Chapter 47 - War Games and Love Letters
A sense of foreboding overtook Vezely as they neared the outpost that sent the correspondence concerning the raids. It stood the farthest westward of any of their posts and at the very borders of the vast flat lands called Rhovanion. There sat agriculturally prosperous homesteads of inhabitants who had pledged allegiance to Gondor. Farther west was the River Anduin, which was a natural border of Rohan on its other side. The correspondence did not specify how far the incursions went, so Vezely knew not whether she would have both Gondor and Rohan to answer to.
She halted her thirty strong all female cavalry seven leagues out; her Elf eyes looking to the banners being flown atop the posts. They appeared to be a light gray with a crimson mark upon their center, when the colors of the Reunited Easterlings Coalition were cobalt blue and gold.
"Those are not our banners," she spoke to her cavalry's Captain, Samsara; a woman in her mid-thirties who had a fiery heart, keen intellect, and steadfast resolve. She had risen to the position of Captain of the female cavalry quickly.
Samsara strained her eyes to see, but could not discern anything other than the fort itself on the horizon; then noting, "Our scouts are returning."
Samsara and Vezely rode out to meet them. "General. Captain," the two young riders tilted their heads down respectfully in greeting, but they could not hide the worry in their eyes. "The outpost," the one started timidly, "It no longer appears our own."
"Whose banners are being flown?" Vezely queried calmly, though already knowing the answer.
"They bear the red flame of the People of the Dark Lands, and," the scout hesitated, looking to her partner before continuing, "There are heads upon pikes, lining entry to the front gate."
Vezely closed her eyes momentarily disheartened, believing as they that those were the outpost's former officers. Re-centering her thoughts, she gave the scouts leave in order to council privately with Samsara. "...We will send two of our fastest riders north to Fort Aztros to assemble reinforcements. We will rally with them within the week to take back the fort."
Wondering why they were not also going north, Samsara queried, "And our company?"
"We ride West into Rhovanion," Vezely told her carefully.
"You risk us going straight into Western territories so armed?" Samsara voiced a worthy concern; she knew as Vezely did that they would face rebuke by Western forces who undoubtedly would have already been alerted if the raids into those lands were true.
"I am friends with their kings," Vezely responded unworried, "Through them we will discern what has happened and hopefully we can mend some ties before assuredly breaking them with our own so called allies," her eyes narrowed displeased on the grey banners perched atop the outpost's towers.
Right then, both women could see smoke rising up from within the fort's interior.
"If the People of the Dark Lands have claimed the outpost as their own, and are the ones who made incursions into Rhovanion, then the correspondence causes some concern," Samsara reasoned, for they did not know why it was sent or by who. It may have been sent by the outpost's former officers before they were taken over, but if it was sent by the new rulers, they wondered of their intentions.
With eyes yet afield, Vezely further reasoned, "That is what I ponder also, and further reason why I will not set foot near their gates." Then looking to Samsara with a smirk, "They would not expect us to turn West, however."
And so the cavalry rode into Rhovanion, heading due west before turning southwest. Their presence eventually went noticed by Gondorian scouts out patrolling the lands.
The scout was promptly ushered into the tent where Aragorn stood aside Eomer in council. The king of Rohan had been summoned from Edoras to a makeshift camp by Aragorn, in order to discuss what measures to take concerning the destruction of thirty homesteads on Rhovanion's plains. They were pillaged and burned to the ground with their residents either killed or taken. Those who witnessed the destruction of their neighbors had called for the aid of their king, who was alarmed by the news; especially since there had been no hostilities with Rhun since the great war.
Eomer had come with a contingent of Rohirrim to back up the Gondorian guard already posted; as was part of their treaty to assist each other in this region which had a history of Easterling invasion. Though the amassing of forces currently was in the precautionary stage; no plans had been made to march East on the perpetrators who left the lands marred but unoccupied. They knew where the Easterling outpost sat and were pondering their approach when the scout was brought in.
The young scout clicked his heels together and nodded curtly to the leaders before declaring the news, "My lords, there is a contingent of thirty armed Easterling horsemen ten leagues out. They are quick of pace and headed in our direction."
Eomer and Aragorn looked at each other with some unease before setting to their steeds to meet the horsemen with their own forces. While the approaching numbers were small and true purpose unknown, it was necessary to assume they were hostiles and had not entered Rhovanion without reinforcements following closely behind.
