Isilya, the 15th day of Yávië
Today I spent some time away from my study, as the weather was too beautiful for staying indoors. Already the days of Yávië are upon the valley, and fruits are beginning to ripen in the orchards along the river. I have had more time to myself since I have returned to the Valley, as the catalogue project is almost completed. And fortunately, this means that I need no longer spend so many hours in the library, unless it is for my own research.
I arose and broke my fast with my sister Tinwen and my parents, intending to make it a leisurely meal, instead of my usual hasty morning repast. Tinwen is such an excellent baker; the sweet honey-cakes we had this morning were certainly among her best. Her husband Gilthalion is away with the Guard, patrolling the valley around the Bruinen. He is a fortunate ellon indeed, to have my sister to wife. A more sweet-natured, resourceful, and kindhearted lady is not to be found in the Valley, apart from Naneth. Tinwen has all that I do not - a family of her own, a more genteel disposition, and an inclination toward the domestic arts. Yet I am content, in my own way, with my books, my family, and with my friends of Bar-en-Vanimar. Her son, Tingil, has not yet left the Valley, despite having served in the Guard for several yéni. It is odd that none of the family ever call him by his father-name, Lachmir, for we all prefer to call him Tingil, which has been his epessë since childhood. Charming, young, and an able warrior like his father, his company was missed at the table today, but I am quite sure I will see him soon.
After breakfast, Naneth and Tinwen brought out their sewing, as they are both working on a new set of formal robes for Tingil, for the occasion of his promotion in the Guard. I believe he will be joining regular patrols outside of the valley within several rounds of the moon, and there is to be a ceremony for those of his company who are being promoted as well. Naneth is a skilled seamstress, whose hands create garments which are at once practical and lovely to look at. I myself can sew passably well; at least well enough to make workable garments, but Naneth’s skills in embroidery and needlecraft far surpass my own. As Tinwen is a healer by occupation, she does her fair share of needlecraft on her patients, but is also skilled with cloth and thread. She especially loves creating trims and laces with needle and thread, a craft of which I know not much. Leaving them to their work, Ada and I retired to his study, for he wanted to show me how his latest treatise was coming along.
As he told me, it is on the use of mathematical modelling in the architecture of the Exiles, as seen in Lindon, in Imladris, and previously in Ost-in-Edhil. In Gondolin, he was a student of mathematics, and was intimately familiar with the unfortunately few treatises on the subject brought over the Sea from Tirion. While not a craftsman himself, he is particularly interested in the application of mathematics to the creation of many things, from simple devices such as time-pieces and lamps to the most elegant of arches and pillars. He always recounts with pride the day he discovered an old notebook belonging to one of Fëanáro's former apprentices in an old cupboard in Gondolin, and the hours he spent poring over the equations in it, as a youth of scarcely fifty coranar.
But when Gondolin was ruined, and his people driven to exile, he spent most of his time drawing up plans for barriers, siege-engines, and other implements of war. And now, I believe he presides over the section of the archives in Imladris devoted to technical treatises, on subjects as varied as metalcraft and architecture. I myself have been rather hopeless with mathematics since I was young; preferring rather the written word and the records of history to the clean-cut drawings and equations of the draftsman. In any case, Ada mentioned that he has devoted a section of his treatise to the comparison between Noldorin and Sindarin architecture, and particularly the influence of Sindarin architectural elements on the structures of the Exiles.
We spoke for a while, sitting pleasantly upon the stone balcony adjacent to his study. He mentioned that I should consider some field-work in Eregion, both for the furthering of his research on Exilic Noldorin architecture, and for my own. Of course there is the matter of permission from Lord Erestor, and then I must find an escort and begin preparations for the journey. I shall not neglect my lessons in sparring and archery either, for while I am no warrior I must be well able to defend myself afield.
Heartened by the prospect of expanding my horizons again through travel and study, I left my father’s study before mid-day, and took with me a basket of provisions and my harp. Anar shone brightly in the clear sky as I betook myself to my favoured woodland haunt beside the waterfall. I practiced my harp for a while, stopping to correct some of my written scores and to admire the beauty of the wood around me. While I am no Sinda, having more love for the works of craftsmanship and lore, I still find it refreshing to steal away to the woods at times. All around me was serene and quiet, though I could not help but think that such days would be fewer as the years wear on.
As Anar rode lower in the heavens, I returned home and changed my harp and pen for my bow and sword. Tingil had returned from his duties in the Guard, and I spent several hours sparring with him, as I have often done before. He is a remarkable swordsman, and able with a bow as well, though my brother Tancamir was ever the greater archer. Though I was wearied at the end, it was a good sort of weariness, and I returned home with the assurance that I was making progress in being able to defend myself. It was a long day, not spent in leisure, but in pleasant occupations I have not had time to enjoy while absorbed in my studies. It may be that even more new experiences await me in Eregion, yet I shall have many days to prepare if I intend to journey there.
