Estarfin’s brow furrowed as he narrowed his gaze. “How many warriors does the Captain of Celondim command? Would he support an attack on Bree?” he asked.
Parnard crossed his arms. “I know not his mind, friend Estarfin. You would have to ask him yourself! I am not going to ask this ‘Captain’ anything.” Then he turned to Curumaito. “Are you quite sure about that? Captain Culufinnel?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the healer. “He seems most well-organised, and knows well what he wants to achieve. But alas, I do not think he is the sort of Elf I would wish for as a house guest. He is a talker, not a listener.”
Parnard shot him a piercing look before turning away. “So he got what he always wanted,” he muttered under his breath.
I knew some of the difficulties Parnard had suffered due to Culufinnel’s actions regarding his betrothal. My heart ached for him, that he had been nay-sayed in such a harsh manner, by Brasseniel’s father. We were all glad to be away from that place, save perhaps Marawendi. And now we found we had not left it all behind, for one of Parnard’s least liked inhabitants of that place was stationed close by.
“I thought he served the Greenwood. Why has he come west? Estarfin asked.
“I know not,” answered the Wood-Elf, somewhat sullenly, “though it is likely he was thrown out of the Greenwood army and they would not have him back.” Parnard sighed, his shoulders slumping forward as if he was suddenly tired, and motioned to Barahirn to move over. The stablemaster groaned, obligingly sliding his legs over the mattress to make room.
“Do not lie on my patient, please!” Curumaito admonished, hopping out of his chair to prevent Parnard from settling down too comfortably.
“I can try and speak with Lord Cirdan about this, if you wish, Cousin?” I said. I wondered if Cirdan would even take my plea into account. It was worth a try. Parnard seemed not to hear, so I repeated the question.
After several moments Parnard sighed out, “And what is the new ‘Captain’ going to do about these Men!”
Pouring out another glass of water for Barahirn, Curumaito replied in his even-tempered way, “Organise, and build walls with a tall watchtower.”
“A watchtower! Where? Here! In this very room?” scoffed Parnard.
Curumaito shook his head. “The walls and tower are for Celondim.”
Estarfin frowned. “We should build strong walls here - and perhaps a dyke?”
I looked at him, my gaze softening as I sought to understand his thoughts. Such would be a large undertaking, and we had only a few folk with us. The neighbours might give aid, but it was a lot to ask them, and there was another matter we had not yet discussed.
“All well and good of the Captain, but that helps us how?” I said. “Numenstaya was the place attacked, not Celondim. I am questioning if we should rebuild here?”
“You would return to Imladris?” said Estarfin.
“We have four possibilities as I see it. We merely rebuild the houses, or we rebuild and fortify, or we search for another place where it will be harder for men to find us, or we seek the safety of Imladris or Mithlond. For my part, I would have us and our people safe.”
Estarfin’s gaze rested on me, searching for a direct answer.
I waved a hand, he would never pressure me to agree with him, but on this matter, as on many, we stood as one. “It is not in my mind to flee or hide from Men.”
And that was what he had hoped to hear. He nodded. “So be it. We do not flee.”
“We were not here to guard our home when they attacked: it would have gone differently for them if we were,” said Parnard.
He was right. The three of us would have given swift rejection to those unwelcome ‘guests’. “Did they know we were not here when they attacked?” I said. Something about what had happened seemed coldly calculated to me.
Parnard sat up. “Did they know, or was the attack mere happenstance?”
“You think it was something other than their innate wickedness that drew them here, to pillage and plunder?” Estarfin asked.
“I question not their wickedness,” I said in answer to them both. “But we are not the nearest to the border with Yondershire. Why ride into Elven lands? Why not rob the first place they passed?”
Parnard flipped a long forelock of silver-streaked hair from his eyes and said, “Who knows the thought of a Man, save the spirit of the Man within him?”
“Lelyaro seems to think it could have been deliberate. Possibly for the jewels kept here?” Curumaito suggested.
“But how did they know I am a jewelsmith? It is not that common a trade among our people. We could as well have been gardeners, or rug makers.”
As I spoke I noticed Marawendi pressing the back of her hand to her mouth, politely suppressing a yawn. Curumaito also noticed. “I am glad you all returned,” he said. “Whatever is planned will be improved upon with adequate rest. And like it or not,” he turned to address the stablemaster, “you should also rest.”
I nodded in agreement. “You have been most helpful, Barahirn. Take a well-earned rest. It may be you remember more on the morrow?” I inclined my head to the youth, and smiled my thanks.
The stablemaster slowly lay back upon the pillow. There was something of a twinkle in his eyes, a look of hope that had not been there earlier.
Rousing himself, Parnard got to his feet and walked over to Marawendi’s chair by the fireplace. “Come with me,” he said to the elf-maid. “I shall see to your comfort and accommodation. First a bath, and then to bed.”
She smiled at him in her girlish innocence as he led her away by the hand. I would rest easier in mind once I knew she had her own room to retire to, rather than feel she always had to be with Parnard. I wanted her to feel as free as possible in Numenstaya, but the talk of fortifications could not have helped her, in that respect.
“I have work to do, at the forge,” Estarfin announced enigmatically.
“You have sleep to do, meldanya,” I replied. He gave me one of those familiar looks, both wistful and unyielding; longing versus duty. I knew that once his mind was made up, it was impossible to sway him from his purpose. “Ah well, I shall see you in the morning then. I suspect we shall all be sleeping in the rooms upstairs, unless Parnard and Marawendi go to his rooms. I would rather we all stayed close - just in case.”
Estarfin nodded. He looked back to the main hall, his eyes keenly focused on the forge. Although I was still concerned that he never seemed to sleep, I would not argue with him.
“A bath and bed would be most welcome to me,” I said, laying a hand on his shoulder. “And not needing to awaken at dawn’s first light.”
He ran his fingers through my hair, lingering a few moments, as Curumaito passed us by discreetly.
“Though I wish it were otherwise, there are practical matters I must attend to, the sooner the better.” he sighed. “Understand me here, Racarne. Until tomorrow.”
Racarne - Red / Scarlet Wolf
