Disbelief, artifice, despair, treachery, exploitation, falsehood, dissemblance, dereliction, plot. What comes next?
Every single thing I've fought against has been conflated in Bree. Bree seems to have failed in every aspect. New Bree is the wild - wild is the old Bree. Bree is the headquarters of organized crime, torture and murder - it is the new Angband.
Bree has become the trashpit of Middle Earth.
More than a few people don't mind this. They walk around uncovered, they talk of farming and about 'another normal day'. They joke, they drink and they laugh. I barely see anyone who seems like he or she has felt the disturbance. Why? Because many of them are criminals.
Friendships are thinning and love interrupted. A shadow devoured Bree in a way I've never seen before.
When I push myself to do some spying, the only thing I gain out of it is fear and disgust. Additionaly, ever since I've overheard that talk about Emdar I am stuck in a dilemma. I owe him nothing and he wouldn't believe me anyway. Yet from what I understand he is a friend of Muil, not to mention I pity him. Should I risk my head? He's one of 'them' now and so he might whistleblow me. I've only told Cangi and Eph so far, and both advised me to let it be. I need more time to think this over, and yet I might be in a time press since Emdar seems to have fully swallowed it. Help me here, dear Eru...
Muil is still resting from her perilous journey to Minas Tirith. She's kept safe in Rivendell, under Elrond's watch. He promised he'd do it for me, and there are only few things more valuable than Elrond's word.
So my second-dearest diary, let's hope this isn't my last entry. I am tired of hiding myself under that warm hood. Either I'll be brave and uncover myself, or I'll just leave Bree to rot on its own. It's not long since I live here, so I don't feel much towards this place... not even a half of what I feel towards the North. Yet most of my friends are here and I think leaving them wouldn't make my situation any better.
Together with the plea of 'her' protection, I've asked Elrond to send me a fine elvish robe and a hat - all black - to help me cover my identity. I've never wore this style of clothes, so let's again hope it'll work. I will have to change my overall behavior, too. I can't talk that much anymore, as someone unwanted might recognize my voice. And to remove that annoying smile of mine? That will take some practice.
