25

Chapter Text

6 months later

When Jon, Loras, and Robar had decided to undertake their journey to Middle Earth, they hoped for untold riches and great battles, tests of their courage; they knew that their new life there would not be easy ... But they certainly did not expect to be "tested " in such ways.

During the last months, the three knights and their companions had been instructed by the elves on various subjects, from lore, healing, and of course navigation, but for the ladies, they had also received classes in the art of weaving (to the despair of Rhaenys ) since according to Cirdan all the sails on the ships that Jon and the others have seen were made by the sailors' wives.

The one in charge of teaching them was an elven noble named Aveneri, one of the few Noldor who lived in the Gray Havens and who was said to have been an apprentice to Miriel Serindë, the first wife of King Finwë; she was a demanding teacher, but her talent was incomparable, the best weaver In Middle Earth, many elves came to learn from her, the ladies of Westeros really did their part to learn how to weave like the elves, Queen Rhaella and Lady Ashara being the only ones who really seemed to have great talent. However, Arianne Daenerys and Shiera weren't bad at it and had a particular ability, but in Princess Rhaenys' case, it was like seeing Arya in Septa Mordaine's classes again, much to Jon's amusement.

For Jon, Robar, and Loras, there were shipbuilding and navigation classes, and since this city was built mostly by Teleri elves, there was no doubt that they were true masters of this art; not even the Ironborn could compete with the knowledge of the Teleri in the domain of navigation.

But the most incredible thing was that Cirdan had stepped in to instruct them on the arts of the Elves, they must have suspected Something from the beginning, all the elves wanted the honor of teaching the "envoys of the Valar" but they hardly listened that it would be Cirdan himself who would teach them the "arts of the Teleri" their smiles changed, they were empty and their eyes expressed compassion ... And Jon and his friends did not take long to find out why, Cirdan was an extremely tough teacher, demanding and not He accepted any kind of excuse, and he expected from them nothing less than absolute perfection, however he was also patient and understanding since he understood that as mortals Jon, Loras and Robar would find it difficult to learn like the elves and despite everything Cirdan was an excellent teacher ... In the short time that Jon and the others had been under his tutelage they were sure that they had already become the best sailors that Westeros, Essos and Sothoryos had ever seen.

"Damn you, Jon, why in the seven hells did we follow you here?" Said a sore and exhausted Loras, who was carving a piece of wood with his face drenched in sweat.

"I didn't know it would be like this ... I'm sorry," answered a breathless Jon, who was sanding the mast of the ship.

"Stop complaining, or I'll throw you both into the fucking bay," replied Robar, who was sawing wood.

For months, the three of them had been learning everything about boat building, and at the beginning of the last month, Cirdan decided to put them to the test ... They had to build their own boat; at this moment, they were finishing the deck.

The abominable task had had them working non-stop for the past month; if it weren't for their newfound love of the sea and their respect for their master ... They Most likely they would have given up by now.

But although shipbuilding was laborious, it was not the most complicated thing they learned in the Gray Havens that infamous honor went to the language classes, Quenya and Sindarin, the languages of the elves, the Quenya invented by the elves who live in Valinor and used by the Valar themselves as well as improved by Fëanor. Simultaneously, Sindarin was the language of the elves who did not go to Valinor and instead dwelt in Beleriand under the command of Elu Thingol and Melian la Maia during the First Age.

The two languages have an interesting but conflicting history, which all Westeros travelers quickly realized; their language teachers told them that when King Thingol discovered the slaughter of Alqualondë by Fëanor and his host, he banned Quenya in his entire kingdom (which was all Beleriand) as long as he lived for it, no Sindar spoke Quenya nor did he have to respond to the language when it was spoken, that forced the Noldor to learn Sindarin to communicate.

The three warriors were continuing their work until they heard a familiar voice.

"JON!" Hearing the voice of his beloved Arianne, Jon left his work and turned his gaze to the shore where he could see Arianne with Lady Ashara, both of whom were amused to see Jon, Loras, and Robar work tirelessly, but each carried some food baskets.

"Shouldn't you be weaving, my ladies?" Robar asked, clearly annoyed at being interrupted.

"Unlike you, Ser, we already finished our lesson, and knowledge of your great efforts, we decided to bring you some food," Ashara said, arching an eyebrow.

Hearing the word "food," the three knights practically jumped from their ship under construction and snatched the food baskets from the ladies and, forgetting their manners, began to devour what was inside.

Seeing the grotesque sight, both Arianne and Ashara took a step back in horror.

"Lord Cirdan must treat them worse than our teacher Aveneri treats us," Arianne said, surprised at Jon's voracity.

"He's a great teacher, but he's very demanding," Jon said, finishing a sandwich.

"He has us working all day, our muscles ache ... But we learn important things," Robar said.

"Yes, I assure you that there will never be sailors in Westeros better than us," Loras said.

"Sure, if one day we return, you can teach the Ironborn of Elven shipbuilding," Arianne said with amusement.

"Of course, Princess Arianne," Loras replied apparently without noticing the sarcasm of the Dornish Princess as Jon, Robar, and Ashara shook their heads.

... Fool ... It was everyone's thought.

"By the way, Lady Ashara, how is Shiera?" Jon asked, concerned about the pretty Targaryen bastard.

"She's doing better even though the discovery was a great shock," Ashara replied with pity.

"I don't blame her, discovering the fall of Númenor ... That destroyed her dream," Jon said sadly.

"For more than a century, She tried to find the island of her kindred ... And when it finally looked like she was going to do it ... It's not fair," Ashara said, clenching her fists.

It was there that everyone remembered that night.

FLASHBACK

A month had passed since their arrival in the Gray Havens. They had all quickly adapted to the elven lifestyle; as Cirdan had warned them, many elves treated them with reverence and were eager to teach them or answer any questions about Middle Earth; they had fallen into a routine, mornings were spent learning Elvish languages, and in the evening Jon, Loras, and Robar were learning of shipbuilding, and the ladies learned to knit as elven women and no longer turned to look up into the night and only when it was time for dinner.

