Mid-October 363 A Gift from VanQa
I had not been back from Eska’eldalie for more than a few days when I found a bouquet of flowers and a note from VanQa in my mail box. Smaed was returning from a regular stealth-scouting patrol in the north when, unobserved, he saw an elven messenger dressed in the manner of an Eska’eldalie courier leave the bouquet and continue towards Heartwood.
This gift is very special. I record here all I can of it. The bouquet was held together with a white silken ribbon, the slender stalked flowers are all of the same kind that I do not recall ever having seen in Sosaria before – they clearly come from Eska’eldalie and as far as I know they are uncommon even there. Most of them are white but some have a palest sort of green colour. The scent is pleasantly overwhelmingly sweet and instantly reminds one of how rich and joyful life can be. There is a letter attached to the bouquet with the same ribbon that holds the flowers together. I record here word-for-word that message:
Quote:
To my beloved friend, Jern Fretting. Silverleaf village, 17 October 363
Many warm greetings from Eska’eldalie where the trees slowly change their green leaves for yellow, brown and red ones.
Your visit was greatly appreciated and I think of it often. I am most grateful that in this world where everything seems to constantly change there is someone whose friendship and love have not changed, who looks at me as if I still were the same person in happier days.
While the loss of Miguen and the coming season of fall, sadden me intensely, your visit has made me realise that life is slipping by so swiftly that I have hardly noticed how much time has already gone by.
I feel the leaves of the trees around me slowly passing away. Yet Jern, since your visit I feel a spark of life that waits for spring to come so that I may blossom yet again…
Lissenen ar’ maska’lalaith tenna’ lye omentuva (sweet water and light laughter till next we meet)
VanQa Hueninn
Eska’eldalie |
I have tried to plant these flowers outside my door in a spot sheltered from the sea and facing east towards where I believe Eska'eldalie lies. I watch them anxiously to see if they will live and have asked my Silverleaf elven friends to tend them in the elven fashion. I pray they take root!