Appendix C
Concerning Ithildin
The following are notes, letters, journal entries and other such things regarding Ithildin after her departure from Mindon Enedh. I have tried my best to arrange them in chronological order. The translations are rough; I have not quite mastered the languages of old, but I purpose more to expand on the gaps in her story—of which I know little—than to aim for linguistic accuracy.
1) A brief entry in the writings of Galadriel, Lady of the Wood, concerning the day Ithildin entered her realm:
"Good though her intentions seemed, we were not quite comfortable with [Ithildin's] presence. There was something strange about her that was almost hidden. I searched but I could not determine exactly what it was. This perturbed me for many days. The Lord Celeborn sensed this as well, and on the evening of her arrival, he whispered to me that he wished to consult the books of Lórien. But he found nothing and my own efforts were in vain. Whatever it was about [Ithildin], I suppose it was not intended for us to know."
2) Found later in the Common Room at the Golden Horse, a brief note in the notebook of a painter on the day Ithildin arrived in Edoras:
"To my left I observed an enchanting young woman with hair of ebony and silver. Alone she had sat for quite some time, until a group of Théoden's men, returning from business outside, noticed her and began to question her. She answered their rather ridiculous and impertinent questions with admirable patience. And to my right…"
3) Excerpt from a letter written by Gandalf Greyhame a few weeks after the departure of the Fellowship of the Ring from Rivendell:
"Finally, the dear hobbits, most notably Pippin, wish to say hello to Ithildin. They are quite tied up at the moment, being fast asleep, but they begged me not to send this letter without adding the previous sentence. So send the silver lady a greeting from them and many happy returns. Oh, and Legolas sends his regards as well…"
4) To be found in a tiny section in the Red Book of Bilbo Baggins, the cousin of Frodo Baggins, and recorder of the events during the War of the Ring. This book was passed on to Frodo, who later passed it on to his dearest friend Samwise Gamgee when he departed from Middle-earth. After Frodo's departure, it was Sam's job to continue writing in the book until it was finished. An excerpt from one entry not long after Frodo's departure:
"Sometimes, it is difficult for me to remember that Master Frodo is no longer here. I have become so used to doing the little things: waking up early to make him a fresh pot of tea, turning to him for advice when I need help, spending warm evenings by the fire with him while he writes in this book and I play with Elanorh…Ah, well, such is the way of things, I suppose, and I cannot say that I am not happy. Nor that the remaining members of our Fellowship are not. Aragorn has reclaimed the throne of Gondor and married Lady Arwen and is busy doing all the busy things that kings do. Merry and Pippin are content, being quite more respected now than when they left the Shire all those years ago. I have heard that Gimli is off in the woods of Fangorn, or perhaps the Glittering Caves, with Legolas, both holding true to the pact they made at Helm's Deep long ago and Ithildin awaits them back home in the city of Ithilien, off on her own adventure to restore the city to its former beauty.
I think, perhaps, that I now understand the sorrow of the Elves: They watch the world go by and times change and people leave and sometimes, the desire to have things remain the same forever is too much for the heart to bear…"
5) A poem written by Legolas Greenleaf as he sailed on the last ship to Valinor:
Sail thee forward ship o' mine
Through the star white foams of sea, and thine
Swiftness to wounds of sorrow heal
The ache of grief that I must feel
To east does yearn my heavy heart
For she who played her own small part
To help end this tale of joy and woe
But gone be the days of the world I know
Yet such oft is the river of life, beloved things
Are washed by its midnight hands of springs
An innocent bird is joy that we long
With earnest soul to protect from wrong
Cold crystal appears the awakening spray
That caresses each face and falls gently away
Speed, dear ship, of the sea we cross
So that soon may I forget my loss