Gwaeron 12, F.A. 368
Today I am leaving Himlad, lovely as it is, and I will come to the River Celon. I have never crossed that river so far south before! I hope to see new plants there, the kind Ada talks of that grow mainly in Doriath. I know it pains him that Emig and I cannot go there with him, and he will not go without us, so I hope some pressed flowers of the land of his youth may cheer him.
A forest grows close by on the other bank of the river. I have asked, and it is called Nan Elmoth; a fair name, for even at a distance last night I saw fireflies under its eaves. It is the closest thing to Doriath where I may set foot, and even were it not, I would have more than a hard time going around it, for here the Celon has its best crossings for many miles. Were I to go south along the river, I would be too tempted by the edge of Doriath, the forest of Radhrim which is bounded by Aros and Celon (circled and carefully labeled on my little map to prevent missteps), and set foot within, which I know I must not do.
It is said that the Secondborn dwell in great numbers south of this forest of Nan Elmoth, on the plain Estolad. One of Ada's cousins lives there, Medlinil, and I hope to see her and perhaps even meet one of these new folk!
But I cannot tarry too long. Ruscoll, grandmother and namesake and fearsome lady, awaits me much further south and east in Ossiriand, if she does not tire of waiting and go to meet me at Amon Ereb.
So off I go to Nan Elmoth! May these pages soon be home to pressed flowers and my pockets full of little seeds.
Gwaeron 13
What a wonder this forest is! I have in one day found at least a dozen plants that I have never seen before in all my years. Strange mosses, stranger mushrooms, and these little flowers that seem invisible in the light but practically glow in the shade.
I found flowers for Ada, too: three varieties of niphredil! I must choose my cuttings carefully, though; there is a kind of fuior plant here which looks even more poisonous than the sort that clings to the hills of Dorthonion, and I do not have the proper remedies for skin that touches elfsbane, so I dare not risk brushing it as I reach for something else.
But the trees! They are beautiful, old and young alike, and though they are easy enough to make one's way through, usually, their branches block out so much light I must use my lantern.
I am not learned in the ways of beasts and birds, but there are butterflies here with fascinating markings, almost like letters written upon them, and birds which sing in tunes I feel as if I should be able to name. Grandmother will forgive me if I delay so as to bring her a report.
It may be, perhaps, that these wonders are found also in Doriath, but a part of me doubts that most of them could thrive outside this wood. The strangest, most beautiful things are so often found only in the smallest, most secluded places, and are all the more lovely for it.
I have met none of the elves here yet, but there are paths and tracks about; clearly some number do dwell here. I shall have to ask them about their trees!
Gwaeron 15
It is a good thing I brought several notebooks, and started a new one just yesterday, or I would run out of space. Twenty-two new plants pressed in one (to the best of my ability) and an index and observations in the other. I even forgot to write in here of my journey yesterday, if yesterday it was, for it is hard to tell the hour.
And the plants grow stranger and wilder still the further I go! Hardly any light reaches the ground now, so I find plants with leaves nearly white, but still they grow as green does, and others with odder colors yet, with blue seeds and nearly black leaves. I have never seen the like!
It does seem that I have lost my map, but once I go and meet with Medlinil she will find me another, and until then I may rely on directions. But directions are of no interest just now, when there is so much to see.
I think I heard someone out in the forest today, but I cannot be sure it was not a bird or a fox or some such. The blackbirds here are clever, and watch me with knowing eyes, as Ada says the nightingales do in Doriath. It makes me want to take up beast-lore, so I can ask them about themselves.
There is no harm in tarrying a few more days, I think, though this may require me to cut short my time in Estolad. No matter; I can stay longer in Estolad on my way back.
Tomorrow I hope to find a stream. I have run into two, so there ought to be a good place to fill these magicked bottles that Emig insists I carry. They are beginning to run low.
