“When?”
“Two days ago.” The Ambassador looked bitter, his usual pleasant disposition gone. “I would not have thought Estarfin to be so foolish as to disobey Lord Anglachelm.”
Limiriel hoisted her shield on her back, kicking up her spear and catching it.
“There is nothing for me to do in the Valley. And as you know, I... have amends to make." Pausing, she pulled out the small dagger in her glove then sheathed it again. "Gladly will I take on this errand.”
Parnard looked at her, dubious. “You cannot hope to bring him back alone.”
She jumped onto the enormous roan, and looked down at him with an icy grin.
“Then I am grateful that it is not my job.”
***
The flickering fire turned the packed snow on her hanging clothes into a puddle on the cave floor.
“No one has passed this way since the snows started.” The dwarf turned the rabbit roasting on the spit, prodding it with his dagger. “And if they had, they would not have left a trail for long.” His eyes wandered over to the cross-legged elf across from him. “Nor would you had that bear not found you first."
“I cannot account for avalanches, master dwarf.” Limiriel rolled her eyes as she took down her hair and shook it out to dry it. "But I thank you for your hospitality."
A grunt. “It's a miracle you did not break any limbs.”
She simply tapped her shield with a faint smile. “And you, khazad? What are you doing here this time of year?”
The dwarf raised an eyebrow at her before returning his attention to the rabbit. “Fur trapping does not stop simply because of a few flakes.”
Her crackling laughter echoed through the cave. “Brave. Stupid, but brave.”
“No less than can be said for you, elf.”
Limiriel shrugged. “My errand was more important. Bad luck has little to do with judgment."
Her host eyed her curiously as he handed her half the rabbit before leaning back against a rock. But Limiriel only wolfed down her dinner, ignoring the expectant dwarf. Licking her fingers, she looked around the cave. A bored-looking goat slowly munched on some hay. Her own horse had been turned back for Imladris once the snowdrifts became too much for the heavy beast. The dwarf ate slowly, watching her closely as she stood and walked to the cave's mouth.
“The blizzard may last half a week. Will you venture out again?”
Limiriel slowly turned her head to him, eyes narrowed in thought. “I suppose not. The trail – should it have existed before – will be gone. But… “ Another shrug. “The snow will end. My quarry will have to wait this out." The elf knelt over her pack, pulling out a blanket. "I am happy to pay for my stay, in fur or gold.”
The dwarf smiled wryly, setting his plate down. “It won’t be cheap.”
A feral, wolfish grin. “If it was, it wouldn’t be a dwarven keep.”
***
"If I find him, I will leave a trail. But those that passed judgment should be the ones to upkeep it."
Parnard paced, uneasy, as she turned her horse northward. "Return if you can."
Limiriel have him a vague, curt nod. Leather creaked as she turned to check on the fastening of her shield. Bar-en-Vanimar's ambassador watched restlessly as she calmly fiddled with the strap. Satisfied, her steely gaze turned to the road.
"I... hope I do not disappoint you, Albatross. For his sake."
Her horse took off brusquely, leaving the cloud of hay to settle in the empty stable.
