Gorlen and I are planning a trip to the Shire, once more. The dangers of the last one have been lessened by the spears and swords of the Bloody Dawn after they put Fat Tom's gang to the ground. I won't have to worry about him anymore, Taala's arrow took care of that. This time it should be relaxing and pleasurable, like the first trip we had. Summer is high and I look forward to the fairs and games the little folk play before the harvest comes in. I've got my recipe note book with me and eagerly look forward to trying some of the delicious hobbit cooking and drink. And of course spending uninterrupted time with Gorlen. It was his idea and I think the wound is bothering him more than he'd like to admit. I tend it, make sure it's not infected and the healing is going well but all I can see is the outside. Perhaps it is the inside, in his mind, that is troubling him. I know it still haunts me, just as the memory of being snatched from the river bank still enters my dreams. Though when I think about it, seeing Gorlen nearly die is much worse.
Tonight, we went to find Basaran and ask him for some time off, me in particular now that I'm the regular cook. I left a menu and ingredient lists, now to find someone decent but not good enough to steal my job to fill in for me. While we spoke, one of the Bloody Dawn members I vaguely remember from the time I first met Taala and Eroforth in the Pony came in while we were speaking. She was irate to say the least after Gorlen had made a flippant joke about her mother after she insulted him first. The crazy cow actually reached for her sword! All I could think about was Gorlen laying in a pool of his own blood in the street, how I thought he was dead. I moved in front of him, as if my presence would really frighten anyone but at least maybe make her think before striking. Gorlen, too, went for his weapon but it was all ended before it started by the Captain.
It made me so angry! This woman willing to kill a man over an insult, though clearly she is unstable and mentioned her parents were murdered so that's probably part of it. I had to get out of there and get Gorlen out as well in case Basaran's warning fell on deaf ears of the redhead. She seems to want the Captain's attention so maybe that'll help keep her in line. I was upset, I don't think Gorlen realizes how much I love him and how just...bloody scared I was when he was stabbed. I can't forget the ashen look of his face, how he was unconscious with his life pooling on the grass. I have to admit I started to cry, I was angry at him for being so casual about how sellswords act with each other. Stupid egos, all of them. Drawing swords over words, men and women so eager and boastful to show who is the best, who is not afraid. I suppose I'll never understand that but I made him promise not to tell mama jokes anymore as they seem to really piss people off.
He hugged me as we walked back towards town, told me a silly story about a cook being tickle tortured for her blueberry pie recipe in Laketown. I know Gorlen's even more worried about me living near the Scholar Stair, I probably should not have brought up the rumor I heard about a woman being assaulted there. It'll just make him more worried and distracted. I'm good about keeping an eye out for strangers or people acting funny, though I've still yet to learn to use a blade. Not that it would matter, the woman in question is very capable of wielding a sword I imagine and it didn't seem to help her.
He mentioned something about moving out but where? And with what coin? Basaran offered a loan when Gorlen brought up his lack of funds up, due to his wound he's been unable to work and things are tight. I make a decent salary cooking but hardly enough to afford rent on a cottage. I think the room is fine for now, I've still got a week of what I prepaid Mungan and funds for another month saved up for rent. I suppose I could go to Corrinne, she's controlling the farm's coffers as our parents are in the Northdowns with Hollace and the baby that likely has been born but I haven't heard anything about it. I'm probably an aunt by now!
