This note was found on Branalph's pillow the night following his Oath-taking, in which he became a full member of Vanimar. It was placed next to a leaf wrapped around half a dozen wafers of lembas.
Aiya Varandalqua!
I present the following in apology for having had to miss your Oath-taking ceremony. Such things are terribly important, but owing to certain circumstances you may vividly remember, I was sent on patrol this evening along with my Order-mates such as Camalagos, Filegris, Tuilerië, and even Captain Sáranassë herself. We sent Olriandis to represent us, as she had missed several such ceremonies in a row. Although I would have trusted her to deliver this message and the enclosed gift, for reasons I do not fully understand, I felt like making the delivery myself.
These wafers, of course, are lembas, and are terribly precious. In the Elder Days of our youth, making lembas was a dedicated job and an art. I regret that I cannot say these were mixed or baked by my own hand, but Lady Ealendil was kind enough to show me how the people of the Golden Wood wrap them. Lacking mellyrn in the local woods, I resorted to beech-leaves to keep them safe and dry. Used at need, they will of course keep you on the march for days at a time. I know in my heart that you will use them wisely. The soldiers of your Order cannot live on horse-crackers, after all.
I hope that you will accept my congratulations on becoming Oathsworn of our House, great not so much for having been founded around the year 515 of the First Age of the Sun and Moon, as for what it represents. The idea of Vanimar is greater than any single person within it -- and I have reason to believe that you and I are alike in cherishing this idea.
May we meet again soon under fair circumstances -- a warm spring breeze, perhaps.
Your comrade -- Arradril of the White City
Postscript: Please do apologize to Quartermaster Golvagor that I did not use the main door in entering the barracks. He might want to have a quick look around certain places where security might be tightened.
