Author's Note

- I hate the way that ROTK ignores the specific instructions that Círdan has to wait until the very last ship. The book also says that Celeborn stayed in Middle-Earth for a short while after Galadriel, yet in the film he too boards the ship with Elrond, Gandalf, Galadriel and Frodo and Bilbo. This is just a small (sarcastic) idea of how this discrepancy can be resolved.

The Eldest One

Círdan took one look at the young Periannath and sighed. Every single time they came to see friends or family off, even knowing that they would meet again in Mandos, people would get hysterical. Then again, the Periannath could be excused. They were very short lived, maybe longer than the Northern Men, but no way near the centuries of the Dúnedain or Naugrim.

He boarded the ship and checked the chest of scrolls he was sending to his kinsmen in Avallonë. The Sundering, though it had happened over three-thousand years ago, caused great upset in the Elven community, having submerged almost half of Tol Eressëa including the Library of Avallonë. When the waters receded, the entire library was lost: every scroll and book and parchment, every last essay, treatise and prophecy, even their own copy of the Book of Rúmil. Between him, Elrond and Pengolodh, who resided in Tavrobel, they had slowly rebuilt the Library. With every ship that left the Grey Havens, went with it a thousand and one more gems of knowledge to be preserved for evermore in the Undying Lands.

"Ciryatan," Olórin said. "Desirelier alyemme."

'We are ready.'

He flicked the lock on the chest shut and grabbed a thick silken rope attached to the main mast. With one strong, swift pull, the sail unfurled smoothly, glistening in the dusk light. He saw the smaller Perian that was travelling with Olórin, Elrond and Nerwen to Tol Eressëa and maybe beyond, waving back over the sternrail to the other Halflings. The Elven ship sped quickly across the harbour and to the mouth.

"Elrond, keep the foresail steady," he called out in Westron. "Master Hobbit, take the rudder."

Frodo, in awe of the sight of the open sea, wiped a remaining tear away from his eye and took control of the boat. Celeborn placed one last kiss on his wife's lips before plunging over the bow and making for the jetty.

"Well," Círdan sighed. "Is this it Olórin?"

"I do not doubt that I shall not return to these shores," the Istar replied.

"Ciryatan," Elrond warned.

They were getting further and further out to sea.

"But," Olórin continued, "I sense that Lord Ulmo will soon be calling your name for his own. There are Elrond's sons to come yet, plus Legolas Thranduilion. And there will be one more Ringbearer."

"Whom?" Círdan asked. "Not another Perian, I hope."

The white rays of light from the Straight Road began to caress the swan headed prow.

"Yes," Olórin said with a laugh. "Samwise Gamgee, you will like him. He's a great roper - "

"Círdan!" Elrond shouted again. "Quickly!"

The ship shuddered as it ground onto the interdimensional road that would take it all the way to Valinor.

"Namarie, Falandil." Círdan said.

Without a look back he gracefully dived over the side in pursuit of Celeborn, and his waiting place.

For his time would come, and his ship would leave these shores.

But once again; he would have to wait.

Author's Notes

- Wow. What started out as a drabble turned in something five-times as long. Oops.

- Just in case it wasn't clear: Celeborn only boards the ship to say one last goodbye to Galadriel, and Círdan only guides it out of the harbour.

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