[Schmendrick]

Durmán was standing in the Sea- ward tower of Dol Amroth, deep in thoughts. The guards had let him get up, although seemingly reluctant. Nothing had changed since the last time he had been in the city. Most people pretended not to see him, when he passed them on the street. Only some curious children came to him sometimes, asking about his travels. And the Prince himself, the few times Durmán had met him, had been kind to him. He was a wise man and knew that Durmán could not be held responsible for something his father had done.


Durmán watched the gulls diving towards the mirrory surface of the sea and back up again. Some men were preparing a ship at the harbour; he could hear their distant voices. All this made him restless. He wasn’t used to staying a long time at one place; for years he had been travelling across the Middle Earth, trying to find his brother. And even now he felt he should be on the road, not in this cold city surrounded by so many unfriendly faces.


But he had wanted to see his mother. He had hoped that she would have changed some, maybe even missed him. But even if it was so, she certainly showed no sign of that. Durmán decided that he would leave in a couple of days, he couldn’t waste more time. Maybe he should go to Minas Tirith this time? It was a long time since he had last been there.


Suddenly Durmán remembered something his mother had said, when he had talked once again about finding his brother. She had smiled – a cold, wry smile – and said:
“ Surely you realize it is not your brother you are looking for, Durmán? That is nothing but an excuse. You are just like your father; you just can’t settle down and grow up! All this silly quest of yours is nothing but fear of growing up and taking responsibility.”


Durmán hadn’t known how to defend himself. Her mother knew nothing could be more painful to him than being compared to his father. And even more so, because deep down he knew there might be some truth to that. He was afraid of settling down. Had that not been the case, he could have signed up to be a guard here in Dol Amroth, for example. But the mere thought of that made him feel like a prisoner.


Suddenly he felt irritated. He didn’t have to tolereate any insults from his mother. She, if anyone, had made mistakes in her life. Who was she to tell him what to do? There and then Durmán decided to leave the city, as soon as possible.