That night they were all dining in the main dining room of the White Tower, which was what they called the residence of Cirdan; the dishes were all dishes that are used to eat in the sea, seasoned fish, various roasted mollusks, and a soup with pieces of crab ... All exquisite, whoever prepared the food could well cook for a king ... Everyone was having dinner quietly that was when Ashara Dayne noticed the drawing of a beautiful white boat that was flying over some swans.

"Jon ... Has Lord Cirdan ever told you about this ship?" The Dornish lady asked curiously.

Jon, who was so exhausted that he could barely lift his cutlery to eat, managed to see the painting of the ship, and although he had seen the painting many times, he never asked Cirdan about it, so he could not answer.

"I'm afraid not, my lady ... Lord Cirdan has never told me anything about that ship."

"But it will surely be important .." Ashara insisted.

"It is ..." Cirdan's voice surprised Jon and Ashara, who turned their gaze to the old elf who was looking at them with a smile.

"Lord Cirdan," said Queen Rhaella rising from the table as a sign of respect, and everyone followed her example.

"I hope you enjoy your dinner ..." He said as he smiled to see Jon, Loras, and Robar so tired from sawing wood that they could barely stand.

"Excuse me, my Lord ... I was just curious about the painting of that ship," Ashara apologized.

Cirdan took his place at the table, and the others sat after him, seeing his painting, Cirdan's eyes filled with nostalgia, and he turned his gaze to his guests.

"I painted that many years ago ... Before the sun and the moon rose, Just after Morgoth was sentenced to three ages in the Halls of Command," He calmly told his guests, who were surprised to know that their host was really ... Ancient.

"That was centuries ago," Arianne said, trying to recover from shock as she realized that Cirdan has lived longer than men have been in the world.

"Yes, it is true, I was only a child when Lord Orome, the Great Hunter of the Valar, appeared and won the friendship of my people, in those distant times we lived in the Far East, I remember the night that Ingwë. Finwë and Elwë were chosen as ambassadors, and when they returned to us telling us about the wonders of the Blessed Kingdom and the beauty of the Two Trees, we chose them as our kings and began our march; my heart burned with the desire to see such beauty with my own eyes, but My people, the Teleri, were the most reluctant to leave, in the end, the majority accepted and after a few years of following a stormy road we reached Beleriand."

"And King Elwë was lost," Princess Rhaenys recalled aloud.

"Yes, despite my desire to live in Valinor, my loyalty to my king prevented me from continuing; when my king was finally found married to Lady Melian, I decided to continue on my way, but it was too late, and all my relatives had departed," He said the old man sadly and everyone was moved by his story.

"I'm sorry to have reminded you of these sad memories Lord Cirdan," Ashara said remorsefully, but Cirdan smiled at him gently.

"Not at all; it has been so long since I thought about these memories that I thought I had lost them. ... After overcoming my disappointment, I tried to reach my relatives by perfecting my ability to build ships, and after a few months, I thought I had created the one that would take me to Aman. Still, at that moment, a message came to my heart from the Valar, who warned me that my ship could not withstand the journey, nor could any ship built in the coming years, but that if I was patient, my skill would get better and better. My works would be remembered for many ages and remembered in innumerable songs from that moment on I submitted to the desire of the Valar and accepted their request, it was there that I had a vision of a ship ... Of that ship in fact ... Although in the last years of the Elder Days was when I finally built them ... The name of the ship is Vingilótë ... It is Eärendil's ship," Cirdan said without losing sight of Jon's reaction.

A sound of surprise was heard from the mouths of the Westerosi as they never imagined that their host would create the white ship that crosses the skies.

"Did you build Eärendil's ship?" Jon said, his eyes wide in amazement.

"We built it together; I knew Eärendil since he was a child when his parents Tuor and Idril left him in my charge and just like you and your friends are my apprentices. He was also my apprentice, and I taught him everything I knew about navigation ... Oh, I remember that Elwing sometimes badgered me because her husband was obsessed with the sea ... And I could only agree with him, "Said the noble elf, remembering with fun those moments with his former proteges, such memories they made him shed tears of longing at the thought of how much he missed them both but knew he would see them again, even if he had to wait for a few more ages.

While Cirdan was lost in his memories, Westeros' travelers did not recover from the shock of knowing the lofty bloodline of their host, and at that moment, Jon, Loras, and Robar shared the same look ... The three thought the same; they would put more effort into his lessons so as not to embarrass Cirdan, no matter how difficult they were.

At that moment, Shiera Seastar decided to ask Cirdan for a favor, one she had long wanted.

"Excuse me, Lord Cirdan, I would like to ask you something" Shiera's words made Cirdan's heart shrink because he already knew what she would ask for, and although he had avoided this conversation, he no longer had any choice. He should tell Shiera the truth no matter how painful it may be.

"I know what you are going to ask of me ... But I cannot fulfill your request" The old elf's words surprised everyone.

"But why?" Shiera asked, confused.

"Because Númenor no longer exists," Cirdan said with genuine sadness.

For a few moments, the dining room was silent, and no one said anything, and the old elf sighed.

"How?" Shiera asked in shock.

"Do you know of Numenor's origin?" Cirdan asked, to which Shiera replied, "No."

"The island of Númenor was created by the Valar as a gift to the Edain at the end of the wars against Morgoth after the War of Wrath," Jon said, remembering the Summerhall book. That caused all the ladies to look at him with curiosity as Jon never told them that. But before they said anything, Cirdan raised his voice.

"Yes, the origins of the kingdom of Númenor go back to the time when Morgoth was defeated in the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age. The devastation caused by the conflict in Middle-earth caused Beleriand to sink under the waters, and the Elves who remained in Middle-earth fled east and founded the kingdom of Eriador while others returned to Amman as the Valar decided. Lift its ban. Men could not go to the Blessed Realm, but the Valar, in an attempt to reward the Edain for their bravery and amend their abandonment to them since their awakening, granted them new land to live in; Elenna Island. He was between Amman and Middle earth: he did not belong to either, but he was closer to Amman. Osse a Maia in the service of Ulmo raised her from the depths of the sea; she was also strengthened by Aulë and enriched by Yavanna. The Elves of Amman who lived on the island of Tol Eressëa also assisted in its preparation, and the result was a wealth that exceeded even Valar's original intention so much that they called it "Andor," "The Land of the Gift." Once it was all over, the Star of Eärendil shone in the West to guide the Edain on the long journey to their new home, reaching Elenna in the thirty-second year of the second age, the year the kingdom of Númenor was founded. "

Everyone listened, intrigued by Cirdan's tale, but Queen Rhaella, Shiera Seastar, Princess Rhaenys, and Jon realized that there was sadness in his voice.

