Marawendi

“We thought to have a celebration under the stars,” Danel said to the small assembly of elves. “Filgnil has placed food and drink on a table by the lake. This way.” She walked away, the dew-covered grass dampening her trailing skirts. Estarfin made no move to follow; instead, he fixed a heavy gaze on Parnard.

We stood facing each other, but a little over an arm’s length apart. Ithil shone down upon us, touching him with a true-silvered hand. The warm breeze ruffled both our hair. All I could see was the culmination of my dreams. Oh, there were other things I hoped for, other things I dreamed, but this was and always had been the heart of my heart. That he would know happiness. That we would be as one. 

Estarfin reached out to carefully touch the fabric of my dress. “It is beautiful,” he said. He smiled brightly, softly, almost as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. 

“I suppose she should be able to defend herself…but only at great need,” Parnard answered, after a long pause. “There are no Trolls to be found in these parts, I think.”

I was not sleeping well. Rather, I replayed my decision of the past two weeks regarding what I knew of Naraal, and what I withheld from Estarfin. I asked myself time and again, why I had not told him that Naraal had been outside Numenstaya to claim the Mithril owed the Black Dwarf. 

Parnard burst into the house. Seeing the two Noldor look up from the breakfast table in surprise, he gave a short gasp, then immediately collected himself, smoothed his hair back, and offered a casual nod in greeting. 

Estarfin had suggested Parnard slept outside, under the lights of Tintallë. I first thought of the sea, the mantle of Ulmo, for defense.  A different Vala, but the same need for an ally whose will could not be challenged. Oh, I was angry then, at myself for not seeing clearly earlier; with the Sorceress Zairaphel and her petulant tenacity.

((This tale comes after  Numenstaya but before A Troubled Homecoming.  ))