Finding Adar
Glorfindel and Eruanna get to know each other and Eruanna finds in Glorfindel the father figure she had lost so many years before.
Eruanna's Departure
Many stood on the docks where the great grey vessel lay anchored. Unlike most departures not all the people milling around the dock were elves. The news that the Lady of the house of the Tree would be departing for Tol Ereassea had travelled and many had come to see the heroin off. King Amlath of Arnor himself had come from Fornost to see the lady off as she had in the past rendered service to the Kings of the North which had been invaluable. The night before there had been a feast in Eruanna's honour held by Cirdan. Many more had been there wishing to wish her well and say their farewells. It had been a long experience but now only those who meant the most to Eruanna remained for her to say her farewells to.
Elrond and Celebrian as well as their three children had come from Imladris. For Elrond was grieved to see the woman he had counted amongst his closest family for so long depart. A bond formed when Eruanna had hidden with the two elflings when Sirion was attacked. She had been in many ways a second mother to Elros and Elrond for they had been very young and had never seen their own mother again. Glorfindel was there also, and Cirdan.
A call came and all those due to depart began to say their final good byes. Eruanna turned tearfully to Elrond. "You have been as close to me as my own son, and I fear it will be many years before I see you again. I will say this however, I will see you again my star child. You have wisdom, use it for the good of all Middle-Earth and remember that all the free races have something to contribute no mater how small and insignificant they seem. There is a choice you will have to make one day, Elrond. I will not say when or about whom it is but it will be hard. You will have to choose between leaving one you love forever and having that person's heart break. For all it will hurt you will make the correct choice and Middle-Earth will receive a gift beyond all the jewels of Khazad-dum." Elrond wrapped the woman in his arms and hugged her.
"Namarie, Nanneth. You will find happiness in Ereassea, he will be there to take you in his arms again as he did the day you were reunited after the fall of Thangodrim." Elrond looked at her and saw the years of pain she had endured. "If I have wisdom it is due a great deal to your kindness Eruanna, though you suffered you loved us and cherished us greatly. Go with the blessing of the elves Eruanna, dearest of woman."
Next Eruanna faced the daughter of her good friend Galadriel. "Dear Celebrian, you have grown into such stature. Never forget that you are not your mother. You glow with a different strength then she does and do not feel you are less because you do not always excel where she does, nor do you have to. Again something will come to pass and you will be forced to do something you would rather not do. Know that Elrond and your parents love you and that you will be reunited with them in the end if you are ever separated." Eruanna was trying to give each of her friends and adopted family hope without giving away what may come to pass.
"Thank you, for all your kindness Eruanna. My mother sends you her good wishes and wishes me to tell you that she will miss you. She does not believe she will see you again. Safe journey Eruanna." Celebrian hugged her mother's old friend. "With the messenger she sent she sent this to be given to you." Celebrian handed Eruanna a scroll. "She wishes it to be placed in the hands of her father by you personally." Eruanna bowed her head and tucked the scroll into the small bundles of belongings she would be taking with her.
Next she moved to Elrond's three children. "My little ones," she whispered touching cheeks and whipping away Arwen's tears. "Always trust your hearts my little ones they will not lead you astray." Arwen let out a sob and through her arms around Eruanna's neck.
"I will miss you Daernanneth," she said. "I feel as though I will never see you again."
Eruanna felt a sharp pain clench her stomach. Although she had forgotten much that she had learnt in the future, the fate of her little Evenstar was not one of those things. "Remember this, if you remember nothing else, dear child. No matter what happens I will always be proud of you. You will bring a great light to Middle-Earth Arwen and you will be happy."
Elrond was the only one who noticed that Eruanna did not tell his daughter that she would meet her again. It was a memory that he would remember after many years past and would know that she had known his daughter's fate even then. Taking his daughter from Eruanna and holding her close as tears continued to stream down her perfect cheeks.
The twins nearly squashed Eruanna with their enthusiastic hugged. "Easy munchkins, don't kill your Daernanneth, there is someone waiting who will be very upset if I am not with this ship. Don't get into too much trouble now, promise?"
Both twins nodded their heads. "We will Daernanneth," said Elladan. "You'll see we will be good," said Elrohir in following. "We have a message from Queen Mirwen of Mirkwood, she bids you safe journey and wishes she could have been here, and she said she explains why she can not in the letter." Elrohir handed her a scroll which she tucked in her bag next to the one for King Finarfin.
"You have to take care of your sister for me. She will need you two, if for nothing else to make her laugh." Again the twins nodded and released Eruanna and went to join their parents and sister. The family went off to farewell some of the elves from Imladris who could no longer resist the pull of the sea.
Cirdan approached Eruanna. "I pray you find happiness my Lady, one should not have to endure so much sorrow as you have," Eruanna smiled at Cirdan.
"You have ever been kind to me Lord Cirdan, there is a gift I wish to make to you whether you will accept it or not." Eruanna reached into her bundle and pulled out the leather bound book in which she had recorded her story. "This is my story; I know you have wanted to know it for a long time. I ask only that when you sail this book come as well and that no copy be made of it. For the truth of my origins can not be known in the future. Namarie, my lord it will be long ere I see you again." Eruanna kissed Cirdan's cheek and he moved off.
She stood looking around the dock when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning she looked up into the blue eyes of Glorfindel. "I haven't known you long Eruanna, but you have become in many ways like a daughter to me. I know not what lies ahead of me and I ask you not to tell me. However, can you give me hope that I will see you again?"
A lump formed in Eruanna's throat for she too felt as though Glorfindel had come to be something of a father to her. "I can give you that hope; it will be long but hope there is and will be. There will come a time when hope is born in flesh and then Adar the time of our reunion will be nigh." Tears began to pour down Eruanna's cheeks. "Love you Adar," she said throwing herself into Glorfindel's arms much as she had done four months before, this time however he didn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tight.
"Sell nin," he murmured to her smoothing her hair down. "I have a gift for you." He picked up the package he had laid down. "Wear this on your arrival in Tol Ereassea, daughter of my heart. Wear it after ever in memory of me." He released her and handed her the bundle. "Go, there is one who awaits you and loves you with a love that is beyond all."
All her good byes finished Eruanna picked up her things and walked up the gangway onto the grey ship. She had been the last to board, except for one. Just as the gangway was about to be lifted a blond elleth ran down the quay from where she had just dismounted from her horse. "Wait," she called, "I will be going too." As she boarded the ship Eruanna saw her eldest foster child. With a cry she took the elleth in her arms and hugged her tight. "Did you think I would let you leave this Middle-Earth without me Nan-Anna?" she asked.
The gangway was raised and the ropes where undone, with the grace only an elven ship could possess they moved away from the quay. Eruanna and Lailitha stood in the stern watching with tears running down their faces until the haven was only a speck on the horizon.