Mithlond, 40th day of Firith
With the Council of the Flower adjourned for the week, Aearandir joined me in Mithlond, for we had arranged to visit the yards and see the progress to work on those of our vessels berthed there. As we prepared to take one of the refitted ships out into the bay to stretch her legs, a vessel arrived in port bearing grave tidings. A ship of fierce Men had closed with their own vessel the day before and attempted to grapple. The boarding attempt was thwarted by the fine archery of the small crew of travellers however the adversary then pursued them for another few hours – until the Elves were able to elude them in the shoals and fog off Harlindon’s coast.
We knew the ship must surely have fled from our shores, yet…perhaps it still lurked along the coast in wait for some other unsuspecting passerby. However small the chance they lingered, such a menace could not be dismissed: we had to ensure it was indeed swept from our shores. Naturally we felt inclined to seek out this stranger for ourselves and – with one of Aearandir’s ships being ready-manned – we mustered the crew for a second vessel and set off in tandem towards the Great Sea.
The mistress of the former quarry willingly accompanied us, and retraced her course to the area where the pursuit took place. We touched in at a few harbours down the coast, seeking any word or sighting of this vessel. At those secluded havens where we made landfall, we requested those folk to remain watchful, and ready to send word of any occurrence that troubles them.
We sailed thus for two days, peering into every bay and cove of our coast, as far as the southern reach of Ered Luin, but no sign was seen by us of any Mannish vessel. Some fisherfolk of Brethillond had indeed glimpsed a ship rigged in the manner described, half a day ahead of us and sailing south, away from our lands. We spent a day sweeping in pursuit, but found nought but empty sea. Some 60 leagues north of Andrast, we broke off the search and turned for home.
Aearandir wore west to scout to seaward while I sailed north, towards the coast of Minhiriath. However, winds were contrary and we could come only close enough to see the distant hills rise above the horizon. At length, the wind strengthened and veered further and we had little choice but to steer more westerly. We made swift and steady speed as we sailed for Lindon, keeping a keen eye both on coast and sea; those few sails we did observe were only those of our own folk.
So…it was with the disappointment of only the briefest trace of the quarry’s scent that we sailed back into the embrace of Mithlond. That an Elven vessel should be threatened so is indeed a troubling development. We must increase the number and strength of patrols along the coast – both north and south. Yet our journey was not empty-handed or without worth: we have recruited fresh watchers at the ports along the coast and raised the vigilance of those fair folk who dwell upon the edge of our land that is most kissed by the surf.
It was wonderful to be at sea once more! I realise so swiftly that I have sorely missed that which thrills me most. The rhythmic sway of the deck, the flap of canvas…a freshening wind and the salty spray as one’s vessel whips across the capricious fields of Ulmo – and with the pennants of the Flower streaming from the masthead too! Upon the sea is where we are most vital – where we may yet hear the music of the Ainur, and the works of Manwe and Ulmo weave an ever-changing beauty around us that takes the breath away!
Oh! I shall feel the loss of it when I go back to Thamas Lorn! I must return to Mithlond more often…
