The final day of his stay in Imladris had come. The early sunrays started to shed their light in the valley as Armanduil was packing what little possession he had on his horse. He put on a warm tunic with a fur inline covered by a light chain over his arms and torso. A warm blue silken scarf covered his neck and shoulders as he was expecting a lot of cold winds when passing the High Moor. A hooded grey cloak covered his back to shield him from unwanted eyes. He bound his bow and quiver at the side of the horseback, and finally strapped his sheathed sword to his belt.
The stable master Ladrochan approached him "Not your best timing to travel during winter my friend". After almost a year working for Ladrochan, keeper of the horses in Imladris, Armanduil had grown a good bond with him "I rather stayed a few more months here and face the cold than leaving after the summer". Ladrochan grinned "The magic of the vale enchanted you, so you still wish to sail to Valinor?". Armanduil nodded slowly. Ladrochan bowed his head to him, placing his hand on his heart "Then we will not see each other again, Farewell!". Armanduil mounted his horse and raised his hand to Ladrochan once more "Novaer, mellon".
The horse eagerly climbed the steep winding road out of the vale. A strange feeling overwhelmed him when Armanduil overlooked the vale, assuming this was the last time he set his eyes upon it.
A secret road let him to the open plains of the High Moor. Immediately a cold wind started to sting him. Armanduil pulled his hood further over his face and tied the scarf closer around his neck. The horse protested when he was exposed to the sudden chill winds, but obeyed the commands of his rider and started to gallop in southwestern direction. Upon the High Moor lay scattered patches of snow on a rough grassy landscape full of scattered rocks and boulders of various sizes. It was around noon when he started to cross the High Moor, and the horse kept a steady trot. Armanduil steered his horse close to the edges of large boulders staying out of the unforgiving winds as much as possible. During his ride back he seemed rather absent minded, the memories of his life passed before his eyes as if he was back in the days when his father lived. When the memories of his sister passed, feelings of loss, frustration, and sorrow mingled in his chest. Leaving middle earth was bound to the hope of ever finding his missing sister again. He whispered, as though he hoped she could hear him "Nae! Boe annin gwad, goheno nin.." (Alas! It is time for me to leave, forgive me).
After a few cold days of travel his horse slowly descended down to the Bruinen Gorges. The pine forest had a thick layer of snow, and the sunshine twinkled on the snow covered pine trees. Slowly he followed the road further west with a longing to set his eyes on the sea again.
