“I am so sorry I did not send a message. It was a very small and private ceremony, after a difficult year. But I still should have let you know.” I explained as best I could. It was not the whole truth, for we had made our final choice of a time rather swiftly, and knew not where to send a message as Earcalië was oft on the road.
“A difficult year?” Earcalië looked suddenly concerned.
“We were kidnapped, Parnard and I”
“You were what?” she spluttered. “Excuse me…but kidnapped?”
“I must add that getting married is far preferable to getting kidnapped.” It was my small attempt to break the sudden shock.
“Well yes…That’s an understatement. But as you are standing here I can safely say the kidnapping ended well?”
I cast my thoughts back. “Well? There were times when I thought it would not. We were taken to Angmar. Parnard was treated abysmally, and Estarfin entered a burning building to rescue me and another captive. It took us longer to recover my cousin.”
“Your cousin… oh yes. Parnard.” Earcalië scratched her head and rubbed her eyes, trying to process the news.
“Estarfin, Yrill, and Parnard’s brother, Culufinnel, Captain of Celondim, pursued us. Although he has many skills, Estarfin is hopeless with directions, so it was beneficial that Yrill was with them. From what I know, Culufinnel was also a great help. He is high in my admiration these days.”
“I remember Yrill, though I did not know Estarfin well, nor Culufinnel.” she said.
I gestured to the door to the main room, and gave my guest a few moments to look around, and a few moments to collect her thoughts. There was a table and six chairs, a fireplace, a few rugs on the floor, but little else. She looked, but I am not certain she saw.
“Ah, forgive me,” I continued. “I tend to think all those of the Old House knew Estarfin. He has been there for so long. Even now he would answer a summons from Lord Veryacano.”
“I knew of him from stories. But I only spoke with him a few brief times before last year,” Earcalie explained.
Of course, she was of The Arrow, he of The Hammer. Different Orders. Not that they did not mix, but each had their own circle of friends.
“I have not been back to the Valley, save for a couple of brief visits,” Earcalië chuckled.
“Neither have we,” I replied, though with some sorrow. My departure from Imladris was still very recent, but my new life was sufficiently full to make it seem but a distant memory.
“Your news has caught me empty handed,” Earcalië said, looking up with a brighter expression. “I will send you a wedding present.”
“Thank you,” I inclined my head. “But we do not expect such.”
“Nonsense. Expect one. And you must visit my Uncle’s house soon.”
“We would be honoured.”
Earcalië grinned. “Come whenever you have time from cooing at each other like love-birds.”
I chuckled. She did not know many Elves of our age. “We are both over six thousand years old, my friend. Love is still love. Perhaps all the more poignant for such a long wait? But we know others exist.”
She nodded, even if she was still too young to understand.
“Let us go outside,” I suggested. “Estarfin must be somewhere close, and Parnard was shell hunting the last I saw him. I would that they both meet you, now you are here.”
So we walked out into late afternoon sunshine. There was something of a sea mist further across the Gulf, and a fishing ship heading to Forlond being followed by gulls, nearer to land. “So many ships pass us by, “ I commented. “There is one that sails back and forth three times a day.”
“A coastal patrol?”
“Possibly. I would think you to be more of an expert in that area?”
There was the clatter of hooves on the road, another rider was approaching. We both turned.
“Estarfin!” I walked over, eager to greet him. “As you can see, we have a visitor.”
He smiled warmly as he dismounted. I wondered if Earcalië would notice how happy he was compared to the old days? But then, as she had said, she never knew him well.
Norlomë tossed her head, then made to join the other horses. Pelorian wandered round from the far side of the building to join her.
“Well met,” Estarfin inclined his head to our guest. “I shall just remove Norlomë’s saddle and take my purchase into the house, then you will have my full attention.”
“Well met. You should remember me. I was at your home barely a year ago.” Earcalië spoke up with her usual confidence.
He nodded again, placed a large wicker basket on the ground, removed the riding tack, then carried it to the stables.
“You have been out for a ride, meldanya?” I asked, noting that Norlomë looked somewhat tired.
