20. Fragile Things
Harpers use tuning forks to play true. Balhir seeks the note that'll shatter crystal, as it were. He must break the bottle just so.
For whoever's in the keep must pass word down the pendant chain, making a trail – like bread crumbs. The wharf's moon-distant yet. Balhir needs a monkey in the middle to chair. The flautist…? Sheeted rag boy tailed him for a copper – seed money that led to a violinist.
Cookied, Vale-folk violinist, just beneath keep's notice…
Peaches. The letter of right's still wet the snowy morn Balhir meets him in the lock-holes:
"Adris, is it? Let's talk…"
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
