We reached the Valley in good time. Lord Estarfin was more quiet than usual, perhaps contemplating the making of the sword he had been charged with crafting for our Lord Anglachelm. Close by the chalk path that leads to the Valley, we met a elf lady, a soldierly-type, by the name of Limiriel. She said she had a message for Lord Elrond, and so she joined our company. We did not have much time for talk, given the urgency of our task. Upon reaching the Valley, we paused a moment, and breathed in its fragrant and warm breezes, before descending briskly down the mountain path.
Not much had changed. Lord Elrond was in his library, and I delivered Lord Veryacano’s letter to him, with many a bow, and left him to contemplate its contents. Sogadan was still in his place, and the great fires were still as bright as ever, reflecting their golden radiance on all the gilded surfaces, and the spangled draperies twinkled down from their shadowy eaves. And underneath was clustered a small group of elves. There were Masters Elloen and Celephinnir, and several bright faces, new to me, Anglador, and Tingruviel, and Erdalir, and Linguleth, and Tianne, and Nimephras. This last elf was very finely dressed, and fussed over his hair, when catching a glimpse of his reflection on anything shiny – his boots, his wine glass, the polished marble floor, and so on. In turn, he made me very conscious of my own travel-stained appearance, and, from his constant and critical looks, led me to believe that there was something very wrong with my hair, that I had something stuck in it - a dead bug, maybe, which has happened before. But he seemed very pleasant, and everyone was full of good cheer, and very glad to see our return, and made joyful when hearing that our illustrious, noble and wise Lord Anglachelm was in safe hands, and would be returning to the Valley, in only a few short days! - what else could have been expected? But Rainith was not there for our happy celebration.
We shared wine, and talked, and they asked of our travels, and I told them of the Easterlings, and we talked of dogs, and cats, and bears, and how bears are not very good eating. And then there was music, and dancing, and time seemed to fly past, when suddenly Lord Estarfin turned to me, I think a bit impatiently, and asked if I should not see the rest of the letters delivered, to which I naturally agreed. So I turned away from the merriment, a little reluctantly, but before I left the Hall, I asked Sogadan for useful information: seeing as there was no one else better for furnishing it. Have you see the Lady Elisbeth? I asked my friend. Then I learned that the Lady Elisbeth was away with her people, on some venture to the south. So much for hand-delivering the letter! And what of the Lord Earinlin? I inquired. His answer was silence. Silence from Sogadan! In this case, silence for answer is very bad, because it meant that he did not know anything of the lord’s whereabouts.
Three letters were left to deliver, but Lord Veryacano not providing any directions on where to find Lord Earinlin, and the envelope not being directed to any place in particular, I wandered up and down the paths of the Valley, and looked inside the House, and knocked on all the doors, in search of him. This satisfaction I was not destined to receive; having accordingly pursed every avenue, so to speak, I returned to the Hall of Fire much confounded, and not sure what course to take. It seems that Lord Earinlin’s residence at Imladris being but a temporary one, and no account of his whereabouts having been given to me, I should have to rely on assistance with delivering the messages, as Erdalir suggested. Although I did not like to do it, it would be worse if the letter were thus late, or did not arrive at all! And so, – after directing one of the letters To the Most Noble Lord of the Flower of the Havens, to add underneath, To the Care of the Loth-i-Lonnath - and addressing the second letter in my best handwriting, From Lord Veryacano to Lady Elisbeth, of the Warband of Imladris - I left them thus with a Warden on whose good conduct and conscientiousness (so I was told by Sogadan) was more than the usual sort.
Be assured, Sir, the Warden said to me, that I am duly sensible to seeing these letters delivered, but seeing that I was not yet fully convinced, or perhaps sensing the vital importance of the letters’ contents, he made several similar remarks that he would see it done, and finally stammered out that he would personally see the messages sent by the swiftest of falcons, after I fixed a stern eye on him, and stared at him until I was satisfied. Only then did I leave the letters with him, telling him that if I discovered his task unfinished, and his promise broken, then severe justice would be done, swiftly, to the honourable Warden for his breach of faith. He turned and ran off, a bit recklessly I thought; and if anything should happen to those falcons, before they get to their destinations – well! I should not like to think of that Warden’s fate! I suppose there was a little distrust on my part, but it seemed to me that Lord Veryacano would not altogether be pleased that I had to leave the letters with a stranger, but there was no other help for it. And finally, clutching the last letter in my hand, I turned my footsteps towards Lord Kalluin's chambers, preparing myself as best I could for this meeting. No doubt, he would have many questions of our journey which I was not sure if I could, or should, answer.
