Tennis With An Elf and A Dwarf by Grundy, Raiyana

New friend

Master Carweg,

I am not certain how to explain my name in letters except as it is spelled in our runes; my grasp of your letters is perhaps not so advanced as I would have believed? It is H A R TH GR EI P, I think. Perhaps you might call me Harga, instead? We are not, of course, kin, but I doubt any will raise the issue of formality in these letters; I know they are not read by any courier I would entrust with my words. I do hope they reach you in a timely manner – here, it is now late in the chilling season; we are coming close to the turning of the year as we reckon it, and my family are busy working on the projects they will present for the Midwinter Craft Fair. I think this is a strictly Dwarven tradition, and I will not now name it to you in our tongue, but it is a chance for all to show off their skill and prowess in their chosen craft. The King chooses his favoured Thirteen – after the Firsts – and my sibling hopes to be among the contenders for the honour. Do Elves have such traditions? 

Enclosed with this letter, you will find the plans my father perfected for his creation in his last years; I trust your own craftsmen may make sense of them if you have a use for such a chair – father told stories of your people seeming indestructible by such injuries as he suffered, but I am glad to hear you take steps to keep such accidents from happening again. Be not mindful of any proprietary restraints on the plans; I have discussed the matter with my sibling and we agree that spreading Hafli’s genius among other folk is in keeping with his legacy. Do let us know if anything remains unclear – I am not aware of the methods your elven masons, few as they are, use to annotate measurements, and of course the ones given are for a dwarf-sized chair regardless, so some calculations might be required for any adaptations. 

I am sending this letter with the traders heading to Thargelion, and entrusting that they might there find worthy hands to carry it to the Deep Halls – trade into Doriath has dried up of late, but the Noldor are fond of the goods and metals we provide; they are almost Dwarven in their outlook, I hear. Gossip says some have even been accepted to apprentice with our Masters, though I do not know to credit such speculations – I have yet to see an Elf in Belegost, at least.

My best to you, 

Harðgreip Harga, daughter of Hafli, Senior Journeyman Claysmith of Belegost