Sheldian, good fellow!
I hope this letter finds you well and once again I wish to pass to you my warmest congratulations on the birth of your Daughter Ethel. I am sure she will bring you so much joy and many headaches and sleepless nights as she joins the ever growing family of young ones, for it was not too long ago too we received the news that your brother had his child with the Lady Sheley! Your Father must be a Grandfather of five now, if you include the children of your brothers! We were rather anxious Lady Sheley would deliver the child on your return to Rohan, but thankfully she was safely home when the child came! We have had a rather still and uneventful Spring since you all had left us, we much enjoyed the company of your fine family throughout the winter.
As you will recall, not long after you had left us, myself and Nessya set off from Bree to visit my homeland of Dale and while enroute, we discovered Nessya was with child. Again I want to thank you for the kind hospitality and lodgings on our return trip, it was a delight to see Rohan again, I still recall my surprise when you yourself rode out ahead to meet us at Harwick. Nessya very much enjoyed seeing the place she had only ever heard discussed and thoroughly enjoyed seeing beautiful Rohan. I digress, I am very proud and pleased to say Nessya gave birth almost two weeks ago, to a baby girl, who we have called Naiya. I can already see her and your little girl getting along famously.
We did receive your note several weeks ago regarding the Winter lease for the House again and the adjacent cottages for your men and of course we are very happy to welcome the family and see them settled for the Yuletide, though I am saddened to learn you yourself will not be attending this time, but I understand. I am very sorry to learn about your Fathers illness but I know you have a duty to perform. I would not be easy to leave if I were in your situation, so please do not fret. We shall share a drink of mulled-goodness in your stead and both your brothers and Lady Agnatha, Sheley and all the children will be most welcome!
My brother Gyth is also eager to delve into deep discussions with Helmey (Soverhelm), the likes of which I shall avoid. Helmey is too like my brother for his like of artistic writing, storytelling and love for sonnets, it's bad enough he sings when he works, but two of them together in the spirit of Yule? I shall hear poetry to such excess it will bleed from my ears! And please do not think I have forgotten you owe me a rematch on the dice.
Sheldian, since writing the above, I was forced to cease composing my letter due to some events which have been forced upon us most unwelcome. I hardly know where to be begin, but I feel I must now reach my hand out to you. I am not sure of what else I can do but hope I can trespass on your protection, advice and guidance.
Odd events have been happening in the village, which we at first contributed to savage acts of revenge by a man we were forced to dismiss, when it came to light his barbaric behavior towards his own Son. It came out he was rather abusive and even forged a resignation letter from the young boy to loose his employment with us. We dismissed this man immediately and in doing so his true shades came to light. But this was just the beginning, it is now very apparent this man works for another, a man from my past. To own to the truth, my Father; no I do not mean Aillstan. As you know from meeting him in Cliving when we were returning from Dale, he was my Mothers husband but he was not my actual Father.
Several people within the town were being approached by a mysterious man, new to the town, who was asking about me. Luckily I am fortunate to have some clever and thoughtful acquaintances, for they distrusted the man from the start and found ways to alert me to this man. Since then, things progressed worse. Nessya got hurt by this man which resulted in her premature delivery of our little girl. I was going to spare that detail in my letter but now I am forced to be plain with it. Please be assured Nessya is fine, both are healthy. But it was one act too far. The young boy I mentioned further up in the letter was also attacked, as was his fair young girl that he is courting.
It pains me to write this, but I now know the identity of the man. It is mine and Gyth's Father. I can not begin to explain to you how dangerous this man is. I would rather have joined you in your campaigns in Gondor than face him again. I long believed him dead, I was assured he was slain, but I was deceived, horribly deceived. I do not know why he is torturing us now, it's all games. Things being destroyed on the farm, threatening my workers and my loved ones. Myself and Gyth, oddly, are the only people who has not seen him yet, but everything that I've been told, the hints he is leaving like moldy bread crumbs. It all points to it being him.
Please, Sheldian, I am at my wits end and must beg your assistance. I can not trust anyone else, Nessya once Captained the Watch and even she knows they'll do nothing, she resigned her position in the first place due to the corruption she witnessed. I'm also well acquainted with the sell-sword life, as I was one in my youth, I know that hiring the likes to remove this threat will not work or end well. I know what I am asking is a lot, but please, if you can, help us. Please reply as soon as you can. Your assistance will be invaluable but if I know I have some ally, I will be relieved beyond measure.
Your trusted friend,
