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Dear Quendi, Beloved Speaker,

I share concerning news. The Thousand Clans have gathered under IAKMES. IAKMES has vowed to bring about an Age of Bronze. He vows to slaughter all the people whom he sees as interlopers in the Great Sea of Ash. He says only through their blood can the land breathe again.

I do not know what IAKMES intentions towards the Spring and our people are. In days past the people of the Well have vowed to me that they would protect the Spring and the Newborn if we ask for it. But their memories are fickle. Their lives short. Their speakers change with the month. Young speakers do not always honor the words and ways of old speakers.

The people of the Well have asked me if the Spring might help in their war. I have told them that nothing sacred grows from ash and blood. I have told them that the gifts of the Spring are for the Newborn and the Newborn alone and these gifts are not for the making of war. I have told them that the Children of the Spring will not fight in this war.

They understand.

It has been suggested that the Kinbands who feel the call to wander the Great Sea may see and hear things that are worth sharing. Tales of things-that-are which may save lives from the axe and fire. They wonder if the Kinbands of Ynys Eilir might share these tales with the people of the Well.

I ask, on their behalf, for your wisdom and the wisdom of the Spring in this matter. Will you hear their request and consider it? If it is your desire to hear them then I can bring Bashir to the Spring so that you may hear their words directly.


With love,
Narwen Alendiel

Dear Millefiori Safran,

I must regretfully inform you that your teacher is mistaken.

I am not a homunculus. I am not a larva.

I am an Eliri. An elf born of Spring's Gift.

I am willing to listen to your request for an examination. I must ask that you be considerate and mindful of my vows.


Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Vico Rasco
Hziran 25, 7788

O, Where is the lonely hill?
O, Where is the warrior?

Where is the splintered shield?
Where is the saber?

Where has the rider gone?
Where are his kindred?

Alas for their duty!
Alas for their courage!

Never shall they drink again!
Never shall they revel!

Heavy is the sword in hand.
Heavier is the shield.

Heavy is the hurt in heart.
Heavier is the sorrow.

Here is the splintered shield.
Here is the saber.

Here is the lonely hill.
Here is the warrior.

[Hziran 22 7788]

Hziran 22 7788

The First Blooming went well! Friends and guests came, stories were told, food was shared. I did not know if the Spring would allow the guests to eat or drink of its bounty but it did!

I'm not sure what is going on with Otieyr. Why was he wearing what looked to be iron? Why did Quendi bar him passage? Why won't they tell me what is going on?

Then there was the news and all that came with it. My friends weren't going to tell me - which hurts almost as much as the news itself did. The Sisters would tell me to examine why this hurts so much. Pick it apart. Unravel it like a ball of twine to find the Mystery inside.

I know what is inside the knot.

I know why I stumble.

I know what they want from me.

I don't know if I can give that.

So many things are calling to me. My people need a guardian. The Grandmaster misses my singing. So many branches are open to me. Which one is the right one?

Spring's First Blooming

A long time ago our Mother and our Father grieved.
They grieved and their hearts became filled with sadness.
For in their hearts they desired children.
But alas, they were as barren as the land!
So bereaved were they that they set out on a great journey.
They set out to hear the wisdom of their Master.
For their Master was wise and powerful and the whole realm was his to command.
And so they journeyed, their hearts filled with sadness and despair, but also with the seed of hope.

And so, and so, and so.

And so they journeyed long and far. They eventually reached their Master.
And so they bowed before Him. They told Him of their woes and desires.
And so He looked upon his servants. He saw the Father's sorrow and the Mother's tears.
And so He said to them, "You shall have your children."

And so, and so, and so.

And so He reached a hand out into the world.
And so He plunged a hand into the sands.
And so He dug.
And so He dug.

And so, and so, and so.

And so He scooped up the sand and laid it out in a ring.
And so He scooped until he reached the clay beneath the sand.
And so He scooped up the clay and laid it out upon the sand.
And so He formed the clay into the shapes of bodies.
And so He scooped down into the clay until he found the Spring.

And so, and so, and so.

And so He dug out the mouth of the Spring.
And so the Spring Waters bubbled forth.
And so the Water filled the hole that he had dug.
And so the desert around it bloomed into life.

And so, and so, and so.

Bushes and cactuses and trees and vines sprouted forth and grew.
And as the water reached the bodies of clay,
They too bloomed to life.

To our Mother and Father he said - "Here are your children."
He blew, and into the wind he breathed the breath of wisdom.
There we were, opening our eyes, taking our first breaths, thinking our first thoughts!
Upon the wind we heard a song.
In this song we heard our first words.
The words were "Ynys Eilir."
The Spring was singing to us.
This song was full of love.
The love of our Mother.
The love of our Father.
The love of the Land itself for us.
We looked around ourselves in wonder.
This was the day the first flower of Spring bloomed.

[I]

Speaker Quendi,

I have a better understanding of the tale now. People have told me different things. False songs were sung by many without malice. I am grateful that they have acted on the Spring's behalf. I wish that they had spoken with me - that I could have done something. I have learned that they suspected that I was the one who told the raiders. They understand so little of me. I would never let harm come to the Spring or the Newborn.

You ask if my time among outsiders has made me distrustful? It has made me cautious. Wary. You are wise where I am passionate. So I heed your words when the fires in my heart are cool. It is true that I see the world through my eyes. But I am not the sole fly in the web. They have taken advantage of Notos as well.

