Tianwen·Magweth Pengolodh

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It is easy for them to be generous, and the food is staggering.Whole sheep and suckling pigs were roasted in the pit.Romenna's daily staple food is plain white fish, but today the plates that come and go here are full of whole prawns, freshly cracked shellfish, and platters. The tuna is also grilled whole so that the skin turns golden brown.There are countless saucers and bottles for seasoning meats, with something for everyone to choose from salted seaweed slices, vinegar-soaked chilli, tangy pickles, sweet and sour sauce, a chartreuse oil, fish stew sauce or spice paste .A generous supply of wine and ale was also spiced.Pengolod wanted to use bread to clear the taste in his mouth, but even the bread was not the common barley bread that was eaten with fish and meat every day.This banquet bread is yellow, sweet and savory, and stuffed with raisins.Finally, trays of other desserts were brought up, and by this time Pengolod couldn't bear it anymore.

"Who pays for this banquet?" he asked Alfwine.

"I believe it is the king's treasury. The ship was built under the patronage of Cirjatan."

"Hence the name 'Shipbuilder'," Pengolod murmured.

An older citizen sitting next to them spoke up: "Cirjatan himself is only fifty, but he has brought about a lot of change in the past thirty years. Tar-Minastir is all about Those who are learned, most of them are. The queen Tal-Telperion before him, she loved the mountains of Frosta and riding horses. When Ziryatan comes to the throne, I think he pays most attention to It will be a ship, both for himself and for the country. His hobby has brought much trade to Romenna." The townsman raised his glass and nodded to his impassive son and pale daughter, "To Cirjatan! May my children see him become Tar-Cirjatan!" Alfwine repeated the toast.Pengolod just toasted and drank.A mortal toast is not for him.

The banquet continued, with musicians and other entertainers weaving through the crowd.Many people who attended the banquet went out to see the new ship at anchor, and Alfwine and his party were among them.As the townspeople marveled at the width and height of the new ship's hull, Alfwine explained the intricate runes carved into the bow.Pengolod nodded to something else in the bow—Oyo Lari in the moonlight."I have seen your evergreens many times when the ships of Númenor came into the harbor of Lyndon," said he.

But his storytelling urge subsided, for only Alfwine was interested in the memory behind his words—the music in the ship's hall grew louder, the women wanted to dance.Surprisingly, the townsman urged his daughter to dance with Elfwine.The girl was taken aback at first, then smiled encouragingly.Alfwine finally managed to speak: "Well, ah, but I...then just dance one, if you want."

Pengolod knew how much pain that dance would bring to Alfwine, so he thought to himself: If you want to prove your courage, then it's up to you.But he said aloud, "Go ahead. I'll be in there shortly for you." He was glad to have the opportunity to put some distance and some air.

Shipyard Banquet

He wanted to see the whole picture of the ship, so he walked along the sidewalk paved with wooden boards beside the pier and surrounded the Dabo boat yard.As he approached the end of the pier he was met head-on by a large party of revelers who passed him, leaving him almost alone and looking back and seeing the whole ship appearance.Her sails were all furled, and her tall masts were black against the stars; her gilded railings shimmered in the light of the hall.Pengolod recalled his impressions of the Númenorean fleet.This should be Cirjatan's fifth big ship.He frowned.Yes, the fifth, and more than enough to hold enough riches to redeem a king.Carry Yang.What cargo is Cirjatan planning to load?How would he get them?

"Good evening, my lord," said a voice.Pengolod was startled to hear someone greet him in Sindarin.

He turned to see who this woman with the beautiful voice was speaking in the Elvish tongue characteristic of Númenor. "Nice to meet you, ma'am," he replied in the same language.

Standing right behind him was a beautiful lady in a white dress and stars.The elven vision of Pengolod identified her long hair as red-gold, and her eyes as a pale silver-gray.Her beauty and the simplicity of her robes reminded him of his own people.What a pity, he thought, was her pretentious accent; and at the same time she said: "It's a lovely night, isn't it? I love the moonlight on the water, and the swans by the bay."

