It has been quite a long time since I was at home, and it shows. Or at least it did until I dusted and cleaned up the place.
Now I am lazily enjoying, in peace and safety, a glass of wine with a warm fire in the living room, my instruments all cared for and at their usual places. I am quite sure no one will need my skill in the minute, either as a minstrel or as a healer.
Am I lazy to think so and enjoy it ? Tonight, yes.
We arrived at the Valley very early this morning. Parnard was waiting for us there with Dolthafaer, someone from our House. I believe he is from Lindon, but I may have misunderstood that.
When the others entered the House, I approached Parnard with the intention of talking to him. To ask if all was well, how was the journey for them... And all I could think of was : 'greetings'. What a minstrel I am. Unable to find words to say even : 'how are you, my friend'. Very hard to say, isn't it ? And that, only after Parnard himself noticed me and greeted me first. That was ridiculous. I was ridiculous. I can well imagine what he thought of that, and I don't believe any of it is very flattering.
Anyway, we all took the time to go home, clean and change before meeting again in the Hall of Fire.
It was nice to be there again. I missed it.
Some people joined us. Lady Mirineth, lady Amorith and lord Earinlin, to name a few.
Lord Anglachelm made a speech first about his return to the valley and all, and presented lord Belethoriel to those presents.
And then I was surprised, flattered and incredibly embarrassed all at the same time. It was not often that something could embarrass me considering the major part of my life I was a minstrel and well used to have people's attention on me, but this time something did. Or rather someone.
I was perfectly happy to remain one of the members of the group who went looking for lord Anglachelm against all odds. There really was no need to come talk to me personally. The minstrel in me is used to it, the healer is perfectly happy to remain one of a group.
Though considering my utter lack of oral capabilities of this morning, I find myself more and more wondering whether or not I should stay a minstrel. Seriously.
Also, I was rarely the only healer available and I recall quite a few... Conversations with Parnard about my methods of healing. On which I believe we will need to agree to disagree.
Now, I was really glad to see Parnard, but I was quite worried to not have seen either lady Nirhen or lord Estarfin. I don't doubt one moment that they are fine. After all, Parnard is fine himself and he was the more... Likely to get hurt if something was to happen so I suppose that they are all fine... And they both are not in the Hall of Healing, I've checked already (just in case), which means that there is very few chances that they are hurt... But still.
Now that we are back home, I wonder what to do next.
Should I take up my instruments again and haunt the Hall of Fire, or find someplace in Imladris to play music again for a living ?
Or maybe go and give a hand to the healers of the valley. Continue to perfect my knowledge of healing at the same time.
I still loves playing music and writing songs, but I find that, right now at least, I have in mind more healing formulae than music notes, and I wonder if it would not be better to just... remain an occasional player with an obsession about his harp, lute and flute.
Besides, I wonder if Parnard and lady Sargiel would agree to tell me more about the poisons we can see in Mirkwood and their antidotes. There is more than one way usually to treat a poison, so why not for the spiders' venoms ? Or maybe ask them if they know a healer who would have the time and be willing to answer a few of my questions on the matter.
Provided of course that I can find a messenger willing to bear the message as far as Mirkwood...
Well... I may ask the healers in the valley first. And Parnard and lady Sargiel. Or completely forget the subject. After all, there is absolutely no chance that I will go back to Mirkwood anytime soon. And more so in this part of Mirkwood.
Or I will wait a few days and see whichever solution I find attract me the most. Healing or playing music.
Yes, that is what I shall do. There is no shortage of other occupations after all, and I have some friends to see if I can find them in the valley. The place is quite small, but somehow it can be unbelievably hard to find someone here.
