S.A 1350
Orneth stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sight of Naerchanar. She examined him in awe, unable to find words to describe the striking beauty that radiated from him. He, on the other hand, seemed puzzled by her presence. As she took a step closer, she summoned the courage to speak his name. "Naerchanar?" He turned to his men and spoke with a stern voice, "Leave!" His physical presence was overpowering, causing Orneth to step back as he walked towards her. His eyes were not as friendly as she remembered, but he knew her name. "Orneth?" Orneth looked at him, a mix of feelings overwhelming her. She was relieved that he remembered her, but his serious demeanor was far from the friend she had once known. Naerchanar walked towards the table, his every movement regal and commanding. His fine clothing and mature appearance made her feel inferior, as if she should kneel before him, but she resisted the urge. She wondered if he remembered their friendship. In a soft voice, he asked, "They told me you were looking for someone."
Orneth's heart raced as she realized she had a mission to fulfill. Naerchanar had changed, and something about him felt different. She struggled to find the words to say, "Yes, I am indeed looking for someone. We have been searching for Manyamë for years, and we believe she may have a connection to this place. Is she here?" As Orneth gazed at Naerchanar, she struggled to maintain her composure in front of the person who was once her friend. His sharp gaze seemed to bore into her, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed. "Who sent you to do this search? I heard you came with Demdor. He was once my friend, but at the moment, he is just a very troublesome individual to me." Orneth looked at him and asked, "Troublesome?" Naerchanar looked distant and unreal as he gazed down. Orneth took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "We have been searching for Manyamë for years," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "The last clue we found was in the guesthouse 'Golden Hope.' It led us here. I joined Mannamo's family on their journey to Eregion. We discovered Manyamë's name in the city's archives, and various signs and clues led us here to this settlement. Do you remember her?" Naerchanar regarded Orneth with a serious expression, his lips pressed into a thin line. As he spoke, she could have sworn his eyes grew darker, as if a storm was brewing within him. "Of course," he replied curtly, and with that, he left her, leaving Orneth to ponder his sudden shift in demeanor.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed in Naerchanar. He was colder, more distant than she remembered. Despite his hatred for the Noldor, Orneth knew him well enough to sense that there was something else at play. As she stepped out of the tent and looked around the bustling camp, Orneth couldn't help but wonder about the settlement's inhabitants. They were a mix of eldar and men, all dressed in fine robes, but she couldn't determine their origins. Were they refugees or old soldiers, seeking solace in this temporary abode? Or were they eldar who had grown disillusioned with life in the main city of Eregion and sought to carve out a new path for themselves here in Caranhoth?
The settlement sprawled across a vast expanse of land, and as Orneth wandered through the labyrinthine pathways, she discovered a variety of structures - from bustling stalls to quaint houses and even modest farms located on the outskirts of the settlement. Despite the initial confrontation with Naerchanar, Orneth decided to remain in the settlement for a few days, driven by a single-minded purpose - to locate Manyamë. Too many coincidences had led her here: the map highlighting the settlement, the son of Manyamë, and the fact that Naerchanar, who once shared a close friendship with Manyamë, was now in charge of the settlement. Could it be that Manyamë was here to see him? Was Naerchanar the reason she left Mithlond? Orneth couldn't help but wonder if the figure in the blue hooded cloak that Manyamë had seen was none other than Naerchanar himself. She sensed that he was hiding something from her, and that he did not trust her motives for being there. But why? What secrets was he keeping?
Picture AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
