The water was still on that windless night. The ship of his friend Galahir named the Aeronnen lay docked at Harlond in the Gulf of Lhun. A crescent moon and the stars reflected in the still waters of the bay. Galahir was asleep in his hammock inside the cabin but Armanduil sat on deck enjoying the silence of night. Much had happened the last few weeks, a bit too much for his liking. He was glad that Celegil would be alright when the healers are done with him, at least that’s what his brother Fingil told him before they sailed away from Forlond. The encounter of the warg pack troubled him, it was not common they were seen in Forlindon. It was quite a coincidence that he encountered them when he did, but was it? There are too much coincidences of late. The uneasy feeling he got in the forest northeast of Forlond reminded him of the shadows of Delossad or the darkness that lingered in the forests near the Bruinen.
Long he sat still on the deck of the ship looking at the stars in water’s reflection. His mind wandered back to the pendant. He took the pendant out of his vest and lay it on his palm. It was a small perfectly round dark stone entwined by delicate silverwork keeping the stone in place. It had not emitted any more light since he left the forests near the Bruinen. This pendant was worn by his sister Faervel, she wore it on a thin silver necklace for as long as he could remember. It was precious to her as it was a gift and a memory. Only vague memories of an age past when Armanduil was very young. It was a gift from his father Aglaron for his daughter Faervel. It was given on the last day that he ever saw his father, before he departed for war. He remembered he wore a golden armor with a golden helm. His father looked impressive with a mighty spear and a shield that was almost as tall as himself. He was a proud and strong man who was ready to push back the darkness that had risen in Mordor, although they won the war at Dagorlad, his father never returned. Before his departure he turned to his daughter who had tears streaming over her face, Aglaron placed the pendant into Faervels palm.
“Wear this my daughter, it will shield you from the darkness.”
Those were his last words towards her as he turned to Armanduil his son. He gave him a silver gem inlayed dagger that he still wears around his belt. Aglaron placed his hand on the shoulder of his son.
“May the strength of our family go with you son, keep an eye on your mother and your sister while I am away!”
Armanduil promised he would, but fate decided otherwise. He could not keep his sister safe from darkness and neither could this pendant. He muttered the words to himself a few times “It will shield you from darkness…”.
