Sadly, Card found nothing. The day grew grimmer and nightfall came. A small fire alerted him to those he left behind. It seemed they'd sleep hungry.
Everything about this day was horrible.
And the worst had yet to come. How long had it been since his companions had seen him? How would he explain this to Sigeric? To Daugo? To Dimitri? What had happened to them since? Marco? Eonwe? Celeborn? Had they made it back to Gondor? What about Ha'zi? How would he explain any of it...
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/UnusualBrit/74.png" name="UnusualBrit"]12700073[/user]
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In a different timeline...
Vingilote was still afloat in the sky above the voided lands of Middle-Earth. Half of the ship had broken off and collapsed into the abyss whilst the remainder was aflame. In the scraps, a dark-skinned man slowly pulled a piece of shrapnel out of his abdominals and watched the wound smoke and steam. He gasped in pain and cauterized the hole with his finger which exuded a small flame.
Slowly he rose up and stood, grimacing as he glanced at the figure before him. He had watched him this entire time. For some reason, whether it was curiosity or negligence to finish off his prey whilst it was struggling, Beren had not killed him yet.
"I'm sorry," Ha'zi said staring at the muscular youth. He coughed some blood and grit his teeth. "I'm sorry I abandoned you when you needed me. I'm sorry I wasn't much of a father. And I'm sorry," He paused, "For being unable to end your suffering."
A large grin formed on Beren's face. The man started to laugh, a slow loud cackle. "Sorry? Huh?! HAHAHAHAHAH??!?! YOU'RE SORRY?!" Beren took a step towards him, "I cannot accept an apology when there is no need for one, Adar."
Ha'zi raised an eyebrow.
"I thank you. If you hadn't allowed the darkness to take me, I would not have ascended to the peak of power. The pinnacle of my strength. Without your neglectfulness and spiteful abuse, I would not have become the man you see today. Look upon me and bask in my glory, Adar!" Beren's face was wild as he stepped up to Ha'zi.
"I won't leave you this time, Beren. I made that mistake long ago. I shall not make any more. Do what you must. I'm not afraid to die so long as Laurel is safe and you can never harm another soul."
Beren looked almost confused at this statement. "But Adar," He gripped Ha'zi and began to consume him, sucking away Ha'zi's lifeforce. "You have made a mistake. Quite a fatal one at that. You see," He absorbed Ha'zi's power and with that, the combined collections of Ha'zi's memories and every ability he had mimicked over the years all of it flowed like swift tributaries into a great river. "Now I know where my sweetest sister and dearest aunt are."
Ha'zi's face lit up with fear and he gripped his son, "Beren-"
A hand went phased through Ha'zi's chest and out his back, rupturing his spine. A fist held his beating heart and squeezed it until it exploded like a squashed grape, blood oozing everywhere. "Thank you, once again, Adar. You have truly shown me the way. I can never repay this debt." Beren pushed his father's body out into the air. The corpse fell from the ruins of Vingilote and down, disappearing into the Void.
Beren shut his eyes and began to run through the memories of his father; searching for the truth.
"There you are," He said at last.