Tianwen·Magweth Pengolodh

, "But it's not to make you scolded, if you are afraid of it. But be careful, you just keep the status quo, and don't tell people about me."

"Yes, sir, of course, sir!" Ah Tang opened his hand and showed him the meager income, "Do you want half of it?"

If you take it, you will teach Ah Tang a lesson.But Pengolod decided: "No. Boy, use it to buy paper, or a present for Alfwine. But if you arrange an entertainment in the future, the performer's share is Three-quarters of the income, not half." They were busy arguing about whether that was fair and reasonable until later, when Alfwine returned.

sea ​​bells

"I'm going to propose," said Alfwine, "and I'm going to tell her this afternoon when we get back from the boat we visited my parents. I've already chosen the spot, which is the bend in the lane when we come back from the trading docks." from where you can see the whole bay below."

Pengolod hid his apprehension and let out a groan of approval.When he had arranged his schedule to give Alfwine some time to pursue Rosenzier, he hadn't expected them to be engaged so soon.In the eyes of the elves, Alfwine had only known the young widow for two months, which was not enough time.But Alfwine went on: "I'll take the ring with me and give it to her." He took out the ring.It was a silver ring engraved with winding patterns all over, and set with a very small amethyst.The cliffs and mountains of Númenor yielded base metals, but no gems, so any jewelry with gems instead of pearls was valuable and conspicuous. "The stone matches her eyes just fine."

"You are really in love," Pengolod said with a smile.

Alfwine put the ring back into his small pocket and put it in his pocket: "I'd better be. If I don't propose to her now, I may not have a chance in the future. You heard it too, how Rosinziel enjoys it Speaking of the Crown Prince's rape, the last ship with warriors came back yesterday, and now the city is full of unmarried men, eyeing any unmarried woman—and some who have. At least that got my parents here on a trading ship, looking for soldiers who would pay a good price and take a fast boat back to Anduenil. I don't know when they'll meet again. It's a great opportunity."

"You don't think anyone else will win her heart like a whirlwind and marry her," Pengolods said.

Alfwine replied with a straight face: "That's what I thought. I can imagine the scene-some of her dead husband's comrades remembered that this beautiful wife is now a widow, Came here to flatter her with sweet words, saying that he was entrusted to take care of her."

Pengolod listened to this jealous imagination, and nodded patiently: "It is possible. She is beautiful, calm, and an excellent pastry chef—"

Alfwine added eagerly: "She manages her business well, works hard, has no debts—some of the women waiting here are in debt. She feels that having no children and not much Númenorean blood is her However, my bloodline is not that pure, so the difference in our life expectancy is probably not that big.” Alfwine took out the small pocket containing the ring again, and grinned contentedly, “Anyway, she was After I invite you to someone else's wedding, if she's not ready for this afternoon, she's not Rosenzil." He changed the subject, "Is it all right for you to stay here? Tom will help you before he leaves busy."

"Where is he going? Ah, I remember, you gave him permission to go fishing at night." The boy and the other two apprentices were given a leave of absence for good behaviour.They would eat their catch on Alfwine's boat, camp overnight on the island of Toruni, thinking they were elite young men going out on an expedition. "If your own night-fishing goes well, maybe you won't come back?"

Alfwine snorted and laughed: "The jeweler said he put a love spell on the stone, but I'm pretty sure he said that to every customer who bought a ring that was better than the plain ring. But if I You'll be tired if you don't come back, don't wait for me... Ah Tang!" he shouted.The kid came in scrambling, accepting Alfwine's instructions without blinking an eye, even though he was being asked to do two contradictory things - take care of Pengolod and go out and have fun.

After Alfwine finished his explanation, he leaned on a cane and walked briskly.

Ah Tang leaned out and watched him go: "I don't know if I should go tonight. When he pursues her, he always wanders around, and then he wants to soak his feet."

