That Great Nargothrond Soap Opera-Act 1.
I am really hating this part of the story and will likely continue hating this until Nargothrond is razed to the ground (or below it).
The Stranger Comes
Year 490
Finduilas
My darling is back. He is much changed by his captivity. He brought a friend – an actual Man. The city hasn't seen one of those since the days of King Finrod. I don't know what to think. The Man looks much like my Gwindor of bygone days. Hair as dark as a raven's wing and those biceps… My fiancé seems a shadow of his former self. I understand he has been maimed during his imprisonment by the Shadow. My ladies find Gwindor's presence rather unsettling. After he lost his right hand, receiving love letters from him just isn't the same. His calligraphy was such a dream back then. Now I am stuck deciphering chicken scratches. Then he has lost all his good looks. Some even mistake him for the Secondborn (on the cusp of their twilight years).
This is so confusing. I try to be nice to him but he no longer wants to talk with me about music and other artistic stuff. He prefers to sulk off alone when I try to speak with him. He rages at the healers whenever they suggest talking about his time in captivity will make him feel better. This is nothing like the Gwindor I knew! Perhaps it will no longer work out between us… Well, Luthien did exceedingly well with her Man. Perhaps I should get to know our Mannish guest better… Maybe Gwindor will start paying attention to me again if I do.
Turin Turambar aka Agarwaen
I think she likes likes me. I feel like a total cad. She's Gwindor's intended after all. And I so owe him. Perhaps if I make it clear to the lady she's like a sister to me… Oh gosh, she really is pretty, even for an elf-maid. I have seen my fair share of elf-maidens back then… If Gwindor does not want to wed her, perhaps I might have a chance.
Let's see, Mister Nobody with a shady past. I will be lucky if His Majesty (bless his soft heart) does not have me thrown into the river for candoodling with his princess. Of course, Turin, son of Hurin the mighty Mannish hero will probably have every elf-maid in this city swooning at his feet. Nah, better not risk it. I will be beating them off with a stick all day. I do wonder if Gwindor has any news about that stable-hand job. Banditry is fine, but a man does need some stability after a while from all that constant ill luck. Somehow, I do believe my name is jinxed somehow. Shovelling manure might be better than being some champion.
Gwindor
Somethings are not fit for the likes of gentle maidens to hear of. Talk about it? I can't talk about it, not even to the healers. They have no idea of the horrors of Angband. All this idle girlish prattling about poetry and music – it seems so superficial to me now.
I do wonder if we should have left our mutual Mannish friend to the mercies of the orcs, but I did promise Beleg to get his buddy Turin to safety. I doubt Thingol will accept him back after that debacle in Doriath that Beleg told me about, foster son or not. I know I have come close to killing some of my father's advisors in my time, but still, that is not done in polite society.
Seriously, methinks the Man is a jinx. How can a simple prank backfire so spectacularly? Could there be some truth to those rumours that Morgoth cursed the line of Hurin? Perhaps for everyone's safety, we should cast him out of the city… Elvish hospitality be damned. I think Finrod Felagund will be spinning in his grave like a top. His late Majesty was always big on hospitality.
Orodreth
Gwindor came back, so I guess it was a lucky thing Finduilas did not get married off in his absence. Things could have become very awkward. Still, it is a pity he is no longer as handsome as he was before he was taken captive. That Mannish friend of his seems to be rather bright. Easy on the eyes too. I do believe my little girl has taken a shine to him… Perhaps we can persuade Gwindor to call off the betrothal like my counsellors keep suggesting. At the very least, the council will cease their nagging.
Author's notes:
Finduilas is playing a dangerous game and she doesn't know it. I do wonder what Finrod Felagund would have made of Turin Turambar, considering his reaction to Beren.