Aearandir

My training is progressing further, and the days turn lighter. The trees and flowers are in full blossom, the air I breath has a sweet scent, it makes me feel live and quite content.... In these recent days I have been working a lot on self-discipline. Twice a day I have worked on my Stamina and twice a day I have worked hard with my mental and physical strength.

The white ships flew lightly across the waves, an increasing roar of air and water filling my ears as we turned in close pursuit of our prey. Oh he was clever, that corsair captain (it is in my thoughts that he had more than a little Numenorean blood in his veins)…having eluded us for three days longer than his ‘companions’ had managed, venturing out to sea and hiding in the mists, turning to hug the rocky coastline of northern Minhiriath in a way that was beyond reckless for one of his draught.

“How is nest, Elf bird? How is territory?” the white and grey gull tapped the ground with her bill, and asked me politely.

I had been sitting in a favoured place of mine, next the stream that flowed through Thamas Lorn into the Lhun. Deep in thought was I as the bird alighted on the sward close by.

She coughed, and bobbed her head at me. “You speak not with Kroahaah these days?”

I shook myself swiftly. So absorbed in my own thoughts had I been that I had not truly noticed the arrival of my old friend. 

Durthand lightly laid a hand upon my arm, in a gesture of support. “Do not be overly concerned, little sister. We must ever expect the unexpected in times like these!”

(Not that Durthand and I were sisters by blood of course. We were kin sisters, who had fallen increasingly into the roles of elder and much younger sibling.)

But I sensed her own surprise, as she turned to fix her gaze on Curugirion. “How long do you expect to be at sea, Hirgonui?” she enquired.

I had ridden swiftly from Thamas Lorn to Mithlond, changing horses on the way instead of making my usual halt at Celondim for Suldal to rest. I would collect her on my return journey. With the Mithdirith about to embark on a mission to the north, haste was of the utmost necessity.

Aearandir’s recent words still echoed in my mind as I rode alongside the bank of the Lhun, heading west. “Have you said farewell to all you love, to all you hold dear?”

Of course I had!

...he took my hands, they were warm and he held them steadfast like it was for the last time.
His eyes never looked so clear and deep blue before,  and his face looked so soft under this red sky that colored the water red behind us... The tree branches made a soothing sound that built up a tension in the air. I felt slightly uncomfortable and a little nervous...

He began to speak....prepared words that felt so formal and serious. What did he want?

Our horses are enjoying the grass in the shadow of trees and Cirdamir sleeps. I would imagine is the first good sleep he allows himself in days. I don’t think I saw him so happy, enthusiastic and restless before, not even in Lorien.  He enjoyed everything, with a smile bright as the sun, from ship maneuvers to countless hours of swimming, the wine that seemed to borrow the smell of the sea, and songs I never heard before, not even at the campfires in Celondim, from travelers seeking the Sea or bringing its tales.