Parnard

The festival has ended and we three must make ready for our journey to Mirkwood. We shall stop a short time at Imladris however, to take stock of what we need in crossing the Hithaeglir this time of year. Our purpose after that is to see Parnard reaches his home, and if at all possible, she to whom he would be betrothed. 

“What is this thing,” Parnard asked Estarfin, holding out an oddly-shaped object.

And then, the day before the last of the festival, out of the morning mists walked Belegos. 

"Just a fleeting visit," he told them "And to remind you I have my eye on you. Both eyes when I can."

He was warmly greeted, and asked how he was, and how his mission progressed. There was ever hope he would be free to spend some time at Numenstaya, but his three friends understood. 

"Someone has to save Middle Earth," he said to them, with a grin, knowing all of them did their part when needed. 

“You doubt his love for you?” Parnard asked of me.

“No Parnard, I do not,” I replied without even thinking. Why should I doubt that? Estarfin merely said he wanted an apprentice. Am I wrong in not welcoming Ruineth?

Seating himself more comfortably on the grass, my wood-elf friend took up his flagon of wine, and had a few sips. “With all the talk of bringing that maiden here?”

I shook my head. “If he loved her, he would be with her. Not planning betrothal with me. I do not doubt him.”

"Who took you?" Danel asked.

 "Was some of Lotho's men." Guy replied.

"That accursed name again," 

 Estarfin, rushing up breathlessly, seemed not to recognize his friends at first, then lowered his sword. 

"You must break the lock," Parnard told him, pointing downward at it.

It had been a very rainy day. I minded not at all, for I had my work cut out for me. I had shut myself away in the small room I used as my workspace, and finished the second ring first. 

After the meal, the four elves take a short swim in the lake under the stars. Estarfin takes some persuading, and when he does get in the lake he mostly shivers. Parnard swims off like a fish, and Filignil proves she can sleep while while floating on her back. Danel's main concern is how to warm up a freezing Estarfin again. 

Parnard and Filignil had been working on a suitable Mirkwood based celebration to share with their friends. There was plenty of food and drink to go around. It should easily last the required week out. 

But that first night was Parnard's specialty, Tripe! The others ate it with varying degrees of enjoyment. The roast venison seemed to be acceptable, and the rabbit and pigeon pies disappeared swiftly. Good conversation, after Parnard had removed his antlers, meant they hardly missed music at all. 

Estarfin sat under the stars, reading the book he had taken from Danel's collection. It was a record of the fall of Gondolin and the history of Eärendil. He knew little of the history, only what rumour or gossip ran around the camps of warriors long ago. He had come to realise how little he knew of the great events of Arda that he had not been directly involved in, after long conversations with Danel and Parnard.