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Gil-Galad was looking west. The eagle at his side was silence, but the Great King knew well how to speak with it without words.
Cirdan and Elrond stood at a distance watching the magnificent bird take off. It flew out into the bay and headed west.
They approached the king. Cirdan said; "How will the western lords react to these news?"
Gil-Galad stated; "They will not! Not until the final battle when even Valinor will be challenged. Middle Earth shall be govern by men. The gratitude that reached the Edain is in peril, but it is for them to solve."
Elrond asked; "-and what is our role in this?"
Gil-Galad looked at them; "You are free to travel west anytime you want! I know my destiny as king of the Noldor. I was chosen to follow the great Kings Fingolfin, Fingon and Turgon. Turgon faced the mightiest of dragons, Ancalimon, Fingon the mightiest of balrogs, Gothmog and Fingolfin the greatest of all enemies himself. I am in my last circle of life and will stay here, until I met my destiny in this age. I know now who it will be…"
Elrond and Cirdan was afraid. Gil-Galad looked back at them. He said, "Do not be afraid, my friends, my destiny needs not to be the same as yours. In fact, I sense you will need to live on in other times whereas I need not!"
He showed his spear Aeglos. "War is coming! -and blood will be spilt. I have all the strength I need to face our enemy."
He looked at Elrond, "You once selected the life of the elves to live well into the second age! However, I want you to live on beyond the battle with Morgoths servant. You will guide the Edain better than everybody else due to your heritage.
He handed Elrond Vilya. "Please accept this as a present. Celebrimbor gave it to me, and I now pass it on to you. I know who is behind the creation of these rings and the rationale behind, but I have no doubt that he will not find you. I have tried it on my finger and I as Galadriel recalled Gorthaur from Beleriand. However, you are strong Elrond and you will resist him!"
Elrond took the ring; "I sense a future for this ring without the influence of the ring of the enemy."
Gil-Galad continued; "Narya, I ask of you to accept, Cirdan. You look further than anyone else in Middle Earth does. I sense that one day, after my departure, that you will find the usage for this."
Cirdan put the ring on his finger, as did Elrond. They stood for a while emotionless.
"Galadriel was correct! We now know the name of the enemy we face", Elrond said. Cirdan concurred.
"Our enemy shall never put his hands on these!" Elrond concluded.
Far away in Numenor, in the western province of Andustar, the first child of Minastir and Ullume was born.
Minastir was happy. Even for Numenoreans, the couple had waited a long for this.
"I will not give my son a name for his adult life. In time, he will earn his name and know what others should call him!" Minastir stated.
"-and how will he earn this? Ullume asked.
"In Middle Earth!" Minastir promptly answered.
Ullume did not like the answer. She said; "Some of my ancestors left Numenor. They did not seek adventures, but came in opposition to the ruler. Their children were born in Middle Earth and could not return here. They became strangers to us. I fear that one day a child of our ruler and the heir will be born in Middle Earth. I do not like Middle Earth and it should not change our people. This was the reason why I declined to accept the gem you offered me."
Minastir stated; "my son will not be governed by Middle Earth. He will bring the best from Numenor there, but will not allow Middle Earth influence on Numenor."
