We did not see Parnard for the next two days either. It could sometimes be like him to withdraw from company, especially if he was working on something, some article of his dress being the most common. But he had withdrawn after our exchange of words concerning his stolen armour. Was he still angry with us? If such was the case it would be better to attempt more understanding rather than let a coldness descend.
Estarfin and I spent the mornings making further plans, and wondering if and when we should re-employ the Dwarven builders. We were well pleased with the previous work they had done. It was up to us to make more coin, and to that end we also plied our trades of jewelcraft and smithing. In the afternoons we would work on the improvement of our houses and facilities, with Ceuro’s aid. Ceuro himself seemed happy to be thus occupied, though he spent much of the rest of his time training, sometimes with Barahirn and Filignil.
But that day Parnard was very much on my mind. I took a walk alone, to consider the best way of addressing him, when I came across Miruviel. She walked from her house towards me and made a curtsy.
“Good day, Miruviel. It is pleasant to take a walk, or are you on a mission?”. I noticed she was wearing a new gown of a style and colour that complemented her greatly. “It is also rather quiet without building-work or training practice, and so good for contemplation.”
Miruviel looked a touch paler than usual. Her pretty features were subdued. “Without Lord Parnard here, it certainly is more quiet.”
“Oh? Has he gone somewhere?” Miruviel’s manner was concerning.
“I was coming to ask you that.”
“I have not seen nor heard from him recently. I am sorry, I do not know where he is.”
Miruviel nodded, more to herself than to me. “He passed beneath my window last night…”
“Is that strange?” I asked, thinking it was probably nothing out of the ordinary.
“That he passed by my window?”
I nodded.
Miruviel shook her head.
“He watches over you, I believe. You, his flower from the Woodland Realm.”
“But he ignored me waving to him.” Miruviel’s voice was almost a whisper.
Now that did not sound like Parnard to me.
“He seemed…wroth,” she added.
“He is not one to ignore others, especially any he cares for.” I sighed. The situation was possibly worse than I thought.
“Do you think something is the matter?”
There was nothing for it but to speak my concern. “It may be that Estarfin and I are the cause.”
Miruviel’s eyes widened and she held her hand to her mouth.
“Although it may be something unrelated. You know how upset Lord Parnard is over the theft of his armour?”
“Yes. The armour Estarfin made for him. He has spoken of it often.”
“Well, he now has some clues as to where the parts are. Alas, they are all far south of here, and in the lands of Men. He would have us go reclaim it, which is understandable.”
“I do not understand. Will the Men just give it back?”
“Unlikely. There is a Corsair who told Captain Culufinnel he would recover some of it. We do not trust his word. He will want something in exchange even if he speaks true. We could go to the men directly, but who is to say if the Corsair lied? Neither do we have much gold at present to bargain.”
Miruviel shifted the basket she was carrying from one hand to the other.
“We could explain, though I do not think that would convince all the Lords of Dol Amroth, particularly the one that wants Elven armour. Or Estarfin could hold them upside down and threaten them?” I doubted she knew anything of Dol Amroth. “Dol Amroth is on the coast, far to the south. It is a city of Men in a land of Men, and so not a good place to take my husband.”
“Is it far away?”
“Several weeks of riding, at least. We both told Parnard we did not wish to travel there.”
Miruviel looked concerned. “When Parnard passed my house, he was mounted on Swan-Hoof, and was carrying his sword. He was grim of face, and seemed ready for anything!”
That was unexpected. So Parnard had departed Númenstáya. I dreaded the thought that first came to mind, that he had set off for Gondor alone. Nay, he was not so foolish, there must be another explanation. I folded my arms across my chest.
“To visit Culufinnel perhaps? It may be he rode to Celondim to ask his brother for aid? He was very angry with Estarfin and me.”
“But why was he so angry, if I may ask?”
“Because he thought we cared not for his pain. Neither of us wished to go to Gondor. I have bad memories of the place, and you know what Lord Estarfin is like regarding men. There would be trails of bodies until they managed to bring he and I down. I would never desert him. Yet neither would we desert Parnard. We may have made our views plain, but we do not understand why he did not realise we would never let him travel that way alone. If he went, we would also go.”
Miruviel lowered her head and pulled a handkerchief from her basket to dab at her eyes.
