It's been an awfully queer couple of days that's for sure!
First there was all that talk of murders and gang of brigands up to no good, next there was that nasty fellow from the other night... And now this.
It was just another night in the Prancing Pony, good drink, warm hearth and friendly enough fellows... Well at least that's how the night started off anyway. It wasn't long until something went upside down and shook up my night... Such is the way of things of late it I've noticed.
Out of all the strange folk I've met in Bree, I wouldn't have expected a Hobbit to come sprawling into The Prancing Pony like he was a startled deer. He came in looking like he had been dragged backwards through a thorn hedge and then tumbled down a hill of brambles and twigs. His hair was dirty and his clothes were torn to shreds. He looked quite a sorry state to be fair to the poor lad, and he had a wild and fearful look in his eyes which struck me as awfully queer to say the least.
He struggled to speak without pause in his heavy breath, I think it was the Big Folk that startled him, when I managed to calm him down somewhat he told me his name, Merigargrim.
Ah Merigargrim... Where are you now? Probably back home in a warm bed, forgetting all that had transpired in Bree, or doing your best to forget... After what you had been through my lad... I fear you ain't going to be quite the same again.
I took it upon myself and a fellow Hobbit I met that night called Alane to help this lad, he was many miles from home. His little tale of how he chased a fox all the way up to Bree didn't quite add up... I suppose it was just shock, when wandering feet lead the way aimlessly you never quite know where you'll end up... He was lucky he found me when he did... The poor lad was well out of his depth in a town like this.
A warm bed and a cold ale I did offer him, spare clothes and a meal did Alane offer him.. Both gestures of our hospitality were gratefully accepted, though what I believe went without thank was my willingness to keep watch and protect him. Perhaps Merigargrim did not know how dangerous Bree truly was until it was too late...
Perhaps you know now...
We chatted for a while as good Hobbits do, turns out this Merigargrim was an artist, and he wasn't bad at all... His drawings of the animals and trees were quite impressive and I daresay he put his heart into his work.
As the night drew on we departed to the bedrooms, I had the coin for only one room, so we had to make do, I was not expecting company with two fellow Hobbits this night. But it wasn't a bother to me by any means, I was happy to be able to help a newly aquired friend out is all!
While we departed we had a run in with a rather panicky Dwarf... Well, when I say 'run in' it would make more sense to say he ran into us... Me in particular, he was wearing such heavy armour and he was rushing about at such a pace that he knocked me over! I scrambled back up to my feet and met this strange fellow, turns out he was panicking so much over stolen cargo from a caravan he was supposed to be guarding, why he was rushing about in a panic in The Prancing Pony instead of guarding whatever else was on the caravan I do not know, but it got sour quickly when Merigargrim returned from the back room with the very same parcel of goods and rations, a curious thing indeed... Did he steal them? Or was it pure coincidence?
I hope for the latter, because when the Dwarf witnessed our queer little friend return, he threw into a violent tantrum, he began shouting and yelling at Merigargrim who was already rather on edge and rather shocked at his new surroundings.
Then this so called guardsman reached for his axe...
I stepped infront of Merigargrim, I did not care if he drew his weapon... I looked up to his grim bearded face with a fiery glare which I've proven is enough to put even the Big Folk at unease... Besides, I have a weapon of mine and I wasn't afraid to defend my fellows, if it was not for my words it would have been my sword...
Luckily it never came to that... And I am glad, Dwarves are by nature honorable fellows and we didn't want such a calamity kicking off in times such as these.
I am of the belief that my words serve as a far greater weapon and skill than this sword by my hip, I am not confident with wielding such a dangerous weapon... Though I know only too well that my words can be just as dangerous, but at the same time they can also be just as inspiring... I have encouraged the hearts of many fellows with my ways, or so I have been told by many a man who says my company brings a smile on their face... And for that I am glad, for it really is a good feeling knowing you can make others feel good.
This little conflict was averted swiftly, though it was still enough to shake up my new friend, I retired to the bedroom to change and we settled for bed... It was more or less in this hour that the truth began to settle in...
Why... The sniveling little rat... I offer him my hospitality and he repays me with... This... ARGH!
I will not even proceed to explain what exactly went on as I slept... Frankly even I wish not to know, but I shall say this... Alane and Merigargrim are awfully close now. And I dare say even a couple!
