The last of the attendants had left for the evening. Alkawen wandered through the halls snuffing out candles but stoking the last of the fires in the many fireplaces within. Balisan had retired to his quarters for the night. Some of the Knights and Septarians were resting in the dorter. The Lady's home was just down the hill from the manor but she rarely rested there. Tonight was no exception to that normality, Alkawen was deep in reflective thought, there would be little rest.
On the third floor of the manor, was as it was called by most members, the War Room, however, Alkawen referred to it as the Strategic Centre. There, besides the countless maps, planning table and treasury, she maintained a desk with quills, ink and parchment. She sat in the quiet of that night, penning another letter, as she had done thousands of night before this one.
My dearest Túven,
I am sorry, darling, that it has been so many days since I last wrote, but before Balisan calls us all to arms, I promised myself and you I suppose, that I would sit and put pen to paper. We are about to face the Easterlings and I have little hope that it will end without bloodshed, but I will, as I promised you, do what I am able to avoid such. The last of the "pieces" arrived with Eldoriian earlier today.
When the word arrived from Galadhad those many weeks ago, little did I realise how large this puzzle really was. Remember I told you about the fire at the Inn that evening we greeted Faer Lhain's father? Faer Lhain was late in arriving but as you know now, it was because she was being held captive by the one she dubbed the "Amber Man." Completely a coincidence that he was here during the fire, though you never believed in coincidence, did you?
We all suspected the one called Harugrim, who was hired to work at the War Horse Inn by Wulfthred and Sybri. After that day he held the blade to my throat, I knew it was not his doing but he did know something about it all which is why I dispatched Khanadan and Gwandalion to find him . I had not know at that time that Gilvendir had already been on the Innsman's trail. Harugrim, however, has never been found again nor Lyfrid, the cook at the Inn, if you recall. Even as I write this, I do not know if Lyfrid survived or not, Harugrim only said we would never find her again. He either has hidden her or she has died and he's buried her.
That young woman I mentioned to you, Rannie, who was never able to locate Harugrim or any rumour of him in the Breelands, did notice a Rohirrim man with a loose tongue, however. She and Gaildrin confronted the man and confirmed what I suspected to this point, that the fire had been started by an agent of the Amber Man. Likely to draw our attention to the fire and away from their real quarry.
I must tell you, the one called Angelnarth did very well as I suspected he would. He recovered the brooch from our 'friend' and returned it to me recently. I will see that it is returned to Fairlain before we begin our search for Aphar Amizrak's men. Perhaps I will give the brooch to Dwimmer to return to her. Eldoriian found evidence that they are still hiding somewhere around Amon Sûl and Hir Elrond has agreed to keep watch on his borders should they try to head in that direction, with the Order pressing from the west.
Duramarth, the one the Breelanders know as The Prospector I mentioned a short while back, accomplished his missions, by the way, Bulivye has been found and returned to us. I suspect both of them will be valuable in the days ahead as we ride into the Lonelands in search of Aphar's men.
My love, my heart is swelling with pride and hope this evening. Each of these new knights and septarians have proven their mettle by the tempering of difficult tasks I have asked of them. You would be proud of each of them.
Good night my Heart and Soul, I love Thee
After placing the quill on the desk, Alkawen stood up from the desk and with her, she took the just finished letter and tossed it into the flames of the fireplace. The Lady descended the stairs and left the manor just as the sun was rising on the horizon. There was only one piece left to fill in this puzzle on Alkawen's mind, and that was why Aphar Amizrak's, Son of the Spear and servant of Sauron, quarry was her...
