Celegorm reached for an apple from the tree in Finwë's courtyard, but was interrupted by Huan's whine. "Oh, really? Anyone would think I never paid any attention to you. You've waited this long enough to see Nerwendë; you can wait until after I have an apple."
In reply, Huan pinned the elf to the ground and proceeded with a thorough cleansing of his face, before finally letting him up. "Go on. I was just joking. I know no girl's going to come between me and my buddy!"
When Celegorm entered the main hall, Huan was watching Galadriel do some embroidery. "I hear you have a rather impressive new horse, Tyelcormo.
"Yes. Telianáré"
"Who sports with fire?"
"Anyone who rides him, cousin. Don't get any ideas. I wouldn't want you to get hurt before I have a chance to beat you at archery."
"Of course. I've been looking forward to that amusing victory dance of yours."
"Shouldn't you be out practicing, rather than wasting your time on girl stuff?"
"This is for your father. I had hoped to give it to him when he arrived." The text featured prominently in the elaborate design read 'Home is where everyone knows you and likes you anyway.' "Anyway, I happen to enjoy 'girl stuff' as you call it. Needlework steadies the hand, sharpens the eye, and relaxes the mind. You should try it." That was when he realized he had a slight tear in his shirt that hadn't been there that morning.
"Come on, Huan. No laughing."
As Galadriel walked over to where Orodreth was sitting, she noticed Maedhros and Fingon sitting at a game board, talking. Maedhros picked up a piece and moved it to a point above the game board, holding it there.
"May we finish our game now, Father?"
Finarfin nodded. "If you see Findaráto, tell him I'm looking for him."
Galadriel and Orodreth went upstairs.
"This isn't like Ingoldo. Where could he be?"
"Rolling around in some clover field with Amarië."
"Why today? He knows that Father likes us all to be here when Uncle Fëanor arrives."
"Don't worry, Arothir. I have a plan."
"I was afraid you would."
Finrod and Amarië weren't aware of Galadriel until she jumped Telianáré over them. They sat up suddenly and looked around. "It's Nerwendë!" he said.
"Who else?"
--Thanks for warning us before you jump, sister.--
--Our favorite uncle decided to show up early.--
"Sorry, Amarië. It looks like I'm needed back in Tirion." When he walked towards Telianáré, the horse tried to bite him.
"What did she do? Catch a wild horse?"
"Good idea, Amarië. It probably would have been easier than convincing this fellow I wasn't going to let him throw me."
When they returned to the house, Orodreth was waiting in the tree.
--Tyelcormo's outside our hall.--
--Ingoldo, delay him. Arothir, take care of the horse. I'll arrange the alibi.--
"Take care of the horse, huh?" Orodreth thought as he faced Telianáré. "Look. I'm sure you'd love to bite my fingers, but I'm rather fond of them. Perhaps you'd settle for an apple instead?" The horse gave a noncommittal snort. "How about several apples?" Telianáré's ears perked up. "See this branch?" Orodreth indicated the branch that had curved towards the ground ever since Galadriel had bent it. "I'll give you all the apples on that branch if you let me return you to the stables."
"Good. No grass stains." Galadriel said as she brushed Finrod off and plucked a clover flower from his hair. "Hurry!" She grabbed his shoulder, pushed him towards the door, and began rearranging the game board.
The first thing Celegorm said when he saw Finrod was "Where's my horse?"
"How should I know? I've been inside all day."
"Where did you get this, then?" Curufin pointed to the clover flower tucked in Finrod's collar.
The door to the room wouldn't open.
--Young Curufinwë's here too! Let me in!--
Celegorm grabbed Finrod's shirt. "What did you do with my horse?"
--I'm sorry I sneaked out without you--
Galadriel opened the door. "Did you get tired of watching, Ingoldo? Oh! Hello, cousins. Come on in. You just missed a spectacular game."
"Tell us about this game, Findaráto." said Curufin.
Finrod looked at the game board. "Nerwendë stopped Arothir's windstorm with a fire-ring."
"That would have been a spectacular game. We'll tell your father why you were too distracted to realize he was looking for you. Come on, Turco" They left the room.
"A fire-ring standing up to a windstorm? Is that possible?"
"It would seem so." Finrod replied.
Finrod described the exciting conclusion to the imaginary game. "So I wasn't aware that Uncle Fëanáro had arrived until I saw young Curufinwë and Tyelcormo."
Curufin laughed. "I'll give you this much, cousin. Your lies are rather amusing. Don't you think so, Russandol?"
Maedhros didn't answer; he was looking at the position on he game board. He pointed out to Finarfin the telltale structures and positioning that supported Finrod's story. "A most impressive victory by a master gamer." Curufin just looked at him. "I think you owe Findaráto an apology, Curvo."
Checking the stables, Maedhros found Telianáré contentedly munching on apples. He decided to get one himself and climbed the tree. Peering into the large hole in the trunk, he thought he saw something. He reached in and pulled out a leather bag containing various items. That's when he noticed the branch that went over to a large second-floor window.
"You are a genius, Ingoldo. We knew your system works on Father, but to trick someone of Coppertop's skill... He called me a master gamer!"
"Master prankster, certainly. Not everyone can make a fool of young Curufinwë, or of me."
"Take your time getting back at me. It won't be easy topping my fire-ring and wind..." She was interrupted by the sound of someone entering the room through the window. "Hello, Maitimo."
"Maitimo? Just now I was Russandol to you." Maedhros ran his fingers through his reddish-brown hair. "When did you adopt the mispronunciations of our cousins?"
"When I told your father what I think of him."
"Either Curufinwë is hard to catch off balance. Indeed you are a master prankster. Is there any chance of me learning that system of your brother's?"
"Yes. Is there any chance of us helping with that three-dimensional variant you're working on with Findecáno?"
"How did you find out about that?"