I am sitting in front of the fire, resting my legs from the long journey he had endured. The sky is darkening with the pinks and purples of the setting sun. Not too far off, I can still hear the hustle and noise of Bree town as people returned to their homes. As the fire warms my body and eases my aches, my eyes begin to glaze over in rest…..
A burning unlike any pain or injury I have experienced before. It whips across my face and body like a strike of lightning. The pain is constant and all in my vision is fire. Where am I? Is this a dream, a nightmare? It is difficult to open my eyes. But through the fire and bright red flames I see white towers reaching towards the sky.
Gondolin? Why am I here? Is there a reason for this?
It seems an eternity before my body responds to my wish to move. I start pushing my way through the flames, unsure of where to go to relieve myself of this pain. Shall I not wake up? Am I doomed to live in this nightmare for the rest of time?
Why am I here?
Suddenly a voice, clear as water interrupts my thoughts.
“Little Moon, did you think this was your fate? Your fate does not lie in fire and destruction. Your home is gone now, but you still seem to live in the past.”
I turn, trying to find the speaker, but all that lies in front of me is the same fire and pain. But the voice speaks on.
“Do not look behind you, for you shall find no answers or signs. Return to the present and bring your eyes to what is in front of you, little moon. Only then, will the answers you seek present themselves.”
As the voice continues to speak, I notice a light, not of the fire and flames, but something brighter. It glitters like a star and grows brighter. A star? Perhaps it is the star of Earendil? It could be, Earendil was born in Gondolin.
But it seems different. I can not explain it, but I believe this is no star. I know not what it is. This entity is warm and the light shines bright upon my face, but it brings no pain like the fire. It is calming. The light seems to cover me like a blanket and the pain seems to melt away. I feel at peace?
“What is this….” I whisper.
The voice returns as the last of the pain is taken from my body.
“You will find what you seek in front of you. But do not look too far ahead, little moon. Do not wait too long, or the answer you are looking for shall be gone.”
Everything begins to fade to black and my senses are returning.
I open my eyes to find the sky completely veiled in night and the moon is high in the sky. The nightmare returned once more it seems. But it was different this time. I do not understand the meaning of the change. For millennia I have suffered an endless nightmare of fire and pain. Why has it changed now? Who was the voice and what is the meaning of their words?
