Parnard stood on the roof of Danel’s home, looking out in wonderment at the light of the setting sun making the treetops shine golden green, when he heard his name called. “Lovely ladies! What a delightful sight to see in the dews of the day," he sang out, jumping down and wandering over. He smoothed his hair back, blinking a little, for the sunlight had dazzled his eyes. Then he looked upon Danel’s companion - it was a Woman! He gasped in surprise.
The Woman, or Hildfrith, as Danel named her, surveyed him curiously.
“A very interesting name,” Parnard said politely, thinking his Westron must be very rusty, for it made no sense to him at all.
“It means ‘battle peace,’ sir,” she told him. “My folk are fighters, but we still crave peace.”
“Ah, fighters are not alone in that, my good - lady…”
“But I can also teach music!”
Parnard raised his eyebrows at this. “Mmm,” was all he could say.
“I have rarely seen Elves before, let alone been called to teach them.”
“Mmm…” Parnard said again, his pale green eyes darting around. “We should not talk out here. We should find some room, with a door that locks.”
“Estarfin,” announced Danel, bowing her head in greeting.
Somehow Estarfin managed to sneak up on him! Parnard realized, and his brain froze in fear. His tongue did not, however. He heard it saying, “Ah…friend Estarfin, this is…Battlepeace,” until it, too, floundered and was silent.
“This woman has offered to teach Parnard to play music," said Danel.
“Yes, Master Elf. What is it to be?”
“What! What do you mean,” said Parnard, wishing he were far away.
“I can teach you much, but I need to know what you desire to learn.”
Estarfin glanced at Danel. “She is a guest of yours?” he asked, in Quenya.
“Not exactly,” she replied, speaking the ancient language in reply. “Slay her not, I ask of you.”
Estarfin nodded once, curtly, and stalked away.
“I do not know what just happened, but I do not like it," said Parnard. “He has gone to get his sword!” All of Danel’s reassurances were unavailing; Parnard put his hands to his head as one struck out of his senses.
“I fear naught,” said Hildfrith stubbornly.
“I might as well die now,” Parnard groaned. Oh the ignominy! Estarfin will think even less of him. What elf ever had a mortal teach him music? The sound of breaking pottery, a flowerpot, maybe, could be heard, then two loud thumps.
“Nay, Master Elf. Learn to play music first, die later.”
Instead Parnard lay down on the path, ready to accept his fate. “You do not understand,” he sighed.
She thought she did, however. “You are a fool,” she said to him. “Arise.”
“I do not obey the command of a Woman!” A porcelain vase smashed through a window and hit a tree, exploding into shards. “It is turning ill as I lie here…now I meet my doom,” he said as he folded his hands on his chest and closed his eyes.
“As you value your life,” Danel began to say, but at that moment Estarfin returned, dressed as for battle, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and his shield in the other. He took a long drink from the bottle, his eyes fixed on the interloper.
“Why do you look at me so, Master Elf?” said the woman.
“Who is this fool that speaks! I will forget what mercy I have so far shown,” Estarfin snarled out in Quenya.
“My lord, please let her depart. She is from the eastern lands, a wandering minstrel,” replied Danel.
“I do not care where she is from. Their petty realms mean nothing to me.”
“Of course, Estarfin. But there is no need to slay one offering tutelage to Parnard.” She placed a gentle hand on his arm.
Estarfin pulled away, dropping the wine bottle. It shattered against the paving stones, splattering wine everywhere. Parnard rolled to his feet, narrowly avoiding being hit. Estarfin rested his hand on his sword hilt.
The Woman seemed unconcerned, however, and held out a wooden flute to the Silvan Elf. “Go on, take it,” she urged.
Parnard looked at her in horror, as if she were handing him a severed arm. “I cannot do that now! It is not a time for fluting!"
Hildfrith turned to face Estarfin. “I am sorry I have angered you, Master Elf.” She bowed her head and walked away. He stared at her swiftly departing figure with unmasked hatred.
“My thanks,” Danel whispered. “I shall ensure none of her ilk come here again.”
Parnard bowed deeply before Estarfin, unable to meet his angry glare. “She is gone, friend Estarfin,” he murmured.
“What is the meaning of this!” he said, his voice strained from the effort of controlling his temper.
“I know nothing about it!” Parnard cried out. “I was mightily surprised! Mightily surprised!”
Danel nodded. “Parnard asked to find someone who could teach him to play music. The woman was traveling toward Celondim. I saw her on the road and we spoke a little, and she said she was lost and trying to find her people. But I persuaded her to come here and teach Parnard.” She turned to Parnard, fire flashing in her eyes. “You said you take no command from a WOMAN. Am I not an Elf-Woman? If I give a command I expect it to be followed!”
“But she is a mortal who is not to command me,” said Parnard, tossing black hair out of his eyes. “What could a mortal teach us of music!”
“More than I ever could,” said Danel.
“Hmm, that might be true."
“But why here?” said Estarfin.