On the fields of the Brown Lands, the joined forces of Rohan and Gondor met for the first time since the war, an army of Easterlings riding atop black horses, clad in dark blue and black fabrics, and wearing black scarves wrapped around their heads and pulled over their faces, covering them from view. Hints of burnished gold could be seen in the sun's rays, such as on the vambrances they wore on their wrists. All had scimitars attached to their belts. They were heralding banners that were also blue in color and painted with two vertical golden suns set apart by a horizontal line; symbolizing the horizon line on the Sea of Rhun and the sun's reflection in it.
Vezely halted her cavalry, finding waiting before them a dual force that well outmatched the small company in her care. The women warriors shifted slightly in their saddles, wary of being set upon without reinforcements. Still wearing their head coverings the General and Captain rode forward, with a banner bearer riding behind them, thus prompting Aragorn and Eomer to do the same.
The riders met in the center of the grassy field between the two lines. Keeping their hands on the hilts of their swords, the kings narrowed their eyes suspiciously on the foreign riders who dared stride into their lands so armed even if weak in numbers. They both wondered if they were the ones who committed the acts of violence upon Rhovanion's inhabitants. "What business do you have in these lands?" Aragorn asked strongly, "For on top of foul deeds already committed, this can be deemed an act of war."
"A war I would not see come to pass," the sound of her voice lightened their demeanor, sparking bemusement until Vezely removed her scarf from her face and pushed it down from her head. She bowed her head down and placed her fist to her chest, "My friends."
"Vez?" Aragorn had not expected to look upon the Elf who left Minas Tirith a decade past. Time had not touched her face, but she appeared changed to him somehow. It was not simply because her hair had grown; now cut bluntly above her shoulders with a thick fringe cut across her brow. Nor was it because she was clad in regalia befitting a position of worth; gold rings and mid-rings lined her fingers such that the silver betrothal ring was a lost among them. No, it was her stature; she held herself with true authority, appearing before them as a general of true worth, and as with all leaders, one who held the position's worrisome weight on her shoulders.
Eomer was equally surprised; even more so for not recognizing the Rohirrim mare she still rode. Léofara was decked in Easterling outfitting; her mane and tail clipped and braided in a foreign style. She no longer looked as a horse of the Rohirrim.
Vezely promptly declared her purpose, "I come on behalf of the Reunited Easterling Coalition to investigate the wrongs committed on your lands. And," she added concerned, "To apologize, for I have broken my promise of keeping them free from those who would do harm."
"Investigate?" Eomer asked confused, after taking a glance at the woman who rode aside her. He did not expect her companion, who had also removed her head covering, to be another woman.
Vezely explained carefully, "Upon hearing of the rogue incursions into Rhovanion, we rode to offer assistance not expecting to find our western outpost overrun by the People of the Dark Lands. We do not yet know their true purpose, though it appears they took the outpost by force, slaying the officers within. We came west hoping to find out what happened in these lands before we engage them."
Aragorn and Eomer did not doubt her in these matters, though neither knew the full scope of what had been transpiring in Easterling territories since the war. Aragorn offered sincerely, "We will do what we can to assist you."
Saying respectfully, "Gratitude my lords. Captain Samsara and I will need to see the sites of these attacks."
Aragorn found the request easy to comply with, adding, "Your riders can set up temporary camp next to ours. Then we can leave from there."
Vezely tilted her head down and pressed her fist to her chest. After turning her horse from them, she peered back and smiled slightly, "Despite the circumstances, it is good to see your faces again."
"Olani!" Vezely called to the first lieutenant while walking over to her as she dismounted her horse, "Set up camp and make sure our warriors rest. The Captain and I will return shortly."
Olani accepted her orders with a polite nod, after which her eyes shifted to the West men's camp they were setting up next to and its inhabitants; who were now taking an interest in the new company.
Noting her glance, Vez added smirking slightly, "They are not use to seeing Easterlings, nor women warriors. Be gentle with them;" knowing her riders could take care of themselves.
Samsara and her followed the two kings, along with what Vez assumed were typical kingly bodyguards. Five centuries ago, it was on the plains of Rhovanion where Vezely began her assaults as a young leader of the Balchoth. Then it was an independent realm, thus easily conquered. It was not until they entered Rohan that they met true resistance. Recollections of this past inevitably reentered her mind when she saw the first fire gutted farm shed. Judging by what was left of the structure, the people's architecture had not evolved much since.
