(( Note: This character Lorniel is not to be confused with the in-game NPC ))
(( The following letter is penned in a firm, bold hand; clean, clear, and without ornamentation, though not as precise and beautiful as courtly writings. It was written on a sheet of rather good-quality paper, which only suffered one or two minor splatters of ink, and placed inside an envelope of heavy, waxed parchment, which was sealed with a green wax bearing the stamp of a familiar shield and spear. ))
Finch,
It's great to hear from you! To be honest, Aunt Nitumbu has been bouncing off the walls lately. Well, more than usual. She had so much fun going to the beach and spending time with you lot that she wanted to do it again almost immediately after you left. Actually, she and Mel just came back from a few days at Mithlond; apparently there were a lot of candle-lit dinners on the pier. Speaking of, pass on my gratitude to Miss Addie, would you? I wouldn't say she lit the fire exactly, but the coals sure have sprung back to life, and she's the one to thank for it.
The plan was to stay in these parts over winter, leave some time in spring. Yuxë and Rhíwae are getting comfortable here, and we've been chatting about their family. Seems we already got a few of their cousins, and a few others line up with ones we knew about. It'll take a lot more talking before I get a plan worked up, but there's time. Plenty of it, actually. So much that I was thinking of paying you folks a visit, and all the more now that I hear your friends have disappeared. I won't bother you asking to write down everything, but I am curious. If I can help, just say so and I'll be there. If not, I might be there anyway. Either way, keep in touch!
It sure does sound mighty suspect. Coming all the way from Gondor to Bree to pay for a trashed room? The trip alone would cost as much in provisions and planning as it would to repair the damage, not to mention they would have to find you, and pay for provisions to get you back to Gondor... and she couldn't have come alone. She'd be hard-pressed to arrest that Edu if she did! That's even more money, unless Gondor does things real different these days. And then there's the trip! People die on the road. Especially in those parts. Doesn't make any sense that they'd risk so much and pay so much just to deal with the fuss of dragging you two all the way back, even if they could manage it. Let me guess, Ces said about as much already, and probably more? She's a sharp one, after all.
It does sound like you folks got yourselves tied up in trouble, but don't go squeezing the knot, alright? Check things out if you gotta, but do it careful. Don't go anywhere alone, don't rush into nothing, not unless you want me to tear half of Middle-earth apart to find you. You know I will.
I do want to see you again. All of you. It was nice having you folks around. How about this: if I don't hear from you or Ces about needing to come soon, I'll head over anyway, maybe a month from now, and spend Yule-tide with you folks. That's what they celebrate in Bree, right? But lets keep that a secret between us. If Nitumbu finds out, she'll want to come too. I don't think Bree can handle that.
Yours,
Lorniel
P.S. Aunt Nitumbu gave me a letter to Ces to send along with this one; just wanted you to know in case anything gets lost or mixed up along the way. Make sure she gets it, would you?
P.P.S. I don't think I can keep it a secret. Nitumbu is too good. We'll see how it goes.
