The Theomach, of course, is the one speaking, teaching the Words to Berek Halfhand-- although, apparently, Berek had already heard them from the stone of Mount Thunder, and crying them aloud had invoked the Fire Lions in support. But he had forgotten them, and had been trying ever since to remember. The Theomach is restoring them to him."The Words were Seven, and they are these.
"The first is melenkurion, which signifies bastion or source. The second is abatha, suggesting endurance, or the need for endurance. Third is duroc, a reference to Earthpower, the substance of the fire which the lady wields. Fourth comes minas, which also means Earthpower, but in another sense. It indicates Earthpower as a foundation rather than a source of theurgy."
As he spoke, each Word seemed to resonate and expand until it strained the fabric of the tent. "The fifth Word is mill, which cannot be defined in human speech, but which implies invocation. The sixth, harad, may be understood as a stricture against selfishness, tyranny, malice, or other forms of despair. It binds the speaker to make no use of Earthpower which does not serve or preserve the munificence of creation. And last is khabaal, to which many meanings may be ascribed. In your mouth, it is an affirmation or incarnation of your sworn oath to the Land."
The race he scorns to name must be the Elohim. Although he doesn't like the Elohim, it is probably more that he does not want Berek to know about them in order not to violate the Arch of Time."This tongue is spoken nowhere, other than by one race that I scorn to name, for it is the language of the Earth's making and substance rather than of the Earth's peoples. Yet it may be discovered, word by word, by those who seek deeply for knowledge-and who do not wish to ben dor distort that knowledge for their own ends."
What I want to know is how did the Lords know some of the Words during the time of Covenant's first sojourns in the Land? Did they discover them "word by word" by deep seeking for knowledge? They certainly were "deep seekers", establishing the loresraat and the Unfettered traditions. Or were they somehow preserved in memory, perhaps by the Giants? Not the Haruchai; for though they would not have forgotten them, neither would they have had any interest in using them or teaching them to others.
The 9th and 10th syllables occur in the Word duroc, the very Word that describes the Power inherent in the Staff of Law."Aloud," he said distinctly, "the Seven Words are spoken thus. Melenkurion abatha. Duroc minas mill. Harad khabaal."
Before he had pronounced ten syllables, the Staff of Law burst into flame. With each Word, the fire mounted until it enclosed her in a conflagration: power gentle as a caress, entirely without hurt or peril, and jubilant as a paean.
Roughly translated, a person uttering the Seven Words is saying this:
"Source of needful endurance.
I invoke Earthpower, active and fundamental.
I shall make no use of Earthpower for purposes of despair, by my binding vow."
It is significant, then, that Words were missing at various times. Atiaran knew only "Melenkurion abatha!" and also cried out "Melenkurion abatha! Banas mill Banas Nimoram khabaal! Melenkurion abatha! Abatha Nimoram![i/]" against the ur-viles' attack on the Celebration of Spring, the Banas Nimoram. Mhoram knew "Melenkurion abatha! Minas mill khabaal! which is odd, since duroc was the Word having to do with active use of Earthpower, in which he was skilled.
The sixth, harad, may be understood as a stricture against selfishness, tyranny, malice, or other forms of despair. It binds the speaker to make no use of Earthpower which does not serve or preserve the munificence of creation.
Very significantly, Elena only ever seems to say "Melenkurion abatha!" Too bad she never knew harad, it might have kept her from desecrating Earthpower and breaking the Law of Death.