A/N: Caleb's name has been changed to Siriondil, and some facts in the
first two chapters have also been altered, as my reviewers (*waves*) have
point out a few mistakes. If anything else seems amiss, please feel free
to either email me or say it in a review.
Chapter 3 Passage into a New World
"Hurry Eladlín, or we shall be late!" called Lhorrindel. The little boy lugged his suitcase out of his room. She glanced down at him. "Finally! I though you had run away, you took so long. I will take that," she picked up his bags, "and we must go or Papa and Siriondil will be angry!"
Many months had passed since Eladlín's first dinner at the high table. Yet little had changed in the land of men. The fields lay cultivated with the same crops, and a crooked scarecrow still hung near Master Burrow's door. If anything may be said about Numenor, it is that a new ship had appeared in the harbor. It was larger than any ship ever housed in that bay, indeed it was built upon a grander scale than many of Numenor had ever seen. Its large mast held a sail dyed the deep crimson of Lord Elro's courts. It eagerly awaited its departure into the sea. But first a boy named Eladlín had to board it.
"What delays the little master?" asked Siriondil rather peevishly. He looked at up at the waning sun. They should have left an hour ago. The tide was already thinning; soon the window of opportunity would be slammed shut, and the voyage delayed yet again.
"I do not know, Siriondil, but rest assured he will..." Elros was cut off by a high voice.
"Here Papa! I am here!" yelled Eladlín as he ran down the ramp. "I am sorry you had to wait, but I needed to find my blanket. It was missing."
Elros gave a small frown, but quickly covered it with a smile. "'Tis of little importance. Worry not."
Siriondil cleared his throat gently. Elros got the message and bent down to embrace Eladlín. "I will miss you, my little boy."
"Goodbye, Papa."
Lhorrindel came along promptly and had Cerin load the last few bags on the ship. Eladlín freed himself from his father and ran to her. "Mama!" he cried.
She kissed him gently and fought back the rising tears. "Quickly then, my lad. You must board the ship, or Siriondil shall leave without you. She let him go, and he loped after the mariner onto the vessel. The ropes were untied and the small crowd pressed in, so eager were they to say goodbye to their loved ones. A great wind blew through the harbor, giving life to the crimson sails. Eladlín watched his family grow small from the back of the boat. "Mama!" he called, "Papa!"
Elros placed his arm around Lhorrindel's shoulder. "We will wait for you with each passing tide, Eladlín! Follow your heart, and we shall meet at the end of your path!" replied Elros. He spoke softly, but the wind took his voice start to Eladlín and gave him what comfort it could. He would see them again, after all.
Lhorrindel began to weep softly. "I already miss him Elros."
Elros hid the emotion in his face, an elvish quality he had always maintained. "He will be happy. And that is all we can give him."
"But it still hurts," she replied. He patted her growing stomach lovingly. "The others will ebb away the pain, Lhorrindel. One day you will see it too; we have done our best by him. He is in good hands." Slowly they turned away as the ship faded off into the distance. They never heard from Eladlín again, at least not in the living world.
~~~~~~~~
"What is that, Siriondil?" asked Eladlín. Siriondil rolled his eyes. This had to be the tenth question in the last thirty seconds. "It is a compass, little master. See how it points towards our intended direction?"
"Are you angry with me?"
Siriondil dropped the compass with a loud crash and spun around. "Now, why would I be angry, little master?" he said with a forced smile.
"Because I know nothing of the sea, and that is your life. My questions must seem absurdly simple to one as knowledgeable as yourself."
Siriondil marveled at how wise the boy was. "You are a bright boy, albeit an unlearned one. Come here." he motioned with his hand, "Come on now, quickly." He led Eladlín to the front of the ship. Siriondil leapt lightly onto the thin railing, balancing precariously as he walked toward the front tip. He turned around, "Come here, Eladlín. They say you are made of fair blood. It should be naught but a small task for you."
Eladlín shrunk back. "I am afraid."
Siriondil jumped down again and took the boys hand. "I will not let you fall. I promise." He helped Eladlín climb onto the railing. The boy teetered for but a second before he found his balance. He grinned at Siriondil, who led him to the very front of the ship. "There," he told the boy, "Stand like that and wait." Another great gust passed through the ship promptly. The wind rocked Eladlín, and he stood with his eyes closed and his arms outstretched. He felt the wind pass through and envelop him, and the smell of the salt tickled his nose. The wind died down, and Siriondil pulled him gently onto the deck.
"Did you feel it? The pull of the wind and the sea..." A light shone deep within Siriondil's eyes.
Eladlín nodded. "Aye, I did."
"Then now you know. That is all there is to the sea. It is as simple as that. It gives me life, breathing softly into my face. The other parts that you questioned, they are nothing. Once you have felt the pull of the sea, they will come in due time." Siriondil walked away from him and took up his charts. Eladlín stayed at the front railing for a long time, watching the path as it led him home.
