Dancing In The Dark by Grundy

The Long Peace (An Interlude in Letters)

Dear Tyelko,

Salutations Curvo, (I wouldn’t want to damage your dignity any further...)

I hope you reached Aglon without incident. We got back all right, not that it should come as a surprise given the escort. When it comes to the children’s safety, Ingo’s a good deal more responsible than you give him credit for – even Father agreed he had done an adequate job. High praise from him!  It’s such a shame you didn’t bring Tyelpë. He could have come up to Mithrim with us as well – he’d have had a grand time, even if he is a bit older.

Gildor and Finduilas are a hit with everyone, from Father on down. He’s been a bit sentimental about what Aunt Irimë would have made of them, but on the whole I think it’s done him a world of good to have young ones about. Not just him if I’m honest – it’s given us all a bit of a kick to have them here. They’ve made some friends their own age among the Mithrim, and a few of them are talking of going down to Nargothrond with them when they’re sent back. Or when Finduilas is sent back, at any rate.

Ingo writes that he may collect Gildor himself, and take him up to Tol Sirion for a time. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to give the boy a spell of running something a bit more manageable than a kingdom to start with. Once he’s trained up, Ingo can be up north more often and leave Nargothrond to him and the girl. Between the two of them, I think they should manage handily, don’t you?

I imagine they’ll both be here several seasons first. Father’s over the moon to have them. As they’re not nearly as much trouble as some at that age – Artë and Irissë, for example – no one’s in any particular hurry to see the back of them. Though I suppose I shouldn’t say such things. There are times I’d put up with any number of her childhood ‘adventures’ to have my sister back. (Did anyone seriously think she’d last this long cooped up with Turvo? I thought for sure she’d turn up not long after Rillë came of age. But that’s some years ago now and not a peep…)

The kids say they’ll write next time – I’m being told I’m beastly (Gildor) and mean (Findë) for not giving them adequate warning there was a message packet about to go. I’m under orders from the latter to request Huan be petted, given a nice juicy bone, and told what a good boy he is. Oh, and to send greetings to you also from them both.

Your cousin (Tyelko),

His Bloody Highness the Crown Prince (Curvo),

Finno (Can I still sign myself Finno if I’m using the style His Bloody Highness the Crown Prince? Mother’s etiquette lessons never covered that eventuality.)

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Dear Uncles,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing from practically next door! Well, that might be a slight exaggeration… I suppose it would be accurate from Uncle Ango or Uncle Aiko, but Tol Sirion is a bit further afield. Still closer than Nargothrond or Mithrim, though!

Father feels now I’m grown it’s time I got some firsthand experience in the less fun parts of being a prince of the Noldor, so it’s long cold overnight watches in northern winter, patrolling the river to be sure there’s no orcs laying ambushes for hapless travelers, and more complicated logistics than at home. Uncle Ango is furious about it – I think he’s worried Findë will get ideas. But Father thinks this will be good for me, and happily it’s him who has the say. I’d hate for anyone to think I was a slouch, or worse, that I was afraid to take my turn up here.

I know you’ve both been here to visit, so I won’t bore you with descriptions of the place, or waste time assuring you that long watches and tramping around in the cold aside, I’m as comfortable and well set up here as I am at home, and far less likely to lack for something constructive to do. (I’m kept quite busy, actually!)

With both Father and I in Tol Sirion, Findë’s getting a touch of experience herself, running Nargothrond. She seems to be getting on well enough, though she’d probably be happier without Uncle Ango breathing down her neck and fuming about Father’s lack of sense and Uncle Resto and Aunt Merilin ‘gadding about’…

How are Huan and Tyelperinquar? (Tell the latter he might write on occasion. You can tell Huan as well, if you think he would!) Let Huan know I wouldn’t mind seeing him, and I’ve already warned the kitchens I know a very good boy who has to have a treat whenever he stops in. Is it quiet enough on your side of the mountains for one or both of you to make the trip? Uncle Aiko’s joining us for Midwinter.

