Curufin grins when Nerdanel rolls her eyes. He recalls his own childhood antics and those of his brothers and cousins, and he knows his mother was somehow able to take it all in stride, despite the worry they must have caused her, because she loved them all dearly and wanted them to find their own paths.

"Aulë would agree with you there, I have no doubt!" he laughed. "And as for the beacon lights, whereas I normally try my best to see the bigger picture, I suspect you are right. We never really do. What we can do is think as far ahead as we can, and try to see as broadly as we can, and take our best shot, and hope for the best."