"Perhaps now you have found the last piece to your puzzle?"
Fáinu looked up at her and tried to smile. He knew that jewel; he had found it in Moria in 1690 III, when he was but 170 years old. He had given it to Cree on her birthday. Although to Elves, birthdays are seldom celebrated. Some how he had thought it pleasant to give a gift to a dear friend, he had always heard tell from his brother of the custom of the Hobbits who gave gifts on birthdays.
"The puzzle?" he said after a pause, "I know not. The puzzle of life is never complete till the end of days. However, my understanding of that black day is now complete. I don't suppose you know of what happened to me in full... Only Elrond and Adu know, I have told no one else."
He then went on to tell her what Smaug said, and how he was cursed. When he told her that he had leaped into the water only to see his parents being consumed in flame, Cree looked shocked, to her, she had only heard that he had fallen in the fight, but Elrond had told her of Manstarmin's survival, and of his new name, Fáinu.
"Now do you understand, Cree?" he said sadly, "Even a normal Dragon wound would have healed by now, his curse has held so far. I do not doubt that more he would have cursed me with if my father had not speared him in the face. That perhaps was luck... in a way." he paused and Cree saw in his eyes that he seemed to be looking far off.
"Perhaps he did curse me," he continued "to be ever cast out, for that is all that I have known since that day. The elves of Mirkwood cast me out, they did not believe that I fought in the battle against Smaug, and that I had dwelt among them. They called me a liar and an Orc friend.
“My Brothers cast me out, they were jealous of the renown I gained after sleying many goblins and saving their lives. Ellodan and Elrohir cared little for me, they did not know me like their father did. They were friends of Manstarmin, but not of Fáinu, they distrusted me.
"Some times, I dream that I am destroyed by flame, and then I wake up, and the pain of my hand grows, and I wish I was in Mandos. Surly there is healing in Aman, there all hurt can be cleansed... Some how, those words do not bode for me."
|