{From Seregrían’s private journal}
Esteldin
59 Hrívë in the Reckoning of Imladris
(Being the Twenty-seventh day of Afteryule in the Shire-reckoning)
So long since I have entered anything of worth in this hidden journal of mine! One year past, even as I look at this journal’s pages, I could not have imagined all these bizarre and miraculous turns of events. And so much has happened – the biggest event of course being the coming of my daughter! I am carrying Cutch’s child!!
Bainiel, as we have named her already, is nearly four months along, and has caused dramatic changes in all our lives. For me, there are the obvious changes of expectant motherhood; my appetite has become nearly insatiable, and for the strangest assortment of food and drink. My sense of balance and proportion has been reduced to clumsiness. But despite all, my thirst for lore and adventure has not abated, either – which brings me to current events.
I am writing now from my temporary lodgings in the Dúnedain stronghold of Esteldin, far into the North Downs. The rest of the Household, including my husband, escorted me here and have since departed northward into the lands of Angmar, on an expedition to recover more lore and artifacts for my use.
Admittedly, the expedition is the brainchild of one of our newest members, Mistress Catrena, whose intent is to recover these artifacts for mercantile profit. Between the two of us, both the thirst for knowledge and the lust for coin are being sated by this expedition.
The House held council to discuss our policies and plans, and chief among these was the debate over my accompanying them north. After many words and oaths, I relented and agreed to stay behind in Kingsfell, the region where Esteldin is located. Once there, we gathered at the Dwarf settlement of Othrikar to receive a cache of supplies. I ordered (partly in jest) that my friend Lancogard would act as guard and watch over Cutch – to make sure he didn’t vanish again.
I bade the company follow the lead of Catrena, charging them to obey her as they might me. The Household moved out, along with our new allies, the Blackburrow Trading Company – and I stood on the ramparts of Othrikar and watched them ride over the hills to fade from sight. My friend, the young elleth Gilberian, remained behind; she had her fill of adventure, so she claimed, and elected to remain with me to find what lore could be gleaned from the records retained by the Dúnedain.
That was four days past. I have received tidings of the expedition, by way of Lancogard’s talented bird, which he names Whisper; the expedition was a success by every measure, with no casualties and only minor injuries to the company. Lance hints at a few finds of lore which may be of desperately important interest to me; so Cutch also says in an attached note. Gilberian and I have traveled to both Othrikar and Meluinen and obtained leave to examine the records held by both Dwarves and Elves, respectively. By far, the most extensive archives are at Esteldin, and on other occasions may warrant a longer visit to perhaps start other lines of research; but for the present, I await the safe return of the expedition...
And my husband…
