backstory

Altor was in the stables, brushing his horse. His horse was a quiet one, matching his usual mood. Today, however, Altor was disquiet, unable to focus or find joy in the simple task. 

The horse snapped at him. "I am sorry" Altor tried to pacify him. 

"You must have pulled a few of his hair" her voice called behind him. "I could see you brushing too hard".

Sure enough, Altor turned around to see Adiwen at the entrance of the stall. She was dressed warmly, but her cheeks were red from the cold. She looked as lovely as ever.

Prince Theodred studied her letter and she studied his facial features. He was a handsome man, his face was tanned from his extended time on horseback. His shoulders were broad and his hands harder than Altor's.

The Prince placed the letter in front of him. "I do not think you need my assistance, lady Adiwen! This letter is written in impeccable grammar and spelling.

She picked up the piece of paper. "What do you think of this part?" She proceeded to read aloud a piece of her text. "I am not sure of the use of 'ambigious'..."

Altor pressed his lips. He was uncharacteristically silent. Adiwen could not tell why he didn't answer; sometimes he was hard to read.

Today was one of those days. "Will you say something?"

"What do you wish me to say?"

"Am I ready? Are my skills impressive enough?" She asked, waiting not so patiently for his assessment.

He took his time to answer. "You can read and write well enough".

"Well enough to impress the Prince of Rohan?" She pressed on.

Sometimes, Adiwen and Altor met in the great hall, sometimes in the garden, allowing the crisp morning sunshine to inspire their efforts. 

Today, they were seated in the garden. Altor was reading passages from a book and she was supposed to write down each word. Adiwen felt her pen scratching the paper painfully slow. His voice was as clear as always, but he seemed to be reading faster than usually. And yet, she had only transcribed a few sentences. 

As she predicted, the young lord of Cliving didn't join the rest of the men on their hunting trip. Instead, Lord Altor sat at the back of the palace with an open book on his lap.

"My lord Altor, may I join you for a while?" Adiwen asked politely.

He raised his eyes from his book to see who was talking with him. "Have you ever waited for anyone's approval to do as you wish before?"

Adiwen walked fast through the great hall of Edoras; it was quiet today and her footsteps echoed in it. The Prince and the King had gone hunting and of course, the whole Palace had gone with them.

She was in an agitated mood as she considered if she had made a mistake. She probably had to go with them. If she was to be a Princess and future Queen of these lands, she had to try harder to ensnare the Prince. At least, that cocky, hair headed, high pitched laughing woman from Aldburg believed she could join the men on their hunting trip and she had done so.

Bree, over a decade ago

“Mama, I’ve finally got a friend. I think ye’d have liked him.”

The harvest of Yavanna and the founding of Nost Giliath

The exiles of the Ñoldor, and the founding of Nost Giliath