“Indeed. Partly for the joy of it, partly for dinner. There is not enough open grassland here for my liking, but it was pleasant enough.”
“For dinner?”
“Alas, my intended provision did not quite go to plan. I have been to the Inn to get a replacement.” He returned to stand beside me for a moment. “You were heading to the beach? Give me a moment to place the basket inside, and I shall join you.” he brushed back a wayward strand of my hair as he passed.
I could not help but notice out of the corner of my eye that Earcalië was watching us with a rather silly grin on her face.
She and I crossed the path, and headed down to nigh the spot we first met that afternoon.
“We shall be having bread, cheese and sliced meat tonight?” she asked.
“ Perhaps.Estarfin will always do the best he can. If his cooking went awry, he will have something else enjoyable for us.” I did wonder what had gone wrong.
“Not that I am complaining. It is kind of you to have me here.” The young nis seemed full of energy as she all but bounded towards the sands. I doubted she had forgotten about the kidnapping though.
I waved a hand. “It is our joy to see you again.”
It took only a few minutes before Estarfin caught up with us. He slowed to a walk, as we headed onto the sands together.
“We have news to catch up on,” I told him, reaching out for his hand. He took it, but looked at Earcalië with concern.
“Yes, but it seems to me I am the one who needs to catch up,” She looked quizzically at Estarfin in turn.
“She knew not that we were wed, Meldanya, nor aught about our ‘adventure’ last year.” I explained, squeezing his hand.
“Do not make light of it,” he said softly. “It was no adventure.”
I bowed my head to him. “My apologies.It was something I would wish on no other. It cost us all dearly.” Although not the one kidnapped, I knew Estarfin had suffered greatly, thinking he had lost Parnard and me.”We are together now, as it always should have been. Although Parnard is elsewhere.”
Earcalië looked confused, but nodded her head.
“He may have gone to the Inn for refreshment and some conversation with the Inn keeper? He and I were there yesterday.” I explained.
“Better to drink wine under the stars than in an Inn in my opinion,” Estarfin commented with a glance at the clear sky.
“Agreed. Unless the weather is foul. Then it is better indoors somewhere cosy, and with a large window to watch what we are missing.” I was thinking of our new found small Inn in Celondim.
“Why spend time inside when there is not a cloud in the sky,” our young guest also agreed. “On the subject of views. This one is very pretty. But the one from my home is better.”
“Indeed. Where is your home?” Estarfin asked.
“North of Forlond, where the grassy hills meet the mountain woods.” she answered with a joyful look.
“We have an invite already, meldanya.” I tugged a little on Estarfin’s hand to slow his pace. As often happened, his long stride was leaving me behind. He made an apologetic grin, and nodded.
“Oh yes. You know…when a time comes that you can bear not to walk hand in hand on the beach.” Earcalië chuckled. “We have an area of pebble beach nearby. It is not so good for walks. But there is a small bay, I used to play with boats with amme*.”
“That sounds lovely. I should like to see it.”
Estarfin slid down the final slope to the flat sands, steadying me as I followed. I could easily manage alone, but it was rather nice that he was there.
“We usually sit around there,” I pointed to a large grey rock in the midst of the beach. “If Parnard is near, it is possible he will look in this direction before heading to the house.”
Earcalië nodded, and made herself comfortable, laying aside her sword again.
“My Sea Castle still stands,” I chuckled as I pointed left along the shore. The sandcastle stood proud against the waves, though such a creation could only ever be temporary.
Estarfin smiled indulgently at me.
Earcalië pointed. “I was about to ask who made that.”
“It reminds me of my childhood,” I confessed. “Making castles out of sand on the shores of Lake Helevorn, while my parents sat under the nearby trees to converse and be at ease.” I looked at Estarfin for a moment.
“A design to model Númenstáya after?” he asked.
“Why yes, that is an idea. Though it was meant to be our original home.”
“Oh, it is Caranthir’s Castle,” Earcalië announced.
Estarfin and I both smiled. But then she had never known that structure of the First Age.
