The young captain sat alone in his home, sitting by the fireplace, remembering a day that had been much the same.
Gaildrin entered the manor quietly, not aware of anyone else being inside. He pulled up a chair by the fireplace, and began to strike a few small sparks to ignite the flames.When he had gotten a decent fire going, he stood back up, to see Turgur Tilogorn standing behind him, with a solemn expression on his face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Turgur, I didn't hear you as I came in" Gaildrin greeted him as anyone in his position would, not fully understanding the gravity of the news Turgur sought to give. "Not a problem, lad, though I must tell you something of great importance, something that I must say now before I leave." said Turgur, without his usual jolly sense of speech.
"Well, what is it? You speak as though something very tragic has just occurred." Gaildrin replied, with a slightly more serious tone. "Well, nothing has occured yet." said Turgur, followed by a brief pause. "I'm not one for sappy speeches, and sad words, so I will say this quickly, as to get it over with. I'll soon depart for the ruined Arnorian city of Annúminas, to join my kin, and retake it from enemy hands." It is likely I will not make it back,"said the old man, "and I don't think I wish to."
Gaildrin was about to speak in reply to the sudden news, but Turgur cut him off before he could speak, "Do not protest, for it is my fate. I have lived a long life already, and seen more than my share of battles." and he began to speak in a low pitched whisper to the young man, "I have done things I regret, things that no one knows, and it is because of those evil deeds that I must do this. I know I can not wholly repay the dark with light, but if I must die, I would like it to be honorably in the city of my forefathers, fighting for what is free, than to die any other way."
There was a long pause now, and as Turgur was about to continue, Gaildrin spoke more quickly, "I understand. If this is important to you, I will not try to sway you, though know that you will not be forgotten. Though I don't know of your prior activities before we met, you must know that you are a good man now, a new man, one that has helped far more than he knows."
Turgur let out a quiet laugh that grew louder, "Did I not say our talk should not be filled with such sentiment?" He looked down for a moment, then back to Gaildrin. "There is one more thing I would ask of you." He un buckles his sword belt from around his waist, and extends it forward. "This sword has been in my family line for generations, it has seen much pain, and brought pain to the enemies of the Tilogorn line. I have no heir to follow me, so I bestow this blade unto you."
Gaildrin accepted the sheathed sword, and looked over it slowly, "Such a gift is not well given. This sword looks very old indeed, and I don't know if I could accept such a sword, that has so long belonged to an heir of Númenor."
Turgur laughs again, and says, "You speak modestly, my friend, You must understand that you alone are the only one I would trust with such a thing. You have a gift, you can bring hope in the darkest places of the world. It takes only a small light to shine in the dark, and only a small spark to start a flame."
"Then I shall wield this sword with strength, and honor, as it has been for so long. I will guard it with my life, and I trust it shall guard me in return." said Gaildrin with renewed hope. "Aye. I know you will." said Turgur, merrily, yet with sorrow, a single tear dropped from his eye to the floor.
"Very well", Turgur exclaimed, returning to his usual merry attitude. "I must be off, farewell, my friend."
"Farewell" Gaildrin repeated, holding back a slight sob. Turgur gave a firm nod, and walked out the door of the manor, into the valley.
