One of my absolute favorites!
Oromë the Valar rides with her tribe for a few of the star-passings, wishing to confirm with his presence how smoothly their journey is, to see if the Eldar need more provisions or animals and if their path is safe and easy to travel. He is most often in conference with Ingwë, Chief of the First Tribe. Therefore Indis, young sister of the Chieftain, finds the moss-green eyes of the Lord of the Hunt familiar to her, and she delights to ride on the gentle wide back of silvery pale Nahar. The girl hugs the neck of the Father of Horses, breathing in the strange and sweet fragrance of his mane, and laughs and giggles like a personification of joy. Oromë is infected with her joy and reaches over to give her an object she has never seen before, something small and soft that has the same pleasant smell as the Vala’s steed. Oromë calls it a flower, and it is the most beautiful thing Indis has ever seen and smelled. The Vala says flowers come from growing things, that they bud from the ground and from trees and once everyone reaches the Land of the Valar there will be thousands and thousands of flowers blooming. In the Land of the Valar are more flowers than there are stars in the skies, each with a sweet scent and of more colors than can be imagined. Oromë describes his wife, Vána Ever-Young, who has flowers springing up in the shadow of her steps. He loves flowers that she creates almost as much as Vána herself, and in each flower is a reflection of her beauty and propensity for new life and creation of joy. Indis giggles once more, breathing in the flower’s perfume, and says she wants to meet Vána. The Lord of the Hunt bequeaths upon the girl another dazzling smile. Instead of immediately answering his smile, she contemplates the flower and brushes a petal with her finger. ”Can you create another flower?” Indis asks.
“How many do you wish?” replies Oromë with a jest.
“One for everyone!” Indis exclaims. “A pretty one for Mother, and one that smells nice for Ravennë, and one for Brother even if he saw many flowers when he went to the Valar’s land. Everyone in my tribe should have a flower! And for Finwë and Elwë and their people, too.” Indis sobers. “That is too many, isn’t it? I’m being greedy and asking too much of Lord Oromë.”
But Lord Oromë laughs. “When we get to Aman, there shall be flowers for everyone, too many to ever count or hold. And flowers can be regrown, kind and generous Indis.”
Her answering smile is as bright as a bloom of Laurelin.
“Everyone deserves a beautiful flower, yes?”