She hummed an old song to herself as she cleaned her tools, her mind far away from the tedious and repetitive work. Already the steel smithing hammers lay spotless and shining upon a red cloth sheet although the pile of filthy tongs on the hessian sack still lurked in the corner of her eye. She sighed softly as she looked at them, cleaning the first pair of tongs with an increasingly grubby cloth almost absent-mindedly. A sudden knock upon the door startled Ruineth from her thoughts and she let out a muttered curse as she dropped the tongs onto the wooden table. Wiping her hands on the thick cloth apron that she wore she stood and walked swiftly towards the door. Wondering who would call at so late an hour she took a guttering candle stub from a low cabinet as she passed. Pulling the door open her eyes widened slightly and she took a step back as she took in the sight of Estarfin dressed in the spotless uniform of his Order. A cold gust of night air blew through the open door and extinguished the candle flame, prompting Ruineth to break her silence.
"Estarfin? What are you doing here?" she asked, immediately regretting the question and cursing herself silently.
"Good evening Ruineth. I hope that I am not intruding?" Estarfin smiled softly as he spoke.
"Intruding? No of course not. I simply did not expect to see... I did not know who would be at my door at such an hour" she stammered the reply.
Estarfin looked up at the night sky, frowning slightly, "The hour is not so late, is it? My apologies, I have disturbed whatever you were doing" he looked her up and down as he spoke, noting the dirty apron that she was wearing. Ruineth followed his gaze and looked down, seeming a little embarrassed at her attire.
"Ai no, I was simply cleaning my tools, ready for a new commission that I have received. You did not disturb me at all my Lord, please come in" Ruineth reached out and pulled the door open fully, gesturing the tall Elf to enter her home. Estarfin made a small bow and then entered, looking around the simple dwelling as he stepped over the threshold.
"It is not much of course, not what you are used to I am sure!" Ruineth said, closing the door behind him and them looking around a little frantically for more candles to light the dingy space. She quickly found some and rushed to light them from the lamp that sat upon the table. Once these were lit and placed into holders she moved a pile of waxed cloth from a chair and moved it closer to the table. "I am sure your own dwelling is much grander than the house of a simple smith and I dread to think how it compares to the golden coop of that peacock Parnard! Please, sit. I will fetch you a drink” she gestured to the vacant chair and then disappeared into an adjoining room. Her voice carried easily through the open doorway, “What would you like? I have..." there was a chink of glasses and the sound of slamming cupboard doors as Ruineth searched for the finest wine that she had. "I think this fortified wine is still unspoiled, if you would care for glass?"
"Please" replied Estarfin, taking a moment to look around the room in which he was sitting. A selection of spotless steel hammers lay upon a cloth sheet on the scrubbed wooden table that sat in the centre of the room upon a thick animal-skin rug. A pile of filthy tongs sat on a sack next to the other chair and polishing rags were scattered across the table. A few paintings in plain frames hung upon the white walls, but the light was too dim to make out any detail from where he sat. Other than an empty grate and the pile of oiled cloth there was little else in the room to draw his attention so instead he leaned over and picked up the half-polished tongs that were sitting on the table. Ruineth came into the room, carrying two small glasses of different design containing a dark liquid and held one out to Estarfin. He set the tongs back upon the table and took the proffered glass with a small nod. Ruineth took her own seat and sipped the wine, still looking a little unsure as to why he was in her house. Estarfin leaned back in the chair and sipped the sweet wine, looking to be in no hurry to explain his presence to her.
"My Lord? Of course I welcome your company, but you have never before come here, or even sought for me outside of the forges. So forgive the question again and answer as to why you are here?"
Estarfin looked at her appraisingly for a moment before replying, "It is a sad state of affairs, is it not, when friends can no longer seek the company of friends without such questions arising? Such is the lot that we have been dealt I suppose. Or at least the price that we pay for the company that we keep” he sighed softly and then continued, “There are three reasons for my visit. Firstly and of the greatest import; I have spoken to the Lord Ambassador this very evening and he claims to have had no contact with you recently. From that I can do no other than assume that no apology has been forthcoming from you after you struck him without reason in the Hall of Fire? Was the request that I made of you at our last meeting not clear enough?"