Samsara was the first to dismount her horse. An expert tracker, she knew exactly how to survey the ground and she moved through the site quickly. For her, the destruction wrought by the People of the Dark Lands was a personal matter. Ten years ago her village unluckily stood on their militia's marching path when they retreated from the siege at the Lonely Mountain. She witnessed the destruction of her home and close kin from afar, being one of only a handful of survivors. Being from a large family of many siblings, she was not chosen among them to fight in the war; instead, she was charged with protecting their homestead in their absence. When hearing the call to reform the region's defense forces, she answered eagerly. She held the same amount of suspicion of their supposed allies, and thus worked well alongside Vezely.
Vezely slowly dismounted after her; after taking the mare's reins she asked the two lords for verification of some information they gave her prior, "You said there were thirty homesteads such as this?"
Yet upon their horse, Eomer and Aragorn's eyes shifted from watching Samsara back to Vez. Aragorn knew the woman was tracking and queried whether she would conclude what he had when he surveyed this homestead prior. He confirmed, "Thirty, and not all inhabitants are accounted for," afterwards he dismounted.
Turning her face to the side as she yet knelt on the ground, Samsara called back to the group in Westron, knowing how to make basic conversation in their tongue, "Three were taken;" for she could read in the tracks how many were bound and carted off. Vezely walked to her side, looking on the same grounds. After Samsara stood up aside her, the young Captain confided quietly in Easterling, "To be sacrifices to Melkor. Smoke was rising from the outpost."
Vez nodded and exchanged a silent understanding as to why Samsara was wary in making this known to the two Western rulers. Vez turned to Eomer and Aragorn, who remained by their steeds, announcing what she considered a false hope, but what she thought was preferable for them to believe, "It is possible those unaccounted for remain alive in the westward outpost."
An elderly woman then crept from around the other side of the burnt structure; at first afraid to make herself known to the approaching guards. "Alive? Alive?" her voice croaked as if clinging onto her last thread of hope, "My granddaughter, my grandson," she cried, falling on her knees before Vezely and clasping her hands in prayer in front of her. "They took them all. Evil men took them. They killed my husband, my son, and raped my son's wife, and took her with them. Are they alive? Please, please. You must tell me. You must," her words became an incoherent mess as tears rolled from her eyes and she fell forward.
Vez stepped back one small stride, desiring not to be touched by the distraught figure before her; her face remained void of emotion. She held not disdain, but a necessary detachment. She turned her head to Samsara, confirming the suspicions she had been milling over, keeping her tongue in Easterling, "If they did not burn them here, it is as if..."
She allowed Samsara to finish her thought, "As if they desired to lead the West men back to the outpost."
Noting the chill response the two warriors gave to the old woman, Aragorn quickly went over to her, placing his hand upon her forearm and consoling her with words of comfort.
After Aragorn had steadied the pathetic form back to her feet, Vez turned and addressed her, "Old woman. You witnessed all this and yet here you stand?" Her strong voice sounded as if interrogating.
"They left me," she cried back, uncertain why she needed to defend herself, "I do not know why. I do not know."
Samsara spoke again in Easterling, her eyes narrowed in thought, "They are not merciful."
"Nor careless," Vez scoffed back in Easterling; then querying the woman further, "Do you remember the color of their raiment and their banners?"
She shook her head as if struck dumb, "They wore, they wore..." then shock took her, and she gazed wide-eyed upon Vezely, "They wore what you are wearing...You...you did this?"
Unfazed by her blame, Vezely queried further, "And their banners?"
"Blue and gold," the woman started shaking and Aragorn could not keep her on her feet and she slumped to the ground before him, holding her head in her hands to sob. "Blue and gold..."
Vez diverted her narrowed eyes, "Interesting," speaking as if intrigued by the games they were playing; what was her enemy's intent with cloaking themselves in their raiment, she wondered. Nearby, Eomer looked upon the two women sternly, and as Aragorn was about to break words, Vezely turned back to the old woman, declaring with a polite nod, "Gratitude for your assistance. Rest assured it was not us who committed these acts. But those responsible will pay and we will do what we can to return what is left of your family;" though there was little consoling in her voice and the old woman did not rise her eyes to look at her again.
Aragorn would then ask the old woman if she had a place to stay and food to eat, as Samsara and Vezely walked away from them to council.
"They intended to start a war with the West on our behalf before we brought war on them," Vezely stated, displeased by their tactics.
