“I can tell ‘em about it, if yer like Lady?” Gaisarix moved closer to me. He was still quite shaky on his legs, and his hair and clothing seemed a touch singed, but he didn’t seem as weak as I was. He had had a rough time as a captive himself, and from watching how others, particularly Henepa, had been treated. But he was of sturdy stock, and wanted to help if he could.
I took his hand for a moment. “I shall say all I can, but if I falter, then please take over Gaisarix. It is important our rescuers know what we know.”
His face coloured just a moment, and he nodded. Then Miss Lithea was back from attending to Henepa, and offering us all some slightly stale raisin cakes. “Got ter get yer strength back.”
Hobbits! Bless them. Small in stature but large in heart. And almost always ready with some morsel of food or another. Gaisarix took a cake, as did I, though Estarfin shook his head.
I waved for the grim-faced Culufinnel to join us.
Looking up, Estarfin spoke to him. “They have taken your brother elsewhere. Come, hear what is known.”
Culufinnel approached, looking at each of us in turn. Then he stood, impatience etched on his features. “Taken him where?”
I took a deep breath of the somewhat fresher air, and began. “It is a long tale that must be made short, if we are to find Parnard.” I held up a hand. “First, let me say it is unlikely he has been badly harmed. She wants him hale and undamaged.”
“Who?” Culufinnel came straight to the point.
“The Lady Zairaphel,” Gaisarix took up as he finished his cake. “She be a powerful sorceress from them Southern Lands, though I know naught about ‘em.”
“But I do, Gaisarix, though I have never set foot there.” I saw and felt the growing frustration.
“We should not rest here long. The fire and smoke will attract attention,” Estarfin reminded us.
I nodded. “Zairaphel is most likely a servant of the Dark Lord. She is of Black Númenórian blood, well trained in her craft, and that to our disadvantage. She is from the lands south of Gondor, over the Sea, Umbar, or Harad most likely. I strongly suspect she intends to take Parnard there, to a place where she can best control events. I suspect that she heads now to Dol Amroth, or Pelargir. She will want a ship.”
Estarfin frowned at the notion. I understood his constant reluctance to ever board a ship.
“For what purpose?” Culufinnel was thinking through the problem, and like any Captain worth his title, wanted as clear a picture as possible.
“I cannot be certain, but my impression is that…well…she wants him as her husband.” The two neri’s eyes widened at this. “She is after our immortality...I am certain of that, probably a longer life by far for her progeny? And…she believes that Parnard is High Lord of the Noldor.”
Again, both neri gave away their thoughts by their dumbfounded expressions. But I believe they understood. At the least, she would not slay him, not until she had achieved her goal.
“She left us here, ter be taken ter her nephew by that Captain Naraal. Me as a slave, and the Lady fer that black pirate Naraal himself.” Gaisarix gulped out.
I reached out my hand to Estarfin again, and he took it firmly. “I was drugged by her and left in the basement. Then the other Sorceress, she who set the house ablaze gave me another potion; I do not think that was part of the original plan.”
Culufinnel walked away a short distance, as if mulling over the information. “Then we must give pursuit,” he said.
“I can ride, though I think it will take a couple of days before I am myself again.” I said stubbornly. I would ride after Parnard as well. There was no going ‘Home’ without him.
“You must rest, but we must also ride hard on this trail,” Estarfin spoke to me in Quenya. “Norlome will carry us both, swiftly. But in time she will fail.” He would not leave me, nor fail Parnard. He looked torn.
“Then I must get a horse as soon as possible. Perhaps one from the Rangers at Tinnudir?” I suggested. Norlomë was strong and willing, but her greatest asset was her speed.
He frowned.
“From Lin Gilliath then?” I said, knowing he could not disapprove of an Elven Haven, and that Lin Gilliath was on our trail to the Greenway and the South.
Estarfin nodded at that and put his arms around me to steady me, for I almost fell. But we were together again. What could stop us? “You are here, I am here, what more do we need?” I whispered to him. We clung to each other for a moment, as if to life itself. “We need Parnard, “ I corrected myself with a small smile.
“That goes without question,” he replied. Then he turned his head to face Culufinnel. “I will not abandon your brother.”
Culufinnel stared at us. “We will find him,” he stated. Though firm of purpose, he seemed to be reeling a little from the effects of the smoke and fumes. “How many are in the group he travels with?”
“The Lady rode with her Dwarf servant, and two bodyguards, and I suspect the other sorceress made after her also. A small party, but she is not to be underestimated. One of the guards is Magan, sadly an honourable man serving a corrupt mistress.”
Estarfin frowned, and mumbled “Honourable Man, what is that?” Still in his embrace, I was not going to make an argument of it. In most cases I agreed with him anyway.
