[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Morwyn's eyes widened as the stranger spoke to her. A memory of Nahai's tale nudged at the back of her mind. A fair elven love, long lost. She shoved the thought to the back of her mind. What a ridiculous thing to hope. Nahai's lover had been dead for years. Why get your hopes up on her behalf? Still she stumbled over her words.

"It was given to me, a gift." she said quietly, staring at the flute she turned in her hands. The strange elf's eyes watched her fingers as she held the instrument.

"But from who, lady?" he asked her gently, then quickly added, "If you don't mind me knowing, of course." Morwyn smiled.

"Of course I don't mind. A very dear friend of mine gave this to me." A loud slightly pompous voice cut through the air. Morwyn tried to ignore it, realizing it was just the hobbit postman delivering the inn's letters.

"Morwyn!" his voice boomed out. She looked up startled. Who had sent her a letter? And how had they found her here? The hobbit, Halfrid, was brandishing a large envelope with her name written clearly across the front.

"Eh, do excuse me..." she said apologetically to the two elves, and hurried over to the small courier. "I'm Morwyn."

"Ah, then this'll be for you then." He said, handing over the envelope with a grin and a small bow.

"Thank you, sir." Morwyn couldn't help but laugh at the hobbit's good spirits. Taking the letter she walked slowly back to the table, slitting the envelope with one finger. Two folded sheets of parchment were pulled from it, and studied intently. The first was written front and back in a large masculine hand, the second also covered on both sides with a smaller, more flowing hand. Morwyn's heart raced as she recognized the second writer. A letter from home! How had they found her here? She wondered frantically.

She sat back down in the seat she had left, eyse fixed on the letter. The newcomer seemed to sense that his questions could wait as she rapidly scanned the letters with her eyes. Annalaliath was not so patient. "Morwyn, mellon," she said, touching the woman's shoulder with a gentle hand. "Your face has gone white. Are you alright?"

Morwyn looked up at her. "Oh, I'm fine, Annalaliath, I've a letter from home." she said rather hoarsely. "Let me read you a bit..."

Morwyn-
I hope this letter finds you well, Little Sister. We are quite well here, though we miss you. Aelfrid misses you more than she will say, but she speaks of you often.

This summer has been a good one for us. Our horses are swift and strong, and we carry on where Alric left off. His name continues to be praised and our horses are ever in demand. Would we had your stallion to sire for us again, but it is good that we do not. The line of Felarof must not be put to shame.

Morwyn snorted with laughter at this last line. How like Osric to exaggerate. Her audience was looking mystified as she read aloud. Some small explanation was needed, she supposed. "They're from my husband's brother, Osric, and his wife, Aelfrid." She smiled again, and continued reading silently.

Osric's letter was filled with news about Rohan. The doings of the new king, Eomer Eadig, and his foreign bride filled much of the letter. Osric was convinced that if Morwyn came home, she and the Queen Lothiriel would be close friends, due to their common Gondorian heritage. In Osric's eyes, that would be a godsend for the farm. Friendship with the Kinsmen of Eorl ensured a good business reputation as well. Morwyn's eyes shone with laughter as she read over the rest of the letter and turned to Aelfrid's.

Her sister-in-law wrote of the baby Eadric, now three years old, of his cleverness and skill with words. She spoke of the countryside and the small everyday doings on the farm. Her letter was full of lonliness and longing for her sister-in-law's company. Morwyn brushed a heavy tear from her eyelashes as she read to the end of the letter. Aelfrid had ended with a plea for Morwyn's return. She choked as she read it over:

I think even the hills miss you, Little Sister. I know you are hurt and angry, but we love you. Morwyn, please come home.
-Aelfrid

She looked up at her companions. "I'll be back in a moment." she said, with some effort, before fleeing the room. A moment later she was upstairs weeping into her pillow, filled with sorrow and shame. She never should have left Rohan. How could she have done this to her family? They were hurt by Alric's death as much as she was. She'd been so selfish.

Morwyn cried 'til she was exhausted, then rolled over, staring at the ceiling, trying to compose herself enough to return to the common room. She'd never answered that elf's question.

[ May 30, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]