Telpenaro

Today I awoke with a terrible pain behind my eyes, and I sat blinking in the sunlight not knowing where I was, until a cooked egg was thrust in my face, and I was bid to eat it by the Lady Himwen. I was told that the eggs were laid by a wild pea-hen, but they were not able to catch and roast the hen, which is a sore pity.

The 15th day we left the Gravenwood, crossing through it not far from where I was caught in the accursed orc mangling trap. It was to the Gap of Rohan that we were bound, to recover Lord Anglachelm, at least, that was the idea.

“Well done, O cracker-eating varlet! And so I am to be roused, and awakened out of my sleep, to listen to more of your sing-songing prattle! See how my leg is wound up, and my limbs yet trembling and shaking, from the putrid orc arrows? No, varlet, I suppose you must not, else you would give me a moment’s peace, and not twine my thoughts like some noisome, overgrown weed, filling my head up with a bramble chain of idle fancies. You must not suppose I need rest, varlet; but if you do, you are widely mistaken – “

Below our camp lay the Gravenwood, and when we first arrived there, I was mightily heartened to see its pines and majestic oaks and many white birches, and from a distance, I thought its tall, straight, good-looking trees suited me. I do not know why it is called the Gravenwood by the Ranger-folk, but perhaps it is because the Wildmen abuse the bark of its trees for their barbarous carvings.

Veryacano refused to allow him a turn at watch, and when Parnard protested, he appeared surprised at his dissent, and told him that he should be glad of the rest. Uncertain if this was thoughtful regard, or a show of bad faith in his ability, Parnard said nothing in reply, but strongly suspected it was the latter – the Hammer Lord was not known for benevolence.

After Glaurung had left Nargothrond, Telpenaro was curious enough to enter it once again, but the air was stale and a lot of places had soot after the dragon. The sight was sad to him, and yet he was prepared to what he saw. He took some of his family belongings, but he wondered whether he dared to look at his mother's garden. Eventually he did because to his surprise the air was more fresh closer to the area.

The dragon Glaurung had turned Nargothrond as his residence in the following days of it's sacking, and it became clear to all the refugees that there was no turning back. Telpenaro got together with some of the refugees and for a while they figured out how to survive as a group and they grieved together, though they did not know about all of the others. Later they received news that the Orcs had killed all their captives as they were waylaid by the Haladin.

Nargothrond was now permanently under the rule of Orodreth, and at first Telpenaro served him with the same dedication as he served Finrod. Though one day he was at his home, and thoughtfully examined the pendant that King Finrod had once laid on his neck. The pendant looked otherwise as mainly as beautiful ornament made for a Lord, but once he pulled the hilt of the pendant, he revealed the hidden sword made with incredible details, all the way from leaf shaped blade to the symbols on the blade.

Tonight I sit sleepless, and look into the night about me, dark, terrible things lurk there, and often the dread comes over me, that I feel my reason is overpowered, and my senses are bewildered. Abandoned to evil spirits, we are, we who followed because duty demanded it, because we swore to serve. How can we believe that our well-doing has availed anything? All our labors have met with failure, all good for nothing. We only seem to fill up every place with our trouble and strife. Behold the works of the proud Noldor!