The Tale of Verdan, Master of Healing
In the second age, a mysterious ship carved into the image of a sea creature washed upon the shores of Middle Earth. There was one sole passenger aboard - an elf, but one with a face so fair and handsome to behold, it surpassed that of many a fair Elven Lord who had lived years upon years ago. So great was his beauty that Cirdan the shipwright stood fast with amazement when he received this visitor,
"Who are you that bears the light of Aman in your face and washes upon these bitter shores? One would believe you to be among the maiar by your countenance, but you bear the characteristics of the elves in your eyes."
The stranger smiled and answered Cirdan,
"What you have said is partially true, for I do have the blood of the Vanyar elves in my veins by my father, Gilnole, yet my mother Ilmare is a maiar and handmaiden to Varda."
Cirdan stood speechless once again when the elf said these things, for his face became even more noble and the darkness of his hair was like an ebony river. (Which was a mark of the Maia in him, for the Vanyar elves are known for their golden hair?) Holding aloft a pendant made of mithril, delicately carved, the stranger spoke again, "My name is Verdan, and the veracity of what I say may be proven by this." Then Cirdan knew this to be true and realized Verdan had been sent from Valinor for the aid of the free peoples of Middle Earth and so took him to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. Even they who had seen many a noble and fair elf in their long life were amazed at Verdan's eloquence, grace, and nobility and considered him a gift from the hosts of the Valar. It was then that Galadriel perceived the generosity and kindness that was the core of Verdan's being, and she was glad - more so than she had ever been in those times.
Verdan had been sent with his unsurpsassing healing capabilities by his mother to aid the free races of Middle Earth and attempt to destroy what Sauron had broken. He vowed to destroy Sauron's hold on Middle Earth no matter how long it might take. Galadriel and Celeborn accepted this help with eagerness, perceiving him to be very wise.
"Wherever you may go, Verdan,” Celeborn said, “Let our aid and blessing go with you."
And so Verdan traveled throughout Middle Earth, sometimes openly, sometimes in secret, laboring long to learn the languages of all races, and to promote peace between men, elves, and dwarves. All who looked upon him were amazed, and all those who knew him admired him because of the respect he gave to all people. He healed many a wounded and bitter soul of the elves, by merely the touch of his hand, and wrote down the uses of all living plants so that each race might use them to their own benefit. He was called "Patient One" by the dwarves, because of his long labors with them, and helped to resolve the long conflict between his people and theirs. King Gil-galad proclaimed him the most understanding and benevolent elf to ever walk the earth, and had Verdan be one of his chief advisors; this platform Verdan used to pass his wisdom on to others. He undermined many of Sauron's schemes to which Sauron vowed to avenge, for he both hated and feared Verdan. He sent out spies to follow Verdan in secret to learn what he could about Verdan's weaknesses. They were killed by Gil-galad and Verdan, but they had already reported to their master what they learned by that time.
Now it came to pass while Verdan was visiting King Oropher of Greenwood the Great, the King's niece - first cousin to the King's son, Thranduil - Nimloriel, chanced upon Verdan under the stars singing softly. She was curious, because she had heard of an elf with surpassing power and comeliness was among her people, and drew near. He turned his gaze towards her, and when she saw the compassion and tenderness that filled his grey eyes, she loved him. And he, when seeing the fair, strong spirit of the white blonde creature, was caught too by the power of love.
"Do not move my lady. For I feel you are too sweet and glorious to be a reality. If this is a dream, heaven forbid I should awake." And Nimloriel answered with confidence,
"You need not, my lord, for I am very real. But how is it that you should make such endearments to me when I can not ever measure up to the lineage you claim?"
Then Verdan saw the humbleness and courage she displayed and loved her all the more.
"But lineage and greatness of those who have lived before do not matter to me." he said, drawing his face nearer to hers "rather it is the way a person lives now and how they treat others that concerns me." And from then on they met regularly and soon Verdan took Nimloriel as his wife. Such joy two people never thought to experience. Wherever he went, Nimloriel was in his heart, and his pursuits against evil grew even more passionate.
Sauron during this time had been trying to find a way to bring down Verdan and now found a way to do so. After the forging of the rings, Sauron now became bold and captured Nimloriel after the birth of her daughter, Lillianna (who was hidden in Lorien and more is said about her later) and took her to his cave in Mordor. There he tortured her long, trying to find the location of Verdan and the secrets he kept. But Nimloriel was steadfast, and she would not cry out for her life. Instead, she scorned Sauron to his face with unrelenting vehemence. Sauron grew even more furious, and my torturing her mind, found where Verdan's book that contained his studies and observations on the races of Middle Earth was kept - a book precious beyond words. This was quickly obtained by Sauron without Verdan's knowledge.
