The two
brothers sat quietly as the sun began to rise.
One sat leaning against a large stone, gazing into the forest. The other stood leaning against a tree and
looking out over the sea. They had been
like that all night, and neither had spoken since they arrived at the
cliff. Elros finally broke the silence.
“The ships
leave in the morning.”
Elrond
smiled. “You said that last night.”
“Have we
been here that long?”
“Yes. Time does fly, and I fear it
will fly all the
faster for me now.”
“So you
have chosen the fate of the Elves.”
“Yes, I
have. I love our brethren deeply, and I
do not wish to part with them. Have you
made your decision?”
“I’ve
chosen to be numbered among Men. I was given kingship over the
remaining Edain,
and Eonwë has taught us much.”
For a while
the silence grew again, then Elros looked up at his brother and asked,
“Will
you be going to Aman with Eonwë?”
“No. I think I shall stay here in
Beleriand for a
while longer. There is much to rebuild, and not all the Eldar will be
leaving.”
“Then I
think you shall miss your chance to see the land that the Valar have
given us.”
“I’m afraid
so. Has this land been given a name
yet?”
“Some use
the High-Elven tongue and call it Numenor.
Others call it Anadune in the tongue of the Edain.
The most popular name though is Andor.”
“The land
of gift? A fitting name indeed.”
“There will
be much to build and to explore once we get there.
It will be quite an adventure, but also a
great task. I do not think I will return
to Beleriand.” Elros felt a lump well up
in his throat, but fought it down. “I do not think we shall meet again
within
the Circles of Arda.”
The
brothers grew silent, and birds could be heard singing in the trees. Elrond took a deep breath and said, “So, what
did Eonwë teach you and the Edain?”
“Just about
anything we asked. Some also had
questions about the Valar and times before Isil and Anar. He was more
than
happy to sit down and tell these tales as well, especially to the
children.”
The silence
grew again, and both gazed at the ground.
Neither knew what to say. Then
Elros smiled and said, “The ships leave in the morning.”
Elrond chuckled. Anar was now fully
visible in the morning
sky. Elros stood up and turned to face the sea that washed over the
rocks
several feet below. Elrond walked away from the tree he was leaning on
and
stood beside his brother. Both turned
their gaze from the horizon out across the calm, blue sea to the sky,
where a
bright silver flame burned beneath the Sun.
Elros
deeply breathed in the sea air, then said “Give my love to mom and dad. When you see them, that is.”
Elrond ran
his finger across his cheek. “I will.”
The
brothers walked down to the docks, where the ships were waiting and the
passengers were already loading their belongings.
When the
Sun was high in the sky, the ships were loaded and the passengers said
their
last good-byes. The brothers embraced one last time before Elros
boarded his
ship. The ships opened their sails and
the wind took them out to sea, as those on the decks waved. As Elros’ ship sailed into the distance,
Elrond saw Gil-Estel, the Star of Hope, burning brightly above its mast.
“Namarië,
brother.”
The End