Lorien

A hazy night dimmed over the sleeping woods of Thinglad, the bare branches of the trees swaying in the chilly Breeze. Daerundros frowns as she slouches a fine bit, lazily grazing over the wood with her proud, fierce Mare, which tosses it's head in pride, despite her attention being, at large, ever-vigilant against whatever be her foe, for she knew that something was moving against her.

   I feel as though there is a fog inside my head, and I am suffocated by it. The captain is explaining at great length about the dangers of sending more after the missing scouts, but I barely understand the words he says. The light touch at my arm becomes almost supporting – my friend and mentor, who insisted on accompanying me, gives me a concerned look that I do not register.

“Rainith, if something happened to him, would you do the same? Would you go after him?”

     “Again.”
I grimace, pulling back to stand ready, my sword held out before me. My tormentor grins at me unrepentantly, arms folded across his chest.

Galdorion is gone from the river-bank almost as quickly as he arrives, eagerly seeking out another opportunity to advance himself here. Normally his enthusiasm is infectious, but this afternoon I simply stand where I am and watch him leave, guiltily fingering the letter still concealed in my pocket. If Galdorion received anything from the party that brought this letter he has not mentioned it – unless he has seen Lord Tyelepoma, he may not even know about the news it brings.

Shafts of sunlight slant through the canopy above, winking in and out as the wind stirs the leaves into new patterns. The wood is filled with light: it glances off the rippling water to either side, casting glimmering reflections back across the surface. Somewhere among the trees a bird sings, undisturbed by the silent movements of the sentries I know patrol nearby. But for them, this land would almost seem untouched by the troubles outside its borders. There is peace here – yet all are aware that it is hard-fought, and hard-won.

Father, It has been to long since my last letter, please forgive me. I have all but recently arrived in Lorien, the Golden Wood as it is aptly named.. surely there are few places like it left here in these realms.. My journeys through Moria seemed to grow ever darker, passing by and through great halls once proud, now infested with evil and creatures that have no name..