Dear Gwanûr,
It was quiet for some time while most of the House was away in the Hithaeglir on important business, but that was to my benefit since they took most of the Hammers with them and I did not have to lurk about, hoping that I would not bump into certain soldiers. Sometimes I am lonely, but do not worry, I am never short of work or bored here in the valley. Lord Parnard was gone and it seemed that I did not have enough hands to receive all his letters and messages while he was away! However, it has been a very busy few days since they all have returned.
There have been some sad tidings recently, but I will not tell them to you in this letter, for they are very depressing thoughts. It is enough to say that I am glad you are all further away from the enemy in the East and hopefully safer. Be well and healthy!
The Hithaeglir is a cold and snowy place full of wrathful weather, I hear. So I had to send Taursûl to bear letters to our kinsmen in the North, for he is the only one strong enough among my birds. Though upon the company’s return, I was shocked to hear that Taursûl had pecked at the Lord Ambassador and slapped him full in the face with his great majestic wings! I know that Taursûl did not mean any harm…but you know how he is so particular about the way he is handled! The slightest of wrong movements can seem threatening or rude, so I have to take the greatest cares in my treatment of him, or else he will be quite wroth with me. I am quite mortified and will have to offer my sincerest apologies to the Lord Ambassador.
Recently I became acquainted with a chicken, who narrowly escaped from the kitchens. Apparently, she has come far on the East Road, escaping one cooking pot after the next! So I thought it a shame that she should get so far, only to land in the fires again, so I have been giving her my protection. I am hoping to ask the Lord Ambassador if he can bestow upon her some official pardon from ever being tortured in the kitchens and served upon a platter. I introduced her to some in the Hall, but keep her away from the cook. Master Raolor – who said I was the oddest elleth he had ever met…though he said he meant no offense so I suppose I should not feel so offended – gave the name Poldórëa to my chicken. It means ‘valiant’ in the ancient tongue of the Eldar, apparently. She is quite proud of the name I think, and it suits her well for heroically saving her own life from the kitchen cooks. What do you think?
I also met a swan in the valley – I am making so many bird acquaintances here! – who has a nest full of adorable eggs. The mother is doing well and seems quite pleased in her secluded corner of the lake, but I am going to make sure there are no lurkers about with ill intentions towards her eggs. I think her cygnets will be ready to hatch soon and then we shall have a small family!
I think I must now be gaining some reputation in the valley with birds. Just this morning, a certain Mistress Luthelian happened to find me feeding my doves and called out my name! I did not know her so I was very surprised to see that she knew of me. She quickly came over and asked me if I had a spare bird feather or two. When I asked her what she needed it for, she sighed and seemed loathe to explain herself as if she was about some distasteful business. Well, since she did not tell me what she needed the feathers for, and I espied a full quiver of arrows at her back, I supposed she wanted them to fletch her arrows! As you know, Gwanûr, I know nothing of such things, so I offered her some feathers that fell from my chicken Poldórëa. She laughed at the mention of chicken feathers and then smirked quite mischievously as if some devilish idea came to her mind. Then she waved a hand dismissively and asked for something longer. Why, she should have said so from the beginning! So I told her that I was looking after a swan and had a spare feather from her that I could give to her. Mistress Luthelian accepted it gladly, admiring its elegance, and said that it would do nicely. Do you know if archers fletch arrows with swan feathers? I did not know!
Your little bird,
Emliniel
