Branalph

The scouts and swordsmen are shaken by the dangers they faced this day. They pause at the falls of Barad Glamgil to regain their bearings and assess the situation. Having left Lirisseya at Thorenhad following her painful wound, the small party is further diminished; the cónin of the House make the decision not to confront whatever shadow the Elves feel lying on the ruins above. Commander Redandir strikes out on his own to gather more information, while the rest of the group makes for an Elf-camp Melumatyar knows of.

My lord and I met the merry travelers at a well-known ruin in the woods. He and I knew we must turn back once we saw the group safely on their way as they traveled toward merriment and frivolity -- and we remained for duty. I admit that envy tinged my gaze upon my friends.

Word had reached Carethril, a healer within the house known somewhat cryptically as Lósengriol, that Men and their beasts were sickening and dying along both banks of the river Mitheithel. Accordingly, a small group of Elves of that house met the scouts encamped just east of the Last Bridge across the river. They fanned out, searching for clues, and soon Arradril found something not at all to her liking.

Branalph watches as fireworks in the colors of the House scatter their brilliant light near the halls of Lósengriol. What will the new turn of the seasons bring? His thoughts turn to his beloved Arradril, and the coming joys of exchanging their silver betrothal rings for golden wedding bands.

At the end of the evening, members of Lósengriol and the last few guests went outside to plant one of the esteloth flowers retrieved intact all the way from i Drann, the former part of Arthedain now called "the Shire." Manadhlaer and Lirisseya discussed their hopes to use the plant to heal the griefs of those who bore hurt in their hearts.

The long trek to the Great Smials of Tuckborough has paid off. There are a few false starts: Gaerondil finds and rejects volumes on swine, show chickens, and split-rail fences, while Redandir, predictably, selects To Win a Lass, and Hermanniadoc goes for Fireside Tales of the Shire. But once again, it is Lirisseya whose unerring research skills find the right volume -- a book called The Green Thumb by Old Gardner Greenleaves contains a sketch of the very flower the Elves are researching! 

Approaching the inn whose sign Oxslip described, the Elves discover a bewildering variety of hobbits who are astounded to see them. Naturally, the hobbits are curious as to what these outlandish Big Folk might want, and talk turns quickly to the mysterious flower and keepers of herb-lore throughout the Shire.

The Elves of Lósengriol sit amazed -- the very first hobbit they have met, even before crossing the Baranduin, knows a song about the exact flower whose lore they have come to study. And a beautiful song it is, skillfully strummed by young Oxslip!

In the middle of trying to sort out preparations for the next leg of the journey, the Elves are surprised to meet one of the very Shire-folk they have been seeking -- a friendly and polite little fellow named Poscoad with an unusually dapper hat. Unfortunately, he also has a talent for getting lost: he is looking for some place called Herne. Man-towns are not Gaerondil's specialty, but she has a try at finding the place on the map, and concludes it must be somewhere to the south.