Minas Tirith's Mail ~ The Roquen Express Revived

[Eldrith]

@Arnyn
December 29th


Kaylin Maethyr
Men Thalad Cirbann
Sixth Circle
MT

Stay out of things.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen
December 28th. IV. 1.




Xyler, Apprentice Healer
c/o Houses of Healing
Sixth Circle, Minas Tirith

Hi Xy,

Would you know it ? Apparently I am a poet ! But that is not why I am writing you. Even if you have to admit, it was rather an unexpected bonus to begin with. Though, if you are by now wondering the point or are done humouring my terrible sense of humour, I would ask whether you are available and willing, to come and meet me out on the Pelennor in two day’s time ?

I have been building a kite, so if there is wind enough then I shall set it high, to help you find me. Otherwise, I will try to not be too far hid from the Great Gate. And I doubt that many others would dare venture out at such a time of year, so no crowds should trouble your search.

Please come ! And feel free to let Hadassa know she is welcome to ride out as well. But no one else ! I’ll explain then. In case that serves as any sort of incentive !

Nal.

[Eamila Bolger]

Istriel
p/a Wayfarerer Inn
Gondor

The letter was written in neat handwriting, nothing fancy, but decorated with a couple of dried flowers.

Dear Istriel,

I must have passed your letter just about five times, before finding the courage to decide that perhaps I could be a good penpal for you.
I mean: what could a boring hobbit share that would be of interest to a young lady living in a vibrant city like yourself? But then again... you write that this hobbit life is exactly what you want to learn more about. So here I am! Or... here my letter is. For my curiosity has won from my fear that I might not be what you are looking for. Yes, I am curious to know more about your life in Gondor. If I share about my life, I hope you will do the same as well. You never know, I might learn something too!

But let me introduce myself properly first. My name is Petunia Hornblower. My mum and dad love flowers, so my younger sisters are called Daffodil, Iris and Daisy. I also have to little brothers, Tom and Fulco. Their mischief alone could fill at least a year of letters to you!
I am 19 years old and the oldest of the children in our home. We live in a nice hobbit hole near Tuckborough. I help my mother a lot in the house hold and the garden, so if you want to learn anything about that, I can always help you out. I am not very good at needle work though... which really makes me sad sometimes. But dad says everyone has their own talents and most Hobbits would rather have a sock with a hole in it, than a burnt meal. Fortunately cooking seems to be something I am rather good at.

Well. It feels a bit weird to write to someone you don't know yet. I hope this letter finds you well and I hope that I could get to know you a bit better! Do you really live in an Inn, or is that just your postal address? I hope you have found an employment by now. Surely you must be a brave woman, I cannot think what it would be like to leave my parents house already. Did you live in a small village, before?
Oh, I have so many more questions, but I'll keep them for next time.

With kind greetings,

Petunia Hornblower
@Eldrith

[Eamila Bolger]

Istriel
p/a Wayfarerer Inn
Gondor

Dear Istriel,

I was so happy to receive your letter! It made quite a travel I suppose, for the envelope was stained with more than mud alone. There was one drop of blood on it... The most likely cause could be found in the fact that I saw our mailman master Grubb with a bandage on his finger. Perhaps a nasty paper cut... but it's far more fun to imagine your letter going through all kinds of adventures before finally arriving here. I guess my mother would say that I day dream too much, but well, a lass has to do something while milking cows or spinning wool.
I am most sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I honestly cannot imagine missing mine already at such young age. But it's wonderful that you find a home with your aunt and uncle. And my goodness! So many brothers and sisters, or cousins, it sounds like a proper hobbit family! I think they all have wonderful names. With two sisters married already, you might become an aunt yourself soon! How great would that be!

Living in the city of Minas Tirith really must be something different than in a small country village. I do hope Minas Tirith is more sophisticated than the one city I know of, called Bree. From the stories of it, I don't feel like visiting it ever, to be honest. But Minas Tirith sounds... royal. and clean, if cities can be clean. How wonderful it must be to climb all those levels and then see the view when you are high up! Or are those higher circles as you call them only for the royal and the rich?

I do hope by the way that you have found some kind of employment by now. What specific area are you looking at? Or would you just do anything your hand finds to do?
Here in the Shire we have just finished harvesting season. It's kitchen time now, time to preserve all those lovely fruits and vegetables. There's apple slices drying above the stove and large jars of jelly and tomato sauce being stored. And the pumpkins, oh my! They were so large this year, I think we will be eating pumpkin all winter long.

