Houses of Healing

Only the last word in the signature line was, for obscure reasons, emphasized in red ink.

Dear Quartermaster Golvagor:

I am writing to request some supplies in the event that hir Tolmen should become a guest at the Houses of Healing.

My dear Telpenaro,

I have asked what scholars I could find -- minus Sorontar, who is off doing falconry things, and Anglador, who rests by day so that he can observe Varda's jewels at night -- and we all agreed we could give a home to one of the kittens when they are ready to leave Mintel's side.

Manadhlaer, Lady of the Order of the Pillar and of the Houses of Healing, looked most unladylike as she crawled on all fours around her garden. Indeed, dirty as she was, she would have resembled a giant shrew at a distance, had she a tail. As she was not so endowed, she merely resembled a garden-variety gardener as she crawled around her yard, making sure that each precious athelas start got its grip in the rich Imladris soil. Someone drawing near would have heard her humming an unmistakably lovely tune they had not heard before.

Ah, my Diary!

Today was the begetting-day of Lady Norliriel. Of Norlië. Of the intimate name, referring to her inward fire, that is so secret I have only blurted it out -- can it be more than once? I now think it is only once -- in front of Lady Elvealin and my wandering, sometimes Houses-helper younger kinsman Meluilindelë. And it was then that I had cause to fear for her life, and I knew so.

Sprained. The ankle was most definitely sprained. Manadhlaer, Lady of the Houses of Healing, handled the swollen, empurpled joint herself with long fingers, probing the Arrow's leg as delicately as possible. "Filegris," the imposing Telerë asked her reclining patient, "how ever did you strain every tendon at once?

O Diary! Oh, oh, oh, I cannot believe it, yet -- it is true!

O Diary! What strange times we live in.

The lavenders poked their pale petals through the arrangement of green herbs, among which they nestled themselves. From their many vantage points around the room, laid over tables, draped over shelves, they spread their light scent throughout the room, welcoming everyone with a peaceful atmosphere as they entered.