*smiles* This is an awfully short chapter, I know, but it seemed like a good place to end it. As always, reviews are appreciated, thanks for telling me what you think.
Chapter 3 Passage into a New World
"Hurry Eladlín, or we shall be late!" called Lhorrindel. The little boy lugged his suitcase out of his room. She glanced down at him. "Finally! I though you had run away, you took so long. I will take that," she picked up his bags, "and we must go or Papa and Siriondil will be angry!"
Many months had passed since Eladlín's first dinner at the high table. Yet little had changed in the land of men. The fields lay cultivated with the same crops, and a crooked scarecrow still hung near Master Burrow's door. If anything may be said about Numenor, it is that a new ship had appeared in the harbor. It was larger than any ship ever housed in that bay, indeed it was built upon a grander scale than many of Numenor had ever seen. Its large mast held a sail dyed the deep crimson of Lord Elro's courts. It eagerly awaited its departure into the sea. But first a boy named Eladlín had to board it.
"What delays the little master?" asked Siriondil rather peevishly. He looked at up at the waning sun. They should have left an hour ago. The tide was already thinning; soon the window of opportunity would be slammed shut, and the voyage delayed yet again.
"I do not know, Siriondil, but rest assured he will..." Elros was cut off by a high voice.
"Here Papa! I am here!" yelled Eladlín as he ran down the ramp. "I am sorry you had to wait, but I needed to find my blanket. It was missing."
Elros gave a small frown, but quickly covered it with a smile. "'Tis of little importance. Worry not."
Siriondil cleared his throat gently. Elros got the message and bent down to embrace Eladlín. "I will miss you, my little boy."
"Goodbye, Papa."
Lhorrindel came along promptly and had Cerin load the last few bags on the ship. Eladlín freed himself from his father and ran to her. "Mama!" he cried.
She kissed him gently and fought back the rising tears. "Quickly then, my lad. You must board the ship, or Siriondil shall leave without you. She let him go, and he loped after the mariner onto the vessel. The ropes were untied and the small crowd pressed in, so eager were they to say goodbye to their loved ones. A great wind blew through the harbor, giving life to the crimson sails. Eladlín watched his family grow small from the back of the boat. "Mama!" he called, "Papa!"
Elros placed his arm around Lhorrindel's shoulder. "We will wait for you with each passing tide, Eladlín! Follow your heart, and we shall meet at the end of your path!" replied Elros. He spoke softly, but the wind took his voice start to Eladlín and gave him what comfort it could. He would see them again, after all.
Lhorrindel began to weep softly. "I already miss him Elros."
Elros hid the emotion in his face, an elvish quality he had always maintained. "He will be happy. And that is all we can give him."
"But it still hurts," she replied. He patted her growing stomach lovingly. "The others will ebb away the pain, Lhorrindel. One day you will see it too; we have done our best by him. He is in good hands." Slowly they turned away as the ship faded off into the distance. They never heard from Eladlín again, at least not in the living world.
~~~~~~~~
"What is that, Siriondil?" asked Eladlín. Siriondil rolled his eyes. This had to be the tenth question in the last thirty seconds. "It is a compass, little master. See how it points towards our intended direction?"
"Are you angry with me?"
Siriondil dropped the compass with a loud crash and spun around. "Now, why would I be angry, little master?" he said with a forced smile.
"Because I know nothing of the sea, and that is your life. My questions must seem absurdly simple to one as knowledgeable as yourself."
Siriondil marveled at how wise the boy was. "You are a bright boy, albeit an unlearned one. Come here." he motioned with his hand, "Come on now, quickly." He led Eladlín to the front of the ship. Siriondil leapt lightly onto the thin railing, balancing precariously as he walked toward the front tip. He turned around, "Come here, Eladlín. They say you are made of fair blood. It should be naught but a small task for you."
Eladlín shrunk back. "I am afraid."
Siriondil jumped down again and took the boys hand. "I will not let you fall. I promise." He helped Eladlín climb onto the railing. The boy teetered for but a second before he found his balance. He grinned at Siriondil, who led him to the very front of the ship. "There," he told the boy, "Stand like that and wait." Another great gust passed through the ship promptly. The wind rocked Eladlín, and he stood with his eyes closed and his arms outstretched. He felt the wind pass through and envelop him, and the smell of the salt tickled his nose. The wind died down, and Siriondil pulled him gently onto the deck.
"Did you feel it? The pull of the wind and the sea..." A light shone deep within Siriondil's eyes.
Eladlín nodded. "Aye, I did."
"Then now you know. That is all there is to the sea. It is as simple as that. It gives me life, breathing softly into my face. The other parts that you questioned, they are nothing. Once you have felt the pull of the sea, they will come in due time." Siriondil walked away from him and took up his charts. Eladlín stayed at the front railing for a long time, watching the path as it led him home.
*smiles* This is an awfully short chapter, I know, but it seemed like a good place to end it. As always, reviews are appreciated, thanks for telling me what you think.