During this time, Verdan cautioned Celebrimbor about Sauron's possible betrayal and deceit when he felt a cry of anguish pierce his heart. His wife was gone, and he knew how had taken her, for only Verdan knew of the dangers of the rings that had been forged, and warned those who received them never to use them. He did not trust the false appearance of goodness Sauron had disguised himself in when all others believed it blindly. He was sure now that there was a superior ring, for only then would Sauron be so bold.
"I cannot abandon Nimloriel to torment and death because of me. If it should cost my life, I will save her." He told his friend Magilnor.
"My friend” Magilnor replied, "do not make a decision you would regret because of your grief. I would despair if Sauron had the satisfaction of destroying you as well as Nimloriel." But Verdan would not be moved, and his desperation for his wife drove all wisdom from his mind. He fled in the night without telling a soul, but Magilnor saw him steal away, expecting him to do so, and alerted this to Celebrimbor - the maker of the elven rings. Celebrimbor in his realization of Sauron's deceit, told Galadriel, Gil-galad, and Cirdan to hide the three rings forever out of Sauron's knowledge, and he himself resolved to rescue Verdan and Nimloriel.
"This is my mistake made out of my near sightedness, and therefore I must correct it."
Magilnor feared the worst and went to Gil-galad for a possible assault on Sauron's hideout while there was still time.
Verdan had reached Sauron's liar quickly, for the burning in his heart was unrelenting. Attempting to steal Nimloriel in secret, he was caught and brought before Sauron. There he saw Nimloriel pale, yet calm, and he forgot all reason. Sauron perceived this and mocked him by saying, "You think you came to retrieve your own? Did you not think I would know you would come? This creature is your weakness. Now all you hold dear, all you have strived to build will be lost." And there Verdan watched helplessly as an orc by Sauron's command slit the beautiful throat of Nimloriel before his very eyes. In a surge of hot rage, shock, and despair, he pulled out his two concealed mithril dirks that blazed with a white flame, and madly slashed orcs on all sides. He slammed hard on Sauron, wounding him many times, and cursed him to the ground. This rage Sauron did not quite expect, thinking Verdan to be a peaceful elf and once again he felt fear in Verdan's presence by the might of Ilmare. But that soon diminished, and by throwing aside Verdan by the power of his ring, Sauron darted off into the rear taking with him Verdan's precious book.
"Destroy him" he said to the two remaining orcs and then disappeared into shadow. But the orcs were afraid of Verdan, and did not touch him, though he lay still, but ran away behind their master. At that moment, Celebrimbor, Magilnor, and Gil-galad with several orcs stormed in and found Verdan lying cold on the floor with many orcs around him dead. Beautiful Nimloriel they also found lying dead in her blood. At first they were afraid that Verdan too was dead, but he arose from his trance and numbly said, "He has taken my manuscripts - no doubt he found where they were located by desperate means - and is heading towards the mountains. I feel all is lost." Then he crawled over to the body of his wife and held her gently in his blood stained arms, "Forgive me, my love, forgive me" he whispered softly while weeping bitterly. He felt as if a part of him died, and from then on he never laughed nor smiled again. Celebrimbor hastily followed the trail of Sauron, but with no avail. He was caught and when he did not reveal the location of the three elven rings, he was killed by Sauron. Verdan was overcome by the depth of Sauron's deceit and knew he could never fully recover.
"There is still hope in Lillianna." Galadriel told him when he was back at Lothlorien and after the burial of Nimloriel there. Yet she herself felt no hope, because her hope had been in Verdan. Verdan took his child in his arms and spoke,
"I know what I must do now, though it shall tear my heart once more."
Galadriel gazed at him curiously, for his face showed no emotion, but his eyes were filled with sorrow.
"My work here is done. There is nothing more I can do." he spoke again while fingering the mithril pendant of his mother, "Lillianna must stay here while I leave this place, I see that now. She is the only thing I have left, yet I must give her away, for she must take my place."
Galadriel stood speechless when he said these words, for it was as if the Valar were speaking through him.
"Galadriel, daughter of Finarfin", Verdan said with a growing light in his eyes, "you have been a dear friend to me and Nimloriel. Now I will ask if you would be Lillianna's guardian. Teach her all you know, and let her know of her task when you deem ready, and should she choose to accept it, let her be the hope that you seek." Galadriel agreed to this with joy and sadness, for she grieved to see Verdan leave, but she understood the importance of what he spoke. He gave his pendant and weapons to Galadriel to give to Lillianna when her time came and then set off for Valinor. The last anyone saw of him, was his noble figure calm and aloft in a sea of sorrows, and whispering a song of hope,
