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Nethwador glanced at Mellondu, who seemed particularly gloomy and irritable. How different he was from Amroth!
Perhaps Amroth will never return.
It was a sad thought. He disliked it, and tried to fight it. But it came to him again and again. Nethwador sighed.
He thought of Bella, and that cheered him. Her arms were around his waist. Sometimes she laid her head on hisshoulder, and then he trembled with joy. Bella was not irritable or gloomy; she smiled a lot. Her smiles were uncertain, but as sweet as ever. He turned to her for reassurance, speaking softly. "Nethwador mellon Bella. "
Bella smiled at him.
He spoke again. "Nethwador mellon Amroth."
Her smile faded. She whispered sadly to him. "Nethwador, what if Amroth does not return?"
His eyes grew wide as his stomach sank. Placing one hand over hers, he tried to shake off the uneasy feeling. What if it was true? What if Amroth did not return? Nethwador missed the King. He tried to remember what Amroth's company had been like. But the memory that came was the Merlocks. He shuddered, and gripped Bella's hand more tightly.
She must be kept safe. he had been terribly careless, leaving her. He would not leave her again.
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