Summary: There's been a horrible accident...
A/N: Sorry, the beginning sentence isn't perfect, but...Set shortly after "The Tower". Hope everyone had a happy Tolkien Reading Day!

She knelt on the deck, carefully picking up the shards of glass. Why did it have to be this one that broke? she thought, grimacing. Any other ship's lantern...but this one...this one...She frowned. The lamp had been hallowed by the Valar themselves. Why would it have shattered now? The Lady of Aewellond's brow creased, and she sat down on a barrel, deep in thought. Staring down at the shards and splinters in her hand, it came to her.

"It's gone!" Realisation slammed into Elwing, making her laugh in disbelief. "Gone..." Shoulders shaking, she asked herself how in the names of the Valar the Silmaril could have been stolen from Vingilot.

Oh, where was Earendil when she needed him? Valar spare her from whatever habits he'd learnt up there from Tilion!

"Neri!" she grumbled.

"Nasie!" Celebrian laughed, joining her on the deck. Then she saw the shattered lamp. "What..."

"I would rather like to know that myself..." Elwing grumbled.

The two gave each other measuring looks.

"Celebrian, have all of Aewellond searched."

"Yes, Naneth." Celebrian kissed her mother-in-love's cheek and departed on her errand.

Meanwhile, secreted in the tallest tower of Aewellond, a young Noldo stared at the prize in his hand...