Durthand

It is hard to quantify how much has been done and achieved in recent months.. with many new faces in the Mithdirith many of whom have now received their “blues” our attention up till now has been Ered Luin.

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?

Of late it seems that time has taken wing, that we who so recently returned to our beloved Thamas Lorn must again make plans to journey far from home.