Parnard

And that is why I became a cook. It gave me the chance to never be far from Carnifinde, yet to be someone who could pass her by unnoticed. It was vastly different from the life of the Huntress I had been, but I came to find I enjoyed the preparations, the choice for meals, the learning of which herbs and spices brought out the best in any meal. I enjoyed seeing people happy. Mirima was the chief cook at that time. She was one who sailed over in the ships, one from Aman.

The late afternoon of the fourth day saw me ride into Celondim. I wanted to pick up a few resources from my house, and speak with the stone mason. As fortune would have it, a patrol was just passing Numenstaya and I joined them. Lelyaro has been to visit Barahirn, and spoke encouragingly to him. He was not to be concerned about the horses; there was someone on their way to act as temporary stable hand. The job would still be his if and when he wanted it.

It was the afternoon of the fourth day when the first of our visitors arrived.

“So what do you think? Be honest, sister.” Losshell shook me from my daydream with her insistence.

“Hmm…”

“If it is true that a Valarauko yet haunts this place, if we come across it, there will be no escape,” he said.

We continued, Estarfin doubtlessly thinking of what could await us in the Halls of Moria…as indeed was I. Parnard was likely thinking of dark tales he had heard of Moria, without any clear idea of what it was really like, and Marawendi unable to differentiate one danger from another. But at least we were leaving Mirkwood. 

I watched Parnard with a sad expression. This journey had brought him nothing he had hoped for. Far from it. It had confirmed his worst fears. We were about to depart Felegoth - what need was there for us to remain?- but only with a new apprentice for me, that being Marawendi. None of us had seen or spoken with Parnard’s hoped for betrothed. That door was closed to him.