Ropes

Olwë would never, ever forget that moment, not even in the last days before the renewing of Arda.  

The ropes lay in pale, neat coils on the white deck of each ship, the bight ends on top, ready to grasp.  There had been incredulous questions and not-quite-hidden derision from the shipwrights when Olwë had given the directive that ells and ells of hithlain be fashioned.

"Lord Ulmo commands it," he'd replied, and turned to doing his share of the work.

When Manwë's swans caught up the ropes, he laughed with awe and joy—and not a little justification.

(written Nov 3, 2008)