Journal of Captain Iriul of Tinnudir
Page 2
When the greenway took me to familiar lands, I didn't expect such events to unfold.
No people here know me, and that might be best. I took the alias of Gamber, hastily thought up and honestly, I had to look to my horse to think of it. However much the old Captain forbid us to go in to the Town itself, it was too long of a road to stay away from well-reputed ale and properly cooked food.
I spent too much time there, I should have left sooner. It was my mistake, and it led me to rekindle a rivalry that Alaghir suffered intensely during his captaincy. I had alltogether hoped to avoid it, but it seems it's a brother's envy that is as natural as the grass growing.
A woman shared my table, named Ulfey. A herbalist she called herself, living in Chetwood.
Our talks became walks, and it kindled a friendship. Once it grew, she confided to me to having vivid dreams, and at first i thought her to be stricken with a bit of cabin fever..But through her, I met Thorontir. He is another that stayed behind from the call of the Grey Company. First I invited Ulfey to join my road northwest to Evendim, and then the welcome extended to Thorontir. This was a grave mistake, I should have left them both alone.
They've been spared the wear of war and came upon much that they did not understand.
My eagerness to aspire and prove myself as Vinti's successor led me to bring them north, perhaps Ulfey's skill in herbalism and Thorontir's watchful eye would be of aid to me someday. But before we left and took to the road, I happened upon a man.
Pale and thin, he introduced himself as Elliad, and I as Gamber.
I will never understand why, but i must look trustworthy - for he confessed to me the origin of his longsword, and it's making. With it came the story of his homeland - the man revealed that he was of Angmar, and apparantly from a family of some high standing there.
What great trick did the joking stars play on me to present me with such an obvious oppertunity,too good to be true. At best, a spy of the enemy incapable of harm, but then what need does he have of such a mighty sword..?
I took him, by force. After nightfall, by his camp, I choked him and took him captive.
He was to hang across the back of my horse until I got to the keep, where I could safely draw all use and knowledge i could from him, before ending him there.
But when Thorontir caught up to myself and Ulfey on the road, he saw things differently - and I got to see his quality.
This angmarim, which was bound by blood to our most powerful enemy, he chose to cut free. He cut him free from his bonds, in the middle of the Shire, within arm's reach of his longsword, and he did so on blind and naive trust.
This amount of mercy may have earned the man a great name, was my assumption - but i would take a lifetime in careful caution and safety, than to earn a short and nice reputation by so rashly risking so much harm.
My first mistake was to bring these two, my second was to bring the angmarim, and now my third that i regret the most, was to be persuaded into granting this man his leave, to become someone else's problem.
Was it purely for my own sake, i would not account these things at all, but i hope one day my successor will learn from these pages, and care only for the city and the dead.
To stand steadfast on principle, and let duty come before favors. It has brought me nothing but ill will, despite leaning to their pleads of sparing the man's life.
Now, from what i hear, he is the problem of Captain Aeruthuil and his company, who tread in Angmar, following the Angmarim for reasons i do not know.
It best not bring death, or i will feel my share of the guilt.
