My Worthy Friend,
It is not my desire to tell you how to run your business, nor dispute the same old arguments: we both agreed that I know nothing of selling wine, and would much rather drink it; therefore, I should not haggle over the price for a glass of red, but should defer to your expertise in this matter. So you have kindly obliged this pursuit very well, though unfortunately you could not see fit to give wine away to your best friend for little to nothing, as you said that you would not be in the business very long, and then we would not have any wine to drink at all, and then what would we do, and where would we go? These are most vexing questions which do not bear answering.
Many come to visit you in the Hall of Fire and bless you with their company. Who else, but Sogadan, hath seen or heard so much in that delightful place? Who else, but Sogadan, hath been so enriched by serving the high and mighty? To think of all the folk that have come to visit you and pour out their troubles and joys, as you pour out the wine for them, is truly astounding. It is almost as if you have lived out many, many lives, all without leaving that warm and cosy space! It is also a great happiness, and a rare gift indeed, to be endowed with a power to loosen many hearts and learn so much of them. But you do not keep such knowledge to yourself, nay, you are generous with your gift, and have shared many a droll tale with your friend. I still laugh when I recall that haughty man, the fellow who boasted he could tell the vineyard where the grapes were grown by taking the merest sip, who was duped into believing a glass of sweetened vinegar with red coloring was the finest Dorwinion, and he even begged for another glass of that putrid stuff! My friend, you are full of many clever jests, and your wit is quick, almost as quick as your tongue, though you wisely say little to most, preferring to listen in persuasive silence, and by this you draw out those interesting details of life by allowing others to talk on and on. You have fooled us all finely, my cunning friend - a little too finely, methinks.
The Lady Danel said that you spoke against the Lord Estarfin, and said some words which may not be entirely true, words that you probably overheard from some wicked, idle, chattering person. These have worked a great wrong, and caused a troubling disturbance, both to the noble Lady Danel and the Lord Estarfin, as well as to their most particular friend Lord Belegos. The lady changed her opinion of the Lord Estarfin, and now seems mighty fond of the dark warrior, and is no longer his enemy as she once was. I tried to explain that there was no evil design or malice to your talk, but I was forced to abandon this discourse: the Lady Danel is sore wroth for this misunderstanding, and I have never seen anyone so angry - excepting the Lord Estarfin, during that time I told you about, when he did not wish for me to leave his company. And so it is my duty, dear Sogadan, to warn my best and most excellent friend, and I must beseech him to flee! - flee now, before these quarrelsome Noldor return to the Valley and mete out their heavy-handed punishment. It may not be the swiftest in coming, but it will arrive most assuredly, and spells out your doom.
I pray this reaches you in time. I have only now found a messenger to bear this letter thence, and I would have written to you sooner, but there have been a hundred thousand accidents from Imladris to here, which I would love to tell you about, but I do not have that much paper.
Your very affectionate friend,
Parnard
