Order of the Hammer

A note given to Filegris for the eyes of Arradril:

My Bow-Bending Colleague,

The sorrows of the Eldar may be never-ending, but receiving your missive lessened my particular sorrow upon its reading.

I thank you for your kind words on the occasion of my oath-taking. Yours was a face I would have enjoyed seeing at the ceremony, but the nature of duty being what it is - and one I understand and fully endorse - I took no offence by your absence.

This note was found on Branalph's pillow the night following his Oath-taking, in which he became a full member of Vanimar. It was placed next to a leaf wrapped around half a dozen wafers of lembas.

Aiya Varandalqua!

Long had Arradril been thinking -- or so it seemed to her -- over the question of what sort of gift she might find or make for Branalph, survivor of the ruin of Nargothrond and lately recruit of the Order of the Hammer. It was merely polite, after all. He had given her the pretty purple feather that reminded her of younger days. So etiquette, for surely that was all that it was, would seem to demand some sort of token in return.

Well, Diary, a thorough search of Themodir's house -- I must get in there to clean it more often; the drake trophies in particular look as if they were slain by dust -- revealed none of the missing ledger pages. I had not really thought they might be there, but every possibility must be examined. I suppose that I wanted his guidance, even the faint scent of his presence -- the imprint of his fëa upon the things he handled and touched.

Content of note slid under the door of Arrow Hall:

I am as intrigued by your wager and your offer of diversion as much as your bold attempt at stealth and the placement of your missive. I admit for a moment that I believed a serpent had nestled its way into my boot!

I doubt not your prowess with a bow; and am eager to see it firsthand. I am of a mind to let you bring down our quarry as to leave such matters to me and my hammer would result in overly-tenderized meat.

As you have correctly observed, it would be impossible for us to soon forget the cheese.