west of the moon, east of the sun

It was a quiet afternoon; the trees were all in springtime bloom, and the skies were clear—until one looked eastward. Mithlond stood mostly empty; nearly all who could wield a sword were away, trying to keep the forces of Mordor at bay across the River Lhûn. But every day wounded were brought back, and every month or two another ship slipped out of Mithlond, or Forlond, or Harlond, heading west, never to return. 

On that day, however, a small and swift vessel came in with the tide, flying the banners of Númenor and the personal sigils of Tar-Telperiën and her heir Prince Minastir. As it came to the dock, Círdan went with Galdor and Gildor to meet the young man who descended the gangplank, as behind them a small crowd gathered. “Greetings, Lord Círdan,” he said, bowing deeply. “I bring word from Armenelos for King Gil-galad.”

“The king is away, but I will hear the queen’s message,” said Círdan. 

The messenger straightened. “Númenor has heard the High King’s request for aid, and remembering the long friendship of the Edain and the Eldar, will send it—even as I speak a fleet is being prepared, but it will take time. Another year at least, says my Lord Ciryatur, before all is ready.”

Círdan breathed a sigh. “Thank you,” he said. “We are sorely beset, but we can hold until Ciryatur comes. Come, I have some things for you to take back to—”

There was sudden movement aboard the ship, sailors crying out in surprise. A large pale grey shape—an enormous hound—leaped from the deck, hitting the dock at a run and barely pausing to sniff the ground before barking once, the sound echoing through the harbor, and bounding away through the city. “What—” Círdan began. 

“I do not know,” said the messenger, staring wide-eyed after the hound. “There was no sign of such a creature aboard…”

“If I did not know better,” said Galdor slowly, exchanging a glance with Gildor, “I would say that was Huan, the Hound of Valinor. Yet how can that be?”

“Whether it is truly Huan returned or not,” said Gildor, “I will choose to take it as a sign of hope, in this war against the Lord of Werewolves.”