Auros hefted the knife. Well balanced. He held it at arm's length, then drew it back. Out, then back. Twelve yards wasn't too far. His arm shot out at full speed and released the knife. Bullseye.
From his perch on the fence Aldawë signalled towards the target. "Two more feet." Muffled groans filled the air. "You all aren't giving up yet, are you? It's just getting interesting!" Cheers from the spectators silenced the groans. "We could get some blindfolds, if you prefer not to see what's coming." Cheers turned to laughter.
Auros grinned. "Let them groan, and be content Dinmir's not playing. They wouldn't stand a chance." She walked by just at that moment, looking like she needed some fun amidst her duties as hostess. "Come on Dinmir, you're the best at this. Show them how it's done."
A grin flashed against flushed cheeks. "I'd rather not."
"Come on! I know you can do it." He held the knives out for her.
Dinmir sighed, took the knives, and cast them one at a time at the target without turning towards it. Bullseye, all three. As she walked away, her parting glare erased his smile.
Aldawë hopped down from the fence and grabbed a couple of mugs. "That's my sister, so all you fellows keep that demonstration in mind. Auros and I are bowing out of the next round." He thrust a mug into Auros' hand and threw an arm around his shoulder. "Let's see how things fare at the firepit."
Dinmir's first party was a success by any measure: number of guests, praise for the food, and all the fun had. Games ran on all corners of her land and overflowed to the space around, save on the west where Farothel reigned over meat and flame. Cheering, racing, darts, and dancing. It should've been her best day so far, but the distraction hadn't worked. Despite playing the happy hostess, she was anything but.
Auros and Aldawë leaned against the house. Now and again the wind shifted and Auros could taste the deer turning on the spit. Farothel had gathered an audience by turning the firepit into his own source of entertainment. He'd cut small chunks off one of the roasts and challenge an onlooker to catch it in their mouth. He had other meats, thin-sliced or cubed, that he skewered and seared on the open flame, then dipped into different sauces, daring others in the crowd to try it and guess the flavor. Tossing bottles, catching them, pouring, dipping, juggling. He flourished his utensils better than he flourished a blade, and he hadn't slacked there either. His knife slid through poultry, beef, or venison as easily as melted butter.
"What am I supposed to do?" Auros took a gulp from his mug. "Nothing I try cheers her up. Nothing takes her mind off her misery."
Aldawë wiped the foam from his lip. "You can't."
"Arandil actually tried to talk to her."
"Yes he did."
"How am I supposed to fix this?"
"It's not yours to fix."
"The other day she told me she didn't need my 'Big Brother Glare.' I don't even know how that's different from any other look."
"Dinmir's not mad at you, she's mad at herself."
"That doesn't make it easier to see her like this."
Aldawë refilled their mugs from a nearby keg. "The drawback of having siblings is you can't always solve their problems or make them feel better; and if it's an unhappy sister you're dealing with, good luck!"
"Bah." Auros spun a chair around with the back facing forward and sat down. "Arandil should've given more warning."
"To whom? There was no point telling Dinmir. She wanted none of it until she was ready, which could've been the first day or sometime a year from now. Don't feel too bad. She's not been terribly pleasant with me of late either. Farothel, of course has received nothing but grins. Unlike us, he has 'little brother immunity.' If he ever made her mad, she'd ruffle his hair and forgive him on the spot. Just let her work through it herself."
"Hmm." Auros spotted Dinmir watching the show at the firepit. It was the first time in a while she seemed to just enjoy the moment. "Perhaps you're right, on all counts. Still, six people venturing into the Northern Wastes? I'd want at least a company, even if the logistics would be worse." Auros frowned at the ale in his mug.
"Curulin, Melëar, and Arandil aren't going alone. Their fathers and grandfather have done it before, so I'd guess they know what to expect. I can't imagine what they're looking for, but it won't be easy to find. Unless they're looking for snow, that is."
Auros glanced up at the pit again and spotted Farothel joking with Thiliel. First he offered her a whole a deer, then a haunch, making as if to set them on a plate until she declined each with a chuckle, settling at last on a couple of slices and passing her the plate with a grin.
"Well?"
Auros turned to Aldawë. "Well what?"
"Not that I don't enjoy your company, but I've never known you to be shy, so I'm trying to figure out why you're prattling with me when you could have a more interesting conversation with her." Aldawë thrust his mug toward Thiliel.
"So am I." Auros took another gulp. "I thought... something happened and I don't know what. She won't tell me, when I manage to see her at all. I tried to talk to her earlier today, and I don't know if I'd call it a cold reception, but..."
"But you've been hit in the face by warmer snowballs. Dogs have found you more interesting without treats. Cats are less aloof. Dragon's fire offers a cozier proposition. Am I close?"
"I've been in enough skirmishes recognize someone is pushing away all distractions. If that's all I am, there's no reason for me to be here. You know I'd stay regardless if there were still something I could help Dinmir with, but I'm just in the way."
"You don't know how to be in the way, Auros. I didn't teach you well enough."
The side of Auros' mouth twitched towards a grin before returning to form. "I might've left already had Farothel not let himself get hooked by Laikendir. I worry about how quick he is to offer strangers aid and how slow he is to consider the consequences."
"As opposed to you, who offers strangers aid despite any consequences."
"At least I've considered them. He charges in blindly."
"I wonder about that."
Auros spotted Gelurien not far from the firepit, cheering and laughing with the crowd. "Farothel and I were supposed to be on our way to Eregion once Dinmir was settled in. Instead he got tricked into guarding some woman until who knows when."
"That woman is quickly becoming one of Dinmir's friends."
"He doesn't even know when Laikendir will return. She doesn't either. How can he agree to such vague terms?"
"The future is nebulous. We peer through the mists as best as we can." Aldawë drained his mug, pushed off from the wall and stretched. "You've done more than your share, Auros. If you need to put some distance between yourself and unfruitful endeavors, none of us will blame you. I can take it from here. I'll keep an eye on Farothel too."
A few days later, the four stood outside Dinmir's house. Repairs were done, she was settled in, and her business was off to a better start than she could've hoped for. Everything Auros had set out to do had been accomplished. There was no reason for him to stay.
Dinmir clutched the hem of her cloak. "This really is it, isn't it?" She looked up at him with a frown and a tear that said she'd both expected and dreaded this moment.
Auros tried to look reassuring, even if that meant invoking this "Big Brother Glare" Dinmir spoke of. "You'll be fine. Better than fine. You'll thrive. You'll get all the adventure you want. Besides, this isn't the end. You can visit us, and I'll certainly stop by to make sure no one's giving you trouble. If you need me, just send word."
Dread faded away as her glare hardened and she poked a finger in his chest. "The same goes for you, you know. Don't think that just because I'm way over here and you're way over there that I can't do anything. I have friends, and if I find out you needed my help and didn't ask for it, I'm going to be angry and you won't ever hear the end of it." That's the Dinmir he knew. She threw her arms around him and squeezed. "I'll miss you, Sir Knight."
Aldawë clapped Auros on the shoulder. "I, for one, won't miss you because I expect we'll be seeing each other in a few months."
Auros clasped his hand and nodded. That left one more farewell.
Farothel drew himself up and put on a defiant glare. "I'm not about to apologize for doing the right thing, Auros."
Auros pulled him in for a hug. "I didn't ask you to. Just be careful, would you?"
Farothel hugged him back. "I'm always careful. It's you that gets us into trouble."
"You know when I'll be in Eregion, but if you send word you're coming I'll stay longer."
With one last smile for everyone, Auros leapt upon his horse. "Noro lim, Vercalussë!"
Horse and rider disappeared into the trees.