"Request? You call that a barked command a request Estarfin? You practically ordered me from the room and demanded that I apologise upon bended knee to your precious Ambassador! I am not one of your recruits that you can order around as you see fit. You would do well to remember that" said Ruineth, her temper visibly rising.
Estarfin was silent for a moment, staring down into the small glass in his hand before speaking softly with no trace of anger in his voice, "You are right, I would usually have no right or cause to speak thusly to you. I would ask your forgiveness, but you must understand the urgency behind my request, or command, whichever you call it. An act such as this against one so elevated in position cannot go unnoticed for long. You call him a peacock and there are other names that perhaps he deserves to match it, but Parnard has a good heart. You may not see it past his bluster and foolish notions, but it is there. I did not see it at first and still he seems to delight in testing my patience at times. He will accept your apology, I know it. If you can bring yourself to do it the matter will no longer be of any concern. Do you understand?"
Ruineth nodded, looking unconvinced, "I do not pretend to understand why you stand so resolutely beside him after all that has passed between you. But I will do as you ask; as you ask this time, not order", she sipped her wine, then spoke again, "Yet you spoke of three things you wished to discuss. This is but one of three. What else will you ask of me this night?"
"Nothing so taxing as the first I hope, although the second is also a favour I am afraid", he placed the glass back on the table and lifted the tongs as he spoke, "there is work to be done in the forges, work that I can no longer complete."
"What sort of work?" asked Ruineth, curious at the prospect.
"A few commissions. Things that I did not have the time or inclination to finish before I left. They are simple enough, but I can no longer.... I am unsuited to such work now" his voice was heavy with regret as he spoke the last words.
Ruineth's voice was noticeably softer as she spoke, "You can still feel nothing with your left hand my Lord?" Estarfin shook his head, looking down at the tongs he held so as not to meet her eye. "Of course I will help Estarfin, whatever you need until you can... until it... Of course."
"Thank you. There are some in my own House who could be trusted with this, but I do not know their work as I know yours Ruineth."
They both lapsed into silence for a while at this, each sipping their wine a little awkwardly and avoiding the gaze of the other. Clearing her throat, Ruineth spoke, "And the third thing? You have made two requests of me, what is the last?"
"A chair, a glass of wine and an ear to listen" said Estarfin a little sadly, "I hope that is not asking too much."
"Of course not" smiled Ruineth, leaning forward in her chair, "Such a request is the easiest to bear of all!"
"Thank you. As you must be aware, I cannot speak of this easily with any of my own House, least of all Parnard or Danel. They are too close to it you see. Once again I was called to speak before the Cauns of my House, to justify my actions like a child before a scolding parent."
"I have heard that it had taken place, although I did not attend of course. To gawk at such a thing seems unfitting. It is to do with the events in the mountains?" Ruineth asked.
"Yes. They wished to know everything, as if the answers were not obvious to them."
Ruineth looked a little worried at the prospect, "Who demanded such a report?"
"Veryacano, Vorongwë, Tindir and Dolthafaer. And Danel and Parnard, of course" replied Estarfin, taking a sip of his wine.
"Of course they would be involved. I can only imagine they had accusations of their own to throw at you?"
Estarfin frowned slightly at the question, "It is their right as Cauns to ask what they will and it is my place to answer, whether it is a foolish waste of time or not."
"But they have already asked you those questions a thousand times already surely? Why do they demand another public spectacle? Danel and Parnard spent enough time beside your bed as you laid in that damned room to be able to tell the tale themselves I would expect" Estarfin nodded at the statement, "Then why ask the same questions again, only this time in front of all and sundry? What did they ask?”
Estarfin tried to recall all that had been said “The questions that they asked searched for a truth within their own realm of understanding.”
Ruineth frowned at the strange answer, “What do you mean?”
“Take Veryacano for instance. His questions related solely to obedience, to following orders. He had little interest in any other matter. Perhaps he feels this act reflects badly upon his Order and therefore upon him as the Captain? He does not seem to grasp that at times one alone must act if others remain idle, or unwilling? It was the same before I think, after the events in the South. Was that anger caused by disobedience? Or was it regret that he could not order what needed to be done?”