Love,

Gildor

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Curvo,

Your last letter came too late, Gildor’s gone back south again. I’ve sent it and the one from Tyelpë on with the packet I just dispatched, but I’m not sure when it will catch up with the boy. Findë’s mother Merilin is to take both of them to the Falas for a season, to make Cirdan’s acquaintance and learn the route. (Just in case, you understand – we all hope they won’t need to travel it for anything more than leisure anytime soon.)

Ango’s as hard-headed as ever, but if you’re looking to send Tyelperinquar visiting, I’ll be here for the next few years and wouldn’t say no to company. He might find some of the architecture interesting, even if I don’t explain it as well as Ingo would. And you have my word I’ll keep him out of any real trouble! Give my best to Tyelko.

Your cousin,

Aiko

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Dear Uncles,

How is everyone up north? You’ll never guess who’s in charge here now – me! And on my own, too. Uncle Resto and Aunt Merilin are visiting Menegroth, and Findë went with them. (Don’t tell anyone, but I hope she comes back before they do. Just because I can manage the place on my own doesn’t mean it’s fun having to actually do it.)

I know it won’t arrive in time for his begetting day, but I’ve sent Tyelperinquar a present. I made it myself. Hopefully he won’t laugh at the craftsmanship – if he does, remind him he’s got a head start on me, I’m only a beginner. But I think he’ll like the joke. (It took me three tries to get the solution right for the color come out correctly. And yes, Uncle Curvo, I took detailed notes.)

Sorry it’s a short letter – I didn’t realize there was a messenger going until just now. You’d think they’d tell the regent these things, but no… Oops, really have to run now to get it to them before they leave!

Love,

Gildor

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Dear Curvo,

Hope all’s well at Aglon. Giving you fair warning I mean to stop in to visit on my way by, I’m heading back to Tol Sirion. I’ve visited all the rest of your brothers this trip, it would be terrible to leave you out.

The hunting with Kano and Nelyo didn’t go quite as hoped, but I did find something incredible here in the east. There are other people here! They’re a different sort of people, they call themselves Men. They look much like us, but their speech is different, they tell stories I’ve never heard before, and their fathers didn’t wake at Cuivienen, but somewhere they call the Valley of Sleep.

(I can see you gearing up to argue now, but it sounds nothing at all like Cuivienen. Not that we can be sure – the main difference between them and us seems to be that they are rather short-lived. The ones who woke first are all dead, and naturally so, nothing to do with the Enemy. But they must have woken with the Sun, for they have no stories that reach back further.)

I can’t wait to tell you all about them, I know you’ll be as fascinated by them as I am.  Moryo isn’t nearly as interested, or possibly that’s just because he has yet to forgive me for going straight to him after I found them. But I think it’s really that since they don’t mean to stay where they are, he reckons they’re someone else’s problem. I’ve consoled myself over his lack of interest with some of his wine, and as I think it possible you might need consolation also, I’m bringing a few bottles with me for you.

The bird will reach you before I do, but provided the river isn’t still running as high as it was on the way out here, I should join you within the week.

My best to Tyelko and Tyelpë, and I’ll see you all soon.

Yours,

Ingoldo

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Curvo –

That golden-haired pain in the ass you’re so inexplicably fond of is heading your way. Lock the door to your rooms if you don’t want to be woken in the middle of the night to hear all about his latest discovery. You can tell him I’m still annoyed about that, but more annoyed about him nicking a full crate of my best wine. (He’d better be planning on sharing with you.) I hope he’s a better guest in Aglon than he was in Helevorn.

Moryo

PS – When can I expect that set of maps you wrote about? I will send a messenger for them if you let me know when they’ll be complete. Though it might be more practical if you send me a mapmaker to train some of my people so we can start producing our own. If you want, we can thrash out the details at the gathering in Himring?

