Disclaimer: A reminder…I don't own anything.

A Ship Sails

When I reached the yard for sparing practice about thirty elves and elflings were gathered including Earendil and Elwing. The ellon who seemed to be running the practiced shot me an aggravated look, which I knew that I deserved. He walked towards me and handed me a practice sword consisting of a number of wooden lathes bound together and a hilt made of weaved leather bands.

"Have ever worked with a sword before?" he asked shooting a look at the knife bound at my waist.

"No just with the knife," I replied.

"Then go over there with the other beginners," he said indicating a group on the far side of the yard who were watching a blond ellon demonstrating some basic sword technique. I obediently followed his instructions. For the next two hours the eight of us in the beginners group learnt a basic practice pattern that involved flowing from one position to the next attempting to keep the correct posture and grip on the practice swords.

At the end of the two hours my arms ached from the heavier weapon, for even a wooden sword weighed more the light knife that Laiqualasse had given me. I felt completely incompetent as the Sword Master working with us was ever correcting my stance and grip. He said that my concentration was absolutely horrible and that if I could not remember where to keep my feet for five minutes then I would never survive my first true fight.

The only thing that reconciled me was the fact that learning a new weapon removed the humiliation of being beaten over and over again by Earendil. The youngest of the elflings who were still small had been working with the knives for they did not have practice sword short enough for them, much to Earendil and Elwing's disappointment.

After we put away our practice blades and helped tidy the sparring yard Earendil, Elwing and I went to find Lailitha. The young elleth who had never shown much passion for swords or knives had gone to the archery range, which Elwing had shown her earlier that day. Archery, which did not involve hacking at ones friends in order to practice, was skill to which Lailitha had taken to immediately. Although I was no expert judge of archers it seemed to me from what I saw in Lailitha's execution at the practice range that evening that my foster daughter had some raw talent for the use of the bow. I made a mental note to ask Mirwen about some one to teacher her.

Once Lailitha joined us we made our way back into the fortress. Earendil left us at the council chamber to ask his parents where their apartment was and Lailitha and Elwing ran off to Elwing's rooms. I called after Lailitha reminding her that she should not stay out too late. So I was alone when I arrived back at my own apartment.

Upon entering the sitting room I was surprised to find Thranduil seated with Mirwen before the fire place. They were speaking quietly to one another. Mirwen looked distraught and Thranduil's expression was that of concern. Although the scene was innocent enough I felt that I was intruding on something far more intimate. I had seen Thranduil a few times since meeting him on the flight from Nan-Tathen, however I had not realized that he and Mirwen were such good friends.

Mirwen had heard me enter the room and had turned towards me. When our eyes met I knew that the pain she felt was akin to mine. "He has told you," she said softly. It was clearly a statement and not a question.

"Yes," I replied just as softly. I did not know what else I could say. Where Mirwen could show her dislike of her brother's imminent departure without causing much curiosity amongst those who lived in Arvernien, however, I could not demonstrate my own feelings to their full range for it would definitely spark the interest of others who should not know that my feelings for Laiqualasse extended any further then those of friendship.

"Why does he wish to abandon me? When we were reunited in Nan-Tathen it was like having my other half back but now not even a turn of the seasons has passed and he wished to leave me again," said Mirwen in a rather melodramatic manner.

"Mirwen," I said sitting at the foot of the chair in which she sat. "You know that he does not leave you because he wishes to. He is simply doing what he feels is best for all of us."

"I know Eruanna," Mirwen sighed. "Please forgive me for my dramatics; it is unseeingly of me to speak thus." Her eyes were down cast looking at her slender pale hands, which lay on her lap. Thranduil who had not taken his eyes off Mirwen for a moment took one of her hands in his. She looked into his face and smiled weakly. It was a strained smile but the looked of admiration answered to the look of adoration in Thranduil's. The entire scene melted my heart.

