Glad to be there.

Estarfin had eventually arrived, taking Norlome to the stable, and then striding over the large lawns to join Danel and Parnard overlooking the sea. He looked exhausted.

Danel smiled a warm greeting. Estarfin nodded in return.

"Where have you been, friend Estarfin?" asked Parnard, offering up an almost full wine skin. 

"Working the forge. It is time I started earning my keep again."

Parnard blinked as the concept of 'earning one's keep' sank in. "Making swords or suchlike?"

"Not for now. There is no great call for weapons in these parts. I have a comission for some decorative gates."

Danel nodded slightly as Estarfin partook of Parnard's wine. She understood it was not just about earning one's keep for Estarfin, but wanted to choose her words well.  

"There is no urgent need to bring in coin, but I wonder if we may not all benefit from taking up our crafting again? I am seeking to fashion some jewellry pieces to sell, and have two designs sketched that I am pleased with. I will start work when I return to Numenstaya." 

"I have taken up the flute." offered Parnard, taking up his flute, then lowering it. Relenting at the hopeful and encouraging looks from the two Noldor, he gave them a short tune.

"It sounds like a bird in flight. Did you write the tune yourself?" asked Estarfin, taking a second drink and offering the wine skin to Danel.

She gently shook her head. 

"No, I just put my fingers over the holes and it makes sounds."said Parnard. "Sometimes I hit the same holes, sometimes not. It depends on my moods and my fancy."

Parnard also had important news to give to Estarfin. 

"Danel brought me to the sea for the first time today, and it did not swallow me up." the Woodelf smiled ecstatically. "I do not understand all the fuss about Sea Longing, to be sure."

Estarfin smiled with genuine relief, and nodded at the words. "I am glad. It seems that we were concerned over nothing after all."

With a shrug, Parnard momentarily took the wine skin, drinking more wine, before giving it back to Estarfin. 

And all the while, Danel watched them both with a happier heart than she could recall having for very many years. 'Almost as family,' she dared think.

There came a time when Parnard looked back and forth between the Noldor, chuckling to himself, then indicating he wished to rest. He would retire to the room he had already chosen in the house. The one with the large tree. And he skipped in a not-so-tired manner back across the sward, laughing to himself. 

"He has been overwhelmingly happy ever since he realised the sea has no hold upon him, save for it's beauty." Danel spoke up.

"It was a risk," Estarfin leant casually against the wall, his own eyes drawn to the dark water under the stars.

"A little more wine and some star-watching before sleep?" Danel suggested to Estarfin, noting he had already taken both suggestions to heart. He still had most of Parnard's wine skin, and held it out to her again in offering.

"Just the stars for me, thank you."

Nodding, Estarfin turned to the view at the front of the lawns, and walked over nigh the edge. Danel followed closely. Both turned to watch the stars, as they oft did.

"I am glad you made it here this night, though I know it has meant a lot of riding for you," Danel said, turning for a moment to look to Estarfin.

He took a deep breath of the sea air. "It is good to be here, Danel." he replied.