Vifi, son of Bifi and Víf, to Tiarvi Vigni's child the most humble of regards, and
Tiarvi,
I apologize.
My conduct towards you and your family has been so bad that no apology could be sufficient for it. I know that anything I could say would not merit a cooling of your anger, nevermind your forgiveness. And that is as it ought; I do not ask your forgiveness, for I do not deserve it. But still I apologize, and I say that I regret what I did and that it was wrong, because that is the truth.
I was wrong.
I am sorry for the vile things I said to you. I am sorry for the insults and threats. I regretted them immediately, and I regret them deeper every day. They were spoken in the heat of anger, which is no excuse; I never should have gotten angry for such stupid and self-centered reasons, and I am horrified that my anger revealed me to be such a person that even thinks such things, let alone speaks them aloud. They were wrong; I was wrong; I regret it and I am sorry.
I am sorry for the cruel things I said to your husband. I am sorry for abusing my position to try to force him to do terrible things. I misjudged him out of prejudice and jealousy, and I lashed out to hurt him out of my own selfish pain. I regret it. The truth is that he is an excellent and noble Dwarf. I know it matters not if I or anyone else judge him to 'deserve' you, for you have the right to choose whomever you will — and that I ever tried to impede that choice was also wrong, and is something else I regret — but now that I have come to know his character a little better, I understand easily why you might have chosen him.
I am sorry, truly sorry, that for all the many decades of our acquaintance I never once tried to understand your opinions or your true self. In my youngest years I could have been forgiven for shortsightedness and listening dumbly to Líf and Narvari; but it was an ignorance in which I chose wilfully to persist, because it was easier and flattered my ego. I am sorry that for however many years you secretly suffered, I did not once notice or do anything to help you. Everything you said about me being an arrogant block-head with a love of my own voice was true. I was an atrocious suitor and a poor, selfish friend.
I am so sorry that instead of being an ally to you, I intentionally multiplied your troubles. I wish that I had had the maturity to smooth your way instead of throwing up obstacles in it, but I did not. I wronged you, and I am sorry, and I do not deserve your forgiveness and perhaps never shall.
The chest with this letter contains the remainder of the gold I brought with me to Bree-land. As peace-offering to your family for the harm I have done you, the sum is insufficient; further, it is Líf's money, so it lacks the sincerity of recompense paid with gold I earned by my own labor. So I offer instead, humbly and very contritely, this gift, to make the early days of your child's life easier.
I apologize, sincerely and with great shame, for ever daring to imply that a life in your family would be unworthy of him. I was entirely wrong. I see now that the mountain of your virtue and love for one another provides more than shelter enough, a hall worthy of great pride.
I will leave soon for Thorin's Hall, as I promised Byrge. There I will tell Lord Dwalin of Narvari's crimes and endorse his punishment, but I will testify that you and Vigni were his victims, and I will prevent Líf from pursuing you for recompense by whatever means are at my disposal. I will speak no ill of your husband, the Firebeard, and give no one your address.
After that business is concluded, our involvement with each other will end, and I hope you never have to see or hear of me again if you do not wish it. If our paths cross again, I hope for it to be after whatever decades are required for me to be forged into a better person. But I will not take on that project in hope of forgiveness; I only want to become a better Dwarf, as you and your husband prove it is possible to be.
With all my sincerity, sworn on my parents' names, I wish you three all the happiness and fortune in the world.
Vifi
