To my surprise, mother expressed an interest in seeing the place where I grew up.
It had not occured to me that my proud Angmarim mother might deign to travel to the softer southlands, nevermind to survey where he daughter had grown. The idea does not displease me, for it gives me a reason to go back and see my friends. I merely hope that she does not insist on seeing Archet; I have never wished to return to that village, to revisit the memories I have of that place.
Still, if I am to take her to Bree-land at all, I shall have to make certain that she has appropriate attire. She is correct when she says that she will have to be careful, that the Bree-landers are unlikely to take kindly to we tribes of the north. It is different for me, having lived there all my life, believing until recently that I was just another Bree-lander, born and bred.
Mother, however, is clearly not a Bree-lander, nor a southerner, in her thick robes of leather and fur, dyed in shades of black and red-brown. To that end, I walked through the day to reach Esteldin in the hopes that the men living there may be able to trade me some material. To my joy, they had exactly what I needed. Unfortunately, I had nothing they wished for bartering and I had used the last of my coin on my way to Aughaire, so instead I spent the evening, and most of the next morning, repairing rips in tents and clothing in return for the cloth.
The journey back was difficult going. Worn out through lack of sleep and heavy concentration on the tasks set by the ruin-dwellers, my steps were heavy through weariness, nevermind the fact that it is almost completely uphill!
Still, I am home now - strange that I should come to think of this collection of hide-bound huts as home so quickly - and I am glad of it. I think the light may be fading, but it is hard to tell the difference between night and day out here. Subtle changes in the colour of the crackling sky is the only real indication and I have not yet learned to read those signs properly. Nevertheless, the fires always burn brightly here, so as soon as I have had a rest, I shall begin to craft a dress for her that will allow her to blend in with the Bree-landers a little better.
I wonder if my sister will wish to come with us as well.
