Estarfin

His eyes, growing accustomed to the dimness, discerned strange carvings on the walls, and he saw now that the floor was an intricate inlay of stone and a metal that gleamed bright - copper, he guessed wrongly. Parnard felt his mood in harmony with the dark surroundings, and as the elves crept along the hallway like four burglars, his thoughts shifted away from his failed betrothal to more immediate matters.

We continued, Estarfin doubtlessly thinking of what could await us in the Halls of Moria…as indeed was I. Parnard was likely thinking of dark tales he had heard of Moria, without any clear idea of what it was really like, and Marawendi unable to differentiate one danger from another. But at least we were leaving Mirkwood. 

I watched Parnard with a sad expression. This journey had brought him nothing he had hoped for. Far from it. It had confirmed his worst fears. We were about to depart Felegoth - what need was there for us to remain?- but only with a new apprentice for me, that being Marawendi. None of us had seen or spoken with Parnard’s hoped for betrothed. That door was closed to him.

(Warning: Group violence against individuals.)

“I still cannot believe that she does not wish to see me,” said Parnard as he walked in small, aimless circles around the room, the words of Captain Brethenel still ringing in his ears. 

“He did not say she did not want to be betrothed, did he? Only that he would not permit it," said Danel.

“If that is her choice - perhaps she knows that only pain could come from it?” said Estarfin.

Estarfin and I stood before the Sindar Captain, Brethenel, I at least wondering on the point in us remaining. We had accompanied our mutual friend, Parnard, to his homeland hoping he would be able to undertake a betrothal ceremony with his beloved Brasseniel, despite her father previously telling him she would not be permitted to wed until after the brewing war with the Dark Lord.