The West Sea Comes

[heget]

 The second sentence from the herald of the fleet that comes unexpectedly out of the West, shining in armor crafted by hands of Power, voice stern and grave, is “Are there any tidings of the sons of Lady Elwing?” The grim Teleri captain standing on the small boat that carried over the herald is unarmed, but the dark promise of vengeance if the wrong answer is given is clear. 

Círdan is relieved when Elros and Elrond stick their heads out from behind Gil-galad, exclaiming in excited, half-wondrous voices, “Mama! Mama really is alive?”

The golden-haired herald smiles.