[Mithadan]

Mithadan avoided the commotion of the arrival of the Sea-Folk. He greeted Bird and Kali briefly then excused himself. In his cabin, he lifted the small conch shell and its chain and placed it on his neck, then composed himself and waited calmly as the night lengthened. When the commotion died away, he climbed to the deck. The ship was anchored and all the "land folk" were below. Angara lay sleeping on a coil of rope on the foredeck.

He climbed quietly to the crowsnest and sat quietly beneath the stars. The Valacirca swung above him making him shudder with the thought of what he intended. Mithadan cleared his mind and began by envisioning the floor below him as a barrier which extended like a dome over the ship. Satisfied with its strength, he made himself comfortable and turned to face the West.

What he was doing went against every fiber of his being. He was a descendant of Earendil the Bright through the line of Elros, a Numenorean, one of the Faithful who had not ever rebelled and turned against the West and its rightful rule. Nonetheless, he reached out to the West in deep concentration.

The sea was distant below him. As he cast his mind Westward it seemed even more distant. After some minutes, he seemed to perceive unknown lands in that direction but they were dark, mundane, mortal. So he searched about, above and below. Again the ocean receded and suddenly he felt himself rushing headlong into a barrier. With an impact which seemed physical in nature, he crashed into the wall and his concentration wavered for a moment.

He felt the shell on his chest and thought for a moment, "Ulmo, Lord of the Seas, help me... and forgive me." Then he cast about for a gap in the wall, any opening in the barrier separating East from West...and he perceived the Gate. Atop its arch was a figure, clad in green and silver with wild hair and eyes and carrying a great trident. But this was not Ulmo, he perceived and another name came to him unbidden: Osse.

The figure raised the trident and made as if to plunge it into his chest, then paused as another figure appeared, taller, bearded and also clad in green and silver. And Ulmo raised his horn and blew though Mithadan could not hear, and two others appeared. Mithadan could not meet the blazingly bright eyes of the figure clad in blue, but next to him stood a Lady wearing grey robes. Tears flowed from her eyes but she smiled. The figures seemed to debate for a moment, then all but Osse disappeared. He lowered his trident and the gate swung open.

His passed through swiftly and crossed over the grey seas in a rush of wind until, in the West, a great Mountain rose from the waters. And its peak, covered with snow, shone brightly and the land below it seemed to glow with radiant beauty. But there was not his errand.

To an island in a great bay he travelled and sought for a familiar mind. And he found it. "Idril," he whispered. The mind stirred and turned to him in surprise. "Mithadan!? You risk all to come here?" He replied wearily to the shining figure, "I could do no less. The ship... the crew is fragmented by grief and weariness. They act on their own with no unity and there is distrust. If we are to do this thing, our errand, we must work together, not at odds."

Idril nodded. "What would you have from me?" Mithadan was silent for a moment. "Tule. Child distrusts him and I do as well, yet he carries the burden of this errand on his shoulders. He is the key and the lock. He went to the Second Age without warning or word and claims to have contacted one in Avallone to advance our quest. Is this true?"

Idril seemed surprised. "Yes. Of course. To confirm that the Teleri might be contacted she...he contacted me." And insight struck Mithadan with a blaze of light. He rushed away from the Undying Lands and through the Gate. Osse spoke as he passed, "Do not come this way again, Child of Man." But he smiled and waved.

Mithadan's barriers crumbled and he crashed heavily to the deck of the crowsnest, soaked in sweat and weary beyond belief.