[Mithadan]

Gingerly pulling himself up from the deck, Mithadan smiled weakly at Rose. He shook his head and stood carefully, straightening his rumpled clothes as he climbed to his feet. He looked to the West briefly, then turned back to the young Hobbit. "I'm well, Rose, thank you," he replied. "I had... an errand up here, but I'm done now."

He gratefully accepted Rose's assistance as he climbed from the crowsnest to the deck. In the water, he heard the Mer-Folk cavorting about. He looked forward and noticed that Angara was now awake and examining him closely with golden eyes. "I see your lessons were worthwhile, Mithadan. But after a bit, your mind leaked like a sieve. Well done, nonetheless." Mithadan nodded wearily without replying.

He turned towards the gangway only to find Tule rushing up to the deck. "You fool," he cried angrily. "You could have died! Worse, your fea may have been injured or destroyed! Why did you risk this?"

Mithadan smiled at Tule, then turned to Rose who stood open-mouthed in shock at the Elf's words. "Could you excuse us for a moment, Rose?" He waited while the Hobbit reluctantly walked to the stern of the Lonely Star. Then he gently pulled Tule aside and leaned on the rail.

"One turn deserves another, they say," he commented quietly. Tule's face turned red and he opened his mouth as if to shout again at the man. Mithadan spoke before the Elf could begin. "Quiet now," he said softly. "I have a splitting headache." He took a deep breath and looked up at the stars. Tule thought he perceived a new light in the Man's eyes.

"We were lost," he resumed. "We have floundered here for days, fighting, arguing and going off on our own without thought for each other; and you are not the only one Tule. We were no longer acting together or even as friends. The events of the past few weeks have shattered us to the point where we could no longer even work together, and in the endeavor that we undertake, that means death, not only to us but also to the Hobbits and maybe Middle Earth."

He took a deep breath before going on and watched Tule's face seeing reluctant agreement there. "I am a ship's captain. Its my role in life. And whether or not I command this vessel, I nonetheless feel responsible for all aboard. I could not let this continue. So, yes, I risked myself, and say not that I knew nothing of what I did. I know only too well the lessons of Numenor. I looked for help, inspiration, advice, for it was needed, and I proved up to the task. As we were functioning, my loss would have had little effect. Perhaps it would have woken everyone from whatever spell has taken us all."

He paused again, looking at Tule for disagreement, but the Elf remained silent. "And I found what I looked for," he continued. "Not in Avallone or Valinor, but right here. We need ourselves. We need each other, with all our petty disagreements and differences. And Tule, we do not need you..." He looked the Elf straight in the eyes without wavering and reached out a hand to his shoulder. "We do not need Tule, but we do need Piosenniel. May we have her back now? Please?"