Danel sighed. “She offered a favor. I would not have her slain for that. I must go to the house and return with wine. Shall I take your shield back with me? No?”
“Her halls. Hers,” he muttered, as she walked off.
Parnard smiled uneasily at the dark warrior. “Soon the sun will set, and the stars will come out again. It seems a little cloudy, though…” his voice drifting off. Estarfin was not listening to anything he said. A door slammed hard.
“It would have been better if I had not returned when I did,” said Estarfin.
Danel returned carrying wine and glasses. The three elves drank it without much savor.
“You wanted to learn to play?” Estarfin asked.
Parnard nodded. “You said there was no music at the feast and how strange it is to dance without music - as you rightly noted, lord! It is not a bad wine, is it? A little young and rough, maybe?”
“Passable,” said Estarfin, staring into his glass.
“The wine is young but not unpleasant,” said Danel. “Estarfin,” she began, “You say these are my halls, but they are also yours, and Parnard’s. I certainly know your thoughts, but I am not sure if even Parnard knows his own thoughts -”
“Tell me then what I am thinking,” broke in Estarfin. “There are three possibilities to consider.” When Danel did not answer right away, he sighed, and answered for her. “The first: these are your halls, and yours alone. You are free to invite who you will, as you will.”
Danel shook her head.
“The second: You sought to bring a mortal here, to my home, in secret. To keep it from me as if I were a fool?” He ran his hand through his wild hair, trying to keep his composure.
Danel shook her head again.
“The third, and last, possibility: You bring a mortal here, to my home, not in secret, but not caring that I would find out. You insult me, think to test me? You bring such here, but ask that I stay my hand? So tell me, which is it?” Estarfin glowered.
“There is a fourth reason,” said Danel sadly. “I am a fool. I was thinking of Parnard and his wish to learn music. I know your thoughts regarding Men. It was not to insult nor test you, but my shortsightedness. I do not understand how you think I would deliberately insult you? You know my thoughts, you know my heart - you know it all…” She sighed, her words heavy with sorrow. “Estarfin, you were merciful to that Woman. I made a mistake. I think it better if I do not cause you more anger; I shall retire to my room.”
“Do not leave on my behalf.”
“I leave because I thought you understood. It seems you still do not. My apologies, Parnard. I would this had been a merry evening.”
“But the stars have just kindled!"
“Then enjoy them,” she said, and left.
“What have I done!” fretted Parnard.
“There is no blame here,” Estarfin told him.
Parnard was relieved to hear it. “We will ne’er see any mortals here ever again,” he said, trying to sound confident.
“Perhaps,” said Estarfin.
“You do not trust her word?”
“I do not question her intent.” Estarfin gulped down wine. “I do not know - it is hard to think when it feels as if a fire is burning inside me - I try to understand that whatever action she took, it was well-intentioned. Yet all I can see is that mortal, standing here, sullying this place…” He waved his now-empty wine glass around with abrupt, angry gestures as he talked.
“Yes!” agreed Parnard, although he did not know exactly what he was agreeing with.
“You feel the same?”
“Er - I do not see her standing here, no. Where are you going? Are you riding off?” Estarfin was striding swiftly to the stables. “Wait, Estarfin!” Parnard cried, running after him.
“She is the cause of all of this. All of this anger and confusion.”
Guessing his purpose, Parnard spoke frantically. “If Danel finds out the minstrel is slain, she will be sore distressed, and will blame herself and be grieved.” So Parnard sought to dissuade him, also assuring him that the Woman would never be seen again. Twice he repeated the same words, and twice they fell unheard. Still Estarfin persisted in his resolve to kill the Woman.
“Danel called herself a fool on the mortal’s behalf. It will not stand,” he declared. And in a great rage, he mounted on Gilastor, bracing his shield on his arm. "We hunt once again, my friend," he said to the warhorse in Quenya.
Seeing his protestations were of no avail, Parnard bowed deeply before the grim Noldo.
Estarfin looked down at him in surprise. “You are not riding?”
“Oh. I will need to don my armor and get my sword. Allow me to prepare myself,” Parnard said, and proceeded to walk off very slowly in the direction of his dwelling. When he was out of sight, he broke into a crazy run, doubling back and slipping into Danel’s house. He found her sitting in a chair with her hands folded in her lap. “Danel!” he burst out. “Estarfin is about to ride off to slay the woman! I said I would go with him, and left to get my armor and sword so as to give her more time to get away. What should we do! I must go - he is waiting.”
Danel looked at him and firmly shook her head. “He does not hear what I say.”
“Oh-h-h-h-h!” Parnard cried out in frustration, and running out of Danel’s house as if it were on fire, bolted around the lake to his dwelling, and with as much speed as he could manage (for he knew Estarfin would not long wait) he threw on his hauberk and surcoat, buckled on his sword, grabbed his cloak, then raced back to the stables.
“Well, Estarfin,” he said breathlessly, hopping on the back of Swan-Hoof. “If you are set on doing this, I am ready.”