"Their first king was Elros the son of Eärendil"

"Elros?" Shiera asked excitedly, and Cirdan nodded.

"He and his twin brother Elrond as well as his parents who were given the option to choose which lineage of the Children of Ilúvatar they wanted to belong to, Elrond chose to be counted among the elves and at this time he lives in Lindon as second in command of King Gil Galad, but his brother Elros chose the mortal destiny of men, to live a brief time in the world before abandoning it."

"Why did he reject immortality?" Asked Princess Arianne in surprise.

"Elros always felt more attached to the people of his grandfather Tuor, but really only he knew why he made that decision ... However, due to the blood of Lúthien, Idril and Nimloth in his veins, Elros was blessed with an extremely long life even for a Numenorean ... He came to live 500 years," Cirdan said with satisfaction as he contemplated the expression of his guests when they learned the story.

"500 years?" Loras repeated, hardly believing it.

"Yes, partly because of this and because of his lineage, the title of Elros as king of Númenor was Tar-Minyatur, which means ..."

"The first and highest in Quenya," Daenerys replied sheepishly.

"Correct, I'm glad you pay attention to your lessons," Cirdan said, congratulating the Targaryen princess, causing her to blush for her praise while Rhaella complimented her daughter on her command of Quenya.

"What happened to the others?" A still shocked Shiera asked.

"Also all the Edain who went to live in Númenor were granted a long life, compared to the other men about 5 times as long, but they were forbidden to travel west and see the blessed kingdom, a decision in which many elves including me did not we agreed because we wanted equal treatment for both races."

"Lord Ulmo also stressed that prohibition to us, but why?" Jon asked.

"I really don't know, the Valar ... They have never given a forceful answer to that question ... But ... It's the same, the Númenóreans at first didn't care about that prohibition, and over time they became right-handed. Sailors... In fact, the Númenóreans were the only people among men who could compete with the elves in art, war, shipbuilding, and navigation; they traveled all the lands of this world except of course those of the West, but after many centuries of sailing the Númenóreans began to resent that prohibition and the friendship that our peoples cultivated over centuries began to deteriorate "Cirdan said with melancholy while the others began to feel a knot in their stomach.

"The Numenoreans did Something wrong… Right?" Ashara Dayne asked, looking at her lover Shiera with concern.

"Insane ... It is a more appropriate term ... During the reign of the 18th king Tar-Calmacil he rejected the tradition of taking a title of King in the Quenya language and took the Adûnaic name of Ar-Belzagar, and from hence the repudiation and disdain of the Númenorans for my people and the Valar increased every day until reaching the 20th King of Númenor Ar-Adûnakhôr who forbade the use of Quenya and Sindarin in Númenor, "Cirdan said.

"But why if both peoples had cultivated a great friendship?" Shiera asked, becoming more and more nervous, losing her composure.

"Shiera ..." Ashara started to say, but Cirdan silenced her with a gesture.

"Because they began to fear death excessively" It was the response of the old elf that brought everyone the memory of the story of Beren and Lúthien and how they had heard that death is "The gift of men."

"Did the fear of death lead them to madness?" Loras asked, confused.

"Yes, they began to envy the immortality of my people, and in a short time, the long life that they were granted by the grace of the Valar was not enough since they wanted to live forever and enjoy their possessions forever ... But that was contrary to the will of Eru because he did not create your people to be immortal, and that led the Númenóreans to resent the so-called "Gift of men ... Death," The elf replied.

"Why is death called a gift?" Princess Rhaenys asked without understanding anything.

"I'm afraid explaining that will take us too far off-topic, so we'll have to leave that question for another time ... All you have to understand is that the Numenoreans' fear of death peaked during the reign of Ar- Pharazôn, the last king of Númenor, the most powerful of all and the proudest "This time the voice of the elf had not only sadness but also disappointment."

... I don't like this ... Jon said, looking at Shiera, who was getting more and more nervous.

"A little over six years ago, Ar-Pharazôn accomplished an incredible feat ... The greatest feat accomplished by a mortal," Cirdan said with slight admiration in his voice.

"What feat?" Shiera asked excitedly.

"Sauron, Morgoth's lieutenant in the First Age, decided to rise on his own and achieve his master's goal ... Conquer Middle-earth."

Surprise was present on the faces of Westerosi.

"It was approximately 500 years after the War of Wrath, Sauron emerged in the East and believing that the Valar had forgotten Middle-earth and those who dwelt there. He began marshalling all evil, hoping to emulate the host of his master. It was in the far East he was worshiped as a god of men by those who did not journey West, he spent the next centuries amassing a great army before venturing to the land of Mordor, the easternmost of the Lands near the West, there he unified his hosts and built a feared fortress called Barad-dûr from where he planned his conquest."

Cirdan observed his guests and checking to see if their interest had waned; he sighed and continued with his story.

"Sauron has always known that men were far easier to manipulate especially in regards to wealth and power, but still he tried to tempt the elves into servitude since we are longer lived and wiser than men, "Cirdan said with some shyness as Westerosi rolled their eyes.

"Yes, I expected that reaction, well ... Sauron changed his form and took on a fair visage and called himself Annatar, the" Lord of gifts "a Maia in Aule's service. But some of the Elves among whom I include myself did not trust him; others were King Gil-galad and Elrond, in that fair form he offered to instruct us in the knowledge of the Ainur to preserve the beauty of Middle-earth, but he was rejected in Lindon and here in the Gray Havens ... Yet he befriended the elven smiths of the Eregion, including Celebrimbor lord of Ost Edhil and kindred to Fëanor he was the greatest smith among the Noldor, the great smith welcomed him with open arms and thus Annatar instructed them in the ways of metalworking and runes."

