#IWillNotBeTakingFurtherQuestionsOnThisAtThisTime

[ponies-before-prophecies]

Hello, Eredin! It's the first day of spring today! *Nare smiles, drawing out a package from behind her back.* And I have a gift. Here, Eredin, those are for you.

*Narë hands you something wrapped in a soft green cloth, closed with twine.* Come on, open it, I need to explain a few things about it.

 *When you peel away the cloth you discover a pair of leather vambraces. The left one is just beautifully designed in a deep phthalo green shade of intertwining athelas leaves, with small silver stars round the wrist end, but the right one has an in-built sheath with a small knife, and several places in which you can put pens or other writing utensils in. She gestures you to turn it around, and on the sheath part there is the symbol of Imladris.*

The knife is enchanted: it cannot cut you, and it will glow softly in the presence of orcs; here is the translucent piece of crystal in the sheath that will allow you to see it.

*She taps the side of the right vambrace, and then takes the small blade out. It’s the length of your palm if you include the grip, tiny tengwar running up the blade. The end of the grip is polished to a high shine, golden inlay in the shape that you recognize as Lindir’s crest.*

Here, I made it for your size. It can be thrown, and can cut through a thick branch with a bit of effort. The mechanism that keeps it in the sheath loops around your thumb, so if you need to take it out urgently you just fold your thumb to the inside of your palm and it will fall out into your palm, if you keep your hand down. You can use it to sharpen pencils or recut quills as needed, but it is a weapon as well, so if somebody attacks you or Lindir…well, stab them. That’s what  it’s there for. *She grins.* I hope it will come useful in less bloody situations, though.

Ná alya i vinya loa, Eredin! I have some more rounds to make. Enjoy the spring!

Oh, Narë, I apologize for the delay in replying—it has been an utterly relentless week.

With the arrival of spring comes the arrival of visitors—Lords and Ladies, dignitaries, poets seeking inspiration, scholars bringing new scrolls (and expecting immediate discussions on them), and, of course, a great deal of formalities that Lindir and I have been navigating with barely a moment to breathe. I have been so tangled in schedules, documents, and the finer points of diplomatic pleasantries that I have hardly had time to step outside and appreciate that the season has changed.

And then—then you come bearing a gift like this.

Narë, I am awestruck. I was already speechless at the sight of the vambraces themselves—the craftsmanship alone is beautiful beyond words. The intertwining athelas leaves, the silver stars, the deep phthalo green—my color, and you remembered!—but then you included a hidden sheath? With a blade? Enchanted, no less?? Lindir’s crest on the grip???

I—how—what did I do to deserve this level of thoughtfulness and care? You have given me something immensely practical and deeply personal, and I could not be more grateful.

The right vambrace alone is a marvel—pens and quills stored neatly, a blade that I can retrieve in an instant, a mechanism so clever I suspect you might have stolen the secrets of its design from Celebrimbor himself. And it glows in the presence of orcs! Not that I anticipate encountering any anytime soon, but one never knows. The tengwar engraving is stunning, the balance of the knife in my palm feels perfect, and I am still trying to recover from the knowledge that this small, elegant blade can cut through a thick branch and recut a quill. A tool and a weapon, both sharpened to suit my needs.

You have outdone yourself, truly.

I shall cherish these vambraces, and I suspect they will become an essential part of my daily wear. And—well, should anyone attempt harm against Lindir… I will remember your words. "Stab them." (Spoken with all the lightness of someone suggesting I simply write a strongly worded letter, I might add.)

Thank you, Narë, truly. This is one of the most meaningful gifts I have ever received.

May spring bring you joy and many more successful rounds of delivering gifts—though I suspect none could be as perfect as this. 💚✨