Pengolodh writes of life in the King's household. This is not a happy household. Career advancement not so promising for our poor scribe.
The King's Scribe
First Age 200, Gondolin
Not sure why this should bother me but the unearthly hours certain residents of the King's House keep are starting to breed gossip. At the centre of this entire maelstrom is our dear White Lady. It really boggles the mind how Aredhel manages to juggle her commitments to the various Lords of Gondolin without a duel or two erupting in the streets. Well, there was that friendly back-alley mud-wrestling match between Egalmoth and Duilin but that doesn't count as a duel does it? Perhaps Lady Aredhel is just being friendly – the friends-with-benefits way. It's not as though there is much hunting to be done in the city (shooting blunt-tipped arrows at random citizens do not count).
Methinks Turgon is starting to take note of his sister's flings, else he fears she might have a bad influence on his only child. No worries there, Idril is committed to works of charity among the less fortunate residents, dancing, and the House of Healing. By dancing, I do not mean that scandalous new dance recently popularised by Lord Penlod and Aredhel at the Festival of Flowers. Really, it is indecent holding your lady so close, even for a waltz.
Another walker of the night hours is King Turgon, who has the habit of pacing the house. Much to the annoyance of his servants, I must add. He tends to ring for a bottle of wine or some light refreshments at the most inconvenient time. Then there was the time he had a page woken up and sent out to fetch the best musicians of Gondolin as he was in the mood for some music. I think even Ecthelion was bit put out having to play for his liege at that ungodly hour. Salgant pleaded a bellyache. The cook (sweet dear) believes our master's insomnia is a sign of his grief over his dead wife. He did have her portraits painted and hung all over the house.
In the wee hours before dawn, the household was roused from reverie by a screaming match between our king and his sister, with threats to have Aredhel locked up in a tower until she quits stringing his nobles along for sport. Did that include Lords Rog and Salgant? Downstairs gossip had it the pair had a major falling out over some elleth's affections recently. Ecthelion did offer for Aredhel's hand once but was turned down, much to his dismay (and his good fortune, I must add). Come to think of it, there is no unmarried lord in Gondolin King Turgon dislikes enough for him to inflict his sister upon. Not even that insufferable Galdor of the Tree.
Found Idril on the stairs and she is naturally upset about the situation. She confided in me that it would have been best if her grandfather had not insisted her aunt joined them in Gondolin. Moreover, the late-night or early morning quarrels disturb the little family of mice she has taken in as pets. Good Manwe, I believe I have found the source of the kitchen's rodent infestation.
Pengolodh, junior royal scribe
First Age 250, Gondolin
I am pleased and greatly honoured that I have been admitted to the Lambengolmor, even if it is on probational basis. I suppose it is due to me since I have been acting as His Majesty's scribe for the past few cycles of the sun. The initiation was a bit of a shock though – well, they did not swear me to secrecy or anything, so here goes. The initiate has to copy selected works for the perusal of the senior members of the Lambengolmor. If one's calligraphy is up to par, it is on to partaking in the debate. I had been expecting the favourite old topics on Quenya versus Sindarin or Tengwar versus cirith but the masters of the Lambengolmor had other ideas in mind. Who came up with the idea of arguing for and against the move to Gondolin aka a hidden haven? The whole thing smacks of dissent. Then some young buck raised the issue of banishment of misbehaving citizens Doriath-style, starting with a certain lady in the House of the King. I was thankful His Majesty was not in attendance, for I was arguing against staying holed up here, with nary a whisper of news from beyond the walls.
Well, the Eagles do visit Turgon once in a while, but that was it. We have had no news from outside in quite a while. Has Morgoth attacked Mithrim? Is Doriath still standing? There was some gossip about Prince Finrod shacking it up with both Dwarves and Men. I recall Idril pestering me about Dwarves and Men. Well, I have not seen any outside those few scrolls we brought from Mithrim. It is not as though we hung out together in the marshes. Aren't Dwarves really furry critters? I hear they are skilled craftsmen as Children of Aule. Not sure about the Secondborn though.
I never heard of any prior debate disintegrating into actual fisticuffs, but I guess there is always a first time for anything. Chairs were thrown and plates smashed. I do recall Lord Penlod's bratty page shoving someone out the window in the chaos. The brawl was broken up by the timely arrival of Lord Glorfindel and his men, currently assigned peacekeeping duties in the precinct.
I barely scraped by in the debate round to make the grade with a yeni-long probation. That means I have to prepare ink, parchment, and light refreshments for the weekly meetings until I am granted full member status. Ah well…
Pengolodh, royal scribe and Lambengolmor probationer
P.S. Is there a purse or something for the Lambengolmor's meeting expenses?
Author's Notes:
I really cannot imagine Pengolodh having much of a personal life, what do you think? The Lambengolmor is a guild of loremasters, so he is taking his first steps to becoming a full-fledged loremaster (even if he is just the general errand runner for the guild for now).
This series does not seem to be as easy to write as the earlier ones. I have done some minor re-writes to the original chapter.