"But being who he was, his intentions couldn't be good," Robar replied. And Cirdan's face turned to steel.

"No ... Under the supervision of Sauron, Celebrimbor created his masterpiece ..." The Rings of Power "that like the Silmarils in the First Age, these rings have brought great bloodshed ... Due to our rejection of him, Sauron only participated in the creation of sixteen rings, seven for the Dwarf Lords in stone halls and 9 for the kings of men doomed to die ... After completing his work, Sauron returned to Mordor where he secretly forged a master ring to rule the lesser rings and the wills of their bearers ... That Ring is known as " The One Ring. "

At that moment, Jon's eyes widened in surprise as he remembered Ulmo's words about his red Ring... It was forged by Celebrimbor.

Seeing Jon Cirdan's reaction, he was pleased by her sharpness as I guess Jon understood what he was subtly trying to tell him.

"You're sharp, Jon ... Alright ... Do you understand?"

"Yeah ... I think so," Jon said without a voice.

"Jon?" Arianne asked, worried when she saw her white wolf with such a sour expression. And it was not the only Ashara; Queen Rhaella and Daenerys also worried about Jon's expression.

"Narya, the ring that Lord Ulmo gave me ... You were there, you must remember it ... This ring was forged by Celebrimbor," Jon said, looking at the face of a surprised Arianne.

"That means that ring was also forged by Sauron," Guess Shiera.

"No, child .. . After returning to Mordor, Sauron believed that there were only sixteen rings of power, but he underestimated Celebrimbor ability, and he forged three more rings, three rings for the elven kings under the sky those rings were Narya, Nenya and Vilya, the rings of fire, water and Air respectively, those rings were created solely by Celebrimbor, and therefore they were free from the stain of Sauron "Cirdan explained.

"Why were these rings of power special?" Rob asked.

"The rings given to men and dwarves have the power of sorcery as they grant their bearers powerful magical abilities, become invisible and gave them the ability to influence the will of people ... And the ability to extend their lives beyond their natural limits, but elven rings are different."

"In what sense?" Rhaenys asked.

"Elves value the beauty of this world more than anything else ... For us to see the world around us change while we always remain the same is the cause of many sorrows ... In many ways, elves, at least those of my age. .. We envy the "Gift of Men," Cirdan said with a slight smile on his face.

... He envies death ... How long has he lived or what things have he seen to think like this ...? Although as he described it, immortality seems to be exhausting ... Jon thought calmly.

"And that is the power of the elven rings, they can preserve the beauty of the world and make it ... Immaculate, saving us the pain of seeing things around us change and wither away."

At that moment, Cirdan called a maid who was quietly watching us and listening to everything and asked her to come to his study for Something, the maid nodded, and after several minutes she returned with a dusty tome. With a gesture all Westerosi They approached Círdan, and he showed them drawings of finely created rings, a group of nine, one of seven and another of three, the last being the most beautiful of all encrusted with fine jewels and instantly everyone recognized the Ring of fire.

"Narya," Jon said, pulling out the Ring.

"Yes, the rings for the elves that Celebrimbor created ... The most beautiful and might of the rings forged ... Except for one," Cirdan said, turning the page and showing a simple gold ring with some strange inscriptions.

"This is the One Ring forged by Sauron in the Land of Mordor."

"What do those marks mean?" Queen Rhaella asked curiously.

"That is the black speech of Mordor, the language invented by Sauron and spoken by his servants, I will not pronounce those vile words here, but in the common tongue it says:

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness, bind them.

"

The strange phrase filled everyone with a mysterious horror, and Cirdan closed the book staring at Jon.

"Ten years after the creation of the Rings of Power of men and dwarves, Sauron created the One Ring to control the bearers of the other Rings ... It was there that he discovered that Celebrimbor had created other rings without his knowledge."

"Something tells me he wasn't too please," Jon replied.

"No, as soon as he put on the One Ring, we realized his betrayal, and the elves quickly took off the rings that prevented him from enslaving us since although these three rings were created only by Celebrimbor, their forging involved some of the arts taught by Sauron. Therefore, they too are linked to the One Ring, and their bearers are susceptible to its influence, which is why we refuse to hand them over ... As a result, ... His wroth was terrible; Sauron sent emissaries demanding that we return all the rings of power, including the last three arguing that as they were created thanks to his knowledge, they were his by right ... But we refused, and Sauron declared war on us, devastated the region of Eregion, and seized the rings of men and dwarves."

"But not from the elves?" Arianne asked.

"No, Celebrimbor had taken them out of the city first and handed them over to King Gil-galad for safekeeping, a wise decision but unfortunately it did not save Celebrimbor from Sauron's wraith robbed of his prize he decided to make an example out of Celebrimbor, Sauron mutilated the corpse of the great smith and used his corpse as a battle standard, "Cirdan said, shedding a tear as he remembered the fate of his companion.

A groan of horror came from Daenerys' mouth. She clutched her heart in terror and was comforted by her mother while the others felt great sadness.

"I will speak no more of the war against Sauron because it had nothing to do with Shiera's question; I know that I have deviated from the history of Númenor, but I did it so as it was Sauron who played a role in the destruction of Numenor, "Cirdan said looking at Shiera who again became nervous.

"What happened next?" Queen Rhaella asked.

"As soon as he recovered the rings of men and dwarves, Sauron gave them to greatest kings of men and the fathers of the dwarves, the former he attracted with promises of power and immortality and the latter with great riches."

"And did they believe him?" Daenerys asked, shocked to which Cirdan nodded.

"Sauron can be very ... Persuasive ... And he knows how to take advantage of anyone's weaknesses to achieve his goals ... In the case of the dwarves it was their desire for great riches, in the case of men the fear of death."

"Again, the fear of death?" Loras asked.