The next day was when I snapped I think... I was talking to Eddrick, a smithy in bree with arms big enough to strangle a bear to death (perhaps those were insensitive words... I won't let Icy-eyes know) but with a heart of gold, for one of the Big Folk he has certainly showed a fondness for my kind, he offered to help keep watch the night before, I believe him and I were aware of goings on of late. I could have used his help a few nights ago in all honesty.
He broke the news to me of what he overheard the night before... I went quiet, I daresay even grew cold, he could feel it... I don't get angry often, I honestly don't.
Then Merigargrim sheepishly entered the room, and he had the nerve to act as if nothing happened!
I may have said a few choice words, when he apologized I eagerly accepted, if there's one thing about me that I am certain of it's that I may at times have a short fuse, true... But I am quick to accept a heartfelt apology.
But it was too late... He had ran off... I really drove him away, the poor bugger ran from the only person he trusted in Bree, Alane had left for home already, she lives around one of the local farms...
...I ought to visit her one day for a spot of tea, she was a lovely lass in all fairness, and I don't blame her in the slightest for her actions.
A few days passed, I think... I can honestly not tell, I was getting deathly worried for the lad... I even went out of my way to put posters around town in the vain hopes that he would read them and head back to the Prancing Pony and at least be safe.
I was wrong.
I had looked all around Bree, searching high and low but for naught... Until I came across the more dirtier, shadier part of town, Beggar's Alley they call it and most sensible folk avoid that place, nasty folk linger in the dark alleys and the place was riddled with filth and criminals... Or so they say.
Of all places, it was there I found him, lying unconscious in a muddy puddle covered in muck and blood. My heart sank, this wouldn't have happened if I didn't shout at him and drove him away like I did... What a fool we have both been eh?
Luckily my friend Eddrick knew what was occurring and came by to help. I am ever grateful of his assistance, I couldn't see myself dragging Merigargrim's limp body all the way back to the warm. If there's one thing The Big Folk are good at that's being big and strong I suppose.
We headed back to the Prancing Pony, lay poor Merigargrim on the bed and decided what to do next, it was clear by the looks of him that he was in an awfully terrible state, it was quite sad really, his fresh new clothes from before looked in an even worse state than the raggy tunic he first showed up in, his hair which Alane found attractive was frizzled, mucky and torn. He had a nasty stab wound and it pained me to even look upon him... He smelled of muck and death...
Yes, I smelled death on him.
Luckily a few patrons were willing to help, the masked man from the week before, Kristopher I believe his name was... He helped greatly, he knew much about herbs and healing, but not as much as the Elf, Cesistya who came not long afterwards. I never thought I would ever see an Elf let alone see one work their skills on a friend, 'knife-ears' I called her. I hope she didn't take offense to that, I've a habit of giving funny nicknames to folk... She truly was an admirable lady, one day I wan to learn how to make such herbal teas that soothe the mind and the body as well as she had. The mere forest glade scent of the herbal tea put even my troubled mind at rest.
I sat by Merigargrim through the whole ordeal as he lay in a fitful coma of sorts, he rested on my legs and looked rather serene as he lay there after all was said and done, it was hours perhaps until I could sit there over him no longer. I had to stretch my legs. If only I didn't leave when I did...
I never even got to say goodbye
I returned an hour two later along with Eddrick to find that Merigargrim had gone... Quite remarkable really, he was sleeping like a baby while I watched over him like a mother, only to sneak off with Alane back home, Eddrick and I were even willing to escort him home ourselves. But no... Alane has a horse and cart, talk about traveling in style.
And that's that... Maybe I'll see his little mug again, maybe I won't... It is such a shame it ended like it did, he probably still thinks I hate him, ha... And they say I'm emotional! He's from Michel Delving I thinks, the lads there were always a bit smartypants weren't they? A bit soft come to think of it. Oh well, that's the way the world goes 'round sometimes. You really can't please them all.
I'm not complaining. He's out of my hair now, I worried for him like a mother would worry for a child, I'm not saying I have feelings for the boyo, it's just my way.
It ain't all doom and gloom, you make new friends all the time, or so they say. Eddrick has invited me for dinner! A bit of lofty proposal really, does he know how much we Hobbits eat? Perhaps we can wander the woods and have a picnic somewhere nice and out of the way...
...Somewhere where I won't be bothered for a little while.
