It happened the second time, as I left the Hall of Lord Cirdan. Something I could not explain.
There was a sound of horns in the distance, as of one blowing into great seashells that echoed the music of the sea, the beauty, the yearning for home..aye even home beyond Valinor. True home it was that sounded through the waters.
‘Too long have you closed your ears.’
I shook my head. Aware of Parnard and Hingalas descending the steps ahead of me. I shook my head again.
The call of the sea...Ulmo’s Unquiet? Was it he who was calling me? Had I spent too much time of late nigh his domain that I finally heard him?
And I resisted.
Not now. Not yet. Maybe never!
Still was the sound echoing in my ears when it seemed a swarm of darkness descended upon me. A circling nothingness sucking away at my life, my light.
‘As a shadow of regret shall you become before the younger race, and none there are to aid you.’
I waved a hand before my eyes. The Doom of the Noldor? I knew of it well.
It seemed as if I was looking down a darkened tunnel that led to nowhere.
Then I saw my friends. The darkness moved from me to ensnare them also, both Noldor and Telar alike. Parnard…Hingalas, others I knew..Lelyar, Arnone…and somewhere more distant, seemingly more resilient to it, Estarfin.
‘No!’ I shook my head. ‘No, you do not touch them.’
In my thoughts there was but one option. I must take ship, and that right soon. I must not permit such a curse to touch any I cared for.
~ ~ ~
Now Estarfin and I had been talking a little of his question. After he returned from Imladris, and without Gilastor it was, that we sat out at Numenstaya that afternoon and much of the night, speaking of various things. Saddened over the loss of his horse, Gilastor, we were both initially a little subdued. But in due course I asked him if he had found the answer he sought?
“In part,” he replied.
“May I be of assistance?” I asked him, though I felt certain he would have asked me, had that been the case.
“Yes, and no… Not yet, Danel. “
In no way would I push him further than that. When he would have my help, he would say. And I trusted him in whatever he was undertaking.
“Do you know Lord Cirdan?” he asked me.
“A little. I studied Lore in Mithlond for a few decades. Do you wish to speak with him?”
He had sighed and looked a little uncertain.
“I think not he will have time for one who helped destroy the Havens.”
“If you would like to speak with him, I will ask?”
He pondered my offer for a few minutes, folding his arms across his chest as he leant back against the nearby tree.
“Ask him if you wish. I expect nothing to come of it.”
That conversation had been my reason for visiting the Havens. If I could persuade Cirdan to give even a short audience with Estarfin, I would have helped. And did I not have a growing thought that Estarfin’s ‘question’ had something to do with sailing? Oh I was well aware he could not sail. Oathbound to Middle Earth was he. But just perhaps he sought out wisdom from our most notables, to see if there was a way round matters?
~ ~ ~
So it was that I set out within a few days, with Parnard as a companion. The Wood Elf was keen to take a good look around the Port, and even keener it seemed to meet an Elf with a beard. It was only a couple of hours ride, and the journey was uneventful. There were some difficulties, however, for Parnard, eager as ever, had many questions. Mostly they seemed to be about ‘why I need ask Lord Cirdan if he would speak with Estarfin, rather than Estarfin himself’. The questions then headed to ‘Why could Estarfin not just get on a ship?’. I could not give the full answer.
Eventually my dear friend realised he was not going to get what he wanted, and spoke instead of the beauty of the sea, and of perhaps going out on one of the cargo ships transporting goods between Harlond, Mithlond and Forlond, to take in the air and sights.
I checked us in at the Tavern on the uppermost level, ‘The Mariner's Rest.’ We both had rooms with sea views. Of all the establishments in the port that was the most comfortable, and was known for the variety of fish on its menu. It also stocked several specialist wines. I hoped Parnard would enjoy it.
We took a short time to refresh ourselves, drank but one glass of wine apiece, and headed out to the terraced walkways that led down to the bay. The message I had previously sent to the Master of the Havens had asked to see him a little before High Tide that afternoon. Parnard and I had time for a little walk around the docks.
There we encountered Hingalas.
Now we both knew the fair haired Hingalas a little from his time in Imladris. A most merry Elf was he, and ever eager to speak with others about rope. That was his dream, seemingly his reason for being was to develop better rope for all to use. A steel rope was his vision. And there it was.
He ran to greet us, thinking we were some representatives from Rivendell, come to see his ‘marvelous development.’ (We did not shatter his illusion as I do not think he heard our denial.) So eager was he to show us the spread of steel rope set up in display on the edge of the dock.
“Will it rust?” Asked Parnard.
“If not maintained, perhaps, but think of the uses,”Hingalas excitedly replied.
“Ah..ah..the uses.”
“Ten years it has taken, but worth every day.” Hingalas added brightly.
I stood at ease, watching Parnard and Hingalas continuing to discuss the merits of steel shirts over cloth ones, and then back to rope.
As I looked out across the bay, my vision became a touch misted, as if a golden light from the setting of Anor had settled across all. Few workers there were around, and only one ship in being unloaded. Still was there the sound of gulls above, and of the waves against the piers, I drifted, that the voices became indistinct. And there was a ‘pull’ almost as if someone was dragging me forward a few steps. I could ‘see’ Thargelion, the lake, and Mount Rerir’s snow capped head, I could hear far off voices calling to me.
“It is even more impressive in person, is it not, Danel?” asked Hingalas.
I was back on the dock, the golden light now a mellow orange touching the western edge of the world. I shook my head to dispel the daydream.
Hingalas was looking very proud.
“Can it…actually pull a ship out to sea?” Parnard continued.
“It could Lord, it well could.”
“Does Lord Cirdan know of your invention?” I ventured to ask, feeling I had been a touch negligent in the converse thus far.
“Oh yes, Lady. I keep him updated of my developments. I make sure, for such a thing would be of huge interest to one such as he.”
“I am sure he will put this to good use in due time,” I offered, though now my eye was also on the tide.
“At times he is away though, so I have to speak with his assistant,” Hingalas quietly bemoaned, that I knew said assistant was not as keen as his Lord.
“I say make a giant net of it, and drop it on enemies….” Parnard looked rather pleased with himself, as Hingalas turned to him.
“What a wonderful idea, Lord.”
“You should not call me Lord, Hingalas friend. I am no longer the Lord Ambassador.”
Hingalas shrugged.
The tide was nigh at full height.
After a few moments more, and Hingalas speaking of us visiting his workshop, I announced, “We have an appointment with Lord Cirdan that we should be on our ways to his Halls now. It is my hope he can spare us a short time.”
“I am due to report to him today,” added Hingalas.
“Then come with us,?” I offered.
Hingalas needed no second invite. He patted the rope on display with affection, then headed towards the first set of steps with us.
I sighed just a little. How was I to speak with Cirdan of Estarfin with Parnard and Hingalas in tow? My hope was that they would distract each other.