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Dear Uncle Curvo and Uncle Tyelko,

Greetings from Dorthonion! (And also from Uncle Aiko, but probably not Uncle Ango, who keeps muttering about this letter suffering an unfortunate accident. I’m not sure how he thinks that’s going to happen without the messenger suffering along with it - I’ll be keeping an eye on it and only handing it over just before he goes.)

Atto and my uncles have finally admitted things are peaceable enough that I can venture beyond Tol Sirion without immediately being set upon by orcs. I am however strictly enjoined to stay within Dorthonion, so no hope of sneaking off to see Aglon or Himring, tempting though it may be. I’ll have to content myself with letters and sketches for another long-year or two. Maybe by then I’ll be grown enough to be allowed to visit other uncles…

Aside from that, I have little to complain of. It’s lovely country here, and I’ve gotten to meet Men, which was interesting after hearing my father talk about them so much. It’s odd to think that most of the ones he met are considered old or even dead by now. It seems a very strange thing that their lives are so short. Do not worry, I have not said so to them. Or to many others - Uncle Aiko seems very troubled by both their lives being so short and me saying so. I’m not sure why it bothers him.

Speaking of Uncle Aiko, he’s a good deal less merry than I remember him this visit. I’m sure that can’t be just over the short lives of Men, though – is there something going on the grown-ups think I’m too young to know about? Asking you as Uncle Tyelko is a bit more forthright than the rest and Ammë says Uncle Curvo can generally be relied on to tell the truth…

Oops, must cut this short or will miss the messenger! Best greetings to Tyelperinquar and Huan!

Love,

Gildor

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Dear Uncles,

Tell Tyelperinquar his letter arrived, but I wasn’t able to make head nor tail of it – did he spill something on it before sending? If not, it must have met with misfortune on the road. It’s all splotched and the ink has run in many places. I was relieved to be able to read enough of it to make out the signature and take it as proof of life. I do look forward to meeting him whenever you can spare him for several months – though I suppose that won’t be for another few years.

Atto has decided I’m both old enough and responsible enough to be left in charge at Tol Sirion on my own for a season or two. I can hear Uncle Curvo grousing from here - Uncle Tyelko please remind him I have been grown for some years now and assure him I’m not half as flighty as he thinks.

I’d offer character references from Uncle Finno as proof, but I doubt it would do any good. Uncle Aiko just shook his head when I asked. Uncle Ango has declined to ‘indulge me in my nonsense’, and would probably agree with Uncle Curvo just as long as he didn’t know he would be agreeing with Uncle Curvo. He couldn’t overrule Atto, but Findë isn’t permitted anywhere in the north but Mithrim. (Great-Uncle Nolo isn’t entirely pleased about me being here, but he agreed with Uncle Ango about Findë and kept her with him. I really think the Noldor ought to reconsider this odd notion that it’s somehow less dangerous for neri to be here than for nissi. Or is it just that you all like Findë better and no one has told me??)

Uncle Moryo is to visit soon, he’s just settled a group of Men formerly from his lands near Taeglin. Findë, by way of consolation for not being allowed to visit me or her grandfather, has gone to Brethil to see them. I’m trusting she’ll tell me more about them than he does. I’m pretty sure he still hasn’t forgiven my father for the terrible crime of waking him up in the middle of the night to talk about Men. I can’t tell if he’s worried I might get equally enthusiastic on the subject myself, or if he just thinks I’m too young to be told details, but he’s been very closemouthed about the whole thing in his letters.

Give Huan a good rubdown for me (and Findë too) and tell him we miss him.

Gildor

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Curvo,

Tyelperinquar appears to have enjoyed his time here. I can’t vouch for how much his craft improved, but he did learn a thing or two about logistics and defense. I also chased him outside to enjoy the fine summer weather as often as possible. I’d have thought Tyelko would have him out of doors more often at Aglon, but I can’t imagine how Tyelko could let him get away with knowing so little in that department. Please tell me it’s not because you’re still on your overprotective papa kick. He’s not a child anymore, and hasn’t been for some years now. He couldn’t even make a respectable campfire! (Which I have to say  puzzles me completely – I was under the impression managing heat was quite important in his preferred craft?)

