Dear Violet,
This is the proudest lass in Middle-earth writing to you.
As I told you before, there is a terrible place near Bree where the help of us elves was needed, and thus we went there to fight and free the lands of rotten, stinky skeletons and even more terrible beings. I saw so much dust and blood, evil and horror there, but we stood against that with courage and mettle, nobleness and friendship. Later on, we moved on to the dry and lonely Lone-lands, where Lady Thannriel sent us on one elf missions against orc camps, spying their positions, their numbers and sabotaging them wherever possible. On one of these missions I met a friendly elf who was there to free a man prisoner. He seemed less startled about me than I had experienced it with other elves in the past, and apart from fighting wargs together, we had some friendly talks. I was able to help him to free that man who was somehow very obsessed with a knife he was looking for all over the place before he agreed to come with us.
When I came back home after that long and terrible journey I was glad to find your letter. First, I took a long bath and then I read it outside in the little gazebo down by the lake. So nice to know that little Amber and everyone else is fine. And little Bogo is holding hands with little Pansy Boffin? Two rascals who have found each other. Woodhall beware! After I finished reading your letter I made some nice and rich hobbit food - I actually had missed that terribly on our expedition. I guess growing up with pies and roasts and biscuits makes you kind of addicted to them. Nothing against the... erm, well... very dry and thin elven bread, wrapped in flimsy and fleshless leaves. I am sure it is very good for my health, and it seems to be enough for the other elves. Especially as they had only very few bites of it and did not eat the leaves at all (so the name leaf eaters is not justified). Once I noticed Miss Rimriel's jaw drop when she saw me eating three of them at my private elevenses. I never saw them eat more than one during a meal, usually much less, actually. And when I say meal, I am talking about only once or twice a day! That is why I had to hold my own lonely second breakfasts and elevenses. There are parts of the elven ways I will never get used to, I am afraid.
But my intention was not to complain about the food. What I have to tell you today is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. The best thing in my whole life. And the coming true of my dearest dreams and hopes.
A few days after we had come back from our journey, life went into normal again in Falathlorn. It is easy to forget the terrible wights and worms we fought against when around you there are blossoms and waterfalls and gentle, soothing music. As if we had never been away. The only thing that has changed are my neighbours. Even the ones that did not come on this journey with us seem to know about it. They all greeted me friendly before, but now they do it with another look in their eyes, and the way they smile at me has changed, too. Somehow from friendly belittling to sincerely respecting. I know some of them used to refer to me as "that crazy perian" before, but now they refer to me as "Miwia". That already would have been enough to make me happy for ever.
But then I got an invitation to join a meeting of Miss Rimriel's kinship. I was sure it was kind of an after fight meeting, and indeed they talked about our achievements during that expedition. As I had been there myself, it was nothing new for me, so I concentrated on a bag of biscuits I had brought with me, and on admiring the beautiful dresses and hairdos of my fellow elves. But then suddenly it had become very silent and everyone looked at me. It took a while for the last few words to sink in. Had Lady Thannriel just really asked me to come up front? I jumped off my chair and threw the bag of biscuits below it with what I hope was a subtle movement, chewing and swallowing the last mouthful down as fast as I could while walking to the front slowly and up onto the platform. Hope they did not see the trail of crumbs I left on the stairs.
And then Lady Thannriel handed me a letter in beautiful elvish writing and beamed at me. I looked at it - and could not read a thing! Well, I have started to learn some elvish letters, of course, and so far, I know two already. And they were there in that letter as well, but apart from that... Well, but then Lady Thannriel said with her crystal clear voice: "As you have proven a worthy companion in battle, including saving the lives of two elves who would not have come home otherwise ..." (at this point she glared at one of them with a piercing look. He is known to always joke around, we are used to that, but this time and at this place it could have cost his and his brother's lives if it was not for my arrows) "... I wrote a letter to our highest kinship leader in Caras Galadhon with a proposal, and she agreed. We decided to offer you to become a member of our alliance - despite you being... well... of not the usual height for an elf." I blushed crimson and was almost choking when swallowing the last biscuit crumbs. Can you believe it? I of course could not say no to an offer like this, making all my dreams come true. So at this unforgettable moment I became a member of the Archers of Lothlórien - of the Falathlorn branch, to be exact. But I hope they will send me to the Golden Woods really soon. Maybe I should learn the other letters before that.
A bone smashing hug and lots of love from your proud sister!
Take care and come to visit me soon!
Miwia, a proud member of the Archers of Lothlórien.