"That is my assumption also," Samsara confirmed, "And if not war, then a perfect means to disrupt trade relations."
Vezely nodded pleased with Samsara's astuteness. She then explained her next intentions, "I will hold council with these kings before we leave to assure that does not happen..."
Aragorn and Eomer exchanged an uneasy glance; both had become unfortunately suspicious of Vezely and her Captain - their covert conversation, Vezely's cold handling of the old woman, and that the perpetrators wore their raiment and carried their banners.
It was not until that evening that Vez quelled their skepticism, disclosing to them the relations that had transpired in the Reunited Easterling Coalition, of which the People of the Dark Lands were a part of. "...I can assure you, it was not my men who rode West and defiled your lands," adding further what she believed of their intentions. And then she detailed her own, assuring them, "...My troops will rally with reinforcements, and after we retake the outpost, I will personally escort their prisoners into your hands..."
While Aragorn and Eomer would have offered aid in this siege, neither desired for their involvement to be taken as an act of war on any of Rhun's provinces. Nor did Vezely want them to interfere. However, they would place a contingent of guards along the eastern borders to protect Rhovanion from future incursions, and, if Vezely could persuade the Easterling leaders to pay it, Gondor would accept recompense for the destruction to those lands. She knew most of the provinces in the Reuntied Easterling Coalition, especially those who depended on trade with the West, would pay it to mend ties.
After they finished council on these matters, Samsara left their tent to tend the troops; just from her manner and curt nod Vez could tell the young leader was slightly displeased with how much information her General provided the Western leaders. Samsara was also surprised Vezely was being so accommodating. All of Rhun knew Vezely fought for the West in the great war, and while most overlooked this along with her race, seeing her aid as a boon to their recovery, a few questioned her claim to such a position in their military. Samsara had not given any of this another thought until today.
That evening, Vezely sat comfortably in the modest but king-worthy circular tent; sharing a small meal of hot beef stew, rosemary bread, and wine while seated across from two friends. The company and the taste of the West's food returned her to the time spent in their lands ten years past. They had decided to place business aside momentarily and catch up on more personal matters, before a quick night's rest and dawn saw Vezely and her company's departure from those lands.
"...We have a daughter, who is now four..." Aragorn told her, while Eomer shared after, "...and I have a son, born this past winter..."
While having kept her softer emotions characteristically low-key, Vezely could not help but look upon the two men endearingly as she noted their pride in sharing such news.
"...Eowyn has a daughter and is expecting her second..." Eomer told her when she asked of her friend, "...She has found happiness in Ithilien."
Ithilien, the place sounded as a mythical realm of days long past; the memories she held there both soothed and pained her at the same time. "And how fairs Ithilien?" Vez seemed to ask this nonchalantly, taking a sip of her wine right after and not allowing her eyes to engage them; it was as if only indirectly she could ask about Legolas.
Noting some awkwardness, Aragorn answered with care, "Its beauty has grown beyond what it was long ago. Thanks to the Woodelves who now dwell there, and of course, to Legolas. He runs a thriving colony. All there respect him and he is a gracious leader."
Vez eyes remained diverted on the contours of her wine glass which she sat back down on the table before her. A wash of melancholy had flushed through her body as if she had just drunk too much wine, for Legolas felt so far away from her. Yet a thoughtful smile stretched across her face and she appeared only grateful for the news, "Then he is well."
Aragorn had a soul searching gaze which could see through ones defenses, though Vezely remained notoriously hard to read. "Aye, he is," then asking carefully, "And how fairs yourself?"
She looked up to meet his kind eyes with ones showing uncertainty in how to answer. "I find myself well adjusted," she replied tilting her chin up to show assurance; purposefully deferring the real question, "And as well as one can be on the brink of civil war. I can only hope the last years have not been in vain..."
The siege and takeover of the outpost was quick, though bloody. The usurpers did not desire to surrender their claim, even though they were outnumbered and Vezely made an attempt at negotiating with them to surrender. Unfortunately, many of the remaining prisoners, the homesteaders from Rhovanion, were put to death during the siege. Vezely assumed the usurpers planned to massacre them from the start, perhaps even expecting the post to be reclaimed in the end and evidence of their involvement to be cleaned up.
