and they are reluctant to end.'
'And who is the more fortunate, I wonder? Their experience of life is brief, but is it not more intense for that? These Atani die quickly, but they also live quickly. They move and change more easily than do we. They have not our ancient wisdom, but they are clever and adaptable. They bear children when they are little more than children themselves, still in their tweens or even teens. Their numbers are constantly growing, while ours do not. And when we take the Straight Road and leave the circles of the world, they shall remain.'
Amroth thought about this for a while. 'I wonder what will come of the world when we Quendi have all sailed away and the world will be ruled by Men?'
'Only Eru knows that,' Cirdan answered, 'but for my part I think it will be a sadder and less fair place when the lore and the arts and the music of the Elves has passed from the world. I am glad I will not be here to see it. But for now, the Atani are loyal and valuable allies against the Enemy. They are our only hope of casting down Sauron, as should have been done when his master was expelled forever from the circles of the world.'
Then they were approaching the gate and they turned their attention to the city. The gates were thrown open and they rode in to the cheers of the people of Osgiliath, for they had seen the Elves among the Pelargrim and knew what that signified.
Barathor led them through the city to the stairs of the great hall where the king dwelt. Isildur himself came down to meet them. He looked from Cirdan to Barathor's beaming face.
'My Lord Cirdan,' he said. 'What news of Pelargir?'
'We arrived but a few hours after the siege began,' replied Cirdan. 'Eru saw fit to give us the victory. The Corsairs are defeated and the city is safe. We left our people there and hurried to Osgiliath with all speed, for we knew Barathor had been summoned. I feared the alliance would be dissolved.'
'Welcome news at last,' said Isildur, standing up straighter and a smile lighting his face. 'Welcome, Lords, to Osgiliath. Our undying thanks to you for your aid in our darkest hour.'
'We know not how dark our hours may yet become, Isildur. We have won a battle, but the war is yet to be decided.'
'True that is, but still we are much heartened that Pelargir is saved. And we are most happy to have our friend Barathor and his brave men with us again.'
Isildur and Barathor clasped arms. Amroth stood looking on, smiling at the relief in every face. Then a tall figure came down the stairs behind Isildur, and to Amroth's surprise he recognized a friend.
'Elrond Peredhil!' he cried. 'Are you here as well?' He looked at Amroth and smiled.
'Is that Lord Amroth?' he called.
'It is, and a changed Elf you find me, for I have sailed upon the Sea and my heart is moved.'
'The Sea is always dangerous to the Noldor,' said Elrond. 'Welcome to Osgiliath. You will find many here that you know, some even from your homeland. There are a number of Sindar among us.' He bowed to Cirdan.
'And welcome to you, Lord Cirdan. It would seem you had an eventful voyage.'
'So we did. It is good to see you again, Elrond. I last saw you marching from Lindon in Gil-galad's host, ten sun-rounds ago.'
'Aye,' he said. 'Much has been accomplished since that day, but not all that we had hoped.'
'I see we will have many tales to exchange,' said Isildur. 'Now come into my hall, if you please, Lords, and we shall endeavor to make you feel welcome.' And he led them up the broad stairs to his hall.
'This is a wondrous fair city, Isildur,' Amroth said. 'We marvelled much when we first saw it. The towers seem to scrape the sky.'
'There are more wonders within,' said Elrond. 'You have yet to see the Dome of Stars. I have never seen a more beautiful hall. You would think you were in Eldamar.'
'Such a sight I would gladly see,' said Amroth, but Barathor took his leave, saying he wished to deliver the glad tidings himself to those of his people who had remained in Osgiliath.
'Farewell, Lords of the Firstborn,' he called. 'And to you and all your folk goes the honor and praise of a grateful people. You will not be forgotten while Pelargir stands upon its hill.'
'Your thanks are not necessary, Lord Barathor,' said Cirdan. 'Your enemies are ours. For are we not allies in a common cause? Your steadfast courage is known even in far-off Lindon, and we know you would come to our aid at need. And indeed you may get many opportunities in the days to come.'
'Farewell, Barathor,' said Isildur. 'And the council will be in the Dome of Stars at the second hour tomorrow.'
'I shall be there, you may be sure. Farewell, my king.' And Barathor led his men back to the fields near the southern gate where they had decamped but a few hours before.
Isildur showed the others into his hall, and there they were met by Celeborn and Galadriel, both dressed all in white. Celeborn wore a simple circlet of mithril about his brow, and the Lady had a garland of blossoms twined in her hair. She smiled at sight of them and came forward with open arms.
'Welcome, cousins,' she said in her melodious voice. 'Elen sila lumenn omentilmo.'
Lord Cirdan bowed deeply. 'Surely, lovely Lady,' he said, 'a star does indeed shine on our meeting. I am heartened to see you and your people here in our common need. It has been many yen since last we met.'
'So it has, Shipwright,' said Celeborn. 'We none of us travel so much as we were once wont, since these evil days have come upon the world. May all soon be again as it once was.'
'And Amroth,' said Galadriel to the Sindarin lord, 'our neighbor of old. Long have you been away from the Golden Wood.'
'Yes, Lady,' he replied, 'I have travelled much since I left my home in Lothlorien, and I have seen much of the world — some that was fair and some that was horrible to look upon.'
'There is something fair in the Golden Wood that pines for a sight of you, Amroth,' said Galadriel with a smile.
Amroth flushed. 'How is my Nimrodel?' he asked.
'Lovelier than ever,' said Celeborn, 'and when any traveller comes to the Wood she asks for news of you.'
'I would that I could come unto her again, but this war sends me ever hither and yon. I shall not return to Cerin Amroth until either Sauron is defeated or I lay slain.'
'Let us pray it is the former,' said Celeborn, 'and not long delayed. Too long has that spawn of Melkor defiled the land. We too are come here to Osgiliath to see this through to the end.'
'And I,' said Cirdan.
'And so for all of us,' said Isildur. 'But that is for tomorrow. For tonight let us rest and take food and wine and such comforts as I can offer you.'
'Yes, certainly,' said Amroth. 'But first let us see this famous chamber that Elrond praises so highly.'
Isildur led them through several wide passages until he came to a pair of great oaken doors that stretched nearly to the high vaulted roof. He set his hand to one of the doors and it swung back silently and effortlessly. They entered the Dome of Stars and stopped, struck by the beauty around them.
They stood in silence, heads craned back, slowly turning about to view the entire sky.
'Look there,' Amroth said, pointing. 'There is Menelvagor the Swordsman with his belt. How the Pommel Star shines in his upraised hand. It must be a great ruby.'
'And there above him the netted Remmirath,' exclaimed Cirdan. 'Isildur, I have gazed at the stars a thousand thousand nights, but they have never appeared more fair than this. Their beauty rivals nature's.'
'It is my father's design,' Isildur smiled. 'He built it to honor the stars for guiding us safely back to Middle- earth after the downfall of Numenor. The stars are as they were when seen from the peak of Meneltarma in the midst of Numenor.'
'This is a great treasure, Isildur,' said Cirdan.
'Other treasures the Gondorrim have in this hall,' said Celeborn. 'Isildur showed us the great master palantir of Feanor.'
'That is rumored to be among the greatest of all the works made by the Elves in the Elder Days,' said Cirdan. 'Would it be permitted to view it?'
'Of course,' bowed Isildur. 'I have it in my inner sanctum. And perhaps that would be a safer place to discuss other matters close to our hearts.'