No, I did not stop by Tol Sirion as originally planned. Word reached me that Ango just happened to decide he should supervise young Gildor. I’m sure word of my impending visit had nothing at all to do with his decision. (Remind me how it is that I’m deemed the difficult one in all this?) As I’ve not yet been told by our eldest brother that I may be anywhere near him, I thought it better not to risk it. I’d keep my temper, but I don’t trust him to do the same without anyone else around.

I’ll write Gildor again if he’s that disappointed. But not to worry, I indulged him more than enough about Men in my last letter. He should go to Brethil himself for a few weeks if he’s still curious – if Ango tries to deny him, a word in Ingo or Uncle’s ear ought to do the trick. Varda knows the Haladin would be thrilled to meet Ingo’s son, all the more so as I don’t believe he ever mentioned to them or any of the Men they knew that he had one...

On a more serious note, a visit to them from Ingo’s son and regent would be sensible diplomacy. The Haladin are good allies, and it would do no harm to remind them not all elves in western Beleriand are like Thingol, who rubbed them the wrong way with his demand they protect the forest against orcs. (Rather like if I were to order you to the forge – entirely unnecessary and accomplishes nothing but getting your back up.) Perhaps you can pass that notion on to whoever needs to approve?

You might also send Tyelpë to Tol Sirion for a season or two – or to Nargothrond, if Gildor is back there by the time you make up your mind. Your boy could do with spending time with kin in his own generation. The occasional visit here to socialize with the few young folk among my people is not at all the same. From a comment or two he dropped while he was here, I think he’s envious of Gildor having Finduilas so close. He also got rather morose wondering how Turukano’s Itarillë does. I did my best to jolly him out of it, but it’s cousins he wants, not uncles.

Moryo

PS – I’m fine, thanks for asking.

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Dear Uncles,

Hope you are well. I’ve just gotten home, by way of Brethil. It’s sobering how short the lives of Men are. The chief of the Haladin has just died. I can’t quite get my head around it, he was barely more than a boy. It seems hardly right that he should be considered old, much less have died. I know my father finds them fascinating, but I don’t know that I have the heart to make friends with Men as he does, knowing they will be gone so quickly.

Did you mean it when you said in your last letter that you might send Tyelperinquar to visit us? That would be grand – I speak for Findë as well! Ammë says if he visits, she might also, as it would be such a rare concession from you to let him go so far. (She is here just now, but not planning on staying much longer – though she says she can come back quickly if there are young kin she has not seen in several long years to visit.) On a slightly more serious note, she offers to be adult supervision for the three of us, should you think it necessary. She believes you might, as my father speaks of going back north soon to relieve Uncle Resto at Tol Sirion. He and Aunt Merelin haven’t been down here in nearly ten sun-years, and Findë misses them. Speaking of Findë, she wants to add a bit of her own -

                             I am willing to beg, plead, and cajole if it will get you to agree to sending cousin Tyelperinquar! I would come to Aglon myself to do the pleading, but I doubt Uncle and Grandfather would allow it even if Atto would. Too close to the dangerous parts of the north, they’d say. But surely you can’t object to letting Tyelperinquar come? He’s older than either of us, and we’re allowed to travel! Huan could come with him to guard him on the road! Please?

-F

I’m afraid you’ll just have to imagine the guilt-inducing pleading face she made while writing that for yourself, I haven’t been able to do it full justice in a sketch. 

Now that we’ve been cheeky enough for one letter, keep warm this winter and we’ll hope spring brings the answer we want. Tell Huan he’s the best boy!

Love,

Gildor

and Finduilas also