Thus only a handful of prisoners would be brought to Aragorn, who waited aside Eomer and a small contingent of their forces on Gondor's side of the unmarked territorial boundary between the two lands. There, perched on top of their kingly horses, they witnessed the post's takeover and the bringing out of those captured; bound in chains and kicked unkindly onto their knees on the ground in front of the fort's walls. Both half expected to witness executions, especially when Vezely marched down their line sword in hand.
Vezely desired to execute all of them, as was deemed appropriate for their offense. Yet she would bring them back to headquarters and have them interrogated. They and their banners, now ripped down from the post's walls, would stand as proof of the People of the Dark Lands' treachery. Her warriors who handled them kicked them onto their knees before her as she marched by; some fell flat on their faces in the dirt.
Stopping in front of the commanding officer, she outstretched the curved tip of her sword to his chin, propping it up, "You should have surrendered," she smirked, relishing a small but satisfying victory. "Now instead of an honorable death by my sword, you will endure the shame of your people's betrayal;" alerting him that his execution would be uncharacteristically postponed.
The man remained silent and starred back at her darkly; for he was too proud a warrior to allow her words to noticeably affect him. Yet the lesser ranked officer next to him could not hold his tongue and spat a curse, "White fiend. Melkor betrayer. May His wrath destroy you in the end."
Olani, who stood aside him, whacked him across the jaw with her sword's hilt, sending him to the ground; as necessary payback for insulting their general.
Vezely held her hand up calmly, halting her lieutenant from reprimanding the man any further. "Lift him up," she then commanded, and the man was roughly tugged to his feet. White fiends, that was what many men in Rhun called the Elves; seeing them only as enemies to their race. Grasping his throat with one hand, she leaned in to stare into his eyes, telling him, "It is my wrath you should fear, for I will remember your insult when the leaders are finished with you. We shall meet again." And her threat was not in vain.
As promised, Vezely escorted the survivors into Aragorn's care; apologizing that there were so few, and promising to aid in securing recompense for these wrongs.
Deeming there was little her forces could have done to have prevented the lives lost, Aragorn accepted her apology and officially declared the People of the Dark Lands as enemies of the West, and handed her a document for her leaders containing this declaration and all the necessary information on the damages done to his lands. Vezely felt when taking the parchment from his hands that this document may be the very catalyst that starts the war she long perceived on the horizon.
Addressing only her, Aragorn asked, "What is to be done with your prisoners?" His eyes were looking beyond to the row of bond warriors now being chained together for transport up north.
"They will be further interrogated before paying for their crimes," then she wondered, "Does Gondor desire more personal retribution? For I am not averse to providing those wronged the pleasure of it;" though taking as many prisoners as possible to her leaders was preferable, offering Aragorn a share did make for a suitable recompense in her mind.
Aragorn shifted in his saddle slightly, knowing she asked if he desired to carry out some of their executions. "That is not Gondor's way," he affirmed politely, though his tone implied he was uncomfortable with her cultural assumption.
"Of course," Vezely reminded herself, hastily ducking her head down in apology. It had been sometime since she confronted her cultural differences and it made her stomach churn slightly. She added in explanation, "It is Rhun's way."
They departed on friendly terms as they did a decade past. Before leaving, Vezely slowly handed Aragorn a folded letter. A red wax seal stamped with the character of her name held it shut. "I have a small request," she said quietly, "Please bring this to him;" she did not need to specify who she desired it delivered to.
"Legolas! Legolas!" the dark haired child cried out excitedly, running barefoot along a small swept path to a modest dwelling that sat among the green trees of Ithilien.
The tall Elf met her along the way, swooping her up into his arms, being greeted with a big hug after, "What joy it is to see my little spark. To what do I owe this unexpected but wondrous visit?" He spoke to the child endearingly in Elvish, calling her his pet name "little spark," for she was always a ball of energy. The child turned her eyes to where she ran from, alerting him to Aragorn and Arwen, who held the child's discarded shoes, strolling up the path towards them.
"You return from Rhovanion?" Legolas asked Aragorn timidly, shifting the smiling child, who was now grasping a lock of his blond hair, onto his side.
Arwen calmly took her daughter, "Come love, we will visit Lord Thalion. Father and Legolas need to talk..."
When Aragorn was bid to ride with a contingent of his guard to Rhovanion, Legolas desired to accompany him. Hearing there were insurgences made upon Rovanion's inhabitants by Easterlings made him both fearful and hopeful of hearing about Vezely. No specific news had come from the East about her, except for brief mentions by Variag ambassadors who said she was a general of the defense forces of the Reunited Easterling Coalition. But Legolas remained in Ithilien; it made little sense for him to leave his duties and dust off his bow when he had placed the life of a warrior behind him.
