Back to Falathlorn, after visiting Lindon, I watch a moonless sky where the clouds hide part of the stars drawing a changing sky map..
I need to tell Reiven of my latest findings regarding Daelith’s sword. What Themodir told me about it’s history. The days spent away, with Cirdamir and his friends, helped me elutriate frustration and disappointment from what I feel true in his words.
Was unexpectedly easy to find the history of Daelith’s blade, and it came in a most unexpected flavor. It felt strange to seek this elf I only talked to once, and in that only occasion I was the bearer of the bad news on the fate of his friends. But I expected, based on what I thought to see then, a lot more compassion and understanding for all this, not a cold and wise safe answer. I won an answer and lost a illusion.
The story of the sword is not one of mystery but one of love. No artifact of power coming from the legendary West, or a treacherous gift from one set to stray our kin out of its noble ways as my imagination painted it. But one related to the shared pain and anger of two friends that meant huge to each other, and fate found the cruelest joke to play on them in the end. Themodir told me the blade was made by Darnur, for Daelith, his adopted son. A sister sword to Darnur’s own sword. Swords forged in anger and meant for revenge perhaps? As Themodir told me Darnur’s sword was named Dagnir Apanona. I shivered.
I remembered Darnur I knew, always kind and having a smile to give, a story to tell and a compliment to make, perhaps at times rushed and his strength betraying him to the embarrassment of almost breaking Elrond’s doors of the Hall of Fire when rushing in. I remember how him and Daelith adopted me so naturally in their circle when I was all alone, knowing no one in the new home I promised to wait for Cirdamir who was wandering alone to mourn his brother Caradin. Could Darnur’s heart ever shelter the hatred to cast such a name on his sword? What was the crime that justified such lust for revenge? I believe I guess it and I would not judge him, ever. Each of us can retain his wisdom and tolerance only to a point. And then what can fill the emptiness left behind by the loss of all that one holds dear?
With this in mind it does not seem so absurd Daelith would be so fond of a weapon crafted by Darnur. That Daelith would want to have it again. But is it possible he really talks to Reiven? And is such wish possible to grant? I wished myself that Daelith took another weapon and freed himself of the past. I knew already what Themodir told me: this was the weapon that served Daelith in the dark days of the worst sins of the Noldor and in the end betrayed his so as to kill the one he loved like a father. But Themodir also told me he understands how Daelith survived alone the darkness of Moria if he had that sword by his side. Does the good it did compensate the evil? I always believed a person would win forgiveness if he accomplishes this. Would the same clean a item? Would it bring peace or torment, heal wound of the soul or deepen the tragedy it caused?
Themodir thinks the sword should be destroyed. While intuition and wisdom tell me he is right, that the item is dangerous, I rebel to the idea of destroying it. My feeling tells me the sword would indeed be a dangerous companion on the journey to the West. If it indeed was corrupted by the evil she caused would the West allow it? What would be its fate then? Thrown to the waves so the ship can find its path?.. Still, I feel it is such betrayal to even consider destroying something that meant much to both Daelith and Darnur...
What is the worth of all the caution and wisdom if it leads to betray loyalty and answer trust with the arrogance of deciding for one who won fairly respect, admiration, love? Some paths worth being walked to whatever end..
And then again is not one’s duty to do whatever it takes, against any value or feelings or law, to push doom away from his close ones? Would this betrayal, if done with a clean heart, be forgivable?
May the stars, who have watched upon all the ages, cast their light upon the right path to take..
