The ship rocked back and forth as the wind pushed them closer to the shores of Middle-Earth. Maedhros was silent as he watched the shore grow with each passing moment. He was lost deep in thought but his racing thoughts were broken as he heard a voice speak up behind him. "We should be there soon," 

Maedhros turned and looked at Fingon who was sitting at the edge of the boat. "Yeah, we'll most likely be there by sunrise," Maedhros replied.

"Most likely," Fingon replied calmly. Maedhros let out a breath and settled back a bit. He looked back at Fingon who yawned a bit as he stretched.

"Get some sleep, I'll wake you when we get closer," Maedhros replied.

"Leaving you to drown yourself in self-pity? I think not," Fingon replied folding his arms. 

"I will drown myself in self-pity," Maedhros said looking at him with a bit of a glare. 

"Really? Orcs may also sprout wings and fly," Fingon replied. Maedhros glared at him mentally cursing the fact Fingon knew him so well. After a moment Maedhros just turned his head back the shore. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. In a low voice, he said, "I do not want to talk about it right now Finno." 

"I am not asking you to speak about it," Fingon said softly. "I am just not going to leave you alone right now." 

"I would like to be left alone," Maedhros replied.

"Oh? So you want me to jump out of the ship and swim the rest of the way?" Fingon asked looking at him with a bit of a smirk. 

Maedhros rolled his eyes and looked at his cousin, "No. That is not what I mean. I mean I would like us just to be quiet, I would like some time to think and go over what we are about to do." 

Fingon just gave him a nod and settled back himself. Maedhros just turned his head to look out ahead of them once more. For most of the trip so far they had been quiet, they both had kept to themselves so far. Neither friend was sure of what really to speak about. Maedhros closed his eyes and leaned his head back thinking of a few days ago just before they started off on this voyage. 

~~~

Maedhros checked everything over on the ship when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Nerdanel standing there with a soft expression on her face. 

"Mamil," He said straightening up. "What are you doing here?" 

"A mother can not see her son off?" She asked. Maedhros ducked his head a bit and said, "She can...but I am not leaving for another few hours. So why are you here so easily?" 

"I am worried about you are you sure you do not someone else to go?" She asked. 

"No. I am fine besides Fingon is coming with me. You have nothing to be worried about, we will bring Kano home." Maedhros said. 

Nerdanel looked at him and gently put a hand to his cheek and said, "Ninya melda min, you can not lie to me. I can see pain is clear in your eyes. Yet, you need to forgive yourself for what happened." 

"I know," He said softly without looking at her. Yet, after a moment he met her eyes and said, "Yet, I need just to focus on finding Kano. I have done enough healing here but what has he done to help himself?" 

"Just please remember to take care of yourself," She said. 

"I will," He replied. He bent down and hugged her. He felt her arms wrap around him and he heard her say in a soft voice, "har- tulca ninya pia nar." 

He smiled softly at the old name she called him. She let go and said put her hand on his cheek and said, "I know you will find him but please do not lose yourself while you are there." 

"I won't," He said with a firm nod. He then looked back at the ship and said, "I am sorry Mamil but I have to finish making sure I have everything." 

"Alright. I will be back later than to see you off." She said. He nodded and waved a small goodbye. She did the same and walked back up the road. Maedhros went back to work making sure he had everything. 

~~~

Maedhros awoke to someone tapping his shoulder, he blinked and sat up and saw Fingon by him. "We are here," Fingon said. Maedhros sat up and saw they pulled into the port of the Gray Heaven as they were told it was called. 

Maedhros nodded and stood up a bit too quickly which caused their small ship to rock a bit. He climbed out of the ship and Fingon tossed him a rope and he tied to a post. "We do not have much," Fingon said as he looked at what they had. "I can just hand them to you." 

Maedhros just nodded and bent down a bit as Fingon handed him the first bag. In a short time, their ship was unloaded and Maedhros was drawing a cloak up around him. He pulled a hood over his head and he turned to Fingon when he heard him laugh. "What?" He asked raising an eyebrow slightly. 

"Really? A hood?" Fingon asked with an amused expression plastered on his face. Maedhros held back the urge to roll his eyes but came over to him stood in front of him and said, "We need at least try to look a bit inconspicuous so the hoods help with that." Then with that he grabbed Fingon's hood and yanked it over his head so it covered his eyes and hung very low over his face. 

Fingon just chuckled a bit as he fixed his hood and then followed after Maedhros as he walked up the path. They soon ran into one of the few elves that lived there who jumped about a foot in the air when they saw the hooded elves walking up from the shoreline. 

"Who-What? What are you two doing here? Who are you two?" The elf sputtered. 

Maedhros and Fingon exchanged a slight look. Then Maedhros looked at the elf and said, "We are here on personal business and we are here under a request from one of the Valar. We can not say much about why we are here but we need someone to look after our ship and supply us with two horses." 

The elf squeaked a bit when Maedhros mentioned the Valar. Yet, he nodded quickly and said, "Of course, nin hir." 

"No need to call us that," Fingon said stepping in shaking his head. 

"Oh. Of course," The elf said. "Please follow me there should be two horses you may use." 

"Thank you," Maedhros said he followed after the brown-haired elf with Fingon close behind. 

"What is your name?" Fingon asked after they walked in silence for a few moments. The elf looked up a bit startled and said, "Oh. I am Thiliion," 

"A pleasure," Fingon said. 

"Thank you...uh. I know you said you are here on personal business but may I know your names?" Thiliion asked politely. 

Fingon and Maedhros looked at each other, Maedhros shook his head and Fingon gave a nod of acknowledgment. He then looked at Thiliion and said, "We are sorry but we do not feel it is wise to say who we are." 

"Oh. I understand," Thiliion replied sounding a bit disappointed. They then went quiet again as they began walking once more. Yet, they came to a stable by the edge of the area that the Gray Heavens were in. Thiliion went into the stables and a few moments later he led out two horses. One black that had a white mark that looked similar to a star on their forehead. The other one was one of off-white and dark gray. 

"The black one is Narita and the other is Noblelight," Thiliion said. 

"They are perfect," Fingon said smiling and walking over to Noblelight. He smiled and looked at Maedhros who walked to Narita.

"Thank you," Maedhros said as he took the reins of the horse. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins. He handed it over but Thiliion shook his head, "No. I can not accept any money." 

"Please, just take it," Fingon said. 

Thiliion looked at the two but reluctantly took the coins. He looked at the two elves as they mounted the horses. "Thank you," He said softly. 

"No problem," Said Fingon. 

"I wish you luck for whatever you are doing," Thiliion said as he looked at the two. 

"Thank you," Fingon said with a smile. 

"Wait. Thiliion, do you remember an elf by here. He would have black hair, blue eyes, he may have had a harp with him...his hands would have been bandaged." Maedhros giving a few more descriptions to the brown-haired elf. Thiliion thought for a few moments and then shook his head. "I am sorry. I have not seen anyone like that," He replied. 

Maedhros replied and said, "Alright. Thank you." 

Thiliion nodded and said, "Of course and do not worry I will watch the ship you came in." 

Maedhros nodded his thanks and looked to Fingon. "Alright, let's go," Maedhros said. 

"Right," Fingon replied. The two nodded at Thiliion and they then rode off. Thiliion just stared as they rode off. This was the strangest thing he had ever seen but who was he to judge a request made by a Valar. 

Glossary:
Quenya
Mamil - Mother

Ninya melda min - My beloved/dear/sweet one

har- tulca ninya pia nar - stay strong my little flame

Sindarin
nin hir - my lord