The glow of the pendant had diminished in his hand as he stared at it, now the dark colored stone showed nothing but a little reflection of the sunlight. The sun was starting to fall again, now shedding his last rays over the treetops. It was almost 150 years ago since he last seen his sister, now when he had lost all hope finding her he stood there holding her pendant. He closed his hand around it and overlooked the surrounding area. In the last light of the day he started to search for more clues, footsteps or any other sign that may give him some answers. Only some deer tracks but nothing around the area where he found the pendant, did it simply wash up at the riverbank? How long had it been laying here?
Clueless he walked further upstream until he saw some footsteps trailing in a direction of a high cliff wall. They were footsteps of men, about four of them. He decided to follow them which led him to an old ruin well hidden by overhanging vegetation. The sun had fallen and the cool winter air was stinging his face, the area was soundless. The atmosphere was humid, cold and the same feeling welled up as back when he was facing the mist. He walked inside the ruin silently, the feeling of dread returned, a shadow lay over these ruins. He had had many reasons to return but he didn't. One reason kept him going further into the ruins, his sister. He looked at the pendant in his hand, the faint silver-blue glow had returned.
He walked up an old stairway and saw a green round courtyard surrounded by ancient pillars. Armanduil stood still looking around for any sign of life. A chill wind passed over his neck, and blew around the courtyard. Armanduil saw an odd moving darkness, passing the pillars into his direction. Before it hit him, Armanduil dodged away in time as the shadow passed before him, from the shadow a whispering of some dark language could be heard. He drew his blade, as the shadow halted in the center of the courtyard. A sinister laughter filled the ruin as men hooded and robed appeared from the shadows. They wielded blades and their faces were hidden, six of them encircled the shadow at the center all with their faces hidden. The men turned to face Armanduil, the tallest of them approached him slowly with a long blade in his hand.
From under the hood he heard a chant, some ill sound he was making with his throat. Armanduil stood ready, but the shadow of the place seemed overwhelming. The pendant, now glowing strong again, filled him with courage and determination. The man heaved his sword to strike and clashed with the sword of the elf. The other dark robed figures stood there silently with the shadow restless moving behind them. Armanduil parried a few more blows, he opened his palm and the silverblue light of the pendant was released before the dark hooded man, he yelled and as he tried to cover his face his hood fell off. Armanduil was appalled by his torn face "Black men of Númenór!? You have no right to be here!". The shadow stirred and the other hooded men now came walking up to the elf, steadily and determined. Armanduil took a few steps back, clearly outnumbered.
Before the hooded men could strike, arrows appeared flying from behind Armanduil hitting three of the hooded men in the chest. It was a band of elves who had entered the ruins. The shadow stirred and started to move around. Two elven archers and Armanduil fought the remaining men. One elven maiden approached and started to chant as she approached the shadow. A faint light surrounded her as her chant confronted the whispering shadow "i-Dhúath ú-orthor!". A clash of force could be felt before the shadow withdrew itself in the darkness and the rest of the hooded men were slain or fleeing.
One of the archers beckoned them to follow him, including Armanduil. Without talking they went out of the ruins and followed them soundless. After a few hours they reached another well hidden ruin covered with vegetation. The archer turned to Armanduil and bowed gently "Well met, Muildir is my name. And you are very lucky we followed you into that ruin". Armanduil greeted politely and expressed utmost gratitude towards him. Muildir smiled "We tracked you for some time, after we found this horse running in panick through the Tâl Bruinen". Armanduil looked at his horse and bowed towards Muildir once more "You have done me a great service, this shadow passed me on my road west, forgive me for walking needless into that darkness". Muildir looked at him clearly deep in thought "You ventured in echad Dellosad, a shadow lies over that place for quite a time, drawing all sorts of men with ill-intentions". Armanduil spoke hushed "Have you seen an elf maiden around those parts of late, maybe a captive or... " he stopped realizing that his question was folly. Muildir quirked a brow "No, why do you ask..?". Armanduil seemed reluctant to answer. Muildir nodded "Find some rest, and make your way west whenever you are ready".
The next morning Armanduil checked his horse, all that seemed missing was his quiver and arrows. Luckily the elves of Echad Candelleth could spare him a new bundle of arrows. Armanduil was running out of time, the ships sailing to Valinor will depart within one moon. He spurred his horse and galloped westward.
