We led rather than rode the horses down to the old broken bridge. The water was slow and low enough to ford at that point, though perhaps not in times of heavy rain.
“Did my brother cross the river?” Culufinnel asked, as we became aware of a group of six men watching us closely from the shadows of the ruins.
“Nay, Captain,” I replied. “He is more, in the river and to the east, than over the river. Water, fens, rushes and hunger are the images I noted. He is not thinking of me or us now, but something about a bush or a tree…”
“He is up a tree somewhere.” Culufinnel tossed his red gold hair back over his shoulder and frowned. “It is the wont of Parnard.”
““He may not be that easy to track with all the water. I hope he thinks of us again soon, as then there is a small chance I can reach him. Osanwe is not an exact art.”
“Then let us be about searching,” Culufinnel replied with a calm politeness that masked his growing impatience. The short day would soon be over, and although they possessed keen eyesight, even Elves cannot see as well in the dark as in the light. “I will double back and head north, up-river. You two search to the west. I will meet you back at the outer ruins in the Stonecrop Encampment by sunset tomorrow: surely by then one of us will have found him.”
Estarfin and I nodded. I did wonder if, being brothers, Culufinnel may find some, albeit weak, mindlink with Parnard. Otherwise it was down to his good sense and tracking skills.
I glanced warning at the hovering men. One of them stepped forward a few paces and waved vigorously to us to back away. His face was grim. He shook his head.
“They warn us?”
Estarfin glowered at them. But then we all noticed it. The wind had changed direction and was blowing up from the river.
“Yrch!” Estarfin wrinkled his nose in distaste.
“Quite a few from the stench. They were warning us!”
The Men melted back into the surroundings. The stench grew stronger. It was time we left Tharbad.
We circled carefully back to the gap in the walls through which we had entered, before we mounted up and rode on again.
“If he is able, Parnard will surely head northwards, to home,” I mused. “I know not for certain why he came here.”
Culufinnel frowned at the sky. “I doubt my brother knew which direction he was going, under these clouds: he would have looked to the firmament to guide his way.”
Estarfin, who was riding ahead, glanced over his shoulder at the Captain. “Can he find his way home by the stars?” he asked.
“Indeed, if he can find Ostelen*, and by it, espy the Star of the North.”
“The lay of the land will be unfamiliar, as it is to us all. But travelling at night is usually more straight-forward. The stars do not lie,” I said.
Estarfin nodded. From his expression of realisation, it was evident that he would never have thought to follow the stars anywhere, and he would have been forever lost, had his and Parnard’s places been reversed.
Holding up a hand, Culufinnel bade us halt. “Here we part ways, for a time. I will continue along the river searching. You two, go further into the depths of the marsh hereabouts, at its widest point.”
We nodded to him, knowing that he was capable. In truth, thought I, searching the river banks would take effort, but involve less time in the water than going into the fens.
“Have a care. Winter is here, and there is a chill mist floating over the river,” Estarfin warned. “Farewell.”
“Farewell, Noldor.” The Captain then spoke to his horse, and rode away at a canter.
I turned to Estarfin. “My opinion of Culufinnel has changed so much. I feel his distress keenly. Parnard is most fortunate to have him.”
My companion nodded thoughtfully and said, “Come then, Danel, let us do our part to find him.”
We two rode a little eastward, then headed towards the most easterly walls of Tharbad. Ruins though they were, those outer defences were still very high. We could not have entered the main ruins from that side, but the reassuring thing was neither could any orc or Man exit. There was a frost-tipped green sward down to the river banks, then the river, with misted islands beyond. All looked grey and cold.
We rode on in silence, our thoughts set on the task ahead of us rather than past memories. Even so, knowing what I knew, I began to fear for Estarfin.
Downhill we travelled, past several outcrops of the ruddy rocks of the area. A few wild boar scattered away as we approached, perhaps thinking we were part of some late hunt? We were, though not for them. There were tall evergreen trees, and a few bushes bearing bright red berries that recalled Eregion to my mind. I felt a sudden surge of emotion, for in my thoughts was the knowledge that we could not ride around or across this expanse of water. We would have to wade and swim. I glanced at Estarfin a few times, knowing from experience his great dislike of the cold: cold water especially. I had no love for the cold either, but it did not affect me to the same extent. He had not told me the tale of why that was, save it was something to do with walking bootless through snow; neither would I pressure him to tell it.
We halted at the edge of the river. The horses pawed at the ground a little, and snorted hot breath into the chill air. They knew they could not be of help. They were not happy. Estarfin dismounted, and walked as close to the water as he could. He raised a hand, as if to shield his eyes from the sun, and squinted far.
“Parnard is somewhere in this marsh?” he asked me.
“Yes, I believe so,” I replied sadly. “He is on one of the islands, perhaps further upstream where Culufinnel looks. He is close.”
“How deep is this river?”
