*NOTE: I spontaneously started this note last night, after looking up at the night sky, and I was inspired by the patterns of the clouds posted against the moon, and it reminded me of this anime called “Castle in the Sky.”  I thought about what it would be like to sail in the sky.  

What resulted was a decision to make a fan-fic about a Lord of the Rings character called Earendill.  For those unfamiliar with Middle-Earth history, he was Elrond’s father, and this is my tribute to the Elves (whom I love hehe) and to J.R.R. Tolkien.  Enjoy!*

CHAPTER 1

The mariner stared up at the steely blue-black back of the midnight sky, a steady breeze cutting across the walls of his ageless face.  Hands gripped tightly on the balcony, Earendil stood half in wonder, half in fear: amazed under the huge, beautiful expanse of the heavens, but also fearful under it, pondering what small impact he and his minute crew could do in such an unpredictable universe.  

“Oh, if only I could see as Manwe and his eagles see from their mountain home,” he thought to himself, anxious about his decision to change course.  He told none of his navigators about his impulse to head east, forsaking the planned rest for the next couple days.  He considered once more if he had fully convinced himself of this abrupt change in plans: it could be the last change he ever made, he thought to himself.  Morgoth’s henchmen were running rampant, on both sea and land.

“If I ever really did make a change in this world,” he muttered to himself under his breath.  Shaking off his discouragement, he reminded himself of the reason he was making the risk in the first place: for love, for his beloved.

He took out his map and reviewed his plan for the 34th time, making last minute notes about his new course, as he headed back to the front of the Vingilot, gliding effortlessly on the cerulean waves.  He stopped and sensed a shift in the wind, as he predicted.  Closing his clear blue eyes, he took a deep breath, then gazed upward for a few seconds, taking in this moment of pre-decision: when everything around seems anxious, accompanied by nervous shivers.  As he gazed heavenward,  he exhaled and relaxed, as he continued back to the captain’s balcony, confident in his decision, as confident as the bold shine emanating from the stars strewn across the sky.  It was a night like any other night, but this was a particularly clear one: and the full moon above him reminded him of his beloved.  

“Change course, 42 degrees east,” he commanded his crewman at the wheel.  The crewman hesitated, as he looked up towards Earendil.

“But my Lord,” the man at the helm said.  ”Did we not decide to rest for the next few days?”

“I’ve re-evaluated our plans, and have concluded that it would be best to push forward.  Change course, if you please, Aerandir.”

“Would it not be better if we stopped down for the night and wait until the morning?” Aerandir pleaded, knowing that the other crewmen would object to such a rash and sudden change of course.

The captain gave no immediate answer.  His beloved was looking up to the heavens like he was at that moment, gazing upon the full moon as she always does from her window.  But he sensed danger around her, and felt they could not tarry any more on their return back home.

“I’ve made my decision,” he replied to his crewman more gruffly than he intended, as he withdrew to his quarters.  He ran his ship like any other, but he was torn between urgency and compassion for his crew.  They needed to keep moving.