"These short winter days are best spent beside the fire,” Parnard remarked as he sampled another bottle of wine.
Danel smiled sweetly and said, “We have some surprises for you, Sogadan. Did you know that Parnard and I are now cousins?”
“There is not much resemblance, but we are kindred,” laughed the Wood-Elf, and turning to Danel said, “You are dressed head to foot in green: now you look more like a Wood-Elf than ever."
“I am honored that you think I look like one of your people - in a Noldor sort of way, I hope. I am wearing this garb as I am saving my gown for another occasion.”
Parnard whispered in her ear, “Not the betrothal dress?”
“Yes! We are to be betrothed!” she announded in a loud voice, making Parnard start and almost slosh wine on the marble floor. He was very careful not to mention a word to anyone about this news, and now Danel has told the entire Valley in one blurt! “We have a homestead in the Ered Luin, with workshops, and we are working on building up a good name in trade," she added.
“That is so,” said Parnard, who had quickly recovered from his confusion and smilingly observed, “We have a large hall and hope to fill it up with many elves. But we are not interested in the wine trade, Sogadan, so do not be worried!”
“I have a few designs in mind for jewelry, and Parnard will kindly assist.”
“I have been assisting Danel very much of late."
“And I am thinking of taking an apprentice, if all works well.”
“We shall find a suitable one: trust your confidence in me, Cousin!” Parnard said, taking Danel’s hand in his, and giving it an affectionate squeeze.
“So, what do you think of that?” she asked the Vintner. A wry smile on Danel’s face and a pained look from Sogadan was proof of the deception’s success. The Vintner's brow twitched and he seemed too disturbed to speak. The thought of his affable friend pairing off with one of these unrestrained Noldor, especially the fiery-tempered Danel, was evidently too much for Sogadan to bear.
“He is mightily surprised,” observed Parnard as they watched him twitch in his high-backed chair. “It is as they say - the blow that is unseen hurts the most! Sogadan did not expect me to run off and take up with a band of Noldor, I warrant! Ha ha ha! I am mightily surprised too, come to think of it.”
“Why should you doubt Parnard?” Danel said to Sogadan. “He looks every bit like a young Noldo lord in his new armour and with his Noldor steel blade. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, remaining Noldor smiths crafted it for him.”
Parnard narrowed his eyes at the Vintner. “I forgot to tell Sogadan about the armour - but did he doubt me, Danel? He ne’er told me he doubted me.”
“He said not so, Parnard, but he seems very doubtful now as he stares at you. Perhaps he does not believe that you have come across such good fortune.”
“Ah, Fortune smiled on me when I entered this house and met the Golodhrim…” mused Parnard, as it seemed to him that his usually bad luck turned to the good on that glorious day, when Danel brought his thoughts back to the present saying,
“Soon we shall ride to the Greenwood for the ceremony.”
“Betrothal in the Greenwood! In Felegoth itself?” cried Parnard.
“That is my hope.”
“And then there will be children in the hall!” He laughed happily just thinking about it, oblivious to Sogadan’s worsening twitches: it made the Vintner shudder to think of Parnard as a father.
“Not for many years yet,” said Danel. “No one in their right mind wants to bring a child into a darkening world full of war: is that not so, Parnard?”
Parnard traced a finger along the table as he mulled this question over. “For some years did my people live in the Greenwood during the Watchful Peace," he replied. "During that brief sojourn I was begetted, and if my parents had waited, peradventure I would not be here now, so I cannot say that I would wait when there is no lasting peace at all, anywhere in the world, so that every one of us has been born during a time of war - even Sogadan here, as peaceable a fellow you ne’er did see anywhere,” and he swatted Sogadan playfully on the shoulder.
“That is one way to look in the glass, I suppose. My people thought Morgoth restrained, and so many Noldor were brought into the world during that short time we called ‘peace.’”
“But when he got out of the sack they put him in, he stretched his foul limbs across the world and now we have no peace at all, alas! I am warming to this wine; perhaps we need to find Estarfin, and then Sogadan can bring out his very best.”
“He is walking the Vale, most likely, or he would be here.”
“There is no doubt of it. He can drink like a - a - ”
“He drinks as much as you, Parnard. Thankfully, he is mostly merry.” Then she looked Sogadan full in the face, her eyes flashing fire, and informed the Vintner how vexed she was made when he spread gossip about Estarfin having struck her, and how that lord would not speak with her for some time afterwards because he thought she hated him.
Parnard slowly lowered his wine glass as she spoke, dread filling his eyes. “Did you still want me to box his ears, Cousin?” he asked in a small voice: he had told her that he would when they returned to Imladris, and her hard words reminded him of this declaration.
“Yes, I did. But first, allow me to clarify, Master Sogadan, whilst you still have your wits about you, that Parnard and I are chosen cousins, and the very best of friends and -”
“Cousins, through and through, and the very best of friends!” interjected Parnard, flexing his fingers in preparation for the blow.
“- ‘tis the one you told the Vale had struck me that I shall be betrothed to: my lord and my love, Estarfin!”
“Indeed, we are such good friends that I must do as the lady directs, and box you in the ear for being a pert rascal with a runaway tongue. Come, Sogadan, do not look at me like that! I am obliged to bop you on the head,” Parnard said as he reluctantly bent each finger to his palm in a fist. “You may wish to close your eyes, as this will hurt a great deal.” When Sogadan’s eyes were closed, he looked imploringly at Danel - surely he would not need to strike the little Vintner?
“It will hurt less than if I did it,” she said.
“Do you wish to do it, Cousin?” he asked, and seeing Danel shake her head, nodded and set his mouth in a firm line. “Alright, then, I shall do it,” he muttered, and drew his fist back, then paused. “Now, are you certain this will assuage your hurt feelings toward Sogadan?”
“I am already assuaged,” she announced, and motioned for him to lower his fist.
“There, there! No need to tremble, Sogadan friend! Danel is merciful. You are very lucky I did not have to strike you after all: your head would have come clean off. But all is forgiven, and now we must drink to seal the deal. Friends again!” sang out Parnard.
“Tell tales as you wish, Sogadan, but think first as to whom you may harm,” Danel told him.
“That is right! You might do yourself an injury,” said Parnard brightly, and leaning over Sogadan to refill his wineglass, patted him on the chest and whispered, “You know that I could never harm you,” then declared him a true friend and best vintner in all the Valley.
