Arlis

Over tall snowy mountains raking teeth against the sky, through craggy valleys tangled with trees, the raven flies. Over yellow hills and plains flies Pock, till the green of the Chetwood erupts at the border of Bree-land. The raven’s westmost destination is just past those trees — a shabby house in a little village, marked by a far less shabby, stone-reinforced windmill, sweeps turning vigorously in the stout Spring breeze.

It was not announced to the Mountain when it happened, and so the crowd that gathered in the plaza was at first only small. Even so, when the doors of the grand home built high on a terrace above flew fully open, bend towards them did the attention of most neighbors standing on the stone walkways around; and when three Dwarves exited, the two flanking in robes brilliant enough but the one between them shining like a polished lapis set in silver and gold, the attention of all the neighbors followed them.

Into the domicile on the far side of Tumnu-dûm steps the young Dwarf, after scuffing his boots still muddied by the road from Dale on the step outside. There he pauses—to wait for his host to invite him further, yes, but also to look around with a hum and a sigh as he unclasps his cloak, draping it over his left arm; the heat of the fireplaces already hitting him.

Dear journal, I had meant to write to you from a calmer place, and a more rested mind.

Bíld son of Bóurr to Bóurr son of Bíld of Erebor, greeting and all filial love.

Bíld son of Bóurr to Miss Liffey in Newharrow, Bree-land, greeting from the Vales of the Anduin!

Restless, the Elf looks up from her carving and towards the west, to the fading sunlight in a sky of vibrant pinks and oranges.  After a long moment, the bow stave, unfinished, is placed aside with a sigh as she turns away from it and towards a table, on which rests an untouched glass of wine, a candle, and a little, long-neglected notebook, bound in leather and fastened with a cord.  After a long, thoughtful sip and a glance over the mountains in the distance, Nínimil picks up both the boo