Tolmen awoke on a stone bench in a dark corner of the hall of fire, the hall empty aside from the dying embers of the fire even the ever present Gilfiniel and Sogadan had sought their beds. his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and head pounding as though he'd been trampled by several horses, he rubbed his face to try and awaken and felt the empty cavity of his eye, the gem! those thieving bastards had stolen his gem, he sat up abruptly and his stomach immediately emptied itself of the wine he had been drinking splashing foul smelling liquid over his boots "Bastards!" he hissed "Drugged and robbed, that's the last time I go unarmed into the hall of lies!" he stood and took a few breaths to calm himself "Bastards!" he yelled into the silence of the hall, seeing his cloak on the bench he snatched it up and headed for his estate.
He seethed as he limped towards Imlad Gelair, those who had wronged him would regret it mightily, all bets were off, all oaths broken, all chances done, no longer would he be taken as the easy going Noldo, lines had been crossed and he must take his satisfaction in redressing them, thankfully the roads were empty as he returned to his holding.
He bathed, changed and collected his arms and armour from it's stand. He went to the stable and his stallion Astaldo* greeted him with a friendly nip as he shared out
an apple he picked up on his way. "Come my friend we have wrongs to right!" Astaldo's ears flicked back at Tolmen's words he knew he would be going into danger but also relished the thought.
As Tolmen saddled and fitted the war barding to Astaldo he spoke rhetorically "How could they do it Astaldo, even my own cousin! of course i don't expect anything less of a damned Telerin!" Tolmen fitted the final pieces of Astaldo's barding, some cruel looking blades to his shins that when the horse fought and reared up the blades could be used to parry or attack. Tolmen mounted and headed toward the forges and estate of Silwe, he bellowed for Silwe to come out but was answered with silence, Tolmen grunted and turned Astaldo towards Imladris and rode in haste.
At the doors of Imladris he remained mounted and shouted for Silwe to come out, as he was doing so the little rat Linchil scuttled past, before Tolmen could accost him he'd fled into the halls leaving Tolmen to continue to shout for his erstwhile cousin. Presently Silwe
deigned to show his face and remained by the doors, "You owe me an apology cousin!" Tolmen said angrily "Drugging and stealing doesn't become you!" Silwe removed his cloak as he took a pace forward and Tolmen's horse reared briefly in anticipation of battle "I do apologies cousin! but not for saving your life! that gem had corrupted you and it took all my weekend's worth of opium to sedate you! I took an oath to protect you even as did you! even from yourself!"
Tolmen dismounted and came forward hand on the hilt of his sword,"Where is the gem?!" Silwe stood his ground "Somewhere you cannot find it, perhaps turn your ire towards the
one that gave you the accursed thing! Please think cousin! this is not like you!" Tolmen stood and a wave of confusion and paranoia lifted from him as though a curtain had been pulled,
He set his sword tip to the floor and gave a ragged gasp, Silwe visibly relaxed a little and came forward to support him, Tolmen looked at Silwe and gave his usual hideous grin "Sorry cousin, it seems as though I've been compromised" Silwe nodded, "You were, and are still feeling the effects of that accursed thing, let us go into the hall and speak of this in comfort" Tolmen nodded and let Silwe guide him into the hall and to his usual place at the board, thankfully the hall was quiet and as Tolmen and Silwe compared notes on what had happened young Earcalie entered the hall "Ahh Limpy and Handy!" she said brightly, jumping on Tolmen's back, Tolmen said little but patted her back and Earcalie said "Whassup?" Silwe said that they were planning a return to Enedwaith and Dunland to exact vengeance on a certain manling.
Earcalie was instantly interested but refrained from joining them mentioning a man that was infatuated with her "Liechbestu" she said, and on hearing her tale it seemed it was the same person.
Tolmen had heard enough, and gave the excuse that he must see to his horse, Astaldo was used to seeing to his own needs but the barding he was wearing was valuable and also the livery was well known to all that it was the device of Feanor and was his.
As Tolmen rode his horse back he happened across Manadhlaer, Saranasse the arrow and another standing in the road, he stopped close by dismounted saying "Ah! just the quende I'm looking for!" Tolmen stood before the three and gestured to Manadhlaer,
"I think you owe me an apology!" Manadhlaer went quiet and the unknown elf stood in front of Tolmen in challenge to him, Tolmen looked past the elf to Manadhlaer "Well?!"
Manadhlaer began walking towards Imladris as Saranasse and Aurthiel delayed Tolmen with displays of outrage that he should be threatening to them, Tolmen became angry in turn as the three hastened toward the hall with Aurthiel saying the guard shall be told, Tolmen followed them and as he threw the doors of the hall of fire open he found them inside by the lit fires.
Tolmen strode up "Where is my apology and where is my GEM!?!" all three looked shocked but Manadhlaer recovered to say his stupid cousin had it. Aurthiel seemed as though she was ready to shed blood.
As if a spirit summoned, Silwe appeared at Tolmen's shoulder smiling and pleasantly saying that a threat to Tolmen was a threat to himself, Aurthiel seemed to be having some kind of breakdown and as Tolmen finally managed to get an insincere apology from Manadhlaer he went to sit down and watch the three as he sipped some wine. Tolmen helpfully said he'd give up his chair for Aurthiel but Manadhlaer decided to escort her patient to Tham Send. Tolmen tossed off his wine and nodded towards the door "I feel like a walk cousin don't you?", Silwe laughed aloud "A walk to Tham Send perhaps?" Tolmen nodded and headed toward the door.
*Astaldo Quenya for Valiant