"I already told you that death is Ilúvatar's gift to men, it is not up to anyone but him to remove it ..."Men proved easier to ensnare. Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth, yet it turned to their undoing. They had, as it seemed, unending life, yet life became unendurable to them. They could walk, if they would, unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the sun, and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal men; but too often they beheld only the phantoms and delusions of Sauron. And one by one, sooner or later, according to their native strength and to the good or evil of their wills in the beginning, they fell under the thraldom of the ring that they bore and under the domination of the One, which was Sauron's. And they became for ever invisible save to him that wore the Ruling Ring, and they entered into the realm of shadows. The Nazgûl were they, the Ringwraiths, the Enemy's most terrible servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death. Cirdan said with great sorrow.

Hearing the fate of those kings of men, all Westeros travelers were horrified by Sauron's cruelty and malice.

"That was Sauron's purpose from the beginning ... right?" Jon asked, and Cirdan nodded.

The mere name of those creatures seemed to take away the light and heat from the dining room, Cirdan reopened his book and this time showed an image of 9 dark, tall and hooded figures wielding swords.

"Are those the Nazgul?" Ashara asked.

"Yes, at least as we perceive them, their true forms can only be seen by those who wear a ring of power," The old elf replied, and Jon looked at his Ring.

"And what happened to the dwarves?" Arianne asked.

"Due to their indomitable nature, the dwarves could not be corrupted by the rings, but they enhanced the worst features of their race, their lust for gold, their mistrust, their pride and made them quick to anger ... That has them brought a lot of pain in the last centuries."

"I suppose Sauron was not happy with how his plan unfolded," Robar said with amusement.

"No, I suppose not, but now I want to talk about something more pressing ... Jon ..." Cirdan said in an all-steel with authority and command that had never been heard.

"Yes?" Jon asked nervously.

"That ring was a gift from Lord Ulmo, so I will allow you to keep it because if he decided to entrust it to you, it means that he thinks you can use it, but still I must warn you, Narya is subject to the power and influence of the One Ring and if at any time you decide to use it ... Be very careful, if you use it for long periods the lord of Mordor shall take notice of your presence and you shall fall into shadow becoming akin to the dread wraiths."

Cirdan's warning visibly shocked everyone in Westerosi.

"Then I don't want it if the ring is so dangerous ..." Jon said, placing the Ring in front of Cirdan, but the old elf rejected the Ring.

"The Ring is yours, Jon, it was a gift from the Valar to help you in your task whatever it may be ... I have already told you; a glorious destiny awaits you, and my heart tells me that despite the danger ... Narya will be a great boon. you should keep it."

Jon was reluctant to take the Ring until Shiera took it from the table.

"If you have so many doubts about having it, I will take care of it for you ... Until you feel that it is the right moment to use it," He said with a smile.

"Thank you, my Lady," Said the young Northerner, smiling shyly at her.

At that moment, everyone heard a small cough, and Cirdan watched them with interest.

"Well, going back to our history ... The war against Sauron was fierce. However, we were able to achieve victory thanks to the timely help of Númenor as their 11th king Tar-Minastir sent a formidable army that managed to tip the balance in our favor. and defeated Sauron fled to the East where he began to rebuild his army, Until finally in the year 3262 Sauron declared himself King of the world and King of men."

"It was nothing subtle," Loras said sarcastically.

"No and when the news reached the ears of the Númenóreans ... Their king, their last king Ar-Pharazôn gathered an army of such power that all the hosts of Sauron fled in fear at the mere sight of the army that came from the sea, Sauron he surrendered without a fight, realizing that he couldn't win."

All Westerosi were impressed to hear the story since they could not conceive an army of such power and glory, but Shiera was the proudest since she was happy with the power of her kin.

"Sauron was taken to Númenor as a prisoner and locked in a dungeon but in just five years, using his cunning and charm went from prisoner to the main adviser of the king and there began the Fall of Númenor since Sauron corrupted the fair Numenoreans " these were the words from Cirdan that ended Shiera's joy.

... I must be strong, no matter how horrible it is ... I have waited a century to find out where my mother's family comes from ... I must know everything ...

"Sauron taught the people of Númenor many things and helped them obtain what they desired but also further alienated them from the Valar whom most Númenóreans already feared and hated ... Eventually, Sauron's teachings began to focus on the dark arts. He told his followers that "only darkness is venerable, and the Lord of it can grant many gifts to those who serve him well. Thus Sauron increased his power tenfold."

"When he says the Lord of Darkness doesn't he mean ..." Jon started to say in alarm.

"Yes, unfortunately, it is exactly what you are thinking, Jon ... The Númenóreans ended up worshiping Melkor as a god and even performed human sacrifices in his name," Cirdan said with much disgust in his voice, and everyone gasped in horror except for Shiera, who began to weep.

"Ar-Pharazôn asked Sauron to teach him more about the Lord of Darkness. Sauron told the King that this Lord was Melkor and that Eru Ilúvatar was just a lie devised by the Valar to keep Men subject to them. Thus, the Sauron lied to Ar-Pharazôn and said that by serving Melkor, the "Giver of Liberty," the King would escape these falsehoods of the Valar and become more powerful than them ... But that was not all; for years, Sauron patiently waited for age to catch up with the King and his council, and the numenoreans desperate not to die asked Sauron for his last advice ... And he gave it to them, "Cirdan said with a voice of steel.

"What advice?" Shiera asked, increasingly nervous.

"Sauron told Ar-Pharazôn that by fighting the Valar and conquering Valinor, their land in the West, he could gain eternal life. and although Ar-Pharazôn and his advisers feared waging an open war against the Valar, their despair soon led them to begin building a Grand Fleet to attack Valinor, and in fact, he was the first mortal since Earendil to set foot in the Blessed Kingdom declaring it a victory against the Valar."

The shock and horror and disbelief were such that no one dared to speak, but Queen Rhaella, Ashara, Princess Rhaenys, and Robar shook their heads, unable to believe that a king could be so foolish and reckless.

"What was the response of the Valar?" Jon asked as calmly as possible.