Well, mama is calling me. Time to help hanging up laundry. The sun is shining today, so perhaps we'll get it dry outside for a change.
How do you do your laundry when living in an Inn? Or is there a service for that?
And have you made friends with the girls you met on your first day?

I hope to hear from you soon.

with love,

Petunia

[Eamila Bolger]

Istriel
p/a Wayfarerer Inn
Gondor

Dear Istriel,

I realize it's been a month since my last letter, I should be ashamed.The last bits of harvest have kept me busy 'though. But we can be content. The shed is stacked with fire wood and the storage room with pumpkins, carrots, potatoes, all kinds of cabbages and fruit. We're prepared for winter! And after a week of rain, this morning we woke up to sunshine and a field white of frost.
Now comes the season of staying indoors, of mending our tools and clothes, and making new ones of course. I am a bit ashamed to confess I am no good at any crafts when it comes to sewing or mending. My mom never got any further than teaching me to spin wool and knit, but anything more complicated that that seems to always fail, no matter how hard I try.
Fortunately there's other things for me to do. My neighbor makes beautiful pottery and each winter I help him out by painting and glazing the mugs and bowls and plates and all other things he makes. Each summer I pick wild flowers and then I dry them, so we can use them for special patterns. I simply love to see how something simple like a ceramic pot can become a piece of art!

But that's enough about me now. Your description of the city makes me really curious. Too bad it's so far away, I'd love to visit one day!
Bree is... I don't know. There's lots of houses, lots of noise all the time. I miss flowers, and trees and such things when I am in a big town. And the big folk... when the streets are full, I keep bumping into people's behinds, instead of facing them the way I do with hobbits. I know that I am small, but the people in Bree can make me feel even smaller. Even though there's hobbits living there too. So I am glad I am not living there!

You know what: there is no shame in trying something and then realizing it is not yet your time for it. I am glad you wrote about that first time when you went to Minas Tirith. At least you tried, and you had a safe place to get back to, which is probably one of the reasons you went back in the first place. What a compliment for your uncle and aunt and their family! And because of this first time, you knew what you were in for the second time. You were better prepared. Isn't that great?

I was thrilled to hear you might become a healer! What an honorable task that is, to help out people in need by healing them. Oh, the things you will see and learn! Herbs to make medicine from, wounds to learn to dress... and most likely so much more. You will probably get to know a lot more people if you get to work as a healer. Oh! I suddenly remember that even your King was some kind of a healer, wasn't he? You must be proud to follow in his footsteps.
Huh. I've read your letter again and now I realize you spoke of 'healer or a ranger'. How come I didn't see that the first time? I guess being a healer seems to be the more 'likely' choice from my perspective. I had no idea rangers could be women too, and women could be rangers! It sounds very adventurous, that's for sure. And this Ranger you speak of, the father of your friend, he does sound kind and encouraging. But when I think of it, I'd feel rather embarrassed riding out with men and having to relief myself during the trip. Men have it a lot easier when it comes to that. Or imagine having your monthlies while on a mission... how would that work?

Well, I guess by the time my letter arrives in Minas Tirith, you will have made the choice about the kind of apprentice you are going to be. So exciting! I cannot wait to hear your answer, nor the stories of your new friends. You live a lot more to the south than we do, are you going to have winter like we have it, with snow and ice? Or is your climate milder than ours?

Well, this has become a big letter! I hope you enjoy reading it and I look forward to your answer.

With love,

Petunia

@Eldrith

[Eamila Bolger]

Istriel
p/a Wayfarerer Inn
Gondor

Dear Istriel,

I am so, so sorry that it took me so long to answer you! Ah, I have no idea what you must be thinking of me right now. I can explain, but still I feel really silly. I spent the weeks before Yule with my aunt and uncle to help them out with their little ones because they had another baby. Your letter must have arrived somewhere during that time, and my mother kept it safe for me, or so she thought. But during a quite heavy winter storm, our old apple tree fell right on our hobbit hole, shattering one of the windows. The rain and wind created havoc in our home, as you can imagine. And somewhere that night your letter must have been blown under the cabinet that stands in our hall.
When I returned from my family duties I was really disappointed that there was no letter from you yet. But Yule was on our doorstep, and there was a lot of cooking and cleaning to do. Days became weeks, and I kept looking for the mail each day.
It wasn't until last week that I confided in my mother, sighing that I felt I must have written something wrong, and how I didn't know what I could do now. And she just looked at me with her mouth open, saying that there had been a letter all that time, but that she had no idea where it was.

Well, the search we had was successful and the cleaning we did while searching was so extensive that we can skip half of the spring cleaning next month. Of course we checked the hall last of all, because my father was certain he had placed that letter in my bedroom.
But lo and behold, there it was, covered with dust under the cabinet. I almost cried, so relieved was I.

