Hello peoples,
Another chapter for you to (hopefully) enjoy.
Dear Eruphadion,
It has been long since I have felt able to commit pen to paper, much has happened and I have been fearful of my wellbeing, as well as for those that surround me. It is also disheartening to not receive any word from you. Though I have made this commitment to write to you, it is hard not knowing if you are safe. Our time corresponding was short yet it was a reminder of our mission and gave me hope. Now I find that my hope is waning; I do my best to hold on.
When I was so quickly pulled away from my last scrawls to you I was about to tell you of the man into who's hands my hope had fallen into. His name is Lord Pieg. Marast, and the rest of his family, has fallen foul of this man in the past. Not through any wrongdoing I must hasten to add; but this was a severe blow as my name is now firmly associated with theirs. The inhabitants of Tir-roth enjoy their gossip and I am afraid I was not discrete enough upon my arrival, lulled into a false sense of security by the kindness of Farrion's family. The Lord Pieg embodies much of how I feel about Men; he constantly seeks privilege and status, careless in his route to power. His noble birth and wealth opens doors that for the common folk remain firmly shut, not to mention his ways with women. Pieg is indeed a handsome man, even I will give him that, his dark hair and piercing eyes hold power over numerous women, not to mention a few men. He knows it too and has become a notorious womanizer. But he has forgotten his brothers and sisters that live alongside him.
Yet he is not entirely without kindness, I am informed that he has spent much of his wealth in the infrastructure of the city and in particular to filling the library. As I wrote to you earlier Farrion was particularly prone to wax lyrical about the advances of his city and I have seen that he was only exaggerating a little. Pieg has been searching for any reading material that is exotic or rare to donate to the library. I suspect this is more to gain status and notoriety as a patron of the arts but I do not claim to know his heart, only men like him. As for how Farrion came to be known to Pieg remains a mystery to me, the family never speak of it, only glances between them tell me that there is more to this than meets the eye. However, this is not the only incident that has driven a wedge between these two families. Sonsa, his good lady wife, once worked in the Pieg family household, while her and Farrion were courting and attracted the attention of Pieg, who pursued her for his pleasure. Sonsa was, and remains, a beautiful woman, though her children have left smile lines around her eyes, but more importantly she loved Farrion and wanted to remain virtuous so she resisted Pieg's advances. Even in his youth he was a womaniser, the thrill of course being in the chase and the harder she resisted the more he wanted her for himself. Sonsa told me this herself, while Farrion was out looking at new stock, but her words suggested that perhaps there was more to his pursuits than simply taking her to his bed, that she suspected he felt more than simply lust for her. Still it makes me wonder.
So this was the man who had a hold of the Scroll, the thing so necessary for my quest, and to prevent Morgoth's foul captain from rising in power. And my position feels so hopeless, I have no choice but to plead with him, or risk failure. I fear my association will taint our meeting, the memory of Sonsa and Farrion may turn Pieg against me.
I have once more studied the stars. They tell the same ominous story that they did when I travelled down river, it seems so long ago. The Nine draw near, with Nine rising counter to them from the North, over Imladris. I know that Lord Elrond's people look to the stars and it causes me to wonder if he too has noticed the movement. I have been drawn to these stars in particular for reasons I cannot explain. There is one among them that shines brighter than it has in an age, as if a fire rekindled, and moves from the North with ever increasing strides. Four group closely together, difficult to tell apart at first but they are slowly becoming more distinctive. As for the others, I cannot tell what they say, it is not yet time. Above all I fear that the Halls of Mandos will soon be filled, and Nienna's tears will water the whole land of Arda.
There is much more to tell, and events are indeed afoot, I shall do my utmost to write again soon.
Your Friend,
E.