A hitherto quiet Yrill then stepped forward, holding a large bundle wrapped in a charred tablecloth.
“This was on the table nearest the door. It was obviously not left out for us.” She laid the bundle on the ground and opened it.
“Them’s what I found near th’ door when I first went in,” Lithea announced with excitement. “Swords! Too big by heaps fer me ter carry.” Both she and Henepa moved to sit close by and get a good look.
Swords it was. The cloth held two swords as well as a small assortment of jewelry and some daggers. All of it was Parnard’s or mine.
“Sarphir and Steel-thorn!” Such joy at seeing those weapons again, though the item I looked for most earnestly seemed missing.
Estarfin steadied me a moment more, then moved forward to take up Sarphir. He regarded the sword he had forged for me over a dozen years ago, then, with another smile, presented it to me again, holding the hilt over his arm for me to reclaim.
“My thanks, meldanya. One of my greatest treasures returned.” I inclined my head to him. “Parnard and I found out something new about our swords. But the tale can wait until we are underway.”
“They were left out for this Naraal to take to the ‘King’, probably?” Yrill interjected. “Such weapons are far superior to what the Men have. Is anything still missing?”
I looked again. There were four daggers, mine and Parnards. There was his ring to lessen Sea-longing, a few other pieces I had made for him, and my old ring from Eregion. Parnard’s prized Dwarf-steel eating knife was also discovered tucked inside a fold of the cloth. But what I longed to see was not there.
“My betrothal ring,” I finally said, looking at Estarfin guiltily, as if I had failed to take proper care of his expertly-crafted gift.
“We shall find it,” he replied, without any hint of accusation.
I looked over to the Captain. “The other sword belongs to your brother.”
Estarfin moved to take up that other sword he had forged, and held the hilt out to Culufinnel. “Captain, will you carry your brother’s sword for him, until we find him?”
Culufinel nodded and took up the sword.
“He will want it back,” I said, feeling a little better at such a thought.
“I am sure he will,” Culufinnel unsheathed the sword, staring in admiration at the workmanship.”It is a sword meant for a King, or a High Lord.”
“For a worthy friend,” Estarfin explained.
I could not help but laugh just a little. The Hobbits, our neighbors in the village across the moors from our homestead, insisted on addressing Parnard as the ‘High Lord’ and this had caused us quite a bit of trouble.
The Captain did not laugh, but I noticed a slight upward curl of his lips.
“I have much love for your brother, you know. Estarfin and I consider him family.” I wanted to ensure Culufinnel understood that neither of us would give up.
There was a sudden cough that was not from choking, but to garner attention. Tolbold was trying to organise things. “If yer don’t mind. I think we should all be heading fer home? Can we leave this ghastly place an ‘ride with yer ter the North Downs?”
Estarfin nodded, and brushing some of the soot from my hair with his fingers, saw the place where my hair had been shorn.
“It was a small price to pay to have you find me,” I whispered back.
He smiled. Then we both turned to Tolbold.
“Can I ride with someone, please?” Gaisarix was on his feet, now stable as a rock and showing no ill effects from his terrible experiences. “I’m guessing yer will take Henepa on yer pony, Tolbold?”
Lithea giggled, and offered Gaisarix another cake. “Yer can ride with me of course. Them ponies we have, them be strong enough ter carry two Hobbits.”She tapped the side of her nose. “An’ I have most o’ th’ food.” Of a sudden she looked up at Estarfin, and ran over to try and hug him. “An thank yer kindly fer lettin’ me save yer. Maybe now me dream will stop?”
He patted her lightly on the back. They exchanged glances. I suspected Estarfin had no clue what she was talking about. Neither did I, but she believed he had helped her in some way, and that was enough. I shivered suddenly. Although there was still considerable heat from the fire, a northern wind was blowing chill air in our direction. I was garbed in only a thin sleeveless dress that I presume was cut in the style of those worn in the Southlands. In a moment Estarfin dragged his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it about me. His care for me was all the healing balm I needed. ‘I know, meldanya, I am most happy to be with you again,’ I thought.
We all moved slowly in the direction of the horses and ponies. Now walking, I looked down at my bare feet. “I am unshod, just as a Halfling,” I said.
The Halflings grinned at me.
“But yer not have hairy toes, Lady,” said Gaisarix with a grin.
“I hope not! On your folk they are a thing of beauty. On my folk, less so.” Apart from the very serious matter of Parnard’s absence, I almost felt at ease. Oh, there would be days to come when I would reflect further on what transpired, but at that moment I was almost content. Strange how simple, silly things could lift my mood from exhausted gloom. Though it was not really strange at all, given the company.
