Anáwiel was lying motionlessly on her back in the grass, her hands resting on her chest, silently admiring the stars above. The moon hadn't risen yet and apart from a few clouds the night sky was unobstructed and visible in its full glory. The seven stars of the Valacirca looked especially bright that night.
The historian had taken a long walk to get away from the softly lit pathways in Imladris so she could remain alone with her thoughts. Scattered next to her lied a book, a couple of scrolls, and quite a few reports and letters, alongside an unlit lantern and some spare candles. The laegel had intended to study the texts but seeing the night sky so breathtaking she had put out the light; for the elf-made light was only ruining the view in this instance.
Her thoughts wandered back to her latest conversation with Danel.
Anáwiel had been chatting with one of the gardeners when Danel had approached. What seemed at first a casual meeting before long turned out to be a planned one; for the godhel sounded troubled and wanted to share her worries with a fellow master of lore, and in private. Soon enough the laegel understood her concern, for Danel spoke at large about the elven heritage she wanted found and taken to the West when the time for departure would come. Naturally, she also understood the need for secrecy, and it didn't even need to be spoken aloud - many elves were of the opinion that some artifacts should never be found and would openly object, protest and even try to prevent it, had they known of those plans. Of course, they were not completely wrong; however, leaving those artifacts for men and orcs to find would be a serious mistake, as orcs would use them to do evil and men... probably the same.
"Soon enough the Noldor will all be gone from these shores." Danel had said, "What I propose is that Vanimar does all it may to salvage any remaining artifacts, Noldor for the most part, but also Sindar and Falathrim."
Anáwiel clenched her teeth at the memory. This attitude, so typical for the golodhrim, to put their kind above everyone else and to idolize their ancestry alone, never failed to irk her. However, the golodh lady was as wise as she was considerate in character so she agreed that any artifacts should be heeded, if they were of elven origin and deemed worthy of the effort.
"I have long wished to collect anything that remains on the shores of the Great Sea, or the river Lune - that is, of Beleriand. And also any remaining artifacts in Eregion, though most of those were looted or destroyed long ago" Danel's desire greatly coincided with Anáwiel's so the laegel was overly happy to agree to help in this endeavour. All those relics lost in the sea and in the wars meant so much to both ellith, and to many others... For, let aside the power within, they reminded of happier times worthy of song, and of some dreadful events that should never be forgotten and always be a warning.
"We should search the library and choose the most promising lead." she had said "I shall get to it as soon as possible"
Anáwiel's eyes wandered to the scattered scripts lying around then back to the sky. A large cloud was covering the Menelmacar and another one had nearly swallowed the Egedil. She sighed. The answer wasn't lying in the stars and those texts weren't going to read themselves. She got up, lit the lamp and started to browse through the papers, looking for a needle in a haystack and hoping that she could learn something useful as to the whereabouts of any object of interest. There was a promise to keep.
