Barely a few days into July it became glaringly bright. The rain ceased, the clouds pulled
back and out come the sun, cooking Nemmy's back as she worked. It was especially hard to
lift the bucket up from the well today, probably owing to her sweaty hands. The handle
creaked, the water sloshed, and with a few curses the bucket was at her feet. She heaved it
up and carried it up the stairs into the house.
The letter had come to her the day before in the pouring rain. The postman, Otarnon, had
taken to light duties in Bree and so happened to deliver also to Hookworth. He had
apologised profusely for the state of the letter, but he'd had a bit of a stitch-up.
"Ras rarely gets frightened darling, but he's not so accustomed to lightning. Absolutely
scared the pants off both of us, and I ended up in a puddle and he off down the road. And
the letters, well..." He shook his head.
Nemmy held the soggy letter between two fingers. It drooped disappointingly in the way that
a dry letter doesn't.
"I'm sure I can pat it dry. I might wait for it to completely dry so I don't tear the paper too
terribly. Tea, in the meantime? You look bloody cold."
Otarnon stood with his arms slightly out, dripping rain onto the carpet.
"That would be nice. Er, a towel, if you can spare one too?"
"Right."
Nemmy tossed him a towel from the guest drawer before bustling off around the house. By
the time she had set the teapot over the fire, Otarnon was mostly dry and opted not to wear
his saturated shoes, instead taking them to the fireside along with his coat. Before long,
there was tea. And of course, there was bread with butter and honey.
"How are things in Hookworth these days, Nomica?"
Nemmy just about choked on her tea.
"Did you speak to Enir before he left?"
"That I did. I could tell he was a Gondorian man as soon as I saw him. And a Dol Amroth
man as I soon as I smelt him!" Otarnon let out a loud laugh. "Not truly, but I very much enjoyed
speaking with him. He told me a lot about you, about his travels, and Dol Amroth. I was sad
to see him go. You haven't answered my question."
"I am in good health. The tavern is quiet, but still brings in money which keeps me on my
feet. Just a bit lonely around here, is all."
"You didn't want to go home with Enir?"
"I did, but... I'm just not sure yet. I'm not ready. I've been here four years and it's the life I know
now. I think it would be too difficult to go back to my old life, because it won't be the same
without ma and pa."
"I see. Well, I am planning a visit back to my own home in the coming year. You could come
with if you like, and we can visit Dol Amroth and Lamedon together, then return to Bree."
Nemmy ran her fingers through her hair. Slowly, a nod.
"Yes, I... I think I'd like that."
They had spoken long into the night until the rain stopped, by which time Nemmy was too
tired to sit up and Otarnon had to be off. Come morning, the letter had dried. She could only
make out a few letters around the dirt, but it was not a hand she recognised. Carefully, she
pried it open and began to read.
