Rainith

“So what will you do with him?”

I shrug, inadvertently jostling my hand so that Maltariel’s neat strapping falls loose. She gives me a reproachful look and reaches for the ends of the cloth, her deft hands tying it up again with quick, sure movements. Although it is only bruised, my wrist is stiff and sore still when I come to lift a sword, and she has decreed that it must be strapped, for now, until it is recovered. While she reties the cloth, I look up across the river, enjoying the peace for a moment.

Continued from A Word In Sogadan's Ear

Belegos stared into the fire. The flames danced in front of him as they always did, though he did not pay any heed to them this time. He had returned to the valley only a day ago and now stood, as he had done many times before, in the Hall of Fire. In front, and slightly to the left of him was his friend, Estarfin, a warrior of the Hammers. He was dressed all in black and nursed a burned hand from his recent work at the forges.

I was bringing a tray of thin wafers and broth to Rainith, and thinking of a hundred ways to coax my stubborn mistress to eat a bit of this delicate fare if she refuses it

Went for a walk in the gardens, and found my mistress Rainith standing alone beside the roaring waterfall. Very weary she was, as she seems always to be lately, and I thought she looked a little too pale. We talked a good while, and I was pleased to give her an account of my studies, and prove that I shall attain anything that I set out to do, and how I have mastered the first three chapters of the little book of Quenya that she gave me.

In the Hall late today, but had no wine as I have not settled my bill with Sogadan yet. After a little angry talk, I have concluded that he is the most ill-humored, miserly elf that I have ever met in all my life. The Hound Daegond was here earlier, and though I did pretend not to notice him over my book, he stood at length glowering with those dark eyes of his until I was near flummoxed, and had to acknowledge his presence.

Continued from Reunion.

For the first few days after she had arrived, Maltariel was not particularly concerned by the absence of her friend. Even in Lorien Rainith had been known to wander, and was rarely if ever to be found in the rooms she’d been assigned, unless Galdorion was there with her. As the days passed, however, and the notes she left with various people around the valley were ignored, Maltariel’s patience began to wear thin.

Continued from Manhandled,  Folly and Fury, Sword and Stone, Black Ice, Deep Thoughts, The Speech,