It did not matter that the night sky stood dark against the golden leaves of the mallorn trees, the Lady's garden was filled with light
"I am pleased you have returned to us, Faerlhain." a gentle smile played at the corners of Galadriel's beautiful mouth.
"My lady, I thank you." Fairlain lowered her eyes. She had forgotten the Lady's radiance in the time she was away. The melodious voice spoke again.
"There has been a question in my mind... What do you know of the men of the West?"
Fairlain knitted her brows slightly. "I have heard them spoken of my lady, but beyond that I do not know."
Galadriel inclined her head, her golden hair gleaming in the light-infused air. "Then perhaps I may tell you a little of them, child?"
Fairlain bowed her head humbly. The White Lady continued,
"The kingdom of Númenor was a gift; a resting place given by the Valar to those men who stood with the Firstborn and fought with them against the evil of Morgoth. It was raised up from the Sundering Sea and for a time shone as a beacon for both men and elves. Their first king was Elros, son of Eärendil the mariner and Elwing the Firstborn. These Faithful Ones lived and served side by side with the Eldar, growing in strength and understanding. They were blessed with long life beyond that of most mortal men and wisdom that only the Valar could impart. Yet the hearts of men are vulnerable, and the poison of Morgoth's pride found fertile ground in the heart of a king named Ar-Pharazôn. He challenged the Valar and dared to try and storm the gates of Valinor, seeking to claim immortality for himself. For this arrogance Númenor was cast back into the sea and Ar-Pharazôn and his ships drowned with it. But it was not the end, for not all the men of Númenor were of their king's mind. "
She continued, "Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion, refused to follow the king in his rebellion and escaped in ships with others like them to the land which men now know as Gondor. And it was from Isildur and Anárion that the Dúnedain...the men of the West... of both north and south came to be in this land, still carrying the blessings of the Valar yet hidden away and lost to time and the savagery of the wilds. Even now there are many of these men who ride to the aid of the one that was born their leader. Yet one of these men is in need of aid himself."
The Lady of Light stepped upon a dais that held a shallow bowl of silver. A slender ewer stood beside it. With a graceful motion, Galadriel picked up the ewer and poured a stream of crystalline water into the basin. Stepping back, she glanced at Fairlain and said, "Come closer and look. Tell me what you see."
Fairlain peered into the still water, at first seeing only the reflection of the stars but then focusing upon the figure of a tall man lying upon the ground. He was dressed in brown and green and his hair was grey. His face was badly bruised and he had gathered his legs into himself as if to steel himself against more pain. Fairlain shut her eyes and turned her head away. She had seen such a sight before and it caused the breath to leave her for a moment. She heard the Lady's voice. "Look again."
Fairlain opened her eyes and turned to the watery mirror once more. The man's image was still there, but he was not alone. A shape stood above him a staff held high in its hand. It seemed at once to be a woman and a great carrion beast made of shadow. There were vile blue markings upon her face and arms, and as she began to wave the staff shadow seemed to drip from it forming tendrils that reached out, clawing and tearing at the prone figure. Fairlain stepped back in disgust.
"My lady, what is it?" She asked in a choking voice.
Galadriel's piercing eyes rested on Fairlain's face. "It once was a woman, but she has given herself over to evil so completely that there is no woman left. She is nothing but a shadow of Ungoliant's malice leeching life from both the air and the earth."
Fairlain said nothing, but her face reflected the revulsion she felt. She heard the lady's voice, "I wish this man to be saved and that shadow to be cleansed from the world. I wish to send you." She paused, "It is in you to do these things, Faerlhain. You have been given special understanding of the earth itself and seen the unblemished Light of the One. Will you do this?"
The Lady of Light turned and gazed quietly into her mirror a moment. "They are among the tombs of men on the bare hills of Enedwaith that stand on the border of Dunland. The man of the West will not last much longer through this torment."
"Then I will go to him." said Fairlain
