I met a man named Deorgast while fishing at Staddlemere. He caught my eye as we shared the dock because of the fine rod in his hand. Sturdy yet supple, it was far superior than the stick I'd pulled the leaves off for a makeshift fishing pole. I told him as much and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. I think he must be of the Rohirrim stock as he is tall and fair haired. We fished for awhile in silence as night fell and then he turned to leave, waving good bye before he disappeared into the woods. It was not until I packed up to go that I saw he had slipped some fish into my basket, a handful of lovely little dace that I fried up later with lots of butter and wild mushrooms.
Gorlen was gone, seeking some sort of contract for a job, perhaps. I went to the Pony to have a pint after serving lunch, I still had time before dinner. I spotted Mr. Swiftly there, the man with finest rod in Bree. Deorgast was having a drink and we recalled each other and spoke of fishing and his woodcraft and discovered we both worked for the same company. He offered to give me his rod if I came with him to his home and I agreed. Looking back, I suppose that might have been misconstrued by anyone overhearing our conversation. When we reached the neighborhood gates, we ran into another member of the Dawn, Katnya. All three of us went to his house and he served mead. What happened next was quite strange.
We heard a rustle behind a tapestry and when Deor moved it, there was a 7 year old girl hiding there! To say we were shocked was an understatement. After a course of time we learned the girl was an orphan in the care of a man named Aeofric and had slipped away. We went outside to enjoy the evening air and Deor had a bonfire and we shared some stew that was not half bad. The girl was quite precocious and insisted she was fine and that she was not in any danger. When the man showed up, I have to admit I was upset at him. Not only for allowing a little girl to run all over but for teaching her that it was just fine and dandy to walk into someone's home if the door was open. I mean, who does that? I told him as much and that his child would grow up to be a thief. I was not so sure that wasn't the plan, to take a look at Deor's house to see if there was anything worth stealing.
Katnya was quite upset as well, and seeing her angry was a bit intimidating, even if it was not directed at me. She's a large woman, strong and fit with a great axe. And a fire in her eyes when she thought the children were being neglected. Eventually I came to understand that Aeofric was someone who did not officially have custody of the girl or any of the other children in Beggar's Alley but he went there on his own accord to feed them and try to make sure they had clothing and things of that nature. I admit, I was a bit mortified by my accusations. I know there has been a great increase in people living in the Alley, especially children of those that were killed in the brigand raids or Archet, those without family to take them in. Children of the southerners whose parents can't find work. The innocents.
I jumped in with the offer to bring leftovers as Deor offered to donate game. Of the food I make for the Dawn Hall, too much goes to waste for those that don't eat there that day. I thought about starting a reservation system but the nature of their work makes it hard to keep a steady schedule. Thus there always needs to be food available and there will always be leftovers. Aeofric thanked us and went on his way with the girl in tow. I asked Kat if she'd like to come with me to bring the food donations and she agreed, but for the children not the man. She still seems wary about the man and that is fine, I'm glad she agreed because going into Beggar's Alley is never safe but with Kat at my side I don't think any bandit would try something as foolish as to rob or molest us.
There were two others that had joined us, both members of the Dawn, sellswords like Deor and Kat. One woman named Ayla who had a thick accent and another man, a quiet hulking brute whose name I don't quite recall other than it was strange. He made a rude comment as I was leaving so I swatted him with my new rod right across the bum. That'll teach him to get lippy with Piperel Fenflower.
I found Gorlen at the Dawn Hall, he seemed to have been waiting for me. Sometimes I just like to look at him. He's such a beautiful man. That long dark brown hair and those dancing amber eyes...ok I'll stop as I've already filled this page. I told him where I was at and he got upset. He was jealous! He told me the only reason Deor gave me a gift and invited me home was because he wanted to bed me. I don't know what was in Deor's mind but he showed no signs of wanting that. I would not have gone with a man if he looked at me with obvious lust. I told him as much and that he was being silly. The only rod he gave me was the one still in my hands, I told him. Certainly Deorgast is a handsome and pleasant man, perhaps he would have turned my head before I fell in love with Gorlen. I do hope we can be friends.
Gorlen apologized and said he could not help but think every man would look at me as he himself did. I suppose it did look bad, just as when I walked in on Gorlen leaving a back room in the Pony with a girl blushing like mad. I know what my first thoughts were and he had the same reaction. I trust him though and he trusts me and we made up that evening. I don't want anyone else but him, he fills my mind and heart so much there is no room for another.
