Cirdamir reminded me a legend I read as a child. The story of Gurthang. So many similarities.. but is this an age for such powerful artefacts to manifest their good or evil power? Would the sword of a random Noldor soldier possess such spell? I was wandering Duillond when I saw Reiven again. Likely or not if Cirdamir saw such similarities I should warn her.
I was greeting her and trying to evaluate her state of mind and mood when both Cirdamir and Teremonth joined us. In few words we decided is no point hiding all this from those who love us and found a quiet place to tell the whole story, as Teremonth knew little of the story of Daelith.
I frowned when, once out of the sight all passer by, Reiven unsheathed the sword at her waist and I saw my advice was to no avail. There it was. After Losgar, and Doriath, and a grim night when it broke the peace of Imladris, the sword was worn again. And looked smaller! Even was only me that seemed to notice that.
Cirdamir told again the story of Gurthang. The black sword made by Eol, said to have singed when it killed the servants of the enemy, and treacherous when Turin accidentally slew with it Beleg, not recognizing his best friend, with his own sword. Reiven sighed 'Like it did happen with Darnur'. And then even reforged it kept its dark will and is said to have answered Turin in the dark moment he took his own life with it ‘I will gladly drink your blood’
Teremonth frowned as he was hearing the story and suggested a solution. Was he who will take the sword and hide it. He knew little of its past and it had no meaning for him. His only motivation was to know Reiven safe from it. The sword would not tempt him in the slightest. Cirdamir and Teremonth would have gladly see it destroyed or put on the bottom of the Sea out of anyone’s reach but Reiven and I hesitated. What if our friend somehow really needed his sword? Were we to answer such a wish from beyond grave and betray trust so?
Teremonth left with the weapon and warned us he will tell no one of its hiding place and me and Cirdamir agreed it is for the best, while Reiven sighed 'If it again not calls me..' with a sad and worried look to Teremonth. Cirdamir answered calmly 'If it does... then we will *know* that something is indeed very wrong with this weapon. We are all in the same boat, Reiven. We were all there with him, together... We should keep it that way, until we can solve this.'
We looked at eachother. All involved in it all, strange dreams, failed actions to save Daelith and with still a role to play in this puzzle. For a puzzle it is. Something follows the Vanimarians like a dark spell. A man killed a elf in their very Sanctuary. And tricked heavy guarding to do more evil. Twice. And a elf who knew his sword from 3 ages killed his father aiming at this man. With this sword. And guilt almost transformed him in a tool of evil, and any sword of eldar make would burn his hands as the blessed water of Imladris was burning his skin. Except this sword. And he could surpass the dark fate that was overwhelming him when Veryacano threw it away under the icy water of the blessed fall. And now the sword returned.
Cirdamir mutters to himself 'I do not get *any* of this... it is a massive puzzle with clues made of blood, weapons, masks and death to the left and the right...' And I find myself answering 'But everything that surrounds Vanimar seems taken from the stories of old..'
~~~
Note: Another unexpected piece in the puzzle: Cirdamir said , while re-telling the story of that day, that he threw his dagger, the one Daelith used to end his life, in the cave where it all happened and he assumed it remained there. But both me and Reiven know well there is no weapon there. Only a stain of blood time did not wash, nor did tears…