There are good and kind people among the people of the Well. Our people are already roving the Great Sea. I met one of them. She was desperate. In her desperation she considered robbing me. I would help her and give her a place to stay. She would not need to worry about such things or burdened by thoughts of greed and loneliness.  I know there are other kinbands roaming out there. I will give them a place where they can come and rest when they are far away from the Spring. The children in the Spring are safe while they are in the Spring. Those out in the Great Sea have little protection.

That is what I envision, Quendi. A place of refuge for our roving kinbands. A place where we can listen to the song being sung by the Wellfolk. They are fickle but they can learn that it is good to be friends with us. We can help one another.


Narwen Alendiel

Dear Quendi and Brennos,

It has reached my ears that the Astronomers of Q'Tolip have come to you. That they have told you that I am untrustworthy. That you have trusted them with sensitive information which they have then hidden from me. Information about the safety and wellbeing of our people.

These Astronomers have tormented me during my stay in Ephia's Well. They have deceived and tricked Notos into risking his life and soul so that one of them could win a magical staff. They have schemed to abduct me to perform experiments upon me. They have spread lies about me. They have threatened to execute me and have twisted the laws of the place to allow them to do this. They have told me that they will cut open my head and take my brain out. They have told people that I am evil, that I am a liar, that I wish the destruction of the world and the death of all things, that I am some blood red harpy. They have said all of these things and more.

They are not trustworthy people. So I must ask why you would trust them over me? I must ask why you would not reach out to me with this problem?

The people of Ephia's Well can be good friends. They can also be dangerous ones. I have found that being their friend is like being the frog with the scorpion on his back.

A while ago I delivered 10,000 dinar to the Spring. This dinar was so we could build an embassy if we deemed it wise to do so.

I think it is time we discuss this.

We must protect the Children of the Spring from danger and from manipulation.


With love,
Narwen Alendiel

[Hziran 9 7788]

Hziran 9 7788

It hurt me to hear her voice again.
And all the warmth drained from my face.

It pained me to see her face again.
And all the tears welled up in my eyes.

It broke my heart to chase her down.
But my heart was already broken.
What's one more crack?

Is it wrong that I can smile without it feeling fake?

[Hziran 6 7788]

Hziran 6 7788

He came all the way from the Spring to defend me. Maybe I should have let him hit Naelin a few times. Maybe she's the sort that really only learns when a lesson is beat into them? After all she said what she said knowing that it was Ashley who told Mae, not me. I forgive her, though. The Sisters are right. It is good and wise to forgive.

Still...

Seeing him standing there so bold and confident makes me realize how soft and meek I have become in this place.

How weak and indecisive I have become.

How can I protect and inspire my people when I am this weak? When I am this uncertain about everything?

[Hziran 5 7788]

Hziran 5 7788

I messed up I messed up I messed up.

I thought it would work. Maybe it will still work. It has to work.

How can I possibly forgive myself for this?

Dear Quendi, Giver of Gifts,

I am inviting outsiders from Ephia's Well to join us in a celebration of friendship during the Festival of The First Blooming.

I do not know who will wish to join us. I will be inviting several elves of the weary old world. There are many others who will wish to come in friendship or out of curiosity.

I will turn those away whom I believe have done us wrong or who have wicked intentions. There are people who have taken advantage of or harmed or threatened harm against myself, Notos and the Spring itself. Sadly there are such people in the Well.

I will ensure that our guests bring no iron or steel with them.

I also want to bring Ishla back to the Spring. She is sick. She has fallen into a sleep that she does not wake from - but this is different from the sleep that afflicts some of our people. I hope that bringing her home might help her. I do not know if it is safe to move her. If it is safe then I will bring our sister home.

Can you please let the Newborn know that there will be guests?

Your sister,
Narwen

[Hziran 3, 7788]

Hziran 3, 7788

Vico threw Lucia's corpse onto the floor. Still and lifeless. She who slew Imizael. She who laughed and mocked her over the bellows. She was dead, and Vico had killed her. He swaggered into the Pyramid like the Tavaskusu, proudly showing off his plumage.

And so the Janissaries beat him.

And so Koji killed him.

There is so little relief here. Only sadness compounded by sadness. Grief over grief.

Layers upon layers of it.

Like the ages of history.

Blood and Sorrow.

What can I do?

Visions of Paradise
Iyar 29 7788

[Iyar 28, 7788]

Iyar 28, 7788

They took my sister from me. They killed her. They cursed her. They cut her open. They took her body apart. They stole pieces from her.

They did all these things to her.

And they act so smug. Instead of showing remorse they are remorseless. Instead of showing compassion they reveal their wickedness.

Again and again.

And I am supposed to forgive them.

Forgive them as they laugh in my ear.

Forgive them as they mock your memory.

Forgive them as they lie and twist the truth.

Forgive them as they scorn my kindness and spit at me.

I don't know if I can.

I want them to pay.

[Iyar 18, 7788]

Iyar 18, 7788

They ignore my problems. Whenever it happens they just tell me to leave and go to another room. And then they do politics while I suffer and scream and claws are dragged through my mind. I keep going to them for help and they keep pushing me away. Later. Later. Later.

Then they blame me when the problem gets worse! They say I put the Priory at risk! As if I willingly did anything. I was just doing what they told me! She was right all those months ago. Nobody else cares.

It's hard to forgive people who keep lying to you.

I'll keep trying.