On The Shores Of Time

Author's Note: This story is still undergoing editing.

We heard him before we saw him.

We were walking by the shore, when we heard his faint song, a song that started softly, but swelled and grew to a joyous crescendo, and suddenly dropped down into regret and remorse.

Then, he turned to face us.

His face was stern, stern and fair, and his grey eyes were almost expressionless, except for a hint of sorrow.

For a moment, none of us could find words.

“Good morrow,” I said finally, voice slightly hoarse.

He said nothing, merely inclined his head gravely and fixed each of us with a penetrating glance that felt almost insulting.

“Why do you sing here, alone by the shore?” asked someone behind me – I could not tell who it was.

I thought that he smiled then, ever so slightly, but it was a fleeting impression and was soon gone.

“Have you not heard the tale of the Silmarils of Fëanor, and the Oath of his sons?”

We all had, but none spoke. Nobody could see how this related to the stranger’s song.

“Surely,” he said then, “You have heard of Maglor, and how he cast the Silmaril into the sea?”

“Legends say that he walks by the shores still,” I murmured. “And he sings in lament of what is now lost.”

The stranger looked briefly at me, and I thought that he nodded slightly.

“But that is Maglor!” Beomann called out from the back. “I was speaking of yourself!”

There was a murmur of appreciative laughter

He definitely smiled that time. I am sure of it.

“I suppose,” he said, one eyebrow quirked and a half-smile on his face, “That you would not believe that they were one and the same person?”

“Nobody believes those old legends,” Beomann replied. “Old maids, perhaps, as they sit beside the fire and gossip, but certainly not grown men like us!”

He looked directly at Beomann. He bowed his head.

“Indeed?” he asked softly.

Then he held up his left hand, and all of us could see that it had been burnt, and was scarred along the side of the palm.

It would remain that way forever.

And then Maglor walked away, tall, straight, and very proud.

THE END