Far Afield, or Across the DistanceBeing the Correspondence of Two Assistant Healers from Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth.

Dear Linnath,

Thank your mother for me; the workbasket she sent has helped immensely! My old one has been given to Ilarren to use because he has finally decided to keep That Cat, and he has no workbaskets of his own for it to sleep in.

The oil sent you made for me is wonderful, now I can smell The Rhiunan Lily in all the seasons! I am very glad I gave you half of my seedpods. I am going to plant some of the ones I kept in Pelennor Fields, since the war killed all the those that were already there; usually the Field is white with them. I do miss them!

The storms that have plagued you seemed to have spread east and north to us. The rainy seasons have started. Though it is not raining right now the skies are very grey, and grandmother will not let us out. It was pouring so hard yesterday I could not see the other side of the street if I stood in the doorway of the House of Healing. But then the street is very wide. Despite the rain though, Ilarren came to bring me your letter and package, my wonderful cousin!

Aside from him we have had no visitors, needy ones or just friendly people who drop in to amuse us. Ilarren stayed for dinner, but he was very quiet all through the meal. I was worried, because he is usually very talkative. Before he left I asked him what was wrong, but he just said he wanted me to meet a friend of his later. Then he scooted out the door so fast I could not question him further. I fear at what that boy will get into his head.

I had the honor of helping Grandmother patch up Lord Faramir last week. He had broken a wrist and several ribs, with numerous cuts and bruises. Apparently he was working repairs in Osgiliath with his men when a terrace came crumbling. You should think he would have seen that the masonry was unstable. As I wrapped up his wrist he commented that the Lady Eowyn came here often. A strange thing to remark upon, don't you think? After all, she spent her first month in Gondor here, and must be most at home in the Houses of Healing. She has been coming more often of late. She is perfectly healed, but she does not seen to have very many friends. Once she stayed rather late and I told her all about you, she said I was lucky.

It was that night Lady Eowyn told me she was going to go home soon. I shall miss her. We have even more in common than you and I, because she too has lost her parents. But I would not give up my friendship with you for a trip to the Undying Lands!

Ugh, it has started to rain again. The river shall be swollen and al the ships shall stay in port. How unsatisfying. At least I am dry and warm here in my alcove by the fire. Some how it seems poor consolation though, for having absolutely nothing to do but grind dried herbs and make salves and tinctures.

I was out in the fields last week looking for young Woundwort; Grandmother was treating a young boy with a torn up knee. I had gathered only about half of what grandmother had wanted, but the day was so nice so I decided to take a sort break. I had walked only a little way when I spotted a clump of Bluegrass and Rosemary growing together on a little mound. You know I am fond of Rosemary; it is a pretty flower and a very good seasoning. So of course I wanted some. I started snipping sprigs off the bush with my little scissors, when I saw something behind it shining. I was very startled, and I must admit that wild thoughts started going through my head. I thought, They had missed a body! I am only a few snippets away from coming face to face with a decaying ork! Or worse a soldier, whose people still do not know what happened to him!

I had to calm my fear; the mound was really too small to hide any thing bigger that a Halfling. Besides I would have to make sure it was a body before sending someone to take care of it. But I have to admit, my hand was trembling as I pulled the rosemary away form the place I saw glitter of metal. There was not carcass beneath it, no bones, nothing but dirt. I felt incredibly stupid, Linnath, and extremely glad no one had seen. I was about to turn away, but the glitter caught my eye again. So I went back and made a very thorough search of that clump of Rosemary. I found what was shining caught in the very center of the bush; broche in the shape of the swan of Dol Amroth. It was very beautiful, and I am sorely tempted to keep it, but I could tell that it was very costly by the mother-of-pearl inlay and sapphire eye. I shall personally give it to the captain of the next currier ship to deliver to you. Then you will be able to find out whom it belongs to.

Grandmother just bustled by the alcove where I am sitting, she saw I was writing to you and said she wished you were still here. She sniffed and said she knew it was selfish of her, but you were such an sweet girl. Then she pressed a package of dried cherries and raw silk threads onto my hands to send to you. You shall be getting quite a bundle now, though I have no idea what the raw silk threads are for. You don't embroider, do you? Nasty stuff embroidery, I am always pricking my fingers and in the end it looks more like a bloody bandage than fine needlework.

We are not so lucky as you, to have access to so many books. Those that weren't destroyed in the fires are all locked up in the palace. I hope that the King will soon be able to have them copied so book-venders can sell them, but he is still very busy. And books only come second. Well, third; first the people, then the city, then books.

I suspect Gwendolyn will soon be leaving the houses of healing. I think she is engaged; she wears this happy look and has been getting up earlier. (She laughs in her sleep as well.) She is as old as I am! It is rather startling to realize one is old enough to get married. Of course she could still work here even after she is married, but I don't think she will. Gwen isn't that kind of person. I just hope I have guessed right, and she is not just happy because she has finally found a pet grandmother will let her keep in the Houses.

Gwen found it lying in the street near the market place. A nightingale! It was all muddy and its wing was broken. She set its wing and named it Luthien. I would have named it Lennestel, but I did not find the bird. It will let no one but Yavna touch it, and it sings only when she is in the room. That makes me think that it is a male nightingale, not female. (That is a joke, my dear, silly, serious, friend.)

The storm is raging on. The roof in our bedroom is leaking so grandmother gave the four of us permission to sleep down here in some extra beds. I am very glad of that, for our room is always cold in the rainy seasons.

My candle is going out so I must end this letter.

Your rather damp friend.

Eleiel