In a few days I shall mount my horse and depart for the Greenwood with the Lady Danel, Rainith, and Belegos; and being anxious to write a few lines before my departure in order that my lord be acquainted with the exact state of affairs, I beg leave to apologize for not having met my lord and sworn my Oath. His usual considerate goodness will not see this as a neglect of duty, rather that I wait with perfect patience until my service pleases, and then I shall have fully earned my lord’s esteem. When I recollect the many favours and appointments of service afforded me since my arrival to Imladris, I thank my lordship most reverently for his guidance and help.
I have written several letters to my lordship, which might be considered of some importance, but it is very possible that they have miscarried. Perhaps my lord will be anxious to know the fate of his people in their wanderings in wild Eregion. I shall therefore take the liberty of telling my lordship that the roads there are said to be in a worse state than ever; and a band of robbers have lately made their appearance, who make prisoner, or put at ransom every person who has the misfortune to fall into their hands, if he is not first hacked to death with their long, ugly knives.
But I am in excellent company, and the scout Belegos’ aim is good, or he says it is, though I have never seen him shoot. We will move secretly and silently through the land so that no wretched mortals shall know of our passing, and if fortune is kind, perhaps we shall find a safe path over the mountains to the Greenwood.
Pray excuse this letter: it is badly written, with a bad pen and bad ink, and I am moreover agitated and sick at heart for having to leave Imladris, and go eastward, where it is dark, and uncertain, and most distressing, but the difficulties my lordship has faced must have been at least seven times more perilous by my reckoning, and he is not dismayed by them; so I must advance upon these troubles at full gallop, since that be what is wanted by the Lady Danel, and hope that my lordship will always remember me kindly, and that he will deliver my sad farewells to all the household. I beg leave to remain, venerable lord, both on this shore and the next,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
Parnard Teludarion