"They asked Eru for help and renounced their authority over this world. Eru broke the world and made it round so that Men could never again sail to Valinor unless the Valar themselves allowed it. In this cataclysmic catastrophe, Ar-Pharazôn's fleet was drawn into the chasm that opened between the Blessed Kingdom and the mortal lands, and as punishment for their treachery transgression, Ilúvatar destroyed Númenor as it sank under the sea. It is said by the elves who observed the disastrous event from Amman that Ar-Pharazôn himself, along with the soldiers who had followed him to Valinor, were imprisoned in underground caverns called the Caves of the Forgotten until the end of the world ... In a twisted sense of irony, Ar-Pharazôn achieved his most cherished dream, he became immortal ... But at a terrible cost."

"And what happened to Sauron?" Shiera asked, shedding tears when she saw her dream destroyed.

Sauron was in Númenor in the temple of Melkor and was caught in the ensuing flood. However, his spirit survived, and he fled back to Mordor," Cirdan said, sadly looking at Shiera with compassion, knowing that his words had destroyed her dream.

"'Thank you, Lord Cirdan, for your honesty, if you'll excuse me ..." Shiera suppressed a sob and retreated to the room she shared with Ashara.

"Poor Lady Shiera," Arianne said compassionately.

"Yes, Lord Ulmo's words are true; Middle Earth has its own dangers," said Robar.

"What is the Game of Thrones of the great lords of Westeros compared to beings like Morgoth and Sauron?" Loras said mockingly as he recalled the political betrayals of King's Landing.

However, Jon was not paying attention; he only remembered Lady Shiera's expression and decided that he would do Something for her. even though I didn't know what.

"We have to go back to work. Lord Cirdan will be furious if he sees us lazing around," Jon said with authority and then kissed Arianne, who eagerly reciprocated with their tongues doing a dance of passion.

"Keep working, my white wolf ... I will reward you tonight," Arianne said, provocatively biting her lip.

"Oh, little princess ... You don't know what you got yourself into," Jon said with a smile.

After a passionate session with Arianne, Jon would continue to build the great galleon as ordered by Cirdan. Still he worried for Lady Shiera and hoped she could overcome her grief

--------------------------------------

3 Months later

Jon was touring the gardens of Cirdan's residence in search of Lady Shiera, and to his fortune, he observed her sitting on a bench looking at the star of Eärendil with an expression of grief on her face.

"Good evening Jon," she said without turning to see him.

"Good evening Lady Shiera. May I sit next to you?"

She didn't answer but nodded, and Jon sat down next to the beautiful Targaryen.

"Do you require something?" She replied.

"I wanted to know how you were ... It has been months since you found out what happened to the island of your kindred ... I can't imagine what you must be feeling but ... We are all worried about you," Jon said with genuine concern.

"Everybody?" The Lady asked, giving a look for the first time to which Jon raised an eyebrow,

"Yes, everyone ... I know we haven't known each other for long, but we're all on this journey; we only have each other here, except Lord Cirdan and possibly Glorfindel, so if we want to survive the task that the Valar want us to carry out here we must support each other and trust as well ... Let me help you please."

That seemed to begin to awaken Shiera's inner Dragon along with all the accumulated pain since Brynden disowned her and glared at the young man beside her.

"How could you help me?"

"I don't know ... But please let me try."

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be disowned by the love of your life, to be kicked out of your home by some bloody witches who held you, prisoner, for almost a century while they experimented on you, only so that when you finally think you've found a home, this is it? snatched away, destroying all your dreams? " Shiera said with her eyes filled with tears of anger and pain, which only increased when she saw the stoic expression of the young man next to her.

"Yes, I know, I know how it feels perfectly," Jon said without missing a beat.

"How?". To which Jon smiled sadly as painful memories almost forgotten returned to him.

"I am a bastard, my Lady; I grew up in Winterfell the first part of my life next to my father Lord Eddard Stark and my brother Robb and my sisters Sansa and Arya, Bran and Rickon I did not get to know because they were born long after I went to Highgarden, my father's wife, Lady Catelyn Tully or Stark, could not bear to see the proof of her husband's infidelity and even less when I was raised next to his legitimate, her children, she was never particularly cruel to me, but she always denied my existence, she was especially cruel when I beat Robb in training or lessons. "

"I guess she was afraid that someday you and your children would dispute the inheritance of their children or grandchildren," Shiera said, listening to Jon's story.

"Yes, I suppose so; Lady Stark always made sure it was clear to me that Winterfell was not my home and finally my father managed to get Lord Mace Tyrell the Guardian of the South to accept me as a ward in Highgarden and send me away from the only home I had ever know. I still remember Lady Catelyn's expression of satisfaction when I left; it was the first time that seeing me made her happy, " Said Jon suppressing his anger when he remembered the smile on her face. His father's wife.

"Jon, I ..."

"Then I came to Highgarden, and for a Northerner that was an eye-opening experience, the heat, the lush plants, the New Gods but still I decided not to embarrass my father and adapt as best I could, there I met Lord Mace, Lady Alerie and her children Willas, Garlan to Loras and I met her ... Margaery, "Jon said with some pain because the parting words of his first love still hurt, although thanks to meeting Arianne the pain has lessened with each passing day.

"You loved her," Shiera replied, this time completely surprised since she was unaware of that part of Jon's life.

"I did ... She was my first love, my first wife ... And for a few years I thought she would be the woman I would be with all my life, we were close since childhood, and at some point, we became something else, we kept our love hidden from others ... Or so we thought since apparently everyone in Highgarden knew it "

To her own surprise, Shiera began to laugh at the story.

"Those days were happier days we believed that our lives would always be like this, then the War of the Five Kings began, and Renly Baratheon married Margaery to seal an alliance and become the commander of the most powerful army in Westeros and crown himself king, the detail with King Renly is that he did not feel very comfortable with his new wife."

"It's common; arranged marriages don't always ..." Shiera started to say.

"Yes, but in this case, it was more because King Renly preferred the company of men over that of women," Jon said with a smile.

"Oh..." Shiera said in understanding.

