Hell, I was so busy with stuff that I didn't get the chance to catch up on my journal. Things had been...more or less hell to say the least. I suppose I'll write a few things about them though keeping some things to myself in fear of this journal, as unlikely as it could be of someone were to find it, would actually be looked at.
I recently had been given a job to escort this woman named Zajiri and her people to Ered Luin. Thankfully, because of distant times when I was an Umaarah, I knew my way there. With no surprise, Kristophor offered to come with us. I could always count on him to have my back though part of me feels like I rely on him to have my back a bit too much. Part of me hoped that I hadn't been a burden to him after all this time. We thought of the ideal day to go before ending the conversation there. Now, it was time for the waiting game.
The "waiting game" had consisted of death but at the same time, farewells and of fellowship. I had spoken to Ainsleigh a bit the day after buying a jar of honey from her. She's rather of a nice person to talk to. I made her a promise that I would get her one of the flowers at Ered Luin when I go over there. It was the least I could do of the kindness that she showed. Unfortunately, I had done my best not to make it seem more than friends. I was still coping about Neremnes. I'm embarrassed to say that I still haven't gotten over her despite of the best that I could have done was to send her a letter.
Anyways, later on, we saw Amanda though she was...upset about something. A man tried to talk to her but didn't work. I later found out that she had lost her sister, the only blood family she had left. Amanda may have been...a bit too much to handle in the past but my heart went out for her for I knew how it felt to lose blood family to the brink that you were alone and an orphan. I did the best I could though Kristophor had done a better job than I did. I spoke with the man from earlier, learning that his name was Taliom. We spoke for a little while before I went outside and made my way to the graveyard.
In my mindset, I thought it were to be a good idea of visiting my late parents before I had gone to do my job. That was another thing that I couldn't tell Ainsleigh. I didn't want to tell her that my parents were dead. I didn't want anyone to feel sad for me about an event that happened a few years ago. Kristophor had joined me as soon as he was done visiting graves as well. I told him the truth about how my parents died.
It was afterwards that Ghost came by and did his utmost best to tug me away from the graveyard. I've never seen him so persistent before. I moved to follow him and Kristophor and (unfortunately) Amanda following me. Seeing as how the night time was approaching, I told Amanda to go back to Bree. I wasn't sure where Ghost was leading me and despite of what "tricks" she learned, I didn't want to have the pressure of needing to keep an eye on her. Ghost led us onward further and across a river to the Brandywood and up to some ruins. It was there that he showed us the reason of why he had been gone quite often. He showed us a family of his own. I was beginning to feel happy until he had given me one of the wolf pups. Realization hit me afterwards. Ghost was saying goodbye to me and was letting me have something to remember him by. I had Ghost as long as I have lived with the Umaarahs which was...about five years. It was time for him to live out his days with his new family, as much as it pained me to admit it. As I was about to say goodbye, Kristophor warned me that we should take Ghost and his family somewhere else as we were in the territory of a giant. We led the family away and towards a lake. It was there that I said my goodbye to my old friend.
Kristophor and I left back to Bree, having the pup in my arms. We arrived at the Pony and saw Conrob and the others at the table. We decided to join them and conversed. It felt like old times when we did. Sure as hell made me relaxed. During the time, I decided to name the wolf pup Fenris. I went to go get pork but when I tried to pay, that pup took off on me. I had to say goodbye to Conrob and Brynleigh before running after Fenris to get him back. Despite of things that day, though, it was...rather bittersweet.
The day after was the day it was time to go for the job. I met Zajiri with Fenris in my arms. I didn't want to leave him alone in my house. Kristophor went on ahead to scout though. Hell, I didn't know what to expect when we were attacked before we could ever reach the Shire. Dourhands, basically. It was hell but to my surprise, Taliom was in the area to help us out. Sadly, we had lost people. Taliom treated the wounded before we had continued onwards to the Shire. We stopped at Michel Delving so we could rest and for them to bury their dead. Kristophor joined us not too long afterwards and it was then that we learned more of what was being escorted, mithril. Mithril mined by the slaves that Zajiri's family had. I was dumbfounded but Kristophor was furious. In my mind, I knew that he was going to be. He left us after sharing harsh words with her. She didn't trust me as well but... Part of me said that I had to make sure of getting the job done for the sake of doing the right thing. Thankfully, Taliom had joined me on the venture either way and I knew that despite of what happened, Kristophor wasn't too far away either. As I had mentioned before, I feel like I rely on him a lot to have my back. We made our way without any more problems thanks to Kristophor's help earlier and towards Gondamon. It was then that the job was done. Zajiri paid Taliom and me and went her separate way. Kristophor had gone off as well in front of us so he could most likely calm down. Remembering of the promise that I had made to Ainsleigh, Taliom and I traveled just enough to find a nice looking purple flower to take home.
We traveled back to Bree. However, that was when things were going hellish. We listened to this group of people talk and then... Well, I saw Amrun again, though was outside talking to Arbitor. I...am not going to go into details of the events that had occured afterwards. The entire event was etched into my mind that I don't want to see it on paper either. One thing was for certain though. The group of men has to be stopped.
I couldn't bring myself to go home completely and went back to the Pony, only to encoutner Kristophor and Amrun. I did my utmost best to remind him of things, memories that could possibly bring him back. My heart ached of what he was going through. He was a damn good man and friend to me and to the Umaarah family. Just as how Kristophor didn't give up on me when I lost my way, I'm not going to give up on Amrun.
Well... I suppose...that's about it of catching up on my journal for now. I'm a bit glad to keep this journal to where I could write things down. One of these days in the future, I'll be looking back through it to see of how far I've gone in life and what trials there were along the way.
