“I suppose she should be able to defend herself…but only at great need,” Parnard answered, after a long pause. “There are no Trolls to be found in these parts, I think.”
“But we know from bitter experience there are still Men with ill-intent.” What I said was true, although my own words cut into me as I spoke them. Parnard and I were very well aware there were Men of ill intent about, indeed, one had recently been at the gate to Numenstaya. We had just decided not to inform Estarfin. I trembled slightly, and Estarfin turned to me, knowing something was not quite right.
“Be not concerned for them, Racarnë, I have enough steel to arm and armour all here.” He squeezed my hand, reassuringly.
“I may train also?” Barahirn asked, his eyes shining with hope.
Estarfin nodded. “All who wish may train.”
“I could do with more practice.” I made a jibe.
He frowned. “And I recall well the pain of trying to instruct you.”
I recalled as well, but it had brought a momentary smile to us both. And any future training would be far better understood by me. I always knew he would never hold back. What was training if one played as if with a five-year old? But I had not truly understood at that time what exactly he was trying to teach me. I knew now. “But you will still instruct me, if I ask?” He smiled dryly, and nodded, before turning back to the others.
“If you will excuse me, it is time I attended the horses,” Barahirn was blushing slightly, but eager perhaps to speak with his sister concerning what had been suggested. He made a deep bow to us all, and left. We inclined our heads. I noticed Estarfin was smiling, one of those ‘happily making plans’ smiles that sometimes graced his features. Was he thinking of weeks of making shields, spears and armour? That would do it. With no definite war ahead, he need not hurry.
“I see all of Numenstaya shall be very well equipped then. But the walls still need completing. Do not take on too much at once, meldanya.”
Now Ceuro and Yrill were expected back within a week, and Ceuro was an able weapon smith in his own right, while Yrill would not be adverse to helping with building work. But still the bulk of what was to be done fell on Estarfin’s broad shoulders. I would help him with building, but I was no metalsmith. Filignil would aid where she could, but she was a huntress.
Estarfin regarded me more steadily. I believed his thoughts were likely on what sort of blade would suit each individual. “It shall only be Barahirn and the young ellyn who need weapons. All others here have weapons and armour, unless you wish me to forge you new armour?”
My armour was quite sufficient, I deemed. Though it would be…nice … to have a set made by my beloved, it was unnecessary. I shook my head. “I am concerned for Marawendi, and for Fearane, though the latter would be annoyed with me. They are both inexperienced of the lands we live in. Within our settlements and cities, all is safe. Riding well known paths is reasonably safe, but even then, sometimes things happen. I would not wish any of our entrusted to be battered or bruised, or worse.”
Parnard assumed a grave mien, and said he would not have Marawendi battered or bruised. Then he tucked his thumbs on his belt and said “Three times a day I make a circumnavigation of the land about the homestead, to make sure there is no trouble. And I have done so since we returned to Numenstaya.”
And you encountered a Corsair, I thought, but did not say it. “We still take turn to keep watch from the walls over the nearest path. The danger to our young ones will arise more from riding to Duillond, as they wish to do, or further on to Celondim. Marawendi is in your care, and Fearane is a Nolde and in our care, so I only say what I know. It may not be everyone’s experience. There is little trouble close to us now.” I heard Parnard draw a deep breath. “Well apart from Corsairs, possibly.”
My cousin turned his bright eyes upon me, his expression plaintive, pleading. He wondered if I would reveal our secret to Estarfin.
“There has been the odd word from the market in Duillond, Filignil has said, that there is a Corsair warship somewhere in the Gulf of Lune. Our ships will keep an eye out for it. Not that one alone could do much damage, but even so…to a small village it could cause harm, do you not think?” I folded my arms across my chest, my heart thumping that I knew I must tell my beloved.
“There is danger enough,” he said.
I nodded in agreement.
Parnard was shuffling his feet, as if he also had something on his mind. “If you two will excuse me, I should go back to my work on your dress, Lady.”
Estarfin turned to look at him. “Dress?”
“My wedding dress, Estarfin, and it should be a surprise on the day. I trust Parnard explicitly to make it how I wish.”
There was a small smile on Estarfin’s face. As if he could have forgotten?
Parnard made a sudden bow, and said he had much work left to do; his fingers itched to hold a needle again.
Estarfin and I inclined our heads and spoke our well-wishes to Parnard. Then he was away, skittering along the path to his house.
