Wanderer

24 - Cirdan

Earendil

I swing the axe a final time, and curse in annoyance as it splinters in my hands. It serves its purpose, though, because the birch tree shudders a final time and tips crashing to the ground.

I jump back out of habit, even though the tree falls away from me. I wipe my dripping face with the back of my hand. The cloth I’ve tied around my head does little to keep my face dry. I toss the useless axe aside and begin to remove the bark, leaves and branches from the slender, stricken tree. I then leave the trunk resting on the grass and find Círdan.

He’s crouched over a birch tree in the clearing, rubbing it with a plane. I show him my axe.

“Leave it,” he says laconically, barely tilting his head towards his own axe at his side. 

Along the way back to the forest, I come across Aerandir and Faloth, who are helping build the Vingilótë. They have the tree I felled across their shoulders, taking it to Círdan who will prepare them as he wishes. They bow to me as much as they are able, though I know I am no imposing figure, shirtless in the late-June heat and with my hair slicked back with sweat.

I cut down another birch, and another and another. Eventually I fall into a pattern; select tree, cut, saw, cut, saw until it falls, polish and strip it, then find another tree and repeat. My arms burn and I feel the strain in my back. Finally, I can’t swing anymore, so I stumble back to the clearing.

The villagers stand beside a huge pile of trees, all neatly prepared. When they see me, they hurry off the way I came, to retrieve the last tree.

I stand, breathing heavily, and finally Círdan straightens from his work with a groan. He tosses my cloak in my direction. I bury my face in it and wipe my forehead dry.

“Ten trees in two hours!” Círdan says appreciatively. “I’ve never seen anyone so determined or so strong. That was impressive, Earendil.”

“Thank you,” I say, wondering how I am going to stand another three hours of this.

Círdan looks at me with bright black eyes. “I have enough work to keep me busy all afternoon. Tomorrow?”

I just nod.

Círdan smiles, and in seconds is totally engrossed in the tree trunk the villagers have brought. I smile too, finally used to his working habits, and wrap my cloak around my shoulders. I pick up my shirt, long discarded, and head through the woods towards Fair Havens.

I trudge along the worn path through the pristine wood until the trees thin and the ocean comes into view. I can see Elrond and Frond on the beach. Elrond sees me and waves exuberantly. Frond jumps up and down, and both of them dash across the sand towards the house.

Elwing comes out of the house to meet me, followed in hot pursuit by Elrond and Frond. I break into a run and meet her halfway. Elwing doesn’t care that I lack a shirt. She kisses me anyways.

“I missed you!”

“It was only two days,” I say. Círdan, the villagers and I have spent the last two nights in the woods under the stars.

“I suppose.” Elwing leads me into the house. Frond and Elrond stand waiting.

“I’ll come play in a bit, OK?” I say.

And just like that, they’re off.

I sink gratefully into a chair in the cool dimness of the house. Elwing hands me a huge glass of ice water.

“How’s packing going?”

“It’s…well, going. Elrond wants to take way more than he needs to the Capitol and I can’t even get Frond to take that.”

“They probably won’t be coming back to Fair Havens – let them take what they want.”

“And how are you?”

Elwing gazes out the window, then switches her attention to me. “It’s hard. I can’t bring myself to say goodbye to Fair Havens…or El or Frond. I don’t ever want to, but I must. I love you more, but I still have regrets.”

“I’m asking a lot of you…of everyone…”

Elwing nods. “Definitely! Me, Frond and El, Círdan, those villagers, that ship. Alaytar, saint as he is. And especially you.”

“I’m crazy.” I draw on my glass of water.

Elwing smiles. “And you think you’re telling me…Oh Valar, Ëarendil, I know.”

“It’ll never work. Come on. Prove me wrong.”

“It will work.” Elwing touches my arm. “If you’re at the wheel.”