The trip north up the coast was not as cold or wearing as the last, but Bird swam with a single minded purpose seldom seen in the dolphin folk. By dawn she had arrived at a point on the coast where the land jutted far into the sea, and was crowned by a vast, high peak which was touched by the morning light.
"Mount Taras", she breathed, marveling at the sight of huge, cone shape, the snow on its peak lit by the sun, and its feet bathed by the waves. Then Bird thought at first that she had stared at the sun too long, for a black speck seemed to emerge from the mountain, or over it, and was rapidly growing as it swept down towards the sea.
She watched, enrapted, as the shape took form, the blur growing wings that carried it effortlessly down, down the mountainside as if it were skiing on air. Finally, the changling recognized the massive features of Thorondor. The Eagle of the Valar swooped down close to the sea, Bird spinning in the water as he passed over her, making his own waves in the wind of his passing. The Eagle may have noticed the small, grey dolphin-head bobbing in the water as he passed, but he did not acknowledge the creature or let it distract him from his course. He flew on, to the south, seeking a lone ship on the lonely sea.
But as he passed and dwindled in the distance, Bird had shook her head in disbelief. For she would have sworn that she had seen the figure of a man, clinging like a limpet to the Eagle's broad back.
She watched Thorondor until he disappeared on the horizon and was gone. Then with a sigh, Birdie turned and continued her journey. It would be dark before she reached the Rainbow Cleft.
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