This day I went to the market and met Norliriel. After some talk we went for a ride on Swan-foot around the valley, I wanting to caution the Wardens about certain Men seen, and to prevent one in particular from rushing off to a dog's death. And I thought to see how Estarfin fared; I did not like the thought of Estarfin living at home, and I wanted to know what Norliriel thought.
We saw him outside his house in a very sudden manner, he not answering the door and then appearing behind as I jested that it was a surprise his house was still standing. Then I saw the bell-pull, which was broken and the bell lying on the ground dented. Estarfin noticed not my jest too much, which was well for me, and after some talk we went inside.
I cautioned Norliriel aforehand but not enough ajudging from her face. There was one room covered with weapons on the planks of the walls and cast around in great shadowy peaks on the floor. The house was very dusty and gloomy within, and very dangerous to walk on the points sticking out from the rolled up carpets, pieces of broken furniture, crushed glass, spilled wine, discarded bloody garments, broken bottles, and chunks of plaster strewn across its floor.
I said to Estarfin that the weapons would be more useful if they were put into the armoury and to good use, and I do not know what he thought of that as he spoke not, only that he was not angry.
Now he was sitting in the gloom beside the fireplace pulling out weapons whence he sat, and threw a knife across the room deep into the wall and spilled water on the floor. Then he found a dusty old bottle of wine and we drank that. So I made ready, and told him that he cannot stay there as it did not do him honour; instead he must come to my rooms, and there we would have a feast, and see to the assortment of weapons later. He considered the sense in this, and said he was ready to go, to my relief.
Thence home with Norliriel and Estarfin on Swan-foot, my heart full of trouble thinking of the dented bell and certain visitors and the furniture; there helped him to his comfort and then away to the kitchens for dinner.
