January 26, 1437 SR: Here I sit at my desk in my room, writing this by candlelight, wrapped in a warm robe with lambskin slippers on my feet. I have treated myself to a little fire, and it crackles merrily and throws mysterious shadows on the walls of my room. It is very, very windy tonight, and the curtains are constantly stirred by draughts, but I am warm and comfortable, and I have a pot of tea kept warm under a knitted cover and it would be hard to find a cozier room anywhere in the city or in the Kingdom.

The knitted cover for the teapot reminds me of something funny that happened months ago when I was first here. Mother taught me to knit, but it is Needlework, and I have no knack for it at all. I can darn stockings because I had to, but no one would wear any that I knitted, all lumps and knots and uneven stitches. The first time I had Tea with Mistress Mardilain I saw that she did not have a tea cozy, as we call them at home, so I thought I would make one for her as a gift. Well, I toiled away on it for days, off and on, and when I judged it was big enough I cast off all the stitches and was about to wrap it up when I saw that it was only a hat. I had left no opening for the handle or the spout. I still have it, shoved into the back of a drawer, and if I ever need any reason to be humbled, it and that stupid remade dress will do the trick!

The King is closeted right now with the Messengers from Far Harad, and no doubt in the morning we will learn what goes forth in that land. Prince Darius is with the King, he has been terribly worried, but since word arrived about his aunt being well he has been somewhat more at ease. The Archduke Marcalo was here today and he told the King that in the far south of Umbar, and in the interior mountains, the effects of the earthquake were felt. And there was a great wave, as well, on the sea coast, but more to the south. We knew there had been a wave in Ethir Anduin, coming up from the Bay of Belfalas, but it caused only local flooding, nothing serious. Some of the fisher folk knew the cause, they were not surprised to hear of the quake in Far Harad. Living all my life in the North I had never imagined an Earthquake or what they call a Tidal Wave, but when I look at the Maps I can see that these waves could wash across any low lands, anywhere.

I had a note today from Magistrate Draco. I am ashamed of how my heart thumped when the note was given to me. I knew right away who it was from and my silly hands actually shook when I was opening it.

It says: My dear Miss Elanor Gamgee, As I promised, here is word about the boy Galen. He has gone with my servant to a farm on my father's estate in Lossarnoch, and will be given a kind home with Farmer Giles and his wife. I had some speech with him yesterday before he left and I do believe he intends to make the best of his situation. One thing in his favour is that he looks one in the eye when he speaks at all, and that is a good sign to me that what he says is honest. He has been provided with some decent clothes and was given a bath and a haircut so that he is a more prepossessing boy than the one you saw. He said I was to tell "the Lady" Thank You, so I have. He believes that it is only because of you that he is not locked up, and in one way that is true. I might have been harsher with him, had you not been there. It may be that I will have word of him and if so, I will tell you. Your friend, Draco son of Gelmir.

That is all it says. I have it in my treasure box, too precious to keep unfolding and reading. When I put it in there, wrapped in silk, I thought--his hands touched this! His handwriting is clear and bold. I laugh at myself for a fool, but there is no fooling myself. What do I hope for? He is a Man, and I am a Hobbit. That is one thing. I am a child, he is a man. That is another. Amanda laughs at herself for being "in love" with Legolas, but her feelings are as real as mine, I guess. It is like hero worship all mixed up with love, as if we love something or someone we know we cannot have. I have been thinking all along that Amanda will "grow out of it", and I suppose I must hope for the same thing myself. Yet it is such a lovely feeling!