“We shall have to find him. He cannot have gone far as yet. He is capable, but I doubt he would easily find what he searches for, and may well be in danger. We will try and explain again, and if he will not understand, we shall accompany him.” I did not like seeing Miruviel so upset.”Come,” I asked her. “Walk down to the lake with me.”
We wandered together down the hill, and I bid her sit in one of my favoured spots. We could continue talking, and if she would cry, then none else but me would witness it.
After making herself as comfortable as she could, she folded her hands in her lap, looked at me hopefully and asked, “Could you reach out to him, Danel?”
I was a little taken aback. Such was a rather personal matter, and I was no expert with osanwe. “I could try, but I am not usually that successful. Not even with Estarfin! Though Parnard is as close to me as family, I doubt success. Yet we must do something.”
Miruviel still looked at me hopefully.
I ran my fingers through the cool grass, enjoying the sensation, trying to ‘anchor’ my concerns. “Has he left no letter, no message? Did he tell Barahirm where he went?”
“I do not know. We could ask Barahirn?” Miruviel looked as if she would weep again.
“What really upsets me is that his mind is clouded with anger. He needs all his wits about him.”
“I agree,” my companion said softly.
I rose to my feet. “I shall go and speak with Barahirn, though Estarfin has not been around the house at all since lunch. Perhaps he has ridden out to look for him?”
Miruviel brightened up at that news. “We can see if Norlomë is still in the stables? I think Lord Estarfin would do something like that.”
“He will not be gone too long if he has,” I replied.
Miruviel stood up and began pacing around the foxgloves. “How could he even think to go there, to a castle filled with men, alone? Lord Parnard is so brave! Do you think Estarfin has caught up with him by now? Swan-hoof is swift, but so is Norlomë. Estarfin’s horse will outpace her–I can ask Barahirn what he thinks of that…oh!” She suddenly stopped. Barahirn was walking towards us from the stables.
“Well met, both,” he said, with a slight frown on his face. “I was hoping to find one of you.”
“What is it, Barahirn?” I asked.
The stable master looked a touch uncomfortable. “It concerns Lord Parnard,” he said. “He rode out late morning.”
Miruviel glanced at me, and held more tightly onto her basket. “To where?” she asked
“And…well, I would say he looked very angry about something.” Barahirn continued, addressing us both. “He did not tell me where he was going. He hardly spoke. It was as if I was not there.”
Miruvial sighed.
“I do not think he is unwell in any manner. He needs no healer. But he is not himself. I asked if he wanted me to notify anyone here that he was away, but he shook his head. That is why I did not come straight to you. But I am concerned. It may be nothing but a less than enjoyable breakfast, but I just do not know.”
“Thank you, Barahirn, that is useful. Miruviel and I are unsure what ails him, though we have one idea.” Parnard could have been angry about something other than his armour, but I thought that unlikely. “Is Norlomë in the stables or paddock?”
“She is in the paddock with the others, save Swan Hoof. She is rested and well fed, if Lord Estarfin is thinking of riding out.”
Barahirn had come to know us quite well. He knew Estarfin and I would want to make certain Parnard was fine.
At that moment I felt we were being watched. I looked up, back towards our house, and Estarfin was leaning on the bridge, smiling down at us.
Barahirm bowed his head to Estarfin. “Is there any way I may be of help?”
“See that Pelorian and Norlomë are ready to travel. I have a feeling we shall also be departing Númenstáya soon.” I smiled as cheerfully as I could and beckoned Estarfin to join us.
Miruviel withdrew her handkerchief from the sleeve where she had stuffed it, and dabbed at her eyes again as she curtsied to Estarfin.
Seeing Miruviel’s distress, he frowned, and hurried to us. “All is well?”
I shook my head. “Nay, meldanya. We have a problem. Parnard is missing.”
“He rode out late this morning, with no information on where he was going,” Barahirn explained.
Estarfin closed his eyes in frustration. He was likely thinking the same as I. It was about going, or not going, to Gondor. “You do not think…surely, he would not?“ Estarfin looked concernedly at me.
I nodded. “Barahirn said he was in a bad mood. He is capable of many things, not all of them wise.”
Estarfin sighed.
“He took Swan hoof. He had packed saddlebags, and hardly spoke,” Barahirn confirmed.
Estarfin acknowledged Barahirn, then turned to Miruviel. “Did he speak with you of where he was going, Miruviel?”
She shook her head. “He did not even see me wave to him, so fixed and intent was his glare.”
