Estarfin

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. 

Fortified wine seems to do the trick. 

Filignil hands out warm blankets to the cold neri, and passes round a bottle of the best fortified wine. She warns them to sip it, but both Estarfin and Parnard down it in one. After that the Housekeeper relaxes with her feet on the table, and watches as the drinking continues. Eventually Parnard has had enough, and curls up on the floor to sleep. Filignil excuses herself and retires. 

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.

I remained on Pelorian for a moment, uncertain what he was looking for. Then he said, ”I remember walking this bridge with Daegond, many years ago. The snow was heavier, it was colder…but….” He stamped firmly on the bridge. “Same bridge.”