...
~ Twelve ~
After many weeks all on board could feel their spirits lift. They had reached the enchanted mists and the excitement grew among all on the ship as its brilliant white bow cut through the dense fogs.
The lady peered intently at the fog, as though trying to see through it. The morning light of the sun diffused dim through the blanket of grey and white, and the breeze picked up, blowing every which way.
Even though it was still day the mariners of the ship went around hanging lamps about the deck and up on the nest. Their glow shone bright the light of day through the fog, and seemed to help scatter the mists around the ship as they crept onward. The sun set again, although they could not see much of it, and the ship's lamp light reflected off the dense fog and glittered upon the dark waters surrounding the boat.
The little white ship plodded along, cutting through the glassy black waves, for several more hours. The mists hanging low in the dark imparted on them a curious new sense of weariness and worry that slowly began turning to distress. The lady looked at the navigator, who did not seem worried, and found that give some little comfort. Still she could not help but wonder about the enchanted mists, which she had heard about but was now experiencing for herself. She was curious whether the enchantment was purposely bespelled to induce such fears or if the mists at night simply had that effect on the unwary who dared an attempt to cross through them.
Then suddenly the fog began to thin and all began to notice that they could see a bit further. Behind them in the east the light of the sun was just starting to peek out from the far horizon against the darkness of the night sky. Slowly the sky began to lighten to grey, and the little stars faded from view. Turning forward now, they saw it: bright lights before them, gleaming as if the stars had fallen down onto their path on the western horizon.
The ship continued on, cutting slowly through the sloshing little waves, as morning arrived and the sky shone clear bright blue through the morning sun with the bank of mists growing distant behind them. Beyond the magnificent arched rock gateway the blazing silver lamps along the quay of Alqualonde came into view, and there they spied also the beautiful swan ships harbored in the bay. The Lady Celebrian stood upon the deck with her friends and kin, watching the scene as it grew closer, and smiled.
~ Fin ~