Edain

Atani means the second people.

And in Beleriand, the Sundarian form of this is Edain, which is used only for these three houses of the elf friends.

The elves also called men the Hildor, which means the followers or the aftercomers, which is the same one that was in Feanor's oath.

And over the next few years, the rest of the Edain arrive.

They settle into three houses, and we'll go through them in a later episode.

There is the house of Beor, who've got dark or brown hair, grey eyes, and they're most like the Noldor in mind.

It was at this time that an end came of the Dunedain of Cardalan, and evil spirits out of Angmar and Rudaur entered into the deserted bounds and dwelt there.

It is said that the mounds of Tirngorthad, as the Barrowdowns recalled of old, are very ancient, and that many were built in the days of the old world of the First Age by the forefathers of the Edain, before they crossed the Blue Mountains into Beleriand, of which Lindon is all that now remains.

Those hills were therefore revered by the Dunedain after their return, and there many of their lords and kings were buried." And here Tolkien includes an author's note, Now let's get back to the text.

In 1974 the power of Angmar arose again, and the witch-king came down upon Arthedain before winter was ended.

They just move into empty graves.

And those graves are older than the Dunedain.

They were raised, or at least some of them were, in the first age by the forefathers of the Edain, long before they'd even crossed into Beleriand.

So we're talking, if you've ever read the Athrabeth, we're talking about before Beleriand.

And then it's also super cool, right? Because of this whole idea of the world and the collapse and these different places that got destroyed.

Then the second age is Middle-earth as we understand it, plus the Valar reward, at least some of the men that are called the Edain, who then become the Numenoreans that are given an island in the middle of the ocean.

But then, as you say, Sauron, he's a problem in both the Second and Third Ages.

So he eventually seduces the men of Numenor and they take pride in hubris and all the things that we talked about already.

Okay, so let's start with the first Easterlings in The Silmarillion.

And in The Silmarillion, we read, "To the three houses of Men, the houses of Beor, Hador, and Haleth, the Edain, Morgoth feigned pity, if any would hearken to his messages, saying that their woes came only of their servitude to the rebel Noldor, but at the hands of the rightful Lord of Middle-earth they would get honor and a just reward of valor, if they would leave rebellion.

But few of the three houses of the Edain would give ear to him, not even were they brought to the torment of Angband.

Therefore Morgoth pursued them with hatred, and he sent his messengers over the mountains.

It is told that at this time the Swarthy Men first came into Beleriand.

But not all, for the rumor of Beleriand, of its lands and waters, of its wars and riches, went now far and wide, and the wandering feet of Men were ever set westward in those days.

These men were short and broad, long and strong in the arm, their skins were swart or sallow, and their hair was dark as were their eyes.

There was small love between the Edain and the Easterlings." Now, I do think we should acknowledge here the potentially problematic usage of language, making these newcomers that were already aligned with Morgoth swart or sallow, which basically means brown or yellow skinned.

The free people of Middle-earth called it Gil-estel, the Star of High Hope, for it initially brought them hope that Erendil's mission had been a success and the Valar would rescue them from Morgoth.

And it continued to give them hope through time, guiding the Edain to their new home of Numenor and aiding travellers everywhere, the morning and evening star, brighter than all the others.

It is the light of that star that Galadriel captures in her file.

It isn't just a bright light, it's the last remnant of the holy nourishing light of Valinor, which is why it can be bright even when all other lights go out.