"I understand how you feel Mirwen, there is nothing to apologise for," I said. "I am weary and I think that I will retire to my bed. I feel that things will be clearer in the morning after we all have had some rest." I stood and moved towards the door of my room. Both Mirwen and Thranduil bid me good night and I went into my room closing the door behind me. I was a tumult of emotion feeling at once happy at what seemed to be developing between Thranduil and Mirwen but also heart broken that the one whom I loved would be leaving in the morning. However, more then anything I felt completely exhausted.

That night was the best sleep I could ever remember having. I do not remember waking from the moment my head hit the pillow until I awoke to the morning sunlight filtering through the bedchamber window the next morning. The feather mattress on which I lay felt as comfortable as a cloud and the quilt that I had pulled over me was heavenly with its soft comforting warmth.

Stretching I sat up in the bed taking stock of my surroundings. Lailitha was sitting cross-legged on her bed on the other side of the room. She was running my brush through her hair slowly as though she was deep in thought. "Lailitha," I said causing her to look over at me. "Come here, penneth-in, I will finish that for you."

She climbed down off her bed and came over to mine. I sat behind her with my back against the headboard. Sometimes I forgot about how small she was. Gently, I worked the tangles out of her hair before braiding it back and tying it off with a ribbon. Just as I finished braiding Lailitha's hair the door to our bedroom opened and Mirwen entered quietly.

"Good morning," said Mirwen. "Get dressed quickly Eruanna. The tide is going out and Laiqualassë's ship sails at the next bell."

I rose and nodded to her before going to my closet. I did not feel like speaking much and it seemed that Mirwen shared that feeling. She sat down on my bed and put an arm around Lailitha as much it seemed to comfort herself as to lend any strength to the little elleth. Lailitha feeling Mirwen's sadness returned her embraces and kissed her on the cheek before rising to dress in her own small dress.

After I had dressed the three of us made our way down through the fortress to the small harbour. The ship was not very larger nor did it match the magnificence of the ship of the Teleri that Mirwen had once described to me. The quay was full of activity as last minute preparations were made for the voyage to the Isle of Balar. Both Lord Tuor and

Lady Idril were at the quay and with them stood Earendil and Elwing. Lailitha seeing her two friends left Mirwen and I to go to them.

As we stood back from the crowd so not to be in the way, Laiqualassë was speaking to Lord Tuor. Lord Tuor placed a hand on Laiqualassë's shoulder and handed him a rolled scroll. Laiqualassë bowed his head to the man before him and turned away. He spotted us standing off to the side and came over to us.

He took his sister's hand and looked into her eyes. "Mirwen, know that should you ever wish to come to me that Tuor will arrange your passage on a word," he said. "Promise me, sister, that if at all possible I will be at your wedding."

"I promise you that my brother," said Mirwen.

"Find happiness," said Laiqualassë. "Valar bless."

"Valar bless," Mirwen murmured back kissing her brother's cheek.

With is other hand Laiqualassë took mine and kissed the back of it gently. "One more lesson, penneth-nin. Let go of what was and might have been and live. For although you do not feel it, it is so you have a home here and people who care for your well being and safety."

"Thank you," I said not having any more words in that moment with which to express myself.

"I must now take ship. My thoughts will be with both of you. I will write when I can," said Laiqualassë. With this he squeezed my hand let it go turning to the ship. We both watched in silence as he boarded the vessel. With military precision when the bell rang high in the citadel the ship cast off and began to move away from the quay towards the open water with the help of the long sweeps. Laiqualassë stood at the rail of the vessel his eyes did not leave us. As they moved away once he gave a last wave and went below deck. It was in silence that Mirwen and I walked back up to the fortress.

Author's Note: Well it has been a while. What can I say? I don't have any excuses for myself really. I hope to finish the next chapter soon but I am in a period of utter lack of initiative and a dry spell for inspiration. Hopefully I'll regain a want to write soon. Until then.