Gloredhel, in Brethil, to Galdor of Dor-lomin. F.A. 458 by Himring  

Gloredhel, in Brethil, to Galdor of Dor-lomin. F.A. 458

My dear brother,

You will already have heard of the disastrous loss that overtook us in the mid of victory, unless the messengers went astray—although in these dark times the arrival of messages must always be uncertain! Although our allies from Doriath helped us successfully drive back the orcs from Brethil and further South, your sons that had been entrusted into our care were lost in the confusion of the battle and could not be found. We are all devastated, especially that we could not restrain Huor from following Hurin into such danger, despite his young age. They are both headstrong and would not take no for an answer, but of course we knew this! We thought we had taken measures!

But maybe you can imagine the chaos of preparation and evacuation and anxiety, for we were, of course, by no means certain that the battle at the Crossings would be won. In the midst of all that, Huor slipped away despite us and, with his brother, joined the scouts, who had the misfortune to be scattered by an ambush near Brithiach. Now my father-in-law and my husband do not know how to face you and Hareth. This has come far too soon after our father and our brother died up north, when we were all still reeling from that sudden blow!

But dear brother, do not entirely give up hope, as I will not. Consider this: although Mablung and Beleg, the most experienced, the most wise and skilled Marchwardens of Doriath, searched all the area south of Brithiach and all the way into Dimbar, they found no trace of my nephews having been killed or captured by orcs. It is as if they had vanished into the air. It is a great mystery to me and I do not understand how this could be possible, but it gives me hope that, after all, neither of these things happened and, somehow, they live and are unhurt and safe. But believe me, we share your grief and fear.

I still hope that you and Hareth will keep us in remembrance and love, as we will you, despite our failures.

Your loving sister,

Gloredhel

Chapter End Notes

Previous ficlet featuring Galdor and Hareth:

Their kinsfolk rejoiced

Previous ficlet featuring Gloredhel and Hareth:

Sisters in law, sisters in expatriation