Nimuviel’s Diary: Page 2

Nimuviel’s Diary: Page 2 Iavas day 2, I Randír Îdh After a troubled night’s rest I have slept far into the day and it was past noon before I woke up. A variation of images kept me awake throughout the night and the strangest things passed before my mind’s eye, from fields to mountains, streams to trees, clouds and burning hotness. I woke up several times during the night and only settled down into a quieter sleep when morning’s first singers were already up and busy among the leaves of the trees. Now my back hurts with the softness of the mattress and my ears sting with the peaceful quiet of the halls. Hiril Aldalin is downstairs preparing something sweet to have with our tea and I have a little time alone in the guest room she has appointed me. In contrast to the golden hotness of last evening the room is now cool in every respect. The window faces southwest so that the sun has not reached into it yet and we are still overshadowed by the cherry trees in the garden. The ornaments are shell-shaped in white and blue, as the Elves of Lindon like their adornment, and the bed-sheets and curtains are sea-coloured too. There are tapestries of ships and waves and clouds with sea birds and there are carpets foam-coloured like Ulmo’s breath upon the ocean. So different are these embellishments from the leaves of Imladris that it feels as if I have come to an altogether different world. The lady of the halls has promised to walk along the banks of the river Lhûn with me after we have drunk our tea, but I have some time to spend here still. The scent of the sugary sweetness she is baking downstairs is slowly creeping into my room and it makes me hungry. I’ve eaten nothing but the meat of old animals and early fruit for a season and these treats she offers me make me feel as if I am little again and must still discover the wealth of flavours the world has in store for us. There is some commotion outside. An Elf with silver hair has arrived at the doors of I Randír Îdh. Hiril Aldalin has gone out to meet him and it seems that they have known each other for some time. From the window of my room – for I do not wish to impose upon them with my presence until they have exchanged such conversation as they must – it seems that the Elf is a kinsman of the lady, for he appears quite at home in the garden of her halls. I cannot make out his features, for he is wearing a wide-brimmed hat against the sun, but his garments are embroidered with gold thread and seem well looked after. From where I am I cannot follow their exact words of exchange but his voice sounds deep to my ears and his manner of speech is almost like song. They enter the halls now. I must go down and meet with them.