Home again! And with it, all the mixed feelings one would expect. A bit of melancholy that our trip is over, and the lazy, idyllic days of self indulgence are in the past. It is time for me to head back to the barrack stables, and back to Neyaa's farm, while my beloved heads out each day with pickaxe in hand.
Of course, an evening at the Prancing Pony never disappoints, with its medley of characters and their moods. Upon entering, I saw quite a few, unfamiliar faces, but Kris was nearby, so I found a spot near him and we exchanged a few words. Not long after, Amanda slipped in and found her way to me with a big hug. Of course, the matter of her recent behavior weighed on the three of us, and I don't feel I'm remiss in being displeased with her. Kris has been excessively patient and kind with her, and I reminded her that she owes him respect and humility for his efforts to help her. She seems contrite at times, but still falls into angry, sulky moods far too easily. I will continue to be kind to her, and I admire Kris immensely for taking her under his wing. I know she has suffered a great deal during her few years, but I worry for her future if she cannot learn to place herself under authority.
Ces arrived as we were still speaking, and we exchanged a hug and a warm greeting. She is still planning to head west towards Ered Luin, and I bade her not to stay away too long. Quiet and reserved she may be, but she is dear to me, and I find a great comfort in her presence. She will be missed greatly, whether or not she believes me!
I stepped away then, as Amanda and Kris struck up a little tiff next to us. I'd no sooner sat down than I saw Leoffrith enter, giving me a quick nod as he headed over to Barliman with some large parcel in his hands. At the same moment, I felt something shocking; a wet nose pushing against my arm! Startled, I looked down to see a friendly dog whom I've never seen before. 'Twas then that I noticed a man sitting at the far end of the table, smiling and excusing his four-legged friend, who is apparently named "Wage". The man introduced himself as Edwell, though in my distracted haste to follow after Leoffrith, since I owed him a long overdue conversation, I forgot entirely to give my name to Edwell in return. I pray he doesn't think me rude, and I hope I have the chance to correct this in the future.
I finally greeted my fellow kinsman, but before I could say more than hello, the lovely Sareva appeared next to me. We three sat and talked then, and our focus was mainly on Leoffrith's continuing dilemma of how to find some work over the winter, to help him pay for his way home in the spring. I've never seen a man so insistent on being made useful, and paying his dues. I know there must be a dozen tasks he could be put to around Hookworth, but my comrades are not often to be found, and I wouldn't feel right simply pointing him to something without consulting them first. Busy with their own lives and various responsibilities, I know. In the end, I offered to have him meet me at the stables tomorrow morning. He doesn't seem a proud fellow, and I can certainly put a pitchfork in his hand and use his sturdy back to muck stalls and haul hay and straw. Perhaps he can assist me with the training of the horses as well, as that is an ongoing chore. The stabled horses tend to grow lazy and complacent if they aren't kept busy and given something to do, and I spend more of my time putting them through their paces than I do feeding and grooming them. He is a son of Éorl, after all, so there must be some affinity for horses about him! I do know that Arelie has offered work to him as well, so he should have plenty to do over the winter, to make him feel useful and put some coin in his pocket.
