Dear Hirgonui
I see it as my duty to write a more complete report after the weeks I have been out in the Wild..
I am glad I met the Nethvaed Faerduin and Arnelloth in their training session, as it seem they are doing very well and I did not wish to interrupt the session.
Even when you had the conversation with Hîr Cirionar and Hîril Linnethril I did not feel it was appropriate to share all my concerns at that time.. There is a light, peaceful atmosphere among the Herth today perhaps because of the summer?
Although I am glad that that my brief explanation was enough to highlight my concerns and that Hîrili Linnethril will now join me to investigate my concerns further.
Thank you for your reply last time I wrote. The area around Echad Rond seems to be peaceful enough, although the silence does not feel right. Especially the birds seem to be silent, which alarms me greatly. I have been searching for traps, and other cruel methods to catch the birds. I have seen it before on one of the wilderness patrols I have had with Hîr Aearandir and Hiril Alfiriel. Goblin-traps and their methods of cruelty to torture innocent beings till their death...But there is no trace of traps, no trace for goblins or other signs of fell creatures.This worries me, something has changed, and it truly pains me that I cannot explain how I feel about it...
I moved from Echad Rond after I have refilled the supplies so scouts and guards after me do not feel they miss anything. I crossed Bridgefields to the camp close to the outer border of Shire. From here I see the Brandywine bridge and the river that flows out in Nenuial. (Lake Evendim)I decided to see if there are any changes in the river flow and the areas around. So I stayed alert on the camp for several suns and moons. There are a few bits and things that need to be repaired here. The door to or storage container need to be fixed, and there are few supplies missing, that I did not have at hand.
It was one moon ago Hirgonui, that my concerns awoke again. I was beneath the camp following the river a little north on my horse Limroth. My horse usually does not get affected by changes, but this time she did not want to go further. I decided to let her trot back to her resting spot near the camp. I walked further along the river. There is a hill far north that I have never passed. I see this hill as under the watchful realm of the Rangers from Evendim to patrol. I did not wish to cross it, without further guidance from the Conin. But I saw smoke arise behind it. Black smoke.. Not the smoke we do see when the farmers makes bonfire to get rid of hay and other materials they do not need before the summer appear. Nor is it the kind of smoke we see when houses are burned. This smoke were black as coal, thick and compact, controlled..like smoke coming out from a chimney. I concluded with that is smoke filled with ash and material that does not burn so well, like something wet. The smell also indicate ashes, but there is this tiny scent.. a nauseous, sweet odour.. I have felt it before, from one of our assaults, when we met death and rotten bodies.
I can only speculate.. but I did not dare to even think it might be new tribe of goblins.. We purged them some years ago, so I do not understand if and why they have returned again and in such haste and in such stealth. They are usually not very good at hiding their traces... If that is the case they must have ventured from north through Evendim. But how would they be able to escape the Rangers eyes and the Wardens of Annuminas?
Should I leave it? It is not our main-duty as I mentioned.. But is alarming close to the boundaries of the Shire and close to Ered Luin. So it would be folly to ignore or not help out if something has happened to the Rangers in their attack of this camp.
Anyway I do believe we should investigate this. It might not be anything, but it could be.
But I do not know..................
-Hallothel-
