Dearest Fea,

Thank you for the long letter -- I enjoyed both the Family Adventures and the Arthinon gossip immensely. While I am deeply tied up in the Glenzor social scene, such as it is, I am never more than a visit to the Temple away, so please continue to let me know if any Evenings of Interest should present themselves, as I am always enthralled by your company.

I am planning a temporary Winter getaway from gossips and intrigues, myself. This year Nick is hosting our annual Gathering of the Decrepit. I know that Mikhael, Daniel, Nick and I shall all attend. I hope that Gideon and Cassia might grace us as well. Simon shall, as ever, surprise us.

Although I'm pleased with the way things are evolving in Glenzor, politics is such a tedious and ugly process. It will be a relief to spend some time in the clean countryside, surrounded by people I can trust. Of course with my luck there will be Winter Wolves or Ice Lizards or something, despite Nick's insistence that he's long since destroyed any possible threat in the area to his Family. Still, it does seem that this sort of thing follows us around, does it not?

I sincerely hope that it is an Uneventful Visit, filled only with fine wine and fine friendships. I am more than glad to be done with all of the fighting in my past! Slow politics and steady spell research are the height of my ambitions these days.

Although I will admit to a certain amount of Boredom. Only a little. Every now and then.

Ah well, I wish you well, dear sister. I am sending a long a couple of little baubles for you and your children. Please enjoy them!

Yours faithfully,
HeartRender SilverClaw

Nick's Journal: Midwinter

Everything is in order for the upcoming visit. Dmitri has shanghaied his young priest into helping out with the children if needed. I have made sure that the Mansion will fit in the courtyard, have locked, Wizard Locked, and Wyvern-spelled the basement door, since putting the chemicals out of reach is no longer possible. Rugs have been taken out and beaten thoroughly, the guest rooms have all been aired out. Brandon's food supplies and Laurie and Mikhael's alcohol have been delivered and are being stored. Basically, everything is in order for the rest of the Company's arrival tomorrow.

Except, of course, that the Gods of Weather are apparently displeased, and it's been snowing since yesterday. Also, Tatjana's morning sickness has been worse, though she assures me she will be fine while everyone is here. I haven't yet relayed Mikhael's comment about teenagers to her. I fear it would be poorly received.

I still haven't heard from Gideon and Cassia, nor from Simon, though I never expected to hear from the latter and I expect the former are busy. I've planned for them, anyway, though Laurie's horde will make it difficult to notice any missing bodies fill the place.

Ah, yes. Firewood. Well, we've quite a stockpile set aside. And I'll make sure Mikhael is greeted with hot mulled wine to stave off his bitching about the weather.

A Night at the Opera

Lord Mikhael,

It was my Pleasure and Delight to attend the opera with you as always; the Arthinon season is turning out to be quite good, even with the defection of their songbird last year.

And it's always interesting to hear from third parties what Fëa and Luthien and their friends are up to -- quite the Belles of the Ball, they have become, despite all their poor family associations.

One hopes that within the next fifteen years the gossip-mongers will tire of looking askance at my wives and I, although it's almost worth the scrutiny to watch some of the stiffest of the old bloodlines forced to be polite to us lest they besmirch their own honor.

Again, your thoughtful invitation is deeply appreciated, as is the opportunity to spend more time in your company and Daniel's.

Yours faithfully,
Laurie

Wine and wee ones

Nick,

I will be happy to provide a few of the nice Elvish wines Fëa and I collected during the War; there's a few rare ones that should be coming nicely into maturity now.

A perfect idea, to use Mordenkainen's Magnificent Playhouse to keep the little ones busy while we adults do the Horribly Boring Talking Thing. Out of sight, out of mind, out of earshot, with plenty of Unseen Servants to keep them out of trouble, room for infinite Hide and Seek -- and we can Dispel it when it's time for Dinner. I expect even my grown-up children will be using the time to catch up with each other (and have a bit of a Respite from their own offspring), rather than listening to all of our old stories again.

I can't wait to catch up with everyone again.
--Lairunya

Mik -

Believe me, I'd truly forgotten what a mob the SilverClaws are. Dmitri has agreed to help the nannies reign in the littlest, however, and I suspect he'll have help from our local multi-Pantheonic Temple in doing so.

I'll watch for the wine shipment and make sure that it's stored properly.

Still no word from Gideon or Cassia, though I assume their duties keep them busy.

Nick.

Nick -

Hell and damnation, HOW many people did you say Laurie is bringing? I’ve suddenly remembered why we so seldom get together anymore. I’m not growing any more patient with noisy children in my old age! I’m going to trust that Misha and Daniel will run interference should Laurie’s nannies not be sufficient.

Re: your reminder that we’ll need to bring our own wines, I’ll have ScintCoInc deliver a few crates of new vintages from Parthenon that I’m starting to purchase on spec; it’s a small vineyard with a lot of promise.

- Mikhael

How many children?

Lairunya -

It is a pleasure to know that the passing years haven't changed you.

As to what I offered Mikhael: Proper rugs on the guest room floors, conceding the menu to Brandon - both of which you will, of course, share in (Culinary DeathMatch?) - and the third thing I apparently offered him was the opportunity to snub a VileRune who's been coming around as a potential marriage prospect for Angel. I don't know what I can possibly offer you that would be the equivalent to that last, however, given that I'm rather deliberately out of touch with everyone else's politics. Mik's, of course, are unavoidable.

And I'll just refrain from comment on his determination to control his daughter's destiny, shall I?

Re-reading your letter, I am reminded that you've created a little mob of your own. Clearly, I will have to build an extra out-building just to handle all the littles who are coming. Time to trot out the Mansion spell again, I suppose, though if the weather holds perhaps I'll just move the children into a tent in the forecourt. A very large tent. With armed guards. For our safety, not theirs.

Or perhaps just Dmitri. I'll ask him if he's willing to help your nannies with keeping an eye on all the children running around; he's fairly good at keeping his younger siblings out of trouble. Usually.

Yes. Definitely an outbuilding; between your children and mine (and any Cassia and Gideon should have or bring along) I genuinely believe the adults will be safer without having them underfoot.

I suspect that if you want anything resembling an acceptable vintage you'll have to bring it along; we tend to ales out here in the wilds, although one of my more recent Orcish settlers did bring some grapevines with him. We'll have to see if they take in the soil up here, however, or if it is too cold for them.

Nick