[Mithadan]

Mithadan sat alone in his cabin with a cup of wine in his hand. On the table before him was the small conch shell and its chain. On this evening, no magical mist emitted from its opening and Ulmo made no appearence -- it was just a shell that he had found many years ago as a child. He toyed with the chain for a moment then pushed it aside. He was weary and worn. Unknown to him, grey hairs had appeared in his raven hair. If he had bothered to look in the mirror, he would have noticed a lost look in his grey eyes. What drew his attention now was a map. A half empty wine bottle stood on the position of the Lonely Star and a line had been drawn connecting it to they Grey Havens with a note written next to it which read "67 miles". A long way for a sloop, but he had travelled far enough already.

A knock came from the door. "Come in," he called. Daisy entered carrying a plate filled with food. She set it down before him, unknowingly covering the scrawled notation on the map.

"You didn't come to lunch," she said quietly. "I thought you might be hungry."

"Thank you Daisy," he replied, his eyes still focused on the map.

"I'm sorry for what I did, Sir," she continued. "I just couldn't bear it. That she is gone I mean."

"I know Daisy," he answered, turning to look at her.

She was silent for a moment, then she put a hand on his arm. "I was being selfish. I know you miss her too. But I put my anger and pain before everyone else. But I wasn't there. I didn't see her. You were there. What were you doing when it happened?"

Mithadan paused for a moment, then spoke quietly. "We had been trying to find a way to rescue some of your people. Then we had tried to find Child and Rose. We wanted at least Rose to return with us. She left before I did and ended up in a battle to save Idril. By the time I reached her, she was gone."

"See," said Daisy tearfully. "Even at the end she was working to help others. She wasn't selfish."

To Daisy's amazement, the Man leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and began to weep bitterly. Unsure what to do, Daisy just stroked his arm gently. After a few minutes, he stopped crying and smiled down at the young Hobbit. "No," he said. "She wasn't selfish. That will be my memory of her and I must do it honour. Thank you Daisy."

She smiled uncertainly, then excused herself. Mithadan sat for a moment, smiling gently. Then he moved the plate aside and scratched out the note on the map and the line to the Havens. He reached for the bottle of wine and poured another cup, raising it in salute before he drank. He looked at the bottle again and noticed that it was no longer half empty. It was now half full. "Thank you Pio," he whispered.