Meanwhile, as Belethoriel and his men continued their search for the missing Themodir, Parnard kept himself very busy. There is nothing like disappointment in love to make one throw oneself into work, to keep the mind from dwelling on heartache, and from asking the hard questions of the reasons for the rejection, although it is not an easy thing to break love, and take affections off that object on which it is so deeply set. Parnard spent his days in the library, where he was initiated into the mysteries of reading and writing in Quenya. He tried to perfect himself in penmanship, so that he might offer to Lord Anglachelm letters written in a beautiful handwriting, as his own was very cramped and almost illegible.
And when not engaged there, he devoted his leisure hours to the Hall of Fire, where his eyes and ears were always on the alert to receive every morsel of knowledge that fell from the conversation of those around him. While he was visiting with Sogadan, a messenger arrived, seeming to know where to find the Lord Ambassador of Bar-en-Vanimar.
At Meluinen. None wounded. None missing. Failindo dead.
Parnard narrowed his gaze as he stared at the brief letter. He had a long think, then laid out paper and took up his pen, and wrote his reply:
I must admit that I was very much surprised and dismayed to learn of the death of Failindo. I am not inclined to use violent language, but I feel that I am not expressing myself too strongly when I ask, what are you doing, you great blond maniac, out in the wild, besides allowing poor scholars to meet their doom? It is as if you were never dispatched at all! You have not told me anything about the errand I sent you upon, and what you have learned. Every effort must be made to set the matter right! It is scarcely necessary that I remind you of your ambition and your dreams of future glory. I do not mean by this to say that you are bound to achieve a great success in the House, but become worthy of your place, and win yourself a name and a position among these Noldor: or I can think of a place in a remote region in the far North where you may be sent, should you fail me.
Lord Ambassador
If his heart had grown a bit hard after being broken, it is understandable. A broken heart takes a long time to heal, and sometimes only love can mend it.
