And Parnard passed Ruineth on the path, giving her a very wide berth.
I waved a greeting to our Mirkwood friend, and Estarfin nodded to him.
“We are ready to ride, Parnard,” I said.
“Have you finished your business here then?” he replied, casting a quick glance at the departing Ruineth.
“Yes, indeed. And our horses are ready to travel.” I looked at Parnard closely for a moment, knowing how distressed he had been about our home. “And you, have you managed to take some rest? “
He shook his head, and patted the full wine skin he carried.
“None of us rested well I fear. Nor shall we until we are home and understand the extent of the damage done. Marawendi, how is she doing?”
Parnard looked me in the eye. “ Danel, I asked her if she wished to remain here.”
“Ohh,” I said, though I was not surprised. Had Estarfin and I not been speaking of the very same thing?
“I warned her we did not know what we would find, but from what we know so far, it does not seem favourable.” Parnard continued.
“That is wise, cousin. I want Marawendi with us, all the more so after observing her tenacity in difficult situations. But I do not want her in danger again, nor to encourage her to do something against her better judgement.” I had grown to care about the young Wood Elf, and would get to know her more. But it had to be her free decision.
“She could stay here under the tutelage of the Valley Elves, “ Parnard explained.
“And what is her answer?”
Parnard shook his head. “She comes with us.”
“That is good,” added Estarfin, who had been listening silently. “We do not ride into any battle, at least not yet.”
“I am surprised to report that answer to you. I thought she was mighty impressed with it here… but it seems she is already attached to you, Cousin.”
I smiled slightly at those words. I thought of other students who had become attached to me in the past. I thought again of Aearlinn. “Then we honour her courage.” I turned momentarily to Estarfin, though I already knew his answer “And you, meldanya, what are your thoughts on this?”
He turned to look at me.”As I say, we do not ride straight into battle. She will be safe with us on the road. Once we reach our destination it will be her choice what she does.”
I nodded. It was good enough for me. And I thought then that, if the place was too devastated, Marawendi might stay in Mithlond for awhile. Lelyaro and Arnone, or Gaerion would always find a place for her.
“I did not get to tell Sogadan anything of our travels,” Parnard said, looking up at the sky. “But it is just as well.”
He turned his head, as did we all, as a subdued Marawendi arrived. She nodded to us each in turn, but her pretty face was lowered.
“I am glad you are joining us,” I said to her. There was a very small smile upon her lips.
Parnard looked encouragingly at her, then hustled her in the direction of her fat pony.
Estarfin took a deep breath, and seemed to be savouring the scents of the valley. Then he nodded. “To the horses, then.”
~ ~ ~
The ride West was a familiar one. There was little problem on that trail. We rode on the usual paths, across the High Moor and down to the Ford, then through the Trollshaws. Then, it still being night, we drew nigh a few roaming packs of wolves, who knew better than to attack an Elven group. They kept a good distance, and soon lost interest.
Once we crossed the Last Bridge we kept a little away from the road, particularly around the area of Ost Guruth. The Men there usually kept to themselves, having enough to do keeping their lands free of trouble, but I was always happier once we passed that place. The Lone Lands themselves felt chill to me. Not a physical cold, but one felt in the spirit. A land once vital and alive, now deep in a dreamless sleep, save for the occasional nightmare.
And then there was Bree.
We spoke not of the Men that dwelt therein, or in nearby villages. I thought a time would come soon when we did speak though. It took little imagination to suspect the attackers came from the Breelands, and that we would ride hence to seek retribution. I almost welcomed the relief of the Old Forest. After recently riding through Moria its darkness was of little consequence. And then there was the Shire.
Now I knew Estarfin rather liked riding through the Shire, and I did myself. That land was alive. There was a gentle warmth that exudes from the hills and vales,and from the small villages. As usual we tried to remain unseen, which was not that difficult. Although we were hurried travellers, we made a proper camp one evening, and spoke a little, but mostly watched the stars. We had noticed a few of the rougher looking men in some of the villages we passed. Some were speaking harshly to the Halflings. But it was not our place to intervene.
“There is still a form of innocence here,” I said to Estarfin, recalling the last time we had travelled that way.
“For now,” he replied.
“They still know little of the World beyond their bounds.”
“They will soon know more of it, with those Men here,” Parnard added. “And it will be beyond their ken.”
I rose from the grass upon which I had been sitting and walked to one of the nearby apple trees, picking a couple of apples.
“Still hungry?” I asked, for we had already eaten our daily rations.
Estarfin nodded and held out his hand. I threw one apple to him, and the other to Marawendi who had also looked up. Seeing Parnard was also interested I picked one for him, and a fourth for myself.
Returning to the small group I resumed my place on the grass, and looked out over the vale.
“Trouble may be close,” I said, “But for now it is still peaceful. A land of childlike beings.”
Parnard had risen to his feet and was picking several more apples and placing them in his saddlebags. “Marawendi, go on,” he encouraged. “Pick what you want. We will likely pay the farmer back in blood sometime, saving him or his kin.”
“Quite possibly,” I said, but then lent back on my elbows and followed Estarfin in looking at the stars. “Do you remember when we were here before?” I asked him, and he nodded, looking back to me for a moment.
“Indeed. Their villages here look the same as those of our friends in Yondershire.” Then he was back, looking at the stars again for answers.
I pointed up at the bright Valarcirya. “She reminds us that she watches over us.”
Parnard looked up, his hood falling back. “Vengeance it says.”
“The sky?” I asked him.
“The Big Sickle,” he replied.
Estarfin frowned.
“The Valarcirya is a reminder,” I continued.
“Of what?” asked Parnard.
“It is a challenge to the first Dark Lord, a reminder the Valar watch over us. And yet… it does seem often that Tintalle is the only one who remembers.”
“It was set in the heavens by Tintalle at the awakening of our kind,” Estarfin added. “Will it light the sky still when we are gone, and Men have dominion over these lands?”
I lowered my head. Such was a hard thought.
“If anything is left,” Estarfin muttered.
Parnard and Marawendi were looking somewhat disconcerted by our exchange of words. I wanted to turn the tide of converse, at least a little.
“I believe she will watch over us, even if but a few of us are left,” I tried to sound convinced.
Estarfin looked away from the stars.
“The others, apart from Ulmo, they shirk their duty. Do not be downcast, Estarfin, we are not deserted by all.”
“No. But to have a home attacked again…It is hard.” he replied. Then he turned to look at me. “But I am selfish, it is harder for you of course.”
I shook my head vehemently, realising I had not given him the support he had given me. This hurt him too. And not just Numenstaya.
“We have both lost homes, meldanya. I know it is so long ago, but I can never forget the fires in Thargelion. I was often driven on by enemy attacks until the end of the War of Wrath, and then there was the Fall of Eregion.” I shook my head again. “You are not selfish. You also lost home to the flames, and now we lose our home to flames again it seems.”
“We must see what damage they have wrought upon the house,” Parnard said, tossing the core of his eaten apple over his shoulder. “Until then, we are just guessing.”
But we had lost Estarfin’s attention. He was looking over Parnard and Marawendi’s heads, to the edge of the dark wood.
“What is it?” I whispered. I looked to the horses to see if they had picked up any unusual sound, but they were busy cropping fresh Shire grass.
He looked for a moment longer, then turned back to us. “I thought I saw something, someone in the bushes by the trees.” He shook his head.
But I was also alerted. Estarfin did not act so without due reason. He returned to our conversation, but frequently looked to the forest.
(Meldanya - Dear one.)