“Not quite. It was large, strong and beautiful. It was not to be dismissed by waves, but sadly by Dragon fire.”
Earcalië nodded her understanding.
“Let us move on from fallen castles to more recent news and merrier matters.”
Estarfin nodded, making himself comfortable on the sands, his own sword then laid by his side.
“Like the small, insignificant thing that you are married now.” Earcalië was not going to let me forget that I should have told her earlier.
Estarfin smiled. “Indeed.”
Placing her hands on her hips, Earcalië stared at us.
“Well, it was not exactly a rushed thing,” I began.
“I want to know all about it!” the young nis demanded, as if such would make up for my oversight.
I moved to sit close beside Estarfin, and took his hand. “You knew we were betrothed, Earcalië. We had hoped to wed at Yule. But the kidnapping interrupted that. There could be no further planning. The late autumn, winter and early spring were taken up by Parnard and my rescue. When we eventually got back to Númenstáya, I felt too exhausted to want to marry immediately. I think you did too, meldanya?” I smiled at Estarfin and he nodded.
“I wanted us to be wed soon, but when we both felt more ourselves.I wanted us to be joyful, not drained of our strength.”
“Yes, exactly. Then, as midsummer approached, I think we were ready. We planned but for a few weeks, and without help from Parnard, Filignil or our youngsters, it would have been difficult. We only invited a few folk from nearby, folk we knew. The ceremony itself was just us, Parnard and young Marawendi, who I have told you about. Neither of us have any remaining family. It was too sudden to invite anyone from Imladris, and we knew not where you would be. ‘Somewhere on the road’ is no real address.”
“Our wedding was one regret from Thargelion that could be remedied,” Estarfin added.
I smiled up at him, and kissed his cheek. He gave my hand a small squeeze.
“I wish we could remedy other things from Thargelion, but my heart is so glad we have this.” I said.
“It is still hard to believe,” he sighed.
“Believe it, meldanya. We have much lost time to make up for.” I reached up to brush his hair back from his eyes. As usual on a windy day it was quite wild. “It is beautiful here.” To my eyes he was the most beautiful part of the place. “We can always return if we wish.”
“Beautiful, but hard.”
His honest reply struck me. I had watched him for any sign of the sea longing. He had hidden it well.
“Oh, Estarfin!” I leaned in to kiss him. A gentle kiss it was that said I understood. “The sea longing still calls to you? Then we shall severely limit any trips to the coast in future. Earcalië dwells further inland, so we may still visit her.”
He lowered his head momentarily. “We stand on the shore and look towards the West: of course it does. It always will. It is worth it though, at least for a little while.”
“I can’t hear any call,” Earcalië protested.
I wrapped my arms about Estarfin’s neck, I would have done more had we not had company. But he understood, and stroked my hair in turn.
“Sea longing,” I turned to face Earcalië. “I think it calls louder with age, especially to those not raised by the Great Sea. I think it calls loudly to any Noldor, for our ancestors came from Valinor. It calls also to other elves, Sindar and Nandor, in due course.”
“Oh yes, I forgot. I am surrounded by elderly Elves.”
“Yes, you are, young one.”
She stuck out her tongue to prove her point.
Estarfin smiled at her. “You are young compared to some.”
“Take no notice of we elderly ones,” I added. That was not quite true, for Age oft increased knowledge and wisdom, but she had to progress at her own pace.
“That’s hard to do when you are cooing right in front of me.”
Estarfin looked embarrassed.
“Apologies for our unseemliness,” I said. “We shall contain our affection for a while.”
“Oh, it was a joke! Coo as much as you want, I am happy for you.” She beamed back. “Not so many children now, and not so many weddings. I am happy for you two.”
Estarfin nodded with some relief. I knew he would not be comfortable if we did anything that could be considered unseemly with a guest there. For that matter, neither would I.
“I shall get food and wine,” I changed the subject and rose to my feet. “We shall see what you brought back from Celethon’s Inn, Estarfin.”
He smiled and shrugged. “I hope I chose well.”