Legolas's piercing gaze did not falter from Aragorn's as he sought confirmation of his thoughts to this visit, "You bring news to share?"
"More than that, my friend," he then pulled the folded letter from his shirt pocket, handing it to him; the wax seal facing upward.
Legolas apprehensively stared at the parchment before reaching for it; he immediately noted the red wax was imprinted with a Rhunic character, though he knew not that it represented her name.
Aragorn spoke carefully, "We did meet and the situation in Rhovanion will be resolved." Then seeing that his friend's eyes did not remove themselves from the letter he held, he cupped his shoulder encouragingly, "She is well, my friend. I will let you read her words first, and then tell you all you desire to know."
Legolas removed himself to the privacy of his home, and when closing the door behind him he held the letter close to his chest, halting and taking a deep breath before moving to the table to sit down. His fingers trembled slightly as he broke the wax seal and he closed his eyes as he unfolded it, opening them to the poorly scribed Elvish within.
My love,
Often I wished I could send you word and I wondered if presented the opportunity, if I should only share with you my triumphs. I could tell you that I encouraged the forging of a peace treaty amongst the Easterling provinces which aided in the recovery of Rhun's trade and agriculture. And I helped build the defense forces Rhun lacked and lent sword to ending the region's Orc population. And thus I would leave out my many failures, poor judgments, and the fears I yet hold, not desiring to also send worry with my words. Though I realized you would perceive I made omissions, as you often did when I left things unsaid. Nor could I expect a trusted friend now returned from Rhovanion with knowledge of my troubles, to hold them from you. It appears, despite the efforts I just listed, the inevitable was only postponed and Rhun will be heading into the civil war I expected.
I am mentally prepared for war and considering that much of this brewing conflict has been fought bureaucratically, finding myself back on the battlefield is welcomed. This is definitely the Balchoth in me saying this, for despite Orc dealings, my sword has felt more useful as decoration for the position I hold as general. It is strange. I have quickly fallen into old habits of leadership; old routines which I undertook as a general centuries past. These are as simple as the way I take my tea with my morning meal, or how I prepare my paperwork after inspections. I also find the responsibilities of leadership to feel the same and the care I have of those under my control is just as strong. None of this is cause for concern, of course, just a curious occurrence of the merging of this old part of me with who I am at the moment.
Though I admit my main fear is that in war the imperfections of my past will resurface. Perhaps this fear is unfounded. I often hear your voice telling me so, for my cause is just now and my enemy true. The other night when I was gazing up at the stars, which I often do on clear nights, I sought guidance from their light. But no guidance came. My search for the Blue Istari failed and the land remains quiet on their assumed end. I had hoped when first setting out that I would find them and thus know if I was heading in the right direction. Trusting in myself is all I can do.
Despite the circumstances under which I met Aragorn and Eomer, the opportunity to hear news of those I care for served for cherished reminder of the happiness I had discovered out West. Hearing of Ithilien's returned beauty rekindled the warmth I felt there when last we sat under its leaves. I am stationed in eastern stretches of Logathavuld, a region of rolling hills and grasslands, but one unfortunately sparse of woodlands. Knowing you are surrounded by such beauty and with true friends at your side, makes me grateful and perhaps a little envious. I long to experience this life, and think about it often, even if none of my associates would suspect this is true of me. I remember you once told me that time was irrelevant for an Elf, for we stand at the vastness of all that was before and all that will be after until the end of this world. Then why is it that I still count the days since I departed? Perhaps I shouldn't say that I miss you so, but I do. And the subtleties of what I miss surprise me; the feel of my hand in yours, the sound of your Elvish voice when teasing me, the curve of your lips when they smile, and your smell, and yes, you have one despite your cleanliness. Yet most of all I miss the simple comfort of your presence. You made me feel at peace with who I am. Whenever I am uncertain, I mentally place myself back in your embrace and I find my way forward again.
I hope our next exchange is not through friends or via written word, but in person when I return.
Yours always,
Vezely
P.S. My Elvish script has inevitably not improved. You may properly scold me later.
Legolas placed the letter down and clasped his hands below his chin to rest his head in contemplation. I miss you too, Vezely, he murmured while closing his teary eyes, I miss you too...