I was not sure. I was not familiar with this section of the Gwathló. “I believe the Nîn-in-Eilph has many shallow pools and riverlets, but there are also some places where the water is deep, and sometimes stagnant. Ships have travelled upstream nigh this point. I do not believe we can wade through it all.”
“Then this is our path,” he decided. “Though we must leave the horses here. We cannot ride on, only to find we must abandon them. Have you seen any beasts of prey?”
“No,” I shook my head, dismounting to stand at his side. “There are boars, particularly near the wallows, but I have seen nothing that would attack them hereabouts.”
“Then we unsaddle the horses. At least they can feed in comfort, albeit poorly, on this sedgegrass come morning. They can defend themselves against many threats. And if need be, they can flee.”
“Oh, Estarfin,” I said, laying a hand against his cheek, knowing what this pursuit would cost him. “We cannot swim in armour.”
He nodded, and looking directly in my eyes, said, “You do not have to come with me, Danel. I can do this.” He removed his gauntlets and took hold of my hand.
“No. We go together, meldanya. Parnard is a friend to both of us. It is fitting that both of us find him.”
He pulled me closer for a moment, then looked overhead. “Tintallë,” he said, addressing the cloudy sky, “you know how much my heart dreads this. There is no other way for us to find Parnard, but I ask you to watch over us all the same. “
I hugged him close. I would give him all the warmth I had, were it possible. “I have a wafer of Lembas still in my saddlebags. I think it is a good time to break and eat it. At least we shall not hunger overmuch.”
There was a small smile on his lips as he nodded. “A good plan, Racarnë.”
We unsaddled the horses, both speaking to them in Quenya that we would be back as soon as possible. That they should wait there for us, and guard our armour and those weapons we could not carry: his shield and spear, and my sword, Sarphir. We would each have to manage with smaller, more portable knives, though Estarfin could carry his sword.
We gave the horses some feed from the supplies we carried. Water was not a problem. Then we stood together and broke and ate the wafer, like it was an appeal to the Valie** Herself.
“You will need to help me get out of my armour,” he said after we ate. “The pauldrons and chestplate are challenging.”
I smiled up at him. “Have I not been doing that for you for some time? I will assist willingly.” He chuckled and placed his gauntlets on the ground. The pauldrons were indeed heavy, but I had experience, and had helped my father in that regard in days long passed. Soon enough, his cloak and the rest of his armour lay in a neat pile, with his boots. He so hated having cold feet.
My armour was leather. I could perhaps swim in it a little and it would not weigh me down as much, but the skirt under the tunic would be voluminous in water, and the leather could well shrink when wet. So we stood in our shirt, shift, and undergarments, and shivered. But we would be able to swim.
“Into the Marsh, then,” he said, and after bidding the horses to be safe, turned and walked into the bitter cold water.
What is there more to say? I was shivering, but movement lessened it somewhat. We waded for several yards, then the water grew deeper, so we swam out to the nearest island, making a strong and determined start. I could hear his teeth chattering already. ‘Let Parnard be upon this one,’ I thought. But he was not. The first, long, thin island was covered in undergrowth. No larger animals dwelt there. There was no answer to our calls as we searched diligently. Every bush was looked under, every tree was looked up.
“Danel?” Estarfin stood with his arms wrapped around himself, shaking and shivering.
I shook my head.
Parnard was not on the next island either, nor the one after that. Each island was separated by a small branch of the river, no more than five minutes worth of swimming or wading, but each fruitless search dampened our spirits, and froze our hearts just a little more. It was with great effort we dragged ourselves up on the banks of the fourth island. Estarfin lay still for several moments. I tried to warm him by cuddling against him, but that only pushed our sodden, icy undergarments closer against the skin. He shook his head and rolled away. It occurred to me he may have the Ice Blood illness already! If so, what could I do to aid him? At Numenstaya he had fortified wine, a blazing fire, and thick blankets. Then, he had been in the water for a very short time, less than five minutes. Here, there was nothing to warm his blood.
I looked around for dry wood or twigs. I would try to make a fire. We could go no further under the distant, chill stars unless we found warmth.
A few yards from the water’s edge the ground was cold but dry. Within a few minutes I had gathered enough kindling, twigs and dried moss to make an attempt. It wasn’t much of a fire, but I helped Estarfin move closer to it and he curled up and slept. No blankets, no cloaks, not enough heat of my own to make much of a difference. All the same, I lay close to him, and fed the fire with twigs for another hour or so.
I woke up with a start. The fire had gone out and the night sky was low with a cold, damp mist. Looking around, the nearby vegetation was covered in a light frost. It was no good, we had to move on. Then I saw it, some dark shape moving through the rushes by the river. I had thought there to be few animals or birds on the islands, but I was even less prepared for what it turned out to be. The shape crouched low, and fumbled in a large greasy leather satchel. Then it stood up to its full height of almost four feet. It was a halfling, holding a large pie.
*: The Big Dipper constellation
**: Valie. One of the Queens of the Valar.
