Torech Besruth, Falathlorn, Lindon
7th of February in the Shire Calendar
(69 Hrivë in the Reckoning of Rivendell)
My name is Bainiel.
Well, I needed a beginning, so…
I’ve never made a journal or diary before, but after reading my mother’s (well, she doesn’t have to know I read her journals, does she? Better for all of us if she didn’t know) …
Anyway, I don’t think or write like her, I don’t believe anyone can. So I’m going to make this like letters to a friend – and I can tell all my secrets to you as my friend. I think that’s what I’ll call you: Book of Secret Things.
Well, Book, let’s start simple. I’m a girl of now fifteen summers – but what kind of girl I am, I’m still puzzling out. My mother is a Sindarin Elf, though there’s a backstory to that. My father is – well, Ada is a Man, a Dúnadan to be exact – but he also has a touch of Elf-blood, too. Seems I can’t escape that.
Am I an Elf-lass with Mortal blood? Or am I of the Dúnedain with Elf-blood in my veins? That’s my “quest” if you can call it that.
Anyway, Book, Ada is Master Cutch Crane, and he’s the kindest, sweetest man you could ever meet. I think every girl deserves a man like Ada, whether it’s father, husband or friend.
But Mother? Naneth is no less a person than Lady Seregrían, she of the red everything and the massive library and the mysterious tower she hides in. At least, that’s what she’s been doing for going on the last two years – but that’s for later, it’s enough for you to know who we’re dealing with, Book.
And yes, I have a brother, too. Ardanion, one year younger than me. It’s really strange, we don’t look like brother and sister. I look so much like Naneth, but he looks so much like Ada – but we both have Ada’s magnificent nose. But for all that yes, he’s my brother – and after that long talk we had at the family picnic last year, he’s also my best friend – next to you of course, Book!
Oh, and I have a horse, and a beautiful horse, too! Her name is Adanna, that’s “Daddy’s Gift” in Elvish. Because she really was a gift from Ada for my fourteenth birthday. I love riding the trails with Adanna, she’s a good friend to have – especially for adventures, but we’ll talk about that later.
I’ll have to let this stand as the start of things, because Naneth is calling me to her Tower… (my eyes are rolling, Book)
