Dearest diary, reassuringly blank companion! Through how many nights of grief, suffering two fresh arrow-wounds to the fëa, have you consoled me? But I fear nothing has quite prepared either of us for the present fix.
Indeed, when I alight from the ship onto the sand of Elvenhome, flanked -- I very much hope -- by Norliriel and Elvealin, with you under my arm, I shall have a document that seems foreign, frightening, bizarre to those who remained. My own son yet to be born, Galadhion -- his father-name already chosen -- will read you with wonderment and worry and the most utterly alien perspective.
And all will doubtless wonder how dancing with Themodir in the Hall of Fire led to this.
I must juggle the need to be a lamp even for Lómestel with the need to protect Elvealin's light from his shadow. This, I predict -- with such scraps of foresight as are given to me -- will not be over, even if he successfully retrieves the stupid, stupid, stupid thing. But he shall not have her turned over to him as some grotesque prize. As long as I draw breath upon these shores, that radiance of the Eldar will not suffer the fate of Aredhel.
To prove to myself, for the thousandth time, that I hold no task too low, I puttered about dusting in the Hall of Vanimar, and threw out some withered leaves from old floral decorations. Let them return to the earth, having bravely earned their rest. But while in there, I had some thoughts. Some were astonishment: in a single day I signed orders to trade for sausages; clean cloth for bandages; ingredients for steel for the barter-goods; and at least twelve other things, most of which were rush orders. Some were, if I may be honest with my silent paper friend, thoughts of trepidation. It is easier to think about how wonderful it is to receive social invitations than it is to contemplate the logistics of the journey. All earthly things, of course.
Of star-stuff are we made -- yet while we remain upon these shores, we must have food. And music. Perhaps if we cure poor Daeruth at last, my scholar friends can all know at least that measure of relief.
