S.A 1350
As everyone busied themselves with their respective tasks, Lady Lanyarë and Mistamë ventured downstairs to explore and prepare a sumptuous meal. Meanwhile, Orneth remained upstairs in the guest rooms, delving deeper into her investigation. She made her way to the eighth and ninth rooms, only to be met with a scene of utter desolation. Clothes, toys, and unfinished laundry lay scattered haphazardly, a clear sign that the previous occupants had left in a hurry. As she sat down on the bed, Orneth's thoughts raced, consumed by the mysteries surrounding Manyamë's disappearance. As she gazed around the room, Orneth's heart was heavy with emotion. She wondered where Manyamë could be and why she had chosen to start a family in Eregion. Was she the one mentioned in the journal? The questions seemed to multiply, overwhelming Orneth's mind.
Suddenly, the sound of voices outside the window broke through her reverie. As she peered through the worn light-blue silk curtain, she caught a glimpse of Simawen and Marilo laughing and chatting by the horses. The sight of them together, their banter laced with flirtation, sent a sharp pang of jealousy through Orneth's heart.
Despite the pain she felt, Orneth resolved to continue with her investigation. With every passing moment, she was more determined than ever to uncover the truth about Manyamë's fate. Orneth made her way to the last room, Room number 10, feeling a newfound curiosity stirring within her. As she closed the door behind her, a sense of anticipation filled her chest. The air was thick with the heady scent of flowers and tea, reminiscent of a time long ago. Was it a memory or was it something more? Intrigued, Orneth ventured further into the room, her senses alight with wonder. Despite the lack of furnishings, there was a certain magic in the air, and she found herself inexplicably drawn to the closet. As she ran her fingers over the soft fabric of the cloaks, a faint whisper of a memory flitted through her mind.
And then, as if by some mysterious force, a book and several letters fell from the depths of the closet, landing softly at her feet. Orneth gasped at the sudden event. With trembling hands, she picked up the items, her heart racing with a small disturbance but also excitement. But as she read the smudged words on the letters, her hopes were dashed. They were unreadable, the ink having been faded by the humidity in the air. Orneth turned to the book, hoping for some clue as to the room's significance. She flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning the ancient text, and that's when she felt it. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and a sense of foreboding gripped her tightly. Something was not right. The room held secrets, secrets she was not sure she was ready to uncover.
With her eyes darting from corner to corner, she searched the room more closely until she discovered a cloak hidden behind the door. The exquisitely crafted deep blue cloak caught her eye, but suddenly a flash of an image appeared before her: a figure draped in a similar cloak sprinting away. Visions plagued Orneth again, and she needed a moment to gather her strength and free herself from their grasp. Why did they appear so suddenly these days?
Taking a deep breath, she decided to inspect the cloak more closely, and in a sudden moment, a key fell from its folds. Without hesitation, Orneth carefully wrapped the key in cloth and tucked it into her pouch.
Urgency filled her as she made her way down the hallway, her feet propelling her forward. A thought struck her - could the key she had found fit the lock on the diary in room three? Racing towards the room, Orneth's heart pounded in her chest, but upon searching, the diary was nowhere to be found. Someone had taken it.
Picture AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