"Very beautiful indeed," he answered.

He was about to ask her name when she said again: "My father was very rich. One of our dwellings was a houseboat."

Pengolod became interested: "Really? My landlord's father is a businessman, and he comes and goes on such a boat."

"Oh! Our boat is much more upscale. It's nearby, by the pier next door. See it?" She came over and stopped beside him, raised her hand ambiguously, and pointed to the boat.

Pengolod asked: "The one with the red sails?"

"You can see it at night, your eyes are really sharp." She almost whispered, and he could not help but move closer to hear it more clearly.She looked up at him, lowered her eyes again, and smiled.At this moment, Pengolod felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.It was not that he was incapable of seeing signs of coquettishness, and there was more than one reason why he had to quickly and decisively dismiss her.

But she is no fool, she knows how to play the game.Her next words were: "You were so tolerant and courteous in the hall when those pranksters dragged you out and forced you to kiss their pocket queen. Truly, you were the sweetest thing here tonight." Handsome man. Maybe you'd like to be kissed by a real woman to make up for the farce you've endured?"

Pengolod said bluntly: "Madam, you are very kind. I am honored by your compliments."

She ignored his refusal and moved closer: "I have always heard that the attitude of you elves towards women is decent and respectable. Now I can see it too. However, if a woman is willing to commit herself to show her love, it is a big deal." It must be dignified, right?" She stretched out her hand and caressed the silk fringe at the front opening of his robe.She leaned toward him, looked up at him from under her lashes, and whispered, "There's no one in my houseboat. It can be very comfortable there."

Pengolod grabbed the placket, pulled it out of her hand, and then pulled a considerable distance away from her: "Ma'am, all elf men treat women of all races with dignity and respect. But , no matter how beautiful they are, we never confuse fate with those foreigners through... improper intimacy." Fortunately, what he said is true, all elf men are indeed like this, she will not Thought he was extraordinarily strange.He bowed: "Ma'am, please forgive me."

Her pretty face stiffened with anger: "Any man in the hall would be a thousand times more honored - even the most dignified! You just keep your dignity!" She lifted the hem of her skirt, He walked away arrogantly.

Pengolod's first thought, not without irony, was that she acted as if she was rarely rejected.His second thought was not without worry—what would happen if anyone saw this dramatic scene?He couldn't count on them being the only ones there just now.The revelers near the stern fell silent for a moment, and he could hear a man's footsteps on the boardwalk, and not far away—close enough that a mortal with sharp ears or sharp eyes would have been perfectly aware of what was going on. the point.He couldn't leave without meeting this person like the woman who was rejected.

He slowly approached the bow of the Sun Carrying Ship, as if concentrating on admiring it.The footsteps came closer, as smooth as a stealth hunt.Pengolod carelessly brushed back a lock of hair.This is the classic disguise of an elf - seemingly distracted by the environment, while at the same time being ready for battle.He didn't know how long he had to wait like this.

The truth is, not too long. "Elf, good evening. It is very unusual for an elf not introduced by the court to come to our banquet."

For the second time that night, Pengolod heard the voice.He had been alerted to hearing Sindarin again after the last conversation, but this time it came from the man and sounded natural.Pengolod took a deep breath and turned around calmly: "Lord Ziryatan."

Before him, Prince Númenor raised his thick eyebrows.He has the well-known tall figure of Elros, taller and stronger than the elf man in front of him, comparable to an elf king.His hair under a golden brow was tan like Alfwine, but his beard faded to a reddish brown and was trimmed squarely.Evidently, the crown prince had no intention of following Armenelos' fashion.His clothing contains a variety of vivid colors, red, orange, and blue, which are extremely exquisitely woven and dyed, giving the impression of incomparable richness rather than bright clashes. "you remember me?"

"My lord, you have won such victories, and who will forget you? I am Linton