Canelle Nightfire
Earwen sighs as she paces the balcony outside her ready room then pauses, looking to the far horizon where her thoughts take her back to her beloved father in Alqualonde. It is some time since she heard the news that her father has been wrested from the darkness which had so horribly disturbed his mind and his body. She looks down at the message scroll she has been musing over for the past hour, trying to decide what news she should pass on to him. In particular, his worry about Galadriel in his message should be put to rest.
Purposefully strolling back into her ready room, Earwen seats herself at the ornate elven writing desk, takes a new parchment scroll from the drawer underneath the writing surface and finds her favourite quill, a swan feather from one of the beautiful birds from Alqualonde. Taking the stopper from the glass bottle of vellum located on the desk in front of her, she carefully dips the quill into the small glass bottle and wipes the nib on the rim before commencing her task. Her brow wrinkled in concentration and deep thought, she carefully scripts the words her father will read."Dearest Papa,
Having had time to reflect on what has happened to you, I must now admit to myself that my family is the most important part of my life. I wish that I could be with you more frequently but Finarfin and the children still need me - though these days the children need me mostly for advice with their own affairs. If the day should come when you and Alqualonde have great need for me to be there - I will be ready and my beloved Finarfin has accepted that.
I am happy to report that dearest Galadriel has been in Aman this several years and has settled well into her new abode - though I can well understand her need to spend long periods in the wooded region outside the city after living so long in exile in Lothlorien. Such a strong character with the noble and generous spirit of the Vanyar - and a reverence for the Valar, which matches your own dearest Papa - deserves to at last be with us here - and it is my fervent thanks I offer to the Valar each day for her safe passage. It is a satisfying thought that my beloved daughter has now come home with the blessings of the Valar - she too may be of aid in our hour of greatest need - if what has occurred to you is a sign of things to come!"
Earwen pauses a moment, reflecting on her daughter and her abilities and the strength she has shown in the absence of her beloved Celeborn.
"Galadriel also pines for Celeborn (Though she does not mention this, I recognise that yearning in her eyes.) but there is a rumour that he has been seen moving ever westward. This further strengthens the fears you have for the mortal world, papa."
Reading back again through her father's message, Earwen ponders a while, resting her chin on her hand as she reads through his words. The mention of her daughter's loneliness reminds her of her father and Elwing the White.
"Dear papa, please give my greetings to Elwing, and tell her my thoughts are with her. It seems you and she have much in common! It is my earnest wish to have you both reunited with those you love. Though for Elwing, methinks there will be a long quest to find out where the darkness has hidden her beloved Earendil.
I should alert you that it has come to my attention that strange things are happening in the easternmost parts of the Undying Lands and the westernmost parts of the mortal realms. I heard tell of the deaths of two Vanyar Elves, which were somehow linked to a poison you mentioned to me while under the dark spell. There have also been whispers of more and more dark elves appearing in the western realms of the mortal world. Who knows how long it will be before they seek passage to the Blessed Realm itself?
It is interesting that there are also rumours of the appearance of the Herald of Manwe in the mortal world - seeking out followers of blessed Iluvatar. Perhaps the Valar have uncovered some sort of dark plot stirring against which they need to gather trusted sources. It would not surprise me, dearest papa, if at some stage they called on the host of Aman for support in this struggle which appears to be developing as we are the trusted inhabitants of the Blessed Realm. Without Aman where would we be?
With these questions unanswered I leave you, dearest Papa.
May Iluvatar smile kindly on you, and all those in Alqualonde, each and every day. I pray that each day more and more of the souls of the Teleri return to the fold - they have overcome so many trials through the years - I am sure they will find their way home to you 'ere it takes them a while. The call of the Swanhaven runs deep in our veins and it will not let us forget where we belong.
Your loving and dutiful daughter, Earwen."
With a wistful smile, Earwen cleans the nib of her quill and places it carefully on the writing desk. She picks up the blotter and gently presses it over the words she has written, taking up the excess vellum. She then gently rolls up the scroll and pours a little heated wax across the open edge then presses her insignia into the wax before it dries.
Standing gracefully she reaches for the small silver whistle she keeps hidden in the tiny hidden drawer of the writing desk. Taking the scroll, the whistle and a piece of twine, she walks gracefully to the balcony and looks across to the ocean. She raises the whistle to her lips and blows it. The whistle cannot be heard by elven ears: it can however, be heard by any of the great seabirds of Alqualonde. Blowing the whistle three times, Earwen then settles comfortably into a maiden chair to await the arrival of the messenger swan.
After a few minutes, her patience is rewarded. She greets the young bird as it gracefully lands on the balcony in front of her and bends to tie the message into its feathers. Then smiling, she whispers, "Fair winds, dearest messenger!" and signals the great bird to return to the swannery, hoping her father and all in Alqualonde soon receive her news.