Eorling Mead Hall

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"Your logic does not fail, and I am grateful that you thought to spare my lady sister more upset. But my decision stands."

Degas had become impatient with Nain, though he tried to hide it. His father had never held grudges; why could he not be the same? He clenched his own fist, not of violence, but of disappointment in himself.

Father would not be proud of who I've become. Every bird comes home to nest, my boy, and every tree with reaching branches has its roots. Never forget from whence you came lest you float away like dust on the wind.

But Father, should a storm take the nest and tear it to shreds, what then? If the tree is struck by lightening, or falls in that same strom, what then? We cannot all be you, father. We cannot all be humble, and be gracious. I had to travel to learn, father, and you always said to learn. How can I help it that while I was gone, my nest was broken? How can I be you, Father, beloved by your people, by your family, and by your friend the king? I am not humble unless I am with humble people. I cannot find it in myself to be unflinchingly forgiving.

My home was taken from me, Father, when my parents were. All I have left is my sister. She is my root. How can I forgive Nain, Father, when the forgiveness has yet to come from the only one that matters? How can I forgive anyone that hurts her?

"There will be no need to ask again once Saeryn's forgiveness is sought. You will have mine as you have hers."

And with that, Degas left, appetite gone, past Nain and many others, out the door and into the street, and for some time he wandered, retracing his steps at the fair so long ago already, and he looked up to Meduseld and wondered, and he was not happy. The sun was bright already, just over the edge of the world, but it felt dark to him.

[Kath]

Kara had been listening to the exchange with interest, but had not intended to get involved until Eodwine had called upon her for an opinion.

"What think you, Kara?" He had asked, forcing her to come toward the table so that her views might be heard.

She could see that Frodides was not entirely pleased to have suddenly been cut out of the conversation, but that she was also curious to know what Kara thought, and was not about to interrupt.

"My lord," she began, trying to organise the thoughts in her mind into some kind of order, "I understand that your main concern is for the safety of those that stay here, and if the kitchen must be moved to achieve that then I will accept it. The bigger oven and larger kitchen are a good compromise, as they will allow us to make more at a time. However, I must agree with Frodides in that the further we must travel between the buildings the more chance there is of food becoming cold, or being spilt, especially if there is only Frodides and myself to rush between them. Therefore I think that if this is to work, we may need a little help, someone whose job it is to take the food from kitchen to Hall. That way there need be no gap in preparation and delivery, and there should be no decline in quality."

Suddenly aware that she had spoken more than she had intended to Kara blushed. She could feel Frodides' eyes on her, but the woman did not seem angry, more impressed that she had thought it through.

"Yes." She said, directing a firm tone at Eodwine. "That would work right enough. The girl and I can cook and another can carry in busy times. If you agree my lord then I won't speak another word against being moved."