* Several pages of the journal seemed to be carelessly ripped out, though what was apparent by reading the next few pages still intact was that The Author and his company had passed through the Lone Lands and travelled through the Trollshaws and ended up taking refuge in Rivendell, for what purpose was yet unknown or otherwise was intentionally left out of the journal... *
Ah... Imladris! I sit down by the river writing this within the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful Elvish valley, my mind is clear now after many days of hard travelling, and while my company busy themselves still with the formalities with the Elves with important meetings and whatnot, I have found some precious spare time to write my thoughts down.
Throughout my travels, I have found the tranquillity of Imladris to be indeed calming to the soul, the Elves are a fair folk and I have learned much from them, I am fluent in Sindarin and the Elves have also taught me patience, respect and above all else, empathy... Though I may never be able to truly stay around Elves for long... For I have never got the grasp of formalities, I simply hate dressing formal... I have travelled on paths seldom trod and slept under the stars for so long I find the fairness of Imladris to be most welcoming, though I only stay for a while at a time, for I am always called elsewhere...
Fancy clothing... Bah! I wore my old Ceremonial cloak of Annúminas in the Hall Of Fire as formalities... Though I wore only my usual travelling robes... Agacyra was keen to notice and teased ever so coyly that I may even look good in something that didn't resemble a homeless man's rags... Though the mood was quick to turn sour... For I let slip by mistake that I had burgled back in Bree, I am not proud of it, but when a man is at his lowest and he must resort to even thievery to get by, I cannot blame myself...
This only made me feel more guilty when she mentioned our incident back in the Lone Lands, it was indeed sad that we acted like we did... And I am not proud at all, but given the circumstances...
No... It was not necessary, they were not Orcs, they may have had families who will be mourning, wives who will by now be grieving, children who will grow up to not see their fathers... We are not murderers and we should not be so quick to give out judgement.
This is what Agacyra told me, and given now I have meditated upon it somewhat, I have to say she was right... Silherenya had betrayed me that day, looking back on it... I wonder if there was anything we could have done, but looking to the future... It's clear that we should not dwell on the past too much...
I received word yesterday that the meeting with the Elves (which may I add I did not attend for lack of proper garments) did not go as planned, they did not approve of sending an army with us... Thorontir, our Captain, spoke often of late about bringing the fight to Sharku and his allies, perhaps this is why we came to Imladris? To ask for aid from the Elves? I know that Master Elrond's strength is not in arms but in knowledge, perhaps he can give us some parting advice on how to fight an entire army of Orcs and Men with just a small band of skilled Rangers? I do not fancy our chances to say the least.
I believe some of our kin have ventured North to the Misty Mountains to seek aid from Dwarves, Garram has shown to be a most keen ally in our struggle and many more of him would prove to be a very great boon to our efforts... Though I have not yet gotten word of their success, I do not hold much hope that they shall be able to muster an army of Dwarves to aid us... The Goblins come from the mountains and may already be besetting the Dwarvish Folk who etch out a living there...
Our last day in this fair valley approaches and Thorontir has instructed us to get ready for a fast but short journey to the Angle... I was born there but raised in the lands of Nenuial, as I gaze upon the warm sunrise over the mountains and look down into the valley for the last time, I think to myself what the future will bring. We are on the move once again and there's indeed a sense of pride and renewed strength throughout our company, I ride alongside my brothers and sisters as we head back to our birth place to find whatever aid we can from the people who still live there... I know for a fact that the Grey Company are now many many miles away and there may be naught but women and children still in the Angle, even so... It will be nice to gaze upon the land where I was born again...
The odds are stacked against us and the enemy challenges us always... But it's always been this way, I like a challenge. It's far more fun winning that way!
