Parnard rose to his feet and bowed before Estarfin as he approached us. He looked a little weary to me, though not overly so. We tried to take regular shifts of guard duty, he and I, Yrill and Ceuru and Filignil. Barahirn protested he was also able to take his turn, but we deemed he needed a couple more weeks rebuilding his strength.
Estarfin nodded a greeting in return, inclined his head to me, and then nodded to Earcalie in recognition.
“Aiya,” she hailed him, knowing him somewhat from Imladris.
“Estarfin friend, are you now resting from your watch?” Parnard asked.
“Nothing of note? No movement on the road?” I said.
Estarfin reached down and filled an empty glass with wine. “The road is quiet, save for Hingalas. He has departed back to the Havens, I deem.”
I smiled at him, welcomingly, pushing the picnic basket in his direction.”Hingalas found he had an urgent mission. Estarfin, you recall Earcalie?”
He nodded at Earcalie again. “Of course. What brings you so far from Imladris? You come to offer aid?”
“Aid…sort of. I had no idea any of this had happened until a couple of hours ago.”
Parnard watched Estarfin drink wine with eyes bright, then tore off a wing from a roasted chicken and began gnawing on it.
“I left the valley, and returned to live here,” she began explaining to Estarfin, “A new chapter in my life, in short.”
Estarfin raised his glass slightly to her. “May it be a happy one.”
“The Valley does have its comforts - a respite from what happens around it,” Parnard said, between bites of chicken.
I wanted to explain more fully to Estarfin, that he recognised Earcalie’s responsibilities. “Earcalie does important work, guarding the caravans from the coast, meldanya. But at present I would that she takes extra care.”
Earcalie took up another piece of chicken and some buttered bread. “I don’t know how important it is. It keeps me busy, though if you say Men have entered Lindon, then maybe it will become more important than I thought.” Earcalie blinked suddenly. She tilted her head. “Meldanya?”
“This is the second time..” I began to explain, then I stopped..and blinked in turn. Parnard broke out laughing. I was a touch embarrassed that despite all I had told her, I had not told her my happiest news. “I did not tell you,” I began.
“Clearly not,” she replied with a grin.
Parnard whisked up the wine bottle, and strode around refilling our glasses. “We must drink,” he informed us.
Estarfin had already moved to sit beside me. I looked to him for a moment, he nodded, then I looked back to Earcalie.
“Estarfin and I are betrothed, Earcalie, since Midwinter, in Imladris, after over six and a half thousand years of waiting,” I said, and could not help but smile.
Estarfin nodded.
“Well then, belated congratulations.” She raised her glass to us both.
Parnard set down the bottle and raised his glass high.
“Thank you,” Estarfin and I said at the same time.
Earcalie laughed out loud. “Hope and patience never die, eh?”
I looked over at Estarfin and smiled. “Yes, I would say never give up hope.”
Parnard remained standing, holding his glass with the stoicism of a statue before tossing the wine down his throat.
“More wine, cousin?” He was never one to refuse wine. After I refilled it, I turned to Earcalie.
“Oh, Parnard already filled mine to the brim,” she said.
I raised my glass to Estarfin, and he raised his to me, then to the stars of Tintallie. (For by then the stars were above us.) Then I sat close beside him.
“You do look good together,” Earcalie said.
I thought it was probably our shared choice of red garments, though I allowed myself a smile, and thought she meant something deeper.
“Now we must drink to Estarfin and Danel of Thargelion of Old, and to a lucky and fruitful marriage,” announced Parnard.
I found the colour rising to my cheeks even though there was nothing to be embarrassed about. All was as it should be, and I was pleased Earcalie knew. I was pleased if any friend knew.
I looked at Estarfin again. His head was bowed.
“To all of that, and to the algae rope.” Earcalie raised her glass.
Parnard nodded. “That too, I suppose,” he said, and drank to the algae rope.
Estarfin was glancing at me. I held up my wine glass to him. “Artanaro!” I said, voicing the epesse I had given him.
He nodded, “Racarne,” he responded with the name he had given me.
Parnard and Earcalie raised their glasses again to this.
“And we drink to our new homestead as well. Numa -” Parnard paused, uncertain. “What is it called again, Estarfin friend?”
“Numenarta,” Estarfin said. “In time…”
“Numenarta that is to become, in time,” Parnard smiled at us.
“Whatever the name, this is, and shall ever remain, home,” I said, my heart full. “Let us drink to luck, to happiness, to home, to what is to come.”
Estarfin raised his glass. “To what is to come,” he said in Quenya.
Earcalie followed our actions, raising her glass and toasting her ‘home’ and ‘what lay ahead’, with a thoughtful look.
Parnard gazed skyward. “Rain is coming, says the moonlight,” he said.
“I hope it delays until he gets home,” I could picture Hingalas riding through any weather in his eagerness to speak with Lord Cirdan about algae. “He was speaking about rope again, Estarfin.”
Estarfin turned to regard me. He did not look surprised. “Indeed.”
Earcalie began giggling uncontrollably. “I might be a bit at fault for that.”
I nodded slightly to Earcalie.
“He left all in a rush,” said Parnard. “I have never seen Hingalas move so swiftly.”
“He looks to make rope from seaweed,” I explained to Estarfin. “Seaweed has many uses, but I did not think ropemaking was one of them. Yet there may be something in it: Lord Cirdan will know.”