I stepped closer to the young Wood-elf, and gave her a gentle hug. “Nothing here is your fault, or caused by a lack of care.”
She nodded half-heartedly, looking in the direction of Parnard’s house.. “Perhaps we should go and see if he has come home?”
Now Estarfin was angry. Though he spoke to me in Quenya, there was no hiding his tone. “I will not call him a fool, for he is a friend. But he surely does foolish things.”
I nodded, replying in Quenya. “He feels hurt by our response to his request for aid. We made it clear. But I did not think he would believe we would desert him?”
“I will not…” Estarfin continued in Quenya, then realised.
I put a finger to my lips. For the last time that day I spoke in Quenya. “We shall speak together about this soon?”
He nodded. We would not distress Miruviel or Barahirn further.
“Barahirn, would you check the houses further up the slope, the workrooms and Hall?”
The stable master bowed deeply. “Of course.” He turned to Miruviel. “I feel your sadness. I hope Lord Parnard is found soon.”
She bowed her head in thanks to him.
“I asked Filignil if she had seen him over an hour ago. She had not. “ Miruviel added.
“He rode out. Perhaps he has gone to see his brother in Celondim?” Estarfin said.
Miruviel nodded, appearing to like that idea.
“Alas, if he is still wroth with us, he will not come back soon of his own devices.” I thought then it was important we speak with Parnard as soon as possible.
“Why do you say that?” Miruvial looked at me directly.
“Because I would not.”
“You know his mind then?”
Estarfin looked uncomfortable.
“Nay, not his mind,” I almost smiled. “But I know that mood well.”
“Is Lord Parnard wont to keep grudges?” Miruviel looked at both of us.
“Rarely, Miruviel. Estarfin and I did no wrong save to not make clear enough that which we believed was demonstrably clear. I thought there was no need to state that, even though much against our wishes, we would accompany him anywhere.”
“Against my better judgement, we gave him counsel,” said Estarfin.
“I do not believe it was that. You spoke wisely and truthfully. We advised him against going to Gondor, and offered him alternatives.”
He frowned. “If he has left, we bear some blame for that.”
Miruviel nodded as we spoke. I thought she looked somewhat confused.
I looked a little sadly at Estarfin. He was wont to take the blame for matters that went ill, even though it was rarely his direct doing. “I understand Parnard’s love for his armour, that it is irreplaceable by an alternative. But he puts it beyond all else. His own life, our lives. That is beyond me. Much as I love my betrothal ring, I would not have put its recovery before risking my friends’ lives.”
Miruviel raised her brows.
“We are not sons of Fëanaro pursuing a Silmaril.”
Estarfin looked up at the appearing stars. “As of now, we know nothing of his mood or destination, save that he was angry with us.”
I nodded, “And possibly other matters as well? He did not even bid Miruviel farewell.”
Miruviel hung her head and looked more downcast than ever.
“I do not like seeing you so sad,” I said to her. “What do you think if we rode to Celondim now to see if Culufinnel knows aught? I cannot think of anyone else he would ride to visit.”
“You would do that?” Miruvial looked up hopefully at Estarfin.
“We can depart as soon as the horses are ready.” he replied.
“They are ready now,” Had I not already asked Barahirn to make that so? “You can ride with us if you wish, Miruviel.”
Estarfin nodded.
She pondered just a moment, then shook her head. “If Parnard comes home, I wish to be here to greet him. I will tell him where you have gone. In the meantime, I shall busy myself in the kitchen.”
Estarfin looked a little surprised, but nodded.
“Bread making,” she said, uncovering the basket she had held all that time, to show it was full of eggs.
I smiled a little. Better she was occupied, I thought. “Do not give up hope, Miruviel, this may yet be easily resolved,” I said.
She nodded, tucking the handkerchief up her sleeve again, and wished us a safe and swift journey. “Bring him home.” She made a deep curtsey, then walked briskly towards the Hall.
We watched her for a moment, then I turned to Estarfin. “To the horses, meldanya?”
He nodded. “This is unfortunate. May we clear the matter with our friend.”
I thought for a moment about pulling on some leather armour, then changed my mind. I was not alone, and I was swift with my sword, which I would collect on the way to the stables. But I would still speak my concern.
“I have another thought, Estarfin.”
“Hmm?”
“What if the Corsairs are back? What if Parnard has gone to meet them?”
He frowned. “Then we shall slay as many as we can.”
