The next morning, I gathered grandfather's armor and put it on. It was big, bulky, and quite dented. But strangely it felt like it was meant for me. Fixing the cloak around my shoulders, and picking up my grandfather's axes, I went out into Bree.
I have lived here for fifteen years, and yet so many facets of the city I did not know of or understood. Grandfather never let me enter any of the taverns alone, but now I had to. Perhaps there was someone who might know how I could get a guide back to Rohan.
Pushing the door open to the Prancing Pony, I was met with a dim room, filled with laughter, smoke, and music. When my eyes finaly adjusted, I walked over to the bar, being careful not to trip over my feet.
"Excuse me, bartender. Can you tell me if there is anyone in the city who does services as a guide?"
The large man behind the counter continued cleaning the mug he was holding. I frowned, opening my mouth to ask the question again, when he put the mug on the bar and filled it with some water.
"You look quite thirsty, miss. A guide you say? Hm. Here, take a drink and tell me what you are needing."
Grateful for the respite, as grandfather's armor was quite heavy, I sat down on one of the stools and told him what my grandfather asked for. The man, Butterbur was his name, rubbed his chin as he thought when I was finished.
"Well ... I am more than certain there are many folk from Rohan passing through Bree. But none really stay for long. But I do know of a group of them, a group of riders. They are looking to head off towards Rohan actually. Perhaps you could find them over on the southern side of Bree. Near the outskirting camps."
I smiled, and thanked him for the information. He wanted no coin for the drink, so I hopped off the stool and made my way from the Prancing Pony towards the camps he spoke of. There, I found a group of men and women dressed in the finest armor and riding magnificent steeds. I swallowed nervously ... and made my way closer to where there were wagons. A group of people huddled anxiously nearby, talking in hushed tones.
"Excuse me, but are these riders heading towards Rohan?"
The group stopped their speaking and one man spoke up.
"Aye. We are heading off soon, miss. Are you one of the riders?"
"What? Oh no, but I am looking for a guide to head back home."
The man sniffed, shrugging slightly.
"You'll find no better guides than the Riders of the Riddermark, miss. Now look sharp. Seems they're moving out."
And with that, the wagon lurched forward, and the group began to pace behind it. And I fell in step as well.
"I'm on my way grandfather. Let us hope these riders will get me there."
