<<A letter in Tengwar lettering arrives by raven>>
It is with glad tidings that I receive news from the south, from my dear friend, mournful as it may be. I am sorry to hear that you were wounded in battle and that you have found reason to leave your home behind.
I knew the Edain were being rallied by a new king, but never had I thought they could actually succeed in destroying the greatest servant of Morgoth. I know not of the details of how this came to be, but a shadow has lifted from the forest hither and the air is no longer as thick as it was before. Therefore, I know it to be true.
But a great many things have passed since our last meeting Thirenel. About a fortnight ago I was discovered by the enemy and I was forced to flee my dwelling by the great crimson trees. Forces from Dol Guldur spread throughout the forest and across the Great River in a second attempt at destroying the Nandor to the north and the elves of Lorien to the west. I knew that, with war raging so close to my dwelling, it would only be a matter of time before I would once again be forced to leave it behind.
I wandered about in the forest for a few moons until I came upon the Malledhrim of Thranduil. It was with great hesitation that I decided to aid in the defence of the forest and it was met by like mood in Thranduil's kin. After almost two weeks of fighting under the trees of northern Mirkwood, I witnessed the destruction of Dol Guldur by a great host of elves from across the water, led by none other than their high born masters Celeborn and Galadriel. I have since returned to my dwelling, and while the trees still stand, the orcs ransacked much of my halls within. I fear I'll have much to rebuild, if indeed I can. For I suspect that Celeborn and Thranduil will divide Mirkwood into realms of their own now that the southern forests are freed. Where now shall I be set to wandering? The cold uninviting hills of the north where once serpents dwelled? The arid lands of Men with strange faces to the far east? Or perchance the Black Land itself, there where the shadows lie?
In light of recent events, that may not be such a strange thought. Mordor is barren but without leadership and none there yet dwell with the power to take it. As unpleasant a shelter it may be, it is shelter nonetheless. Could I find a suiting abode in such a grim place? For the shadows there are not friendly, my friend, by night or day. And I fear much evil still lurks in its darkest corners and it is reminiscent of less desirable days of long past, when the great shadow first tainted the land.
I am willing to aid you in your search for whatever it is that you desire to find there. But I must admit your letter sounds riddling and I cannot discern from it your intentions. I can only guess as to your purpose, for Mordor will surely hold many secrets.
It is an unlikely friendship that we cultivated Thirenel, for me to even think of travelling with one of the Noldor into the most dreadful of places. But it is a friendship I treasure like the dwarves do their hoards. For that I will aid you however I may.
May you walk swiftly in the wolf's hour,
Tinnurion.
