He rushed to the stairs.
A statue, they had said.
No, statues were the smallest concern of Felegoth.
They were dead, and they would not help the Woodland Realm in any way.
Loegenel decided it was enough.
Since the Ngolodhrim had arrived, things had grown ill.
But out of the three, only one was in his mind.
The most foolish, most nasty, most brutish one.
Not only had he broken three sparring swords, a mace and two axes. Not only had he demolished four sets of shoulder pads. Not only had he torn apart five belts and insulted Woodland elven craftsmanship.
He had demanded certain tools, tools for sculpting. But there were rules in Felegoth. Everyone had to wait. However, the brutish Ngolodh did not want to wait.
The third day, he just went to the masons room, punched Virdirith in the face, threw Arafael against the wall and pushed Laerfaroth aside before taking a bunch of tools with him.
Such a thing was unacceptable.
Loegenel hastened towards the stairs.
Since he had brought that group of strangers, he was responsible for the damage.
He had avoided the brute since the beginning, but this had to end now.
He checked the small courtyard... nothing.
Third, fourth chamber... up left, grand corridor. Right side, stairs. Still nothing.
Sixth feast chamber...finally.
There he was.
Leaning against the wall with his forehead. Drunk? Maybe.
Loegenel rushed towards him.
"You there!"
No answer.
"Ngolodh!"
No answer.
The Laegel grabbed the massive arm of the Noldo.
"HAUTO!" (Quenya for: Stop it)
The Brute of Beleriand turned around swiftly, throwing a heavy hook against the Green-Elf.
Loegenel's eyes widened in surprise.
However, the long years in the wilderness had gifted him with the skill of exceptional reaction time.
Like a cat, he lowered his head and upper body, and the dangerous punch missed, only touching his hair slightly.
The Laegel stood straight again, and he stared right in the eyes of his adversary.
The face of Noldo was of ageless beauty, even and clean, as if never touched by any dust or peril. But his eyes were different. A devouring darkness, encircling a golden glow... this elf seemed haunted by something terrible, something eating his mind from inside. These eyes did not match the even face at all.
Loegenel flinched slightly. He had not gazed into the eyes of a Noldo for a while.
And yet, however dangerous this Ngolodh was, somehow the fire of his eyes was broken and splintered, with no strength left within them.
The Green-Elf took a deep breath. Time to say it all.
"You!"
The brute did not answer. Instead, he began to walk towards the Laegel.
Walk, or rather sway.
Loegenel withdrew slowly, keeping a safe distance.
"You!" he repeated, pointing at the Noldo with his finger.
"Since your arrival, you have caused nothing but havoc!"
No answer.
"You ravaged the stock of our forge!
You stole tools from our masons!
You beat our craftsmen, and you insulted our people!"
No answer.
Loegenel frowned. Cold anger took him.
"You are a fool and a brute, Ngolodh!
And you know what? We were right never to trust your folk!
You know why? There are reasons, many reasons!"
The Noldo tried to grab the hand of the Green-Elf, but Loegenel freed himself.
"First, you do not respect the rules! You think you can make your own!
Second, you do not respect the efforts of others. Only your own efforts count.
Third, you never understand. All your lore is in vain, because you possess no empathy!
Further, the whole world around you is a place to exploit and harvest. You do so, until it is utterly spent.
Also, you belittle things that grow, and live, you only have eyes for your art and your knowledge and your letters and your numbers and your stories and your precious stones and your cities and your metal and your armies and...
..also, you are greedy, and nasty.
And you are undyingly arrogant. There is just you, and you alone in your world.
And you are hungry and never satisfied. You eat, and you take. Until there is nothing left.
And you are unable to understand and live peace. Wherever you go, you bring war and suffering!"
The Noldo frowned. There was something strange in his eyes. His face looked dazed.
He tried to grab the Green-Elf again with his left hand, and when that failed he followed up with a grip with his right hand, grasping the shirt of Loegenel tightly.
The Laegel tried to free himself, but it was in vain. He could not match the strength of the Ngolodh.
Eventually, cold rage came over him, and he cried:
"And last but not least: We do not forget what you did to Elvendom!
What you did in Valannor, what you did in Doriath, what you did in the Havens of Sirion!!!..."
The Noldo froze. His features seemed petrified all of a sudden. His grip loosened.
The Green-Elf had found a soft spot.
Loegenel freed himself once again, stepping aside.
He cried:
"Cursed you are, Ngolodh, foul, and foolish, and cursed. Wherever you go, you bring darkness and suffering and blemish. There is Elven blood on your hands. Blame, shame and punishment shall be upon you...Murderer of your own kind, Kinslayer!
And don't think I don't know of that young Elleth... You will make her suffer a lot, I know of that! Leave her, leave her alone!"
The Noldo turned around. He lowered his head slowly.
The Green-Elf had found another soft spot.
"Leave" said Loegenel, after a short silence.
"Leave Felegoth, and never come back."
The brute did not answer.
Finally, he made a step. Then another. Then another. Slowly he walked out of the chamber.
---
The day was coming to its end. Night was falling.
The Green-Elf kept watching.
The Noldo had left Felegoth, like a sleepwalker.
He had gone towards the river, finally reaching it. He stepped into the water, standing still for a moment.
He did not know about the river... but he seemed to realize quickly.
Swaying, he managed to get out of the water before collapsing.
Slowly, he slid into the water again.
The Green-Elf kept watching.
And he did nothing.
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