Curufin has come all this way with Sansa, to protect her and keep her company on her journey. They come to the castle at last and walk up the snowy path to its doors. No one comes to open these doors, and so Curufin approaches and knocks loudly. The doors are opened then, much to Sansa's astonishment. For a moment, Curufin is glad for her. But then he sees the expression on the faces of those who greet her. Only, they don't greet her, merely look at her as though she were something that has crawled out of a sewer.

And that makes Curufin angry. "What is the matter with you people?" he demands. "This young woman has come a long way to visit here, and she is tired, cold, and hungry. Surely in this country, you have some guest laws or customs? Every civilized people has them. The wanderer is allowed his or her three days of hospitality, no questions asked -- or at least, none are asked until the third day. But whether she is a stranger or well known to you, do not turn her away and thereby identify yourselves as barbarians!"