Parnard

The afternoon found us taking a short tour of the main streets. I was trying to show Estarfin the places and views I was most fond of. There was the Central Library, down on the island between the falls, the Scholars Enclave, whose steps I had climbed  very many times, and there was the Gem Smith’s quarter. 

We three set out for Tûm Escal, early in the morning, two days later.The journey was just under two hundred miles, but on mostly easy trails and under shade-giving trees.

And so it was that we slipped back into the familiar pattern of our day-to-day lives. But I noticed that Estarfin seemed a touch sad. 

“We have waited for over six thousand years for this. I think taking a few weeks, a month to just enjoy being together is not a lot to hope for.”

Parnard gestured around the room. “There is space for dancing; we can push the table aside.” Then he went over to a side table filled with bottles of wine and opened the nearest.

It was six days after our wedding.The guests from Celondim had returned home, Curumaito with a promise to visit again soon. Filignil had parceled up most of the remaining feast and was sending it to some of those who could not make the event. In this matter Captain Culufinnel was to be a major recipient, with enough to live on for a week. The weather had been kind to us, glorious sunny days and clear night skies were additional gifts. But by that evening it had begun to rain.

We left the celebrations prepared by our housekeeper, Filignil, and others of the household, a few hours after midnight. The sky was still dark, with an abundance of stars showing, but we knew it would not be long before dawn. Midsummer was the shortest night of the year! 

We stood facing each other, but a little over an arm’s length apart. Ithil shone down upon us, touching him with a true-silvered hand. The warm breeze ruffled both our hair. All I could see was the culmination of my dreams. Oh, there were other things I hoped for, other things I dreamed, but this was and always had been the heart of my heart. That he would know happiness. That we would be as one.