“And that is what I heard happened to the Lady Danel. It was a training lesson, that is all, nothing more, nothing less,” Sogadan finished.
“Behold the display of the power of the Noldor!” said Parnard bitterly. How little did the vintner know! Those such as Estarfin have a hardness of heart that they care not whom they smite down in their fury, yet elves such as these are praised for their power and faithfulness! Could the Noldor have accomplished any of their great feats without their wrath? Does that make their wrath justified? Surely, it needs control, and be suffered to proceed no further than it should. Yet Estarfin’s ferocity lacks restraint, and unchecked anger is as dangerous as any storm, or any earthquake, or fire...
Even if the streets were filled with the corpses of his enemies, even then, Parnard doubted this vengeful anger would be satisfied. Estarfin hath girded himself with wrath, so that he may destroy his enemies, and he hath saved up great stores of it, as provisions or arms, and reserved these for the world. One day, this mad passion will be unleashed upon it, and woe to any who oppose him! Since there is no sense in contending with this fey Noldo, it is wiser to submit to him. Parnard frowned.
Though the forest was dangerous, he feared Estarfin's wrath more than the wicked creatures therein. I will not seek his favour, he told himself, but I will neither provoke nor irritate him: what he cannot turn into anger cannot break out. As the raging sea pounds against the shores and can go no further inland, so shall his anger be bounded - but not quelled. We must ride out the storm and hope for placid waters, and our safe return -
“Well? Have you the money to-day or not?” Sogadan chided, interrupting his thoughts.
“I told you I would,” Parnard replied, his voice tinged with annoyance. He brought out his coin purse and shook it, jingling the coins together. The vintner stretched his hand out. Parnard pulled out a single coin, which he placed in his palm. Sogadan shook his head and looked very unimpressed. He kept his hand out as Parnard reluctantly dropped coin after coin into it, until he had counted out all the coins he had, and sighing, hung the empty coin purse back on his belt.
“How did you come by such a great fortune, Parnard?” Sogadan teased.
Parnard gave him a cold look. “Many hours of fishing and time spent trading it at market: time that would have been better spent in the library! Now, I have paid for your new tunic, Sogadan, and for the bottles of wine taken from you by Estarfin, and extra for your hurts and inconvenience, as you demanded, and now that my debt is paid in full, we have nothing more to say to one another, since you find my company so poor,” he said, assuming such an air of injured innocence, that Sogadan could not help but laugh.
“Come, come! I am not as cruel as you make me out to be, Parnard. You know that you – and your money - are always welcome here!” He grinned.
Parnard looked at the Vintner, one brow cocked, the firelight dancing brightly in his green eyes. A sardonic smile spread across his face. “Perhaps, perhaps...I was mistaken about you. I may just find myself missing you after all, Sogadan, as I most certainly will miss your wine. But I doubt it.”