Estarfin nodded reassuringly, moving closer and laying his sword carefully on the grass.
Earcalie softly spoke. “Every legend starts from a grain of truth,” she said. We nodded.
“Earcalie also spoke of Naergon,” I added.
Estarfin looked at Earcalie with curiosity. “How is he?”
“He is well, as well as can be said for someone who loves melancholy. He is currently debating whether to sail soon or not.” Earcalie softened her tone as she spoke about her good friend.
“His betrothed was slain, as I recall?” I, too, spoke in a low voice. “She is in the Blessed Realm, though he may want to see as much as he can here, before he departs, as do you?”
“Maybe…I don’t talk to him about it. I try to keep his spirits up until he makes a decision.”
I nodded. “That is a wise and compassionate thing to do.”
Leaning back on her elbow, Earcalie continued. “He has adapted surprisingly well to life here in Lindon though.”
“It is quite different to Imladris, though both have many virtues.” I looked to Estarfin, who returned my gaze with a raised brow. “You have adapted well to life here, have you not, meldanya?”
He softened his own gaze and nodded. In truth, I believed he was most at home.
“It seems to me that even Hammers can find a different life.” I laid my hand beside his and he moved to gently enfold it for a moment.
“Close, but not too close to the sea. It is - was - peaceful here.” he said.
“And it will be again.” I spoke with conviction. I saw our future here. I would make it so.
“Unless we are recalled.” He let go of my hand and turned away momentarily, his head lowered. He would not want to go, I knew that. But I also understood duty. If recalled, he would return to Imladris.
“Naergon quit the Hammers,” Parnard said, all of a sudden, and looked sharply at Estarfin, as if to gauge his reaction to this news.
“He did,” confirmed Earcalie.
Such was truth, but Estarfin was not Naergon. If we Noldor were involved in battle again, he would be there. So would I.
He started picking at a piece of the never ending roast chicken on his plate. I fleetingly wondered if we could ever get bored of eating Filignil’s herbed chicken? But I needed to speak, to confirm to him what he likely suspected.
“If you are recalled to duty, I ride with you. Such is my choice and my path, for I will not sit in safety while you and others carry the weight of a war. But as for Naergon, if he has found peace, he is to be commended.”
Estarfin looked at me for a moment, then said, “All are free to follow their own path.” He would not argue with me about it as he had about finally taking a ship. That was pleasing.
I smiled warmly, then turned to Earcalie again. “Please tell him it would be good to see him again, Earcalie.”
“Of course I will.”
“And tell him to stop being so gloomy,” Parnard said.
“I have done so, multiple times. I am beginning to think he is just too stubborn to listen.” Earcalie smiled a little and shrugged.
“Ah, the wagon has driven itself into a rut: it must be rocked out,” said Parnard.
“Does he still write songs?” I inquired, thinking that Naergon’s love of music was the most likely way to free his mood.
“Oh yes,” Earcalie shifted position, her expression alight with hope. “He has composed some new songs, and I gave him a book of elven sea-shanties to add to his library.”
“Ah, that is wonderful. I do recall the melancholy, but there is also much beauty in his music,” I replied.
“The beauty was always there, even when mixed with the melancholy,” Earcalie replied.
“Then ask him if he may come to the Autumn Feast this year? There is food and drink for at least a week. Many of Mirkwood’s finest dishes. Oh…and where is Marawendi, Parnard? She should have been with us.”
“She has been aiding Filignil with food preservations for the winter, I believe,” he answered.
“Who?” asked Earcalie, not recognising the name.
“Marawendi: she is new to our company, a delightful young elleth from Mirkwood,” I explained.
“It has been difficult for her, I believe,” Estarfin added.
“Oh, she may be young and untutored, but she is very swift in the learning, and very light of foot,” said Parnard as he wiped grease from his fingers.
I sighed. “I hoped to give her a good home, and teach her a trade. She deserved better than the dark homeward journey we had, and the disturbing events that happened here; it is my hope that, as this place is rebuilt, I will have time to start her lessons. Then, with more of a routine, she may settle.”
Parnard rose to his feet. “Now that you mention the maiden,” he said, picking up one of the bottles of wine, “I shall seek her out, and see how she fares under Filignil’s tutelage in the kitchen.”
Earcalie also rose to her feet. “Good to see you again, ambassador, or ex-ambassador. Eh…can I just call you Parnard?”
“Parnard, or Lord Parnard,” he laughed. He inclined his head to each of us in turn, and tucking the bottle underneath his arm, took his leave.
“High Lord Parnard,” I whispered, so that Estarfin looked amused, and then the Wood-elf was gone, striding away in the direction of the main Hall.
Earcalie hurriedly ate what was left on her plate. “I should go too,” she said. “But please, if you ever want to visit, my house is north of Forlond, where the grasslands meet the woods. And I will tell uncle about the wood and other materials you might need to rebuild.”
“Thank you,” Estarfin was also on his feet. “We shall see, once the basic fortifications are completed.” He bowed his head.
I gave Earcalie a hug. “Keep safe. And return again when we can properly receive you.”
She grinned, then said, “Sometimes I feel too much has changed in too little time. But maybe it is fate that it has to be this way.” With a wave and a smile she wandered off to her horse.
