Dear Cae,
What do you mean, you are going on a birb bird rescue (sorry about that, Turdor jogged my arm)? Are you serious? I know I asked for cheerful stories... but come on. A happy picnic-trip to reunite a courier with her beloved dove sounds a bit far-fetched. I would have settled for an account of a good party!
Erion.
PS: Meril says she's still not writing to you. Sorry. Try again after the picnic-trip?
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Dear Cae,
Okay, fine, the bird story was cute. You are grudgingly forgiven, and may keep writing to me, as long as you send regular updates about the doves! I am glad that you were able to find both Auri's dove and her mate – it would have been sad to go all that way, have the happy reunion and then separate them. What do you think she will do with the birds once hers is healed – keep them, or set them free again?
What was Eregion like? I loved your description of the ruins – it sounds beautiful, but so sad. Perhaps one day Erion and I will have to come visit you – we could spend some time travelling around, see some new places? It must be so different to here – much barer, without the trees, for one thing!
We miss you here – even if I am glad that you're off doing slightly nicer things with your new... friends? Things finally seem to be gearing up for a skirmish at last – the “Lorien Lot” (Erion's name for them – but it seems to have caught on...) sent a messenger to our captain the other day, and they were closeted for hours. We're all tense, wondering what's coming – Erion and Turdor have been bickering so much that they're not allowed on the same watches anymore, which means I have to take turns babysitting them! I could really use someone sensible to keep me company. Apparently we'll find out tonight what it's all about – the captain has called a meeting, so if we get going soon I may not have a chance to write again until it's all over. I'll send a bird if we end up decamping to anywhere else – although we haven't done much here so far, so I hope we're not just heading to another part of the forest to sit around for days on end!
I'd better stop – Erion is badgering me to leave enough space for him to write his bit. Take care of yourself (and the cute doves!), and write again soon so I know you're keeping your promise not to do anything stupid.
Yours,
Merilindis.
Dear Cae, Bird-Saviour!
Could you ask all your friends to stop writing slanderous lies about me? I haven't been “bickering” - Turdor and I are just having a serious discussion and ongoing intellectual debate about the relative merits of his being an idiot while we're engaged in important campaign business.
I didn't get the bird story – what was the Lord Vorongwe thing? Who is he, anyway? It sounded like there was some scandal there – did he scare the bird off, or what? Just a friendly tip – if your letters are going to have gossip, focus on that bit, not the cutesy bits about doves in love.
Erion.
PS: Action at last! I promise I'll send you a blow-by-blow of all our heroic exploits – you're not allowed to be the only one saving lives and triumphing over the darkness, you know.
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Dear Caethel,
Thank you for your note. As far as I know, there are no current issues with birds reaching the valley, no. The weather remains seasonal, and is not usually disruptive at this time of year. Were you expecting the return of one of our birds, or is this a bird coming from elsewhere? We have had no reports of lost birds being discovered on the moors recently, but I can ask our couriers to keep an eye out for you if that would help.
Best wishes,
Finco
- Assistant to the chief Courier, LHH.