I sighed deeply, and turned to face my husband-to-be. I could not keep what had happened from him any longer.
“There is something I need to tell you, meldanya.” I could not help the sorrowful expression on my face.
He noticed my change in mood. “Tell me what?”
Those next few words would hurt him, I knew. But to find out by some mischance later would wound him deeper. I had to tell him.
“We did not tell you straight away. I am utterly ashamed of that. You have my heartfelt apologies. It will never happen again.”
His expression became sterner, with a hint of concern.
There was nothing for it but to speak. “The Corsair, Naraal, was outside Númenstáya two weeks past, lurking around, so our lookout did not see. He took Parnard unawares on one of his patrols.”
I saw Estarfin’s eyes darken, his brow furrow. “Naraal?”
I nodded. “He had come here on the instruction of that Black Dwarf we encountered in Tharbad. The one who returned my ring that he had stolen. It seems Naraal volunteered to come after me to collect my payment: three Mithril bars. No Mithril was worth more to me than my betrothal ring that you made. So I melted down some candlesticks and a few pieces of old jewelry to have the payment ready. But it was not Dwarves who came to collect - It was Naraal.”
Estarfin was listening. But his hand moved to his side as if for his sword. His jaw tightened and he appeared to be struggling to control himself.
“He took Parnard by surprise, giving him no chance to call for aid. But that is unimportant. He implied that he could find some of his stolen armour, and perhaps return it to him.” My voice was losing some of its usual power. I was so ashamed. “I do not believe Parnard encouraged Naraal, but I can understand his eagerness to have his armour back.”
“Parnard made a bargain with this Naraal then, and told you of it?”
I looked up at him, and it struck me again just how tall he was. Not that I felt in any way threatened, never had I felt that. I did feel that my words could bring down what no horde of orcs or goblins could.
“I made a bargain with that Dwarf of Zairaphel’s, back in Tharbad. Never with Naraal. You know I want nothing to do with him. He seems to think I will change my mind, and run willingly to him. You know me, meldanya, you know there is no way I would ever want anything to do with him. He…he makes my skin crawl. He does not understand what love is like with us Eldar.” My words almost faltered. No one had ever compared to Estarfin in my eyes or heart, yet I had betrayed the trust of the one I loved most of all.
Estarfin folded his arms across his chest. He looked at me with…hurt eyes. “What love is like with us?”
“He told Parnard he may be able to find his armour. I can understand that. And he said something about his ship being moored on the north of the Gulf of Lune, west of Forlond. He will be returning there, I suspect.”
“To alert others that we are vulnerable? And this was two weeks ago.”
“The Mithlond Watch should have noticed. Lord Cirdan will not be taken unaware.” I replied softly.
“Are you sure? Do they even know? Were they informed, or was it kept from them as well?” He was hurt, he was so hurt I had shut him out.
“I wrote to Gaerion the morning after I knew. He and Naraal are old enemies it seems, and Parnard wrote to his brother. Mithlond and the fleet know.”
“So it is only I who did not know?”
I looked down at my feet. I could not face him.
“Why did you keep it from me?” he eventually asked in a controlled tone. “Why did you not tell me a man was here. A man who had a hand in capturing you and Parnard? “
With effort I raised my chin and looked into his eyes. I knew I was wrong. He would only ever hear the full truth from me now. “There was a faint chance Parnard might get his armour back. Both he and I thought…if we told you, you would slay him. There would be no chance to secure the armour after that.”
He blinked a few times. He had heard, but I was not certain he understood.
“It sits very ill with me to withhold anything from you. That has never been my wish. Parnard also. He was torn. I would be open in all matters with you, and at all times. I knew I was wrong, and that increases my guilt. We know not where rge man went. Likely back to his ship. Nor do I ever want to treat with any Men again.”
“It is the only way.” Estarfin spoke slowly. “Why did you make any deal with these creatures?”
“I wanted back the ring you made me. Nothing else, save your life, or Parnard’s would have made me accept any deal. I could not trust them, Man or Black Dwarf. But the Dwarf gave me the ring before payment: I would honour my word to pay him for it.” I could explain no further. “You were in a hole under the ground at that time.”
Estarfin regarded me for a few moments more, then inclined his head slightly, still looking angry, and walked swiftly away, keeping his thoughts to himself.
