A/N: Do NOT miss this chapter. Do NOT. Or you will be lost. Read carefully.

The next morning, the four travellers congregated in the hall in front of their prison cells turned rooms. Each had a pack filled with wares and items they were willing to trade, as well as coinage. Today they would gather information, food, and water.

"Elladan, Maglor," Míril said as they walked out of the fortress of Thaurband into the village city, "You two go down to the right back towards the farm land. We'll go towards the fishing docks on the Sea of Nurn."

"Sounds good," Elladan agreed before continuing with a whisper. "Stay safe, Míril. Be careful. Things could be dangerous here."

She smiled and nodded. Taking Elrohir's hand in hers, they made their way through the town to where the fishing village was. They weren't looking for fish, as fish wouldn't keep, but information. Perhaps even swift transportation Eastward via the Sea.

As they approached the boats and stalls on the shore where the fishermen sold their wares, Elrohir and Míril split up.

"I will talk to the men at the stalls," Elrohir told her. "Go speak with the works on the boats, if you can."

She nodded. "Good idea."

Míril went down to the shore where the blue waves washed up over the greyish, gravely sand. Out on several piers were large boats used for fishing. Míril spotted one man rummaging through a pack. He was old, a grey beard hanging from his chin that showed it. Old scars were visible all over his body but he was rather well built.

"Excuse me, sir!" Míril smiled with a wave. "Excuse me."

The man looked up at her in surprise. He watched as she came closer in confusion.

"What d'ya want?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded her head in greeting. "I am Lôminzil. I am an elf traveling with my family to the East. I have wares to trade for information."

"Hrmph." The man looked unconvinced. "Well, I might have something for yah. If you'll take it off my hands. Though I expect something in return."

Míril looked at him in confusion. "What is it?"

"It's a dagger that came to me through trade with a corsair from Umbar. Turns out it's cursed or something. Burns me every time I touch it. Now I need to get rid of it." The man reached into his pack.

Míril froze. Burned him? Cursed?

The man drew out the handle of a dagger. A bright light seemed to shine from the pack as the object was withdrawn. Miril's mouth dropped. It was here. On the crossbeam of the dagger was the Silmaril.

"Ouch!" The man hissed as his hand accidentally touched the gem. "Take it. If it doesn't burn you that is!"

Miril's hand trembled as she reached out to take it. But she drew back

"Do not be afraid. It is your destiny. Handle it with care."

She recognized the voice in her head as Ulmo's. It made sense; she was right next to the sea. Again she reached out to take it.

The light from the gemstone was so pure it threatened to blind her. Certainly it warped her mind as all she could see and think of was the jewel. It was so beautiful. It was perfection itself.

As her hand closed around the hilt, she lifted it up and took it. Hesitantly she used her free left hand to touch the Silmaril. She was not burned. She was pure.

For now.

"What do you want in return?" She asked the man quietly, still watching the Silmaril intensely.

"10 gold would suit me fine," he shrugged. "Must be a curse just on men."

She quickly fished out ten gold coins and handed them over.

"Thanks," he shrugged. "Glad to get that thing off my hands. Beautiful, yes, but treacherous."

Míril took a cloth she had and wrapped the Silmaril dagger up so the light was hidden. She sighed as the light disappeared from her sight. She wanted to keep looking at it. Forever. She wanted it.

And it was hers now.

As she walked away she shook her head. It wasn't hers. The words of Gandalf echoed in her mind. She had to send it over the Sea once it fulfilled its purpose. It did not belong to her.

"Why shouldn't it?" She wondered to herself.

After all, Fëanor her ancestor had crafted it. It should be hers by birthright.

"Except for the fact that the light of the Two Trees that are within does not belong to me," she reminded herself.

No matter. It was hers for the time being. That was enough for her. For now.

"Did you find anything interesting?" Elrohir asked as he saw her wandering up, face plastered with concentration as her internal dialogue worked overtime.

She paused and hesitated. "Nothing to speak of here. Later."

He wondered what she meant but did not push it. "No matter. I found a man who will be able to take us as far as the other end of the Sea of Nurn. I paid him half already. We should be able to leave tomorrow."

"Good." Míril nodded, a frown on her face as her mind was elsewhere.

Elrohir took her hand. "Come. Let's find the others. See if they found enough food and water."

They did just that. As they approached Maglor and Elladan, the two men were finishing up trading for apples and bread at a stand.

"We've got much already," Elladan smiled. "Let's go back to Thaurband and look over the wares we found."

Maglor noted Miril's lack of concentration immediately. His gut told him something was wrong. Something was very wrong. She had seen something. He could tell by the light in her eyes.

"So your shopping was successful then?" She asked him, catching his eye as he examined her. "You found what we need?"

Maglor nodded. "We think so."

They reached their rooms without too much issue. As with the previous night, they congregated in Míril and Elrohir's side. Míril sat on her bed as the others remained on the floor. Elladan and Maglor spread out the food they had bought so they could inventory it.

"You managed to trade for quite a lot," Elrohir complimented them. "Good job."

"What did you two find?" Maglor asked nonchalantly. "Anything interesting?"

Elrohir nodded. "I managed to buy us passage on a boat that can take us Eastward on the Sea of Nurn."

"That's good," Elladan nodded. "Míril? How about you?"

They noted immediately that she wasn't listening. Instead she sat fingering her pack and muttering to herself.

"Mir?" Elladan prompted.

She looked up suddenly. "Hm?"

"Find anything worth mentioning?" Maglor asked slowly.

She glanced from her bag to Maglor. What would he do if he saw it? Would he try to wrest it from her? Would he attack her? Would they all try to take it?

"What did you find," Maglor prompted as silently he reached behind him under his cloak and put his hand on the hilt of a knife.

"Mir?" Elrohir asked cautiously.

Míril sighed. There was no getting away from this. Slowly she reached into her bag and drew out the wrapped dagger. With hesitant hands she began to unwrap the dagger with the Silmaril. Maglor instantly recognized the light that shone beneath the wrapping.

He sighed. "So it is here."