November 2, 1436 SR: Calligraphy today, and this is one thing I can do. I can't sew very well, and I can't sing, and my dancing is questionable, but I have very nice handwriting. I am learning several sets of letters, Tengwar, for one, is new to me. Master Argeleb is our instructor, he is quite young and very handsome. Amanda flirts with him and he gets very embarrassed. She flirts with him mostly to annoy Turin, I think, and it works. The gentlemen have to take this instruction, too, the King says he is tired of getting letters he can't read and that every gentleman should write a neat hand. His own handwriting is very clear and beautiful, but he was taught at Rivendell by the Elves.
The Queen is looking pregnant now, and more radiant than ever. She was really glad to see Lady Morwen back, I know. I rode beside Lady Morwen on the way home, and it was like old times on the journey. She would have liked to stay in the country over the winter as she usually does, but she feels that the Queen needs her. As she said, the Queen has no mother here, no aunts or sisters, no one close to her, to help her through this. Pregnant women have their little crotchets and moods, as I know from being with Mother, but I must say the Queen is always the same--sweet and lovely. Except for one thing. Narma, one of the day Maidens, has this dog. Now, there is a very strict rule here that there are to be no dogs in the Palace. Some of the folk in the city have dogs living with them and they treat their dogs like their children and their houses reek of dog and everything is covered with dog hair. The King thinks dogs belong outside, and the Queen agrees, she was not brought up with animals in her house, it is not an Elven custom at all. Mistress Mardilain tolerates a pair of cats, because of mice, but they are not coddled pets, and woe betide them if she catches them walking on tables or in the wet pantry. At any rate, Narma has this little tiny dog, called a Sleeve Dog, an ugly little brute, if you ask me, and she takes it everywhere, it is quite the fashion in the city. She has brought it to the palace twice before and she left it in Ioreth's room when we were having luncheon, or taking lessons. Today she brought it into the common room and she was feeding it candies, holding it on her lap and talking baby talk to it in the most disgusting way when the Queen's voice was heard. Now, this Sleeve Dog won't quite go in Narma's sleeve, of course, but she draped her shawl over it and stood up, wanting to leave. The Queen came in and the stupid dog started barking and barking and jumped out of Narma's hands and onto the floor. I have never seen Queen Arwen cross before, but she can be cross all right. Narma tried to snatch the dog up, but it wouldn't be caught, it scooted around behind the chairs and Narma was chasing it and saying, Oh, my Lady, oh, my Lady, I'm so sorry......and the dog was yapping and growling and finally it ran out of the common room with Narma in hot pursuit. I wanted to laugh, but I didn't, and neither did anyone else. The Queen pursed her lips and there were angry red marks on her cheeks, but she said no more, just sat by the window and took up her needlework. We didn't see Narma again today.
