With one push the last crate was in place on the wagon “So, that is the last of them, I will make sure the wagon arrives at the warehouse. Can you keep an eye on the boat?”. Armanduil nodded as he entered the ship known as ‘Aeronnen’ or Seaborn. The ship existed of two sails,a large one in the middle and a smaller one tied to the hull. On the rear end there was a small cabin with a few hammocks and in the center a navigation table and last but not least a provision cabinet with quite a nice selection of wines. Armanduil walked on deck and checked the ropes and the condition of the sails, he was a bit disappointed as the ship was in a dire need of maintenance. The more he checked the ship it became apparent that Galahir must have been sailing outside the Gulf or caught in a heavy storm or both! The white paint of the swan on the hull even looked withered. Armanduil shook his head at all the neglect.
Meanwhile Galahir came walking back to the ship. Armanduil wanted to criticize the condition of his ship but saw something else was troubling him “what the matter?”. Galahir furrowed his brows “Something is amiss! I was supposed to pick up a shipment of linen, but it never arrived in Forlond”. Armanduil sighed as he was very eager to set sail “The linen makers are a day’s ride from here, shall I ride out to meet them? I know the area like no other”. Galahir nodded rather pleased “Ah, that would be most welcome, I need a rest. My last journey was quite a hazardous one. But I suppose my ship could tell you that eh?”.Armanduil smirked and padded his shoulder “I will see you soon”. Armanduil quickly went home to pick up his bow and quiver and made his way up to the northern edge of Forlond.
The town gate described a beautiful slender archway made of white stone and pearl inlays that reflected sunlight in many colors. The old white stone wall was covered with vegetation with bundles of purple flowers. Armanduil approached the warden near the gate, but he had not seen nor heard anything about a linen shipment. Armanduil went to the stables and requested one of the horses there, it was a white horse with darker spots with a blue barding. At foredawn Armanduil rode northwards following the river ‘Gelion’ that found its source in the blue mountains. Forlindon had a quite an untouched landscape where the will of nature still had the upper hand. He passed small and lush forests, rocky terrain and some deep valleys.
At noon before he turned away from the river he found a small lake to let his horse drink and fresh up, while he rested in the tall grass. Armanduil enjoyed his surroundings listening to birds and the wind. Along the way he had seen no sign of a wagon nor of a struggle, maybe the shipment was just delayed. Nevertheless he kept a watchful eye as there were quite some predators about. He continued riding away from the river. In the evening he already saw the building he was looking for. It was a solitary mansion with wide fields of flax around it. The elves of this mansion grow and harvest the flax and weaved it into long linen fabric that was traded with tailors around Lindon. This was one of the many tiny settlements scattered around Forlindon where the elves produced their wares with utmost precision and care.
He approached the door of the mansion and knocked. He could hear music and laughter on the other side. A slender elf opened the door, a typical Noldorin woman, she looked a bit surprised “We did not expect visitors, can I help you?”, when she looked closer she opened up “ Armanduil! What has brought you here? Come enter, enter!”. Armanduil bowed and smiled to her “Thank you Iriël, it is good to see you again!”. He entered the living part of the mansion where about six elves were gathered playing music, drinking wine and singing songs. They all hailed the incoming visitor and offered him a glass of local wine. Iriël sat beside Armanduil as the listened to the music, he nearly forgot with what reason he got there. When the music stopped and they enquired the reason of his visit, he explained that he expected a shipment of Linen in Forlond some days ago. They looked shocked “Did the shipment not arrive!? How can this be? He left five days ago, something must have happened!”. One of the elves named Fingil stood up “I shall begin a search at first light”. Armanduil nodded “ I will join you, mellon”.
