Again, Eliriael took up her quill, dipped it into the ink, and let her hand hover over the parchment. The tip of the quill stood upon the paper, the ink pooling together for a moment before she began writing. The quill etched itself into the parchment, leaving its imprint and a dark liquid trail behind.
My dearest Miruial,
Find it in your heart to forgive a forgetful friend. I arrived some days ago, but as you suggest, the winds, waters, and trees of the valley have captivated me and have been singing to my very being every day. There is some magic in this place that carries away your cares with the breeze, rinses the fatigue from your feet, and melts your heart with kisses from the sun. Perhaps all the laughter from ages past have been gathered in this valley, and here they live in harmony with our kindred.
Will you not think of coming to Imladris? It would do you much good. I would come for you as soon as you agreed.
Though I am glad to hear you have found friendly company in Lindon. You must not keep to yourself always, pouring over your designs and crafts. There is much love to be shared in meeting new friends.
Do not worry over your old friend here in Imladris. Though it seems that there are dangers growing further in the East, the valley is safe for Lord Elrond and the House of Vanimar protect it. I have met with many of Bar-en-Vanimar and they are all occupied with some great effort to fight the growing enemy. A certain Lord Parnard was sent upon some dangerous mission by the Tur, the Lady Elvealin crafts bells of majestic sound that would capture the greatness of our elven cities, and the Lord Aithanar only just returned from rescuing elves from goblin camps in tunnels below the earth.
I, too, have just written to our Lord Anglachelm, Tur of Vanimar, asking him to employ me with some task that would be of service to our kindred. I have little trouble enjoying my time here amidst the flowers and sun, dancing wherever I wish, but I feel of so little use to the House of Vanimar when entertaining my own whims. I will write again when the Tur has given me something helpful I may do.
Our Tur is a most mighty but sorrowful lord. He carries a heavy burden that I wish to uplift if there was some power within me. Even the power of the valley seems to have little sway over him. Grief is laid into the history of our kindred and I have seen it pressed heavily upon them. Yet, Lord Anglachelm’s unhappiness looks most familiar to me, as if I had seen it in some dream of mine. Perhaps, it is simply because the tragedy of Gondolin, which has left its mark in my own heart, is written into his past and reflected upon his visage.
He is haunted also by some dream lately. He fears some harm will come to one of the Order of the Hammer in Bar-en-Vanimar. I see our Tur is unable to rest for the dream casts some shadow over his mind, even in the day. Thus, he has asked us not to leave the valley and into the Moors. Yet for the sake of his well-being, I have a mind to see what lies outside Imladris, so that he may rest in comfort. Do not worry, Lord Anglachelm’s dream has only foretold of some danger upon a soldier of the Hammer, to which I do not belong. It is my hope that some extra vigilance outside the valley may prevent any harm from coming to one of my new kindred in Bar-en-Vanimar.
Yours devotedly,
Eliriael
This parchment, she also rolled up gently and fastened with a flower and its stem. This letter would be sent west to Lindon and would be better secured with a thin and light rope of some kind…but for the moment, her usual way would serve.
