It being a very pleasant day to-day, I ventured out from town after my lesson with the grumpy Master Athradir. I perceive that, by Lord Elrond’s letter, he is now obliged to teach me what he knows, but he is doing so unwillingly and with an ill grace, and he will only tell me bits and pieces of his knowledge. He was mightily surprised to learn that I can read, but he will not lend me any books, and I think he believes me a terribly thick-skulled fool. I care not what he thinks: I shall prove him wrong, and then we will see who is the fool.
I met two ellyn, Lhethril and Celegeth. Lhethril is very young and pretty, and she was standing beside a tower in Duillond, looking far off into the valley. She was wearing a finely ‘broidered dress of blue silk stitched with gold thread, which I much admired, and we talked of many things. She was full of questions about the Greenwood, and I told her a little of my travels around the world, and I think I impressed her very much. For all the richness of her clothing, Lhethril seems a simple, unworldly elf, with an ambition to find a place in one of the great Elven households as a servant. So far, her efforts have met with failure, and she has been turned away by several houses, as they have no need for extra help. We shared wine, and she told me about the Lords and Ladies of these houses. Several are headed by the proud flame-eyed Noldor, and I would not tangle with any of that folk. I think she could do better for herself by setting her aims higher than a housemaid, or finding employment elsewhere, but she seemed sore disappointed, so I said nothing.
Celegeth is not like Lhethril at all. She is a fierce, high-spirited maiden, and she is training to become a great warrior. I could barely keep up with her: she runs so swiftly, and my feet were sore from the sharp stones. I cautioned her not to run around with her blades out, lest she trip and impale herself upon them, and she told me not to be afraid. Afraid! Of course, I scoffed at her remark. She asked about this dratted bird which haunts me like a spirit, and I said I did not know why it had taken to following me around, but that it might be spying on me, for Lord Elrond. She learned that I was a student of Master Athradir, and offered to let me practice my curing arts upon her, which I thought very gracious, and I replied that I would dearly love to practice upon her. Perhaps we shall journey together anon, and so grant me the opportunity.
