He needed answers. He needed some clarity, and so did I. What did I want from him?
~ ~ ~
“You have a red haired visitor here?” that familiar voice spoke to the stable master.
And I wondered. I had deemed it time to seek him out again. Was it the same with him? I had both wanted to see him after Daegond’s passing, and not wanted to. So few of we ‘old’ Noldor were left that the loss of any one of us could be a deep blow.
He turned to look at my dappled horse, with obvious recognition, as the Stable Master nodded confirmation. Pelorien sniffed as he held out a hand to her momentarily. She blew a warm breath into the still cool morning air, in her own recognition.
He turned from the stables, looking for me.
“Estarfin!" I called.
He saw, and walked towards me at a measured pace. “It is true then, you have returned to these lands.”
I coughed back the sudden instinct to laugh at the surprise, but he showed no surprise at all. He had expected me to be here.
“It is good to see you, but..” I halted, as he looked around the small ruins for any possible threat, before laying down his heavy shield.
“We are well guarded here.” I confirmed, though I was looking searchingly at him. He appeared….very much his old self again. Better than when I had briefly seen him in Imladris. Much better than when I had departed for Mithlond. But his injuries in the Hithaeglir had been more than physical. I moved closer, to lay a hand on his arm in greeting. Then halted, thinking better of it.
There was the old fire in his sea grey eyes again. That spark of an unquenchable will. But there was also a question.
He indicated we should move further away from any prying eyes. Not that the handful of guards looked interested in us, nor the Dwarves, who were now cooking presumably for their own journey.
I followed his red clad form ( he wore but a light armour, yet still bore the colours of our folk, as did I.) Over the crisped and white tinged grass we trod, seeking a place behind one of the high boulders that stood like silent sentries around Echad Eregion.
“It has been too long,” I said earnestly, as we turned to face each other, I meant it. I could not help but smile a little as I relaxed. There was much to say, but in that moment seeing him whole again was enough.
“A few years,” he replied in an even tone. “Barely more than the blink of an eye. There has been much to think on after all.”
I glanced at the ground, pondering all I wanted to tell him, to ask him, but unsure where to start.
“A few years can seem like an age, when there is much to think on.” I looked up again. He was watching me carefully. Considering my response? “But first, all is well with you it appears?”
And he shrugged his broad shoulders, giving very little away.
I could not suppress a grin. “You are as you ever were, before the injury, I see.” (Stubborn, difficult, guarded, I added in though…but ai, it is good to see you so.)
“I have healed in body, if that is what you ask?” He was still searching me, for any injury or sign of something changed?
I stood straight under his gaze, resisting the urge to pace back and forth.
“There is little we cannot heal from, given time,” he added.
Was that a hint of a twitch of his mouth? Was he perchance, about to smile? Nay, I thought not.
“Sometimes the spirit does not aid us as swiftly as we wish?”
There was a twitch of his lips. Definitely then, he wanted to say something more to the point.
A guard walked close by, but seeing us, and knowing we were nether in danger, nor a threat, courteously moved on.
“You appear as you ever do.” Estarfin still managed to remain motionless, his gaze firm. “I assume you have suffered no great wounds in our time apart?”
I could not help but chuckle aloud. Holding out my arms, I turned, still under his assessing gaze, that he see I had no great wound, at least not physically.
“And you sound as you ever do. I have missed your bluntness.”
Estarfin shrugged. “Missed? I have not been hard to find.”
It was my turn to shrug. I thought of the two times I had been in the Hidden Vale, and not found him there. I had found Belegos in those times, however.
“You have been in Imladris all along?”
“Where else would I go? Westwards?”
Now we were talking. ‘Touche! ‘ I thought. He was angry with me.
