Chapter 35: The temperature of elves

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Belin's first real elven meal, at an inn in Thargelion, had been difficult. He and Ecthelion had been served a piece of meat with stuffed leaves.

"Milord, could you pass me a spoon, please?" he asked Ecthelion.

"Why? We're not at the soup."

The human dared not add anything. The Lord of the Fountain took the dish, cut himself a piece of meat and put it on his plate, then helped himself to the stuffed leaves by hand.

"Take it."

He passed him the dish.

Belin took the step of imitating his master and served himself in the same way. Then, considering the food on his plate, he added shyly :

"Or a small fork, milord?"

"You don't need that. Civilised people eat with their hands."

Belin looked away, ashamed of the contemptuous look the elf lord had just given him. He decided to prick the food on his knife, as he used to do when he ate outside in the country.

Things had changed between them since then, but Ecthelion still refused to give him lembas.

"Only elves who have been given lembas by the Lady are allowed to eat it," he explained. "It would be a kind of betrayal if I shared it with you. Besides, this is the first time Idril has given me any."

You could tell he was proud of this promotion.

"I was just wondering what it tastes like," Belin said.

"It's not bad. But it's not as good as your cakes. Anyway, it's better that you eat the real food. We don't know if lembas is really suitable for humans."

Belin cut himself another slice of elven sausage, then took a piece of their star-shaped sheep milk cheese.

"Would you not like some, my lord?"

"No thank you," Ecthelion replied, chewing his lembas. "I was thinking about what that Noldorin peddler told us about this mysterious cave that is the goal of our mission... What was his name again?"

"Enpeacy, my lord. He said that a ghoul stole his book, and that if we got it back he would give us a reward."

"That's good. This way we kill two birds with one stone! And we'll gain plenty of experience."

The entrance to the cave was inside an old well, which took them some time to locate. Once inside, they enthusiastically slaughtered the monster, then moved on to the treasure room.

While Ecthelion, covered in black blood, made his way to the altar at the side of the room, Belin set about opening a wooden chest, for he had picked up the ghoul's key ring, which she had dropped when she died.

"Did you find anything?" asked the elf.

"Yes milord, it's full of coins!"

"Pick them up ! But did you check if there was a trap in the chest, as I taught you?"

"Yes Milord."

With these words, he began to pour the coins into a large bag.

Ecthelion inspected the altar. The stone table looked as if it dated back to the time before the Noldor came to Beleriand. It was covered with a worn purple carpet, on which were several objects : an extinguished candle, a grimoire, destroyed leather leggings, three clementines, a large bottle filled with pink liquid.

"I think I found what we were looking for."

Jingling because he was full of coins, Belin approached.

"The merchant's book!" he exclaimed, as he saw the grimoire. "And what is this?"

He pointed to the pink bottle Ecthelion held in his right hand.

"That is a Longevity Potion," the elf replied.

"Are you going to take it back to the King, milord?"

"No! It is for you!"

He turned to his squire.

"Drink !" he exclaimed, handing him the flask.

Belin stepped back.

"Oh no, milord, we're not sure what's in it! And maybe it's out of date!"

"You're right," said Ecthelion, lowering his arm, yielding to popular wisdom. "I'll have it examined when we get back to Gondolin."

They picked up the book and went out.

After returning his stolen book to Enpeacy, and earning their reward, the two companions set off for home. Despite the siege of Angband, some parts of Beleriand were still dangerous, and on the first night of their return journey they had to lie on the ground without making a fire or even erecting a canopy.

Ecthelion was on the lookout.

"Do you hear that noise?" the elf asked in a low voice.

"No, milord," replied Belin.

"It has stopped..." said Ecthelion.

But five minutes later, the disturbing noise started again.

"Oh dear, there it goes again... Belin, do you hear it? It's like a clicking sound..."

"Don't look for it, milord, it's my teeth..." the human admitted.

"Your teeth?"

"Yes."

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

Ecthelion raised his eyebrows.

"It's true that I myself find the weather too cool... So I imagine what it's like for you. But I gave you two blankets... Do you want mine?"

"No, not at all, or you'll be cold too."

Ten minutes passed, the chattering continued. Then Ecthelion got up, his blanket stuffed on his back, and came to lie beside his squire. The young man was lying in profile ; the elf lifted the blankets, pressed himself against his back and put his arm around him until it reached his hand.

"Are you less cold now?" he whispered.

"Yes, milord," the human replied.

Then after a few minutes he added:

"You are warmer than my brothers."

"Elves have a slightly higher internal temperature than Humans," the knight explained.

"How do you know that?"

"One of the doctors told me when you were ill. He had read it in Curufin's treatise."

Belin turned to look at him, who was speaking behind his back.

When they were standing, the man was barely above the elf's shoulder, so they were only really face to face when they were sitting, especially when they were having their meals.

Ecthelion's face was right in front of his, his head resting on the ground. He suddenly looked extremely young. And in fact, in some ways, he was only slightly older than Belin in terms of physical and psychological maturity. His pale eyes glowed. But the human's eyes were shining too. And as they lay opposite each other in the Elbereth night, and the rest of the world was in darkness, there were no longer men or elves. Only two young souls, and that was often how these two felt.

"Belin..."

"Yes?"

"We'll always be together, won't we?"

"Yes, milord, I will stays with you forever."

When they returned to Gondolin, Ecthelion went to see an Avarin alchemist who had his shop in the southern district, and whose signboard was promising :

Professional and hereditary alchemist -

Potions of all kinds -

Brings back love -

Cures impotence -

Urgent and desperate cases -

Guaranteed results

"So, what's in the bottle?" bellowed Ecthelion on his second visit.

The wizard put the Longevity Potion back on his counter.

"From the analysis I've done, it's a concentrated mixture of antioxidants."

"What are these things?"

"Vitamin C and E."

"Can you speak clearly?"

"Clearly? It won't make your human immortal, but it will make his skin firmer. In any case, he won't be any worse off."

Ecthelion looked sad. There was a huge disappointment on his face.

"So it's not dangerous, you say?"

"All medicines have their side effects. But if I were you, I would make him eat apples instead... It's the same thing. And that way, you won't take any risks. Naturalness... that's the only thing that's true anyway!"