Chapter Three.

Disclaimer: The characters are Tolkien´s.

Really short and stupid chapter, but, as it was yelling at me since long ago in the bottom of my computer, I decided to send it away at last. Here you are!

Years passed one after the other, until a whole century died away. One day, at last, that fearsome and great floating piece of land, the Ferry Island, was spotted in the distance, heralded by the mighty sound of the Horns of Ulmo summoning the Quendi. Olwë then went at once to the shore to answer the call of the Vala with his people, for he was King of the Teleri now that Elwë was accounted dead among them.

But not Elmo.

"I will stay here to search for my brother." he said simply, with determination and a veiled longing in his face. He was a young boy no more, and he had married, but he still loved Elwë more than anyone, so much that he still was sure he lived somewhere and wanted to find him.

It was not very difficult, however, to imagine Olwë´s wrathful puzzlement when he heard that statement.

"You have to come with your people, Elmo! Or would you want to stay in those dark and dangerous lands to get killed by Orcs, like Lenwë? Do not be headstrong! It is not the moment."

"But I know he is alive!" Elmo cried, with the stubbornness of a child. They were both standing in the soft sand of the shore, like the day Elwë disappeared, but the dark immensity of the Great Sea was not the only sight which met their eyes this time. A whole island, with its cliffs and rocks, its forests and its plains, was now stretched in front of them.

"He must be alive." If the situation hadn´t been that serious, Olwë would have laughed at his young brother´s ingenuity. "I can feel it inside me, why cannot you?"

"I have sensed no pain since he went away." the eldest of the two explained. "No pain, no joy, no sign of life, nothing! I am unable to feel him, and the only reason for it is that he is dead, brother. Yes, I know, it is terrible" he tried, although he knew it was no use, to comfort him. "I, we did everything we could, but now I am afraid it is time to leave and rejoin our kin in the Blessed Realm. The Valar will not come for us again!

"You are right." said Elmo then, causing a deep sigh of relief to escape his brother´s lips. Relief that was however to froze with his next words. "You most go, together with those that want to follow you."

"What?" Olwë shouted on top of his voice. He was short tempered indeed, like their lost elder brother had been, and all that was just too much for him. His lips were trembling, trying to form words, but he was choking of rage. "You...you...you stubborn fool! Stay alone, if you wish!"

To his uttermost surprise, Elmo´s answer was to lower his eyes and blush, with the expression of one who has something unpleasant to say and fears to do so.

"Yes, er..Olwë, but..."

His brother came near him again, resting his hands in his hips in a commanding gesture.

"Out with it."

"I...I am not staying alone. Many of your people want to stay with me. "Elmo managed to say without breathing. "Círdan will stay too, with all the people of the Falas, I think because of their friendship with the Lord Ossë, but also to help me in the search. I am...I am sorry."

The youngest of the Telerin ruling family had expected anything from his furious brother and king at the evidence of the inevitable sundering of their people. Anything, except what he actually did, which was to break down and bury his face in his hands.

"Come on." he said, tentatively, while stroking Olwë´s silver hair. His voice had tried to be soothing, but it only rang hoarse. "I will find a way to send you tidings of Elwë´s return, I promise. And,, we do not know...maybe the Valar will come for us again. If they yielded to Finwë´s entreaties, why not to yours?

"Maybe." Olwë answered, in a strange and determined tone. Grimly, he got up and turned away without even looking back. "Take care, little brother...and perhaps you will live to see the day when I will be able to forgive you."

And then he left, leaving a heartbroken young Elf lying in the sand.

* * * * * * * * * *

He was sinking gradually, without help. A pool of fathomless night swallowed him, each conscious effort damaging his conscience more and more, until he had no will to resist the lure of darkness.

Two fiery red eyes glowed in his sky ...no, they were stars. The only stars in the night.

"Do not fight it, come with me, we will be as one forever."

Was he fading away? Why did he not hear clearly anymore? The voice was beginning to disappear from his mind.

No!

No!

The shrieking cry pierced his ears, but then, he floated in nothingness.

And, somewhere far beyond, he thought he had heard again a nightingale singing.

(To be continued)

If there is someone who is really interested to know what happens next, I´m sorry to tell that I´ll probably leave this fic until I write at least two or three new chapters of "Dark Seed of Betrayal" ( go Maeglin!) However, I´ll try to write the remaining chapter and the epilogue in October, for Soledad´s birthday is that month.