At the Hithaeglir, Annúngil paid Thendryt little heed, too absorbed in his duties to mind his presence. However, it was more of a presence of absence. The man came and gone as he saw fit and his superiors commanded. When he was at the encampment, Thendryt kept to himself, as far as he could from the Eldar.
Fragments of an old conversation with the Lord Ambassador came to Annúngil’s mind then: “… he loves us Elves not at all.”
Which begged the question: what could have brought Thendryt to the service of the House of Lord Elrond and the Warband of Imladris? Parnard himself had suggested it was most likely a debt; one yet unpaid, even after the Warband of Imladris was disbanded. But a debt owed to whom?
Annúngil sighed, looking down at the first floor of the library from the balcony. His left hand loosely held a book opened in front of him, its contents forgotten.
Raolor and Sergeant Daegond hated him. The only reason the former had not yet bashed Thendryt’s head against a stone, was because he had promised Faorie and Danel he would bring no harm to the man. Threats of death were exchanged last they met, though unwise it was to harbor these conflicts within the Last Homely House. This was a refuge, and we are but guests. Yet, could he really blame Raolor? Annúngil disliked the man the more he heard about him. Meeting Thendryt by the library earlier did not improve his opinion. He was uncivil, arrogant, and did not bother masking his displeasure at the Eldar; certainly not the kind of servant Annúngil would expect someone like Lord Elrond to employ. And, If some of the rumors he heard were true, his manners were the least of the problems.
For now though, they were only that, rumors.
Was Thendryt such an annoyance even back at the Hithaeglir? Annúngil frowned, his mind returning to the campaign. Many were wary of his presence, he remembered that much, but things had escalated since then. For the man’s sake, he hoped he kept his head low and sought no more quarrel against Vanimar. He seemed to be oblivious to the path he was threading. The Noldor had good reason to mistrust the race of men, and Thendryt was not working to improve that view.
His mind wandered for a while, an old saying echoing in his thoughts: “Few changed our courses by counsel, none by force.”
Annúngil closed the book sharply, the sound drawing looks of disapproval from a many elves going about their duties in the library. He returned the book to the shelf and left the building, intending to take a walk through the vale.
Many swords were pointed against Thendryt, but he was still at the service of Lord Elrond. That, and the fact he had the trust of both Faorie and Lilleduil said something for him. The man deserved the benefit of the doubt. Annúngil would give him that much, despite the animosity between him and his comrades-in-arms.
On the other hand… The Warband was no more, considered Annúngil. Without Khalis and Elisbeth, Thendryt only owed some measure of loyalty to Lord Elrond Peredhil. Would that be enough? And would it last?
The man was kept in a leash, and that leash was loosening.
Unfortunately, the hounds of the Noldor knew better tricks.