“He is a great warrior Estarfin and he is used to his followers to do his bidding with few questions. He does not kill without reason but neither is he weak. That is what I have heard from others at least. Think carefully, what would Caranthir have done to those who strayed from his command?”
Estarfin smiled slightly as he replied, “My Prince would never have allowed mercy to cloud his judgement when blood was needed.”
Trying to change the subject, Ruineth asked, “What of the others? What did they ask?”
“Tindir was concerned as always with how the actions of others affect his strategies and tactics. How his maps must be altered with new battle lines and revealed enemies. He has a patience for such thinking that I will never understand, but sometimes he misses the obvious as he tries to see all outcomes.”
“He cannot see the forest for the trees?” tried Ruineth.
Estarfin thought for a moment and then laughed. “Yes, exactly that! What a marvellous phrase. He was mostly concerned with what fresh activity from the goblins would mean to our forces. Perhaps he had a point, although I fear I may have been a little dismissive at the time. Goblins will never be content living in peace, but a nest of hornets that is shaken is more unpredictable than one that is left alone, is it not?”
“What of your new Arrow Lord? What did he have to say, seeing as he led those who brought you back to us? I suppose he praised your bravery and sacrifice, having seen it for himself?”
“No. Dolthafaer was not there until after… after I had fallen. He has become stern it would seem, perhaps the weight of command is heavy upon his shoulders. He asked the least of all and simply reminded the others to neither judge nor wander from the point. His face was difficult to read and I do not know him well enough to know his mind. We shall see.”
“Were any others present, or just Danel and Parnard?" Ruineth asked.
“Lord Vorongwë was there too,” Estarfin replied, looking unsure, “I think that perhaps I may have judged him too harshly in the past. It was always my thought that he and his immaculate troops were splendidly decorative guards of a peaceful Valley but would be of little worth in a true battle. I have never sparred with any of the Fountain you realise? What else could I have thought?”
“What did he say that caused you to change your opinion so drastically? Did he support your decision? That would be something” Ruineth looked hopeful as she asked.
“No, he did not. Yet neither did he denounce it, or me. He spoke calmly and with wisdom, yet I felt that he understood well enough. Perhaps more than the others. It was just….” Estarfin sighed and then sipped his drink whilst he thought, “I do not know what it was. A feeling.”
“What of Parnard and Danel then? Did they refrain from asking anything? Did they stand aside and let the others get their answers?"
"Danel defended my actions at least and did not allow my honour to be tarnished by false accusations" replied Estarfin.
"So kind of her. Did she not try to convince the others that your actions were correct, were necessary? That would have been the act of a true friend would it not? To stand beside them no matter the course they choose?"
Estarfin thought for a moment, "I believe that she may have… on some points at least."
"May have? You are not sure?"
"No, I cannot recall fully. She might have" replied Estarfin, looking unsure of himself.
"Or she may not have. I see. What of Parnard, what did he have to say?"
"He seemed to agree with a lot of my reasoning I think, although at times his attention was taken by the notes he was scribbling. An official record of events I assume."
"He was recording it? For what purpose? To present your actions as foolish, or as the deeds of a madman? Do not forget what he said at your last trial Estarfin.”
“I do not forget, but I can at least forgive. Parnard would not betray me again, I trust him” Estarfin frowned at Ruineth, “Why do you speak so against my friends? What hatred you have for them, yet I cannot understand the root of it.”
Ruineth drained the remnants of her wine and set the glass upon her table, “I simply have concern for you and sometimes wonder at the company you keep. The hour is late my Lord, I have a lot to do at the rise of the morning Sun, including a visit to your Ambassador.”
Estarfin finished his own wine and stood slowly, stretching his joints as he did so, “As you wish, I shall not over-stay my welcome. Thank you for the wine Ruineth and for listening. I should find my own bed tonight rather than the over-stuffed one that Parnard has set aside for me in his rooms. Namárië.”
Ruineth rose from her chair and saw the tired old warrior to her door and then watched him walk slowly away into the night. She was still stood there long after he had vanished from sight when she shook her head slowly and closed the door, her head full of doubts.