"King Renly already had a lover and knowing our history, he gave us his blessing to continue our adventure on the condition that we were careful, and we would not have a bastard ... But King Renly was assassinated by his brother Stannis and shortly after that the Tyrell's, which had been a second family to me, formed an alliance with the Lannisters who had murdered my father, Margaery became the fiancée of Joffrey Baratheon ... When I asked her what would happen to us, She repudiated me, she told me to forget about her and leave if I didn't want to lose my head, that I was just a game for her and that she would be the Queen. She couldn't have me around because it could ruin everything. .. it was the bitterest of poison to swallow to hear those words from a woman for whom I would have given everything, that night I walked away from the only family I had known for that past six years, "Said Jon with a great deal of pain it was then Shiera saw the young man in front of her in a new light.

Before I saw in him a noble and kind but cold, distant, and honorable young man ... A true man of the North ... But now I saw him for what he was, a motherless young man who was despised by two families, lost two homes, and he was disowned by the woman he believed loved him ... She saw in him a kindred spirit, someone who could understand her pain, grief, and loneliness ... Something that not even Ashara whom Shiera loved could do.

"I do not know anything about being captured by some sorcerers, my Lady, but I know what it feels like to lose two homes and that the people you love disown you, we may never get to contemplate the glory of what Númenor was, but that is not it means that it is our end or yours, we still have to do, you and I will never forget the homes we lost or the people we left behind even if they hurt us ... But we still have the future, there are still Númenóreans, Elendil " The Tall "perhaps through him and the rest of" Faithful "we can discover what the Númenóreans were like in the beginning, so in my opinion ... You haven't lost everything.

For a few moments, she did not say anything until she took Jon's hands gently and gave him a look full of tenderness and laid a kiss upon his forehead, causing the young Northerner to blush.

"Thanks, Jon, for everything; I think I needed this"

"Me too, my Lady, the only ones who know my story are Robar, Loras and Arianne, you and the others ... It's not that I don't trust ... But I haven't completely left this story behind," Jon said.

"Maybe it's time for you to do it, just as it's time for me to understand that Númenor is gone and to stop wallowing in my self-pity, thank you. Now, will you accompany me inside? she said, taking Jon's arm to which he stood up and nodded.

"It will be a pleasure to escort you, my Lady," And Shiera replied, kissing him again this time on the cheek and was amused to see his expression of embarrassment.

But none of them realized that they were being watched by a dowager Queen who watched and eavesdropped and was impressed by the entire event. She had gone looking for Jon but was surprised to see him comfort Shiera and get her out of her depression, Something that not even Lady Dayne or herself could achieve.

For a moment, Rhaella felt terrible to hear such a private conversation, but when Jon began to tell his story, she could not resist; Rhaella already knew that he was the son of Ned Stark as Ashara herself reluctantly confessed it after Cirdan had grown curious.

Realizing that her conversation with Jon would have to wait, Rhaella's thoughts turned to the day she discovered the truth about her rescuer and her daughter's.

FLASHBACK

Rhaella couldn't get out of her mind Jon Snow's reaction when Rhaenys made fun of Lord Stark's death; she was also annoyed by her granddaughter's attitude since mocking the death of a man's father was wholly cruel. But she would leave that for later now she needed answers about Jon's reaction to the death of Ned Stark; she knew that Ser Robar and Ser Loras would never tell her anything since they were loyal to Jon, but perhaps, Ashara Dayne could give her the answers she is looking for now that she apparently has a predilection for Stark blood if the rumors were true.

So, looking for her, she found her entering her room.

"Lady Dayne," Said the ancient Queen,

"Your Highness," She exclaimed in surprise, bowing.

"You and Lady Seastar have known Jon Snow and his companions longer than my daughter, my granddaughter, and I," Rhaella stated.

"So is your Highness," replied the Dornish Lady.

"I would like you to tell me everything you know about Jon Snow; do you know who his father is?" And Rhaella immediately realized Something was up as Ashara Dayne started to get nervous even though she tried to hide it.

... If you know it and you know it very well ...

"Tell me ... For the loyalty, you once had to my family," Rhaella said in a commanding voice.

At first, Lady Ashara had a pleading expression on her face but realizing it wouldn't work, she sighed and nodded.

"Very well ... I shall tell you ... But by the Valar ... Understand that he is innocent ..." Ashara said, saying Valar instead of gods after finding out what they know about the world, to pray to some false gods like the seven would be ridiculous.

"He is related to Eddard Stark?" Rhaella guessed in front of a shocked Ashara.

"How did he know?"

"I saw Jon's reaction when Rhaenys mocked his death ... He is his bastard son, right?" Rhaella said, totally confident, and at that moment, they both heard a sound of surprise and turned to the door.

Rhaenys was there watching them with wide eyes and a stunned expression on her face. For a few moments, no one said anything until Rhaenys, with an expression of Hatred and anger on her face, took out a dagger from her clothes and left the room. And Rhaella and Ashara's eyes widened in horror as they understood what he meant.

"RHAENYS!" Rhaella yelled, running after her granddaughter, managing to catch up with her.

"Let go of me," that bastard has to pay for what his family did to ours! " The Princess said, crying.

"Give me the dagger, drop it, Rhaenys" At that moment, some of Cirdan's servants noticed the commotion and helped Rhaella and Ashara to subdue Rhaenys as well as disarm her, and then while she was screaming, they locked her in Rhaella's room and luckily Daenerys was studying with Ser Robar in Cirdan's library so he wouldn't have to see the scene.

It took several minutes for Rhaenys to calm down, and the servants prepared a tea that, according to them, helps to leave the anger, then they went but left a guard at the door in case Rhaenys tried to leave again in her state.

"They didn't have to do this, Grandma," He said without looking at anyone.

"And what should we do?" Let you kill an innocent.

"INNOCENT? He's not innocent ... Have you already forgotten that he forced us to come with him? Did he make us abandon my brother !?" Rhaenys replied.

To which Rhaella nodded, accepting the facts.

"I haven't forgotten, but Rhaenys, don't you understand? What your cousin Arianne told you is true; through this journey, you will be able to learn incredible things ... You will be able to use what you learn here to help Aegon when we return."

