right before the darkening of Valinor.
Due to the antiquity of the sources before mentioned, minor inaccuracies have arisen that should not affect the overall message of the tale, but concern the issues of exact dates, and certain events that bear a character of doubt, such as the journey to the Shadowy Seas and the Encounter with the Falathrim. However, there is no evidence to confirm that those events did not occur; therefore, they have not been suppressed from this version.
An important note concerns the names of the main characters. Even though it is certain that the king's name is 'Finwe,' the names of the three sons may have been altered to fit the languages of the diverse lands where this tale has been made known. A very rigorous and scrupulous investigation has been made in regards to the linguistics of the manuscripts from which this story draws, allowing the author to safely state that the names of the sons should not be 'Feanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin' but 'Curufinwe Feanaro, Nolofinwe, and Arafinwe' according to the language of the High Elves, a group of people to which these princes belonged, and among whom they were known by the aforementioned names.
In an effort to provide the reader with a more accurate version of the tale, the author has attempted to create a compendium of all different sources, taking special consideration to expound the original events as they may have happened, and avoiding the mention of more fantastic circumstances that would lead away from the true spirit of the tale.
May all those who read listen with their ears and learn with their minds, as the story of The Three Princes unfolds.
Tegilbor
Scribe to Cirdan, lord of the Falathrim