Anyway. You can imagine I devoured your news as if it was second breakfast.
I am so excited and not at all disappointed at your news about becoming a ranger! Your trial time must have ended by now? I am so curious whether you liked it and of course whether the Marshal thinks you have what is needed? Do tell me all! Will you need to learn to ride a horse, if you are in the army? Or is that mostly what warriors in Rohan do?

Ah, the pottery! Last two months I have been able to work on that more than I had hoped in the first place. Our neighbor sold some of the most beautiful pots and mugs and vases on the market and gave me my share of the profit. I was thrilled! It is after all time that I start thinking about the future. Like you, I am all set for an adventure, although perhaps not the same kind of adventure. I don't think I am the kind of girl who will wait in her parents house for a boy to find and court her. I'd like to become... independent, I guess. But I am not quite sure yet how to work those plans out.

Well, you have been waiting long enough for this letter, so I won't make it longer than it is right now.
I hope you still want to write back to me, after the long wait I gave you. Please forgive me!

With warm greetings,

your far away friend Petunia

@Eldrith

[Rillewen]

@Lantaelen
(Around the first of May, following this)


To Azraindil Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
Deliver to the house of Lady Ilisys Azrubel
5th circle, Minas Tirith


Dear Gaer,

Hello!
I hope that you had a pleasant journey, and that you have arrived safely. I suppose this letter will arrive sometime after you do, because it took me a few days before I was able to write you.

I miss you already, but I hope you are already having a wonderful time in the White City. Have you been to see any of our masquerade friends, yet? Has Wisteria talked you into attending any ballet performances? Or did you have any archery practice with Eryn? Have you met anyone new, yet? How many healer apprentices are there, where you're working? How are our friends, Brooke and Aislin and Chewy? Are they still staying with Lady Isys, or have they left already? If they are there, tell them I said hello and give Chewy extra pets for me.

I also can't help but wonder how many chocolates you ate before you reached the city, haha. They were so good! Thank you for letting me have one. Are all the chocolates different inside? I believe the one I had, had some sort of yummy maple filling inside. That was so good! No wonder my mother loves those so much. She never lets me have any, she always says they're too rich for little girls. I guess she is right, because I felt a little sick later on. I don't know if it was really from the chocolate, but Mother would say it was, I'm sure. Still, thank you for letting me have one. That was very generous of you.

Malen misses you, and so does my kitten and all my other animal friends. They remain safe, so far. I'm doing my best to keep them all safe from the meany. Which brings me to that topic. Have you had any success yet in your missions? I'm eager to hear about anything you may have learned, even if it wasn't as successful as we hoped. I really wish I could be there with you, but alas, these things are beyond our control. Please, do stay safe no matter what.

I hope to hear from you soon. Reading a letter from you is always far more exciting than writing essays or reading textbooks or something. Especially now that I no longer receive any letters from my other pen pal. Well, I am running out of space on my paper now, so I suppose I ought to end this letter. Farewell for now!

Your friend,
Dulinneth Talven

[Esme]

Ordwain Penderguest
Minas Tirith
2nd Circle


Dear Master Ordwain,
I thank you very much for the keys to my new home. It’s true, the old house is cold and damp but nothing a good hot fire cannot chase away.
I bought a table, two chairs, a bed and a drawer, which will house the few things I bought with me from the Forest. Nothing much, but that will do for now.
It is rather sad though, that I would not have a garden, but some pots for herbs and flowers will brighten my days, since I cannot be without my green friends.
The house will be named Sparrows Nest, as sparrows greeted me with their loud and welcoming chirping, when I first turned the key in that old lock of the oaken door.
Come by for a cup of herbal tea, when time allows, promise?
Sending you greetings,
Esme Dalen
Minas Tirith
3rd Circle
"Sparrows Nest"

[Ercassie]

November.

Ilisys Azrubêl
Aedh Eilidh,
Rath îdh, 5th C.
Minas Tirith


My Miss fortune,

Find me at the place you found me last time. One last time.

Your ever, Sir Prize.

[Isolde Alarion]

Nelladel Alarion
Bakery
Minas Tirith

Dearest Sister,

I have good news for you as well as Mourgan. The last piece of the puzzle has been found and retrieved you'll be happy to know.
The previous owner was resistant to comply with our demands but with some negotiation by Kelter he changed his mind and took our offer.
Will be in your area soon and will bring it to you then. Look forward to seeing you and our nephew.

Love,
Your Brother,
Mangus