"If we go back," Her granddaughter answered, looking at her for the first time, and Rhaella realized she was crying.

"My dear understood that you are upset with the young man from the North, but he has tried to win your friendship, and you have shown him nothing but Hatred and resentment; these emotions corrode the mind and soul, you are young and beautiful .. . Don't let them ruin you, "Said the ancient Queen hugging her granddaughter who returned the hug.

"I know what I did was wrong," Rhaenys said, sobbing.

"What are you talking about, my girl?"

"Laughing at the death of Ned Stark ... It was wrong, but I could not ignore the satisfaction of knowing that one of the leaders of the rebellion died, besides being the best friend of the usurper, I felt that my father and mother were avenged with their deaths."

Rhaella sighed.

"Rhaenys dear ... Do you know how the rebellion started?" Rhaella asked, looking at Rhaenys carefully.

"Yes ... My father kidnapped Lyanna Stark, and when his eldest son and heir Brandon went to the capital, he threatened to kill Rhaegar, and my grandfather arrested him. And then he sent for his father and executed them both."

"Do you know how he executed them?" Asked Queen Rhaella,

"Yes, that was Something heinous ... Jon, Jon Connington told Aegon and me, he didn't like the Starks very much, but he told us that what my grandfather did with them was a terrible crime and that they didn't deserve to die like that... Actually, I'm not sure if someone deserves to die like this "

"And do you know what happened next?" Rhaella asked, wiping Rhaenys tears gently.

"Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark rose in rebellion, one for the insult made by my father and the other for revenge."

"No darling, that's not what happened ... In addition to executing the Starks, your grandfather executed his companions, among whom was Elbert Arryn, Jon Arryn's heir, then your grandfather Aerys demanded that Lord Arryn send him Eddard and Robert's head. Lord Baratheon was the rightful fiancé of Lyanna Stark and Eddard Stark, now the Lord of Winterfell after his father and older brother's death. However, Robert and Eddard were Jon's pupils in the Eyrie, and they were completely innocent, and Jon Arryn, instead, raised his banners in rebellion," Rhaella said with pain remembering how it was that her family lost everything.

The expression of horror on Rhaenys's face was palpable.

"I didn't know that," she said, covering her mouth with both hands.

"I never hated Ned Stark Nor Robert Baratheon, how could I, after knowing what they lost because of your father and grandfather, as for your mother. That was the work of Tywin Lannister, Eddard had nothing to do with it, he was a good man, an honorable man ... He did not deserve the death he had, nor that you made fun of him "

Rhaenys just bowed her head in embarrassment.

"I think you owe Jon an apology," Rhaella said in a tone that did not accept replies.

"But ..." Rhaenys began to excuse herself.

"Rhaenys ..." Rhaella said in a warning tone.

"Good ..." Her granddaughter said with a resigned expression.

"You don't have to be his friend ... But it's time you stopped considering him an enemy; all that Hatred will ruin you if you let it," Rhaella said, hugging her granddaughter.

End of FLASHBACK

Months have passed since that night, and Rhaella has seen a real change in Rhaenys; she no longer treats Jon the way she used to. In fact, there are times when she is almost kind to him, but she still hasn't apologized for making fun of his father's death,

"I guess I shouldn't have waited that long so soon," The ancient Queen said with a sigh and returned to her solar.

-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

2 months later

Jon, Loras, and Robar had finally finished their ship and were waiting for the approval of Cirdan, who was examining it meticulously; next to them were all the ladies who were impressed by the work of the three gentlemen.

The ship was a black galleon, and on the sides, it was decorated with carved golden roses while the back had runes of the Valley also in gold, and its prow was fashioned like a wolf; it was bizarre to look at but not less impressive when you consider that none of them had any skill in shipbuilding until a few months ago.

"I can't believe the three of them did this," Rhaenys said, impressed.

"It's amazing," Daenerys said, smiling when she saw the ship.

"Well, my Lord?" Jon asked impatiently for Cirdan's answer.

After a few minutes, Cirdan got off the boat and was clearly pleased.

"Not bad, there is still much that you should practice and improve, but it is seen that you really tried hard; this is proof that you have grasped your lessons well; congratulations, I must admit that you have exceeded my expectations," Cirdan said with pride in his voice.

Jon, Loras, and Robar smiled upon hearing Cirdan's praise, while Arianne, Daenerys, Ashara, and Shiera looked at Jon with pride.

"It is a good ship," Said a familiar voice that had been approaching.

They all turned to the voice and saw someone they hadn't seen in almost a year ... Glorfindel, it looked the same as they remembered his hair shining like the sun, and there was almost an ethereal light emanating from his armor.

"Welcome Glorfindel," Cirdan said.

"Lord Cirdan, Jon Ulmondil," Said the elf, bowing.

"I have to admit, I didn't expect you to come so soon," Cirdan said.

"King Gil-galad wishes to know how the lessons of those sent by the Valar are going," Glorfindel said without taking his eyes off Jon.

"They are doing very well as you have seen, although they still have to improve a lot, a year or two, they will be able to go looking for Elendil," Cirdan said with pride in his voice, and Glorfindel nodded.

"Good, but I also come for another order."

"Yes, I guessed it," Cirdan said with a sigh.

"What is the task?" Jon said, interested.

"King Gil-galad wishes that I instruct them in the handling of weapons and when they have reached an acceptable skill to take them to Lindon so that he can meet them," Glorfindel said with seriousness to everyone's surprise.

"Will you teach us?" Robar asked, intrigued.

"We already know how to use a sword," Loras replied, annoyed.

"We will see that soon, I am sorry, but they are orders from the King... You will decide when they begin, Lord Cirdan.

Cirdan put a hand to his chin and studied them carefully.

"I think they can start tomorrow; let's see how the warriors of the Outer Lands fight."

The challenge touched the three knights' pride, who smiled excitedly while the accompanying ladies felt a chill down their spines as if a disaster were about to occur.

"This will end very badly" Sigh Arianne worried about Jon.

"I think the same," Queen Rhaella said, eyeing the three knights and Glorfindel warily.

Notes: