The Faithful
the Elf-friends of Númenor; the remnant that escaped the Drowning
Name and Party
The Faithful — the “Elf-friends” of Númenor — were the minority of the Dúnedain who, through the long shadow of the Second Age, kept the old friendship with the Elves and the worship of the One (Eru): the lords of Andúnië (whose line was Elendil’s) and their followers, set against the “King’s Men” (the servants of the Dark and the kings’ pride). The Akallabêth: —.
The History
- The long loyalty: For ages the Faithful — they — they kept the secret on the mountain-top (the worship of the One on Meneltarma is Old-time open to all), and the friendship of the Elves of the West.
- The persecution: Under the Shadow-kings (and Ar-Pharazôn), the Faithful were “reviled and hunted”, their ships at Gil-galad’s havens — they — and (as Sauron’s power grew).
- The escape and the seed: Warned by foresight (Amandil’s intent, Elendil’s preparation), the Faithful came in their nine ships through the Drowning — bearing the seedling of the White Tree, the palantíri and the lore — and founded under Elendil the “Realms in Exile” (Arnor and Gondor): the final “Faithful Nation”.
Significance
The Faithful are the “remnant” of biblical type — the saved seed through whom the good of the old world survives its fall; their loyalty (to the One, to the Elves, to the light) is what makes the later kings of Men possible, and they carry the White Tree (the line of Telperion’s grace) from the drowned island into the mortal lands.