"I can help him, if he comes back—wait for him," said Pengolod.He noticed Ah Tang's melancholy expression, so he asked in a low voice, "Do you like Rosenzil?"

Ah Tang scratched his head and said, "It's like a vacation for Alfwine to pursue her, but it won't always be like this. Other apprentices said that after a master—whether male or female—is married, you have to work harder work. I don't mind working for her too."

Pengolod couldn't help but said, "Maybe she will invite young lady friends here?"

Ah Tang was obviously in a panic and coughed: "I'd better go too. We plan to dive for pearls and see if we can find one." He also went out, carrying night supplies, The great basket of poles and nets dangled merrily away.

So for the second, overall third time this week, Pengolod was left alone in Alfwine's shop.

He looked at everything in the store and engraved them into his memory one by one.Benches, chairs, wooden work tables, cabinets nearby, shelves in the distance, and posters for the Explorers' Guild, surrounded by a clean canvas.The sunlight in the backyard blends with the verdant green of the leaves.The chirping of chirlink birds is interspersed with the creak of carts and the cries of street vendors.Pengolod wondered if autonomous scribes like Alfwine would have any business to do in Tor Eressia, and if there would be as much of an otherworldly feel as this small workshop.

He had no way of knowing, so he continued to write.He reckoned that he would be able to transcribe the history of the First Era for Alfwine that night.He was writing, thinking, and reminiscing, until the brilliant brilliance of the setting sun passed through the shop window and quietly penetrated into the room.He thought that at this moment, Alfwine and Rosenzil had probably reached the corner of the path.In his heart he begged Nessa, the dancer of the Valar, who was in charge of love, to grant his friend good luck, and to Yavanna that they would have many children.He was hanging his head when the door creaked open.

He raised his head, only to see someone walking in with his back to the sun, so his face was blurred.However, the person who came was wearing the red cloak of the Explorers' Guild and was as tall as a nobleman.Alfwine always opens its doors to busy customers, and Pengolod is no exception.He said: "Mr. Alfwiner is not here now, can I..."

The explorer's guild member strode up, passed him, and stopped in the middle of the store.Affected by his strong demeanor, the shop seems to have shrunk. "You can certainly help me, Mr. Pengolods; and you must."

Pengolod froze with surprise at the deep, confident voice of the only Prince of Númenor.Qiryatan, who was dressed in disguise, lifted his hood, looked around, and smiled with one corner of his mouth: "I can say, I'm here to check the progress of my work; your landlord's payment comes from the explorer's guild's treasury. But I know you'll be here, alone, and I want to talk to you. I'm here to give you what you want."

Knowing this, Qiryatan must have planted spies, and they were planted on this street.Pengolod moved defensively to the working side behind the counter: "Sir, how is this possible? I don't want anything."

Qiryatan snorted: "Then why are you here? A high-ranking official in Gil-Galad's court decided to postpone his trip to Aman Island for no apparent reason. Saved it for the summer, and visited at will all the places where wise men and the like dwell. His manners were almost impeccable, and above all he offered himself to the king. There he became more and more convinced that no mortal could ever challenge the superior Elves. My Your people saved your people in the Great War, and you would be happy to undercut their gratitude to us?"

"If that was the motive, it would be nasty - but I repeat, your people saved my life. Yet why can't I stay? Your country is more beautiful than you think, even your labor districts Kingstown is no exception," Pengolod said, specifying the location.

"Yes," said Cirjatan, "the whole of Númenor is as big as you, and the place where I build my ships is your home! I listen to all my people—I mean, the people here. First God you were a source of wonder, but now you are a source of excitement. You are constantly reminding them of all that they cannot be and have, and you represent impossible aspirations. If you have no great reason to stay here, you are in Meddling, snooping, squandering your age-old wit on word games and slums. So, to right that nonsense, I offer you what you want, even if you don't realize what it is—I Father's staff."

Pengolod was about to protest, but stopped