Notice: With the Laurelin server shutting down, our website will soon reflect the Meriadoc name. You can still use the usual URL, or visit us at https://meriadocarchives.org/
So there they were, after quite a long ride, taking a small rest in the village of Oatbarton.
"At least we can stock up a bit on food and water." Lithea said, not as much thinking of her lack of lunch as what they would eat in the coming days. Evendim lay before them, and it was better known fer its tomb robbers than for its hospitality.
They pulled up their ponies at Bob Proudfoots place. He was known to Tolbold as being a trustworthy fellow.
She arrived at Duillond to find a group of guards having recently returned. "What news?" she asked the one who acted in charge.
The fair haired son of the Falas raised his head. There was blood on his thick leather gloves.
"And you are?"
"Yrill of Eregion, now staying at Numenstaya. I rode after hearing your Captains request for help. I appear to have two missing friends, so this matter is of personal concern."
Swan-Hoof had fortunately suffered no injuries, but she was restless and concerned, not only for Pelorian, but for Parnard and Danel. Both horses were tossing their heads, neighing and snorting. ‘Could the horses but speak,’ Yrill thought, not for the first time in her life.
It was the Elf, Estarfin, who had asked us to build a defensive wall for him. We did not often take any orders from Elves. Neither would we have been overly willing for carrying out his request, but we knew of the Lady, whose home it was. Carnifinde of Thargelion was a name known to us, also as Danel of Eregion. She was a 'Dwarf friend' of old. And this Estarfin, also of Thargelion, had written a polite enough letter, showing he acknowledged our skills. Those skills with stone that were superior to that of Elves.
Mirdanel took her hand and grasped it reassuringly, with unexpected strength. She had always wondered at how an elleth with such small hands could forge as well as she did. But then for a Mirdan, small hands were a benefit. Istuil had seen the Lady work on larger items too. Though she did not have the strength…nor the skills of a metal-smith, Mirdanel was far stronger than she looked.
Parnard rose to his feet and bowed before Estarfin as he approached us. He looked a little weary to me, though not overly so. We tried to take regular shifts of guard duty, he and I, Yrill and Ceuru and Filignil. Barahirn protested he was also able to take his turn, but we deemed he needed a couple more weeks rebuilding his strength.
“I was hoping to drag Naergon out of his musings, but I haven’t seen him all day,” Earcalie said. “He has moved here as well. Waiting to make his mind up about sailing. You do remember him?”