It has been many weeks since writing in this journal, my hand bleeds anew with every letter I scrawl. Bandages fail to contain my words as I write in this book. It has not been a good road to recovery, neither has it been for the sake of another at the expense of my health. I can only assume her vacant expression and cold disposition will curtail my passive aggressions until I can draw strength in my arm again.
The trouble started coming back to Bree from the long autmn season, after harvest and the first frost brought me back to the thriving town. Galindriel and I were exhausted when we came to the tavern, as I settled him and one of the heaviest burden of hides we ever had. Naturally, the sight of a large mountain goat for a steed draws in attention, and true, three months away had earned me a new lavish set of clothing and more sacks of gold. I digress now.
I dismounted my brother's harness and took the hides in, the usual orders for the innkeeper amongst others, though I was surprised that I was met with more hateful glances than normal. Perhaps it was the overwhelming sense of joy? Regardless, I headed through the back.
Straining the last of my strength, I kept my hood down, and sat in my usual chair, laid empty by the tavernmaster, along with an order of food. I proceeded to count out the usual accordance, when I spotted a rather tall and distinguished female sitting in the corner with a tankard. Though she wore rags, I could tell she was used to the harsh streets of Bree, and thus beckoned her. She was more abrasive than I thought, but she seemed to mean well, even down on her money. I did a cut with her, if she would do the delivery to the innkeep, provided I was not cheated. A quick walk back and forth later, I had plenty of money in my satchel, and a happy rat was given her fair share.
I would commission her later for a few more orders.
Now the actual trouble began when two women came through the front door, one after another, and one shadier than the last. The more paranoid of the two glanced behind her as I watched her twin fade into the second hall, which gave the first relief. I invited this women to my company, Kyyara. Quite a beautiful sight, but her sorrow displaced my beguiling nature...
We relocated to the back hall where the 'shadow' had vanished to and she had begun to spin her tale, shortly before a man joined us. He seemed to be her bodyguard by the way he spoke to her. A lucky man. She had informed him of situation, and he proceeded to scan the halls for this woman. The fact that the woman remained hidden, unnerved Kyyara. I subtlety began to watch the surroundings, offering to move again to the adjacent room.
We had just gotten through the door, when she first noticed the window open. The shadow had apparently fled, leaving a note in its wake. Grimaced was her expression as she took that page and cast it into the inferno beside her. I shouldered her as company, trying to console her, which only added to her paranoia.
Then... it happened. The familiar whistling of an arrow ready to sink its blade into the heart of its mark. I had turned just to see it coming way towards Kyyara and instinctively intercepted it. The first arrow I had deflected with my cape, towards the nearby wall; its double, another arrow behind it, was quick to take its home in my shoulder as I fell downward. The next few moments were black, I as regained myself to see the shadow and what I assume its mate standing in front of the doorway. They mocked my self sacrifice, attempting again to maim the woman, until I rose with my hammers to beat the sense clean out of them. Of course, Kyyara had tried stepping in to not make it my fight.
They fired first. Now it was fair game.
I threw my left hammer straight at the smug face of the man, before leaping. I didn't count on his arrow avoiding me, piercing his way straight into the stomach of Kyyara. I would attend to that in a second. My gaze now turned to the shadow as she came closer, right within range of my hammer.. her man already nocking an arrow. I stood in place, ready to defend Kyyara. The self centered cow, thought she was safe. Hiding behind the arrow of that man. What a witless assassin. Right until she stabbed my arm when I blocked her way forward.. With the last of my strength in my arm, I smashed my hammer into her, hearing the sound crack of a rib or two. It left her winded and she fell back in retreat.
This fight was mine.. taking my hammer in the good arm, and preparing to attack, though playtime had ceased for them, and the shadow was fast to address it. Just as he withdrew his bow, I nearly seized my chance, were it not for the sheer pain my body had taken in such a small window of time. Laying on the floor bleeding, I dragged myself to Kyyara. After bandaging her, she had passed out from the pain.
I had to leave her to rest, dragging in chase of those assassins. Of course I only got to the front hall before collapsing.
Naturally a couple healers were around to bandage me, much to my dismay.
