It would appear time has lapsed as ever it does between my journal entries, I must apologise to you dear reader. For it was at the run-down old Inn, that old landmark on the edge of the Bree-lands, familiar as it is which I noticed the absence of this book back in the summer. Time to turn back, you might think? Time to pen the many adventures, encounters and details of my quest, well fear not. For it was not quite so exciting as all that. I left you behind. My urge to sever all ties to the world around and head for the hills extends even to you.
Yet attain the desired end to my quest I did. And here I am. Back in my old study. I say old, it was freshly furnished not long before departure. When I moved to this village of mine.
Oh, no doubt you are eager for me to regale you with tales of my travels but unfortunately this book is for me and not for you.
The year has been long and so has my ride. Traveling from one end of this Middle Earth to the other is a tiring business.
How will I explain my absence. Such questions as this keep me awake as they do in the dead of night. Honesty, no doubt is the best course. But what is honesty, I wonder. The age old instinct in me to flee is as true as it ever was? Oh, of course. Duty, responsibility. A man may dress up his actions however he likes in order to give justification. But will that provide adequate explanation to disappearance without even a word?
I only hope she was in receipt of my letters and the messenger delivered them safely. She would understand surely. She has children herself.
I am loathe in truth to set foot out of the door. The noise from the Inn sounds as raucous as it ever did. I have no fears there. I can only hope my man has good news with regard to the state of my trade and caravans within the Bree-land. He seemed a competent enough sort to be made steward of my affairs during my absence. Though the business was not in a good state when I left, improving, but not so good.
I wonder if I am to now learn whether or not I truly am a father as mentioned before, having just seen right one boy by the southern seas. I did not love his mother yet I saw her and the right. Her predicament, after all, was my own doing. I think I've perhaps given the game away as to the nature of my previously noted quest. All I will say is if you sleep with enough women perhaps you shouldn't be surprised when they birth children. Yet I never seem to outgrow the sheer surprise when they do.
The outside world can wait, as can news of what I have missed. It is a cold winter I have returned to, for now, the mention of a warm bed and slumber never sounded so good.
