693

Almarian looked out in Romenna Bay. There were no ships.

She looked at the ring on her finger and said; "it has been more than a year since my father left Numenor on Numerramar."

Irimon took her hand, "He will come before the end of next summer. The King's Captain is aware of the customs of Numenor. He wanted to finish the great ship and sail it to Middle Earth before our wedding."

Almarian said, "I do not understand this. Their heart seeks to be filled with adventures, but they forget that hey drain other hearts."

Irimon put his arms around her, "I will never leave you," he said.

A small boat came to Tharbad. There were three people on the boat. When the people there asked of their business, they asked for Ciryaher of Numenor.

Ciryaher came to the sailors.

He said, "Men of Numenor, what news do you bring for me?"

One of the men answered; "The news that the King Heir shall marry the daughter of the Kings Captain!"

Ciryaher said, "This is good news for Numenor!"

The man continued, "There is more. The King Captain ask his friend Ciryaher to witness his daughter's wedding. The Captain is waiting on his great ship where you first landed in Middle Earth."

Ciryaher was silence. He was surrounded by many local citizens of Tharbad.

After a long time, he said; "Return to your captain with this message. I cannot leave immediately, but I will come to him before the summer ends."

The men returned without getting ashore.

Ciryaher was delaying his leaving, as he would like to see his dwarf friend on more time. He informed the dwarves he met in Tharbad, and soon he friend met him.

"I have to leave, I have been called home, and I cannot reject this, due to respect of my kinsmen,"

The dwarf laughed, "Strange this is, I too have been called home, to duties I cannot reject."

Ciryaher then said, "However, I intend to return here I find my friend again!"

The dwarf laughed no more, "I do not believe we will meet again. My people will require mush of me and must stay among them."

"Then I will find you!" Ciryaher said with confidence.

The dwarf rose. "You once gave me a present, the last thing you possessed. Now I will return this presence."

He handed his ax to Ciryaher, "You will recognize this!"

Ciryaher looked at the ax; there was a small scratch on it. He smiled.

"Yes! I know this ax!" He said.

The dwarf was about to leave with his guard, when Ciryaher spoke again.

"Please, my friend, give me your name!"

The dwarf answered, "I cannot, but I can give you then name I will be known by in the future!"

Ciryaher was puzzled over the cryptic statement.

"Durin!" The dwarf said and left.

When Ciryaher arrived at the shore, he was amazed over Numerramar. The ship had two large sails, and was capable of lifting the small boat out of the water and attach to its hull.

On the deck, Veantur stood and waived to him.

As soon as Ciryaher got on deck, Numerramar set sail to leave Middle Earth.

Veantur said; "This is only the beginning. We will build even bigger ships and we will sail much further that we have done so far."

He looked at Ciryaher and noticed the ax that he was carrying.

"What is this?"

"A present from a friend of Middle Earth!" I will be in my family as Dramborleg is for the King!" He took the ax, and gave it to Veantur, for him to see.

Veantur disliked the thought of bringing weapons to Numenor, and he put up his hands to indicate he would not touch it. He said, "Sorry my friend, I will not touch any weapon!"

At the same time, thousands of similar axes were held up. This was in a large cave deep under the ground. In the middle sat Ciryahers dwarf friend on a stone throne.

The dwarves shouted: "Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-menu"

As Numerramar vanished into the horizon, it is followed by a single high person dressed in a cloak on the cliffs close to the shore. He had his eye on the Seapeople, knowing these will be his main enemy for the times to come. This was the first time he saw the Western sea after the fall of his master.