I have taken a minor detour on my way back to Bree-land. I had planned to pass through Tal Bruinen on my journey anyway, but it was not until I left Eregion and entered this valley that it occured to me to seek out Dellosad.
There are not many people in this area but I was lucky enough to stumble across a hut belonging to a fisherman and his wife some way along the river. Neither of them seemed all that happy when I told them where it was I wished to go but after a few dire warnings and predictions, they were kind enough to give me the necessary directions.
A goodly while later I came upon my destination. I must admit that there is a strange air of eeriness and opression about the place, especially when walking along the carved tunnel that leads from Tal Bruinen to the fortress courtyard. It is pretty here in a mildly creepy way, but then I would suppose that any abode as well-preserved and yet as devoid of life as this one would feel the same.
Arugru does not like it here. He stays close to my legs, tail and head down and his ears flattened to his skull. Every so often he will make a nervous whining sound at the back of his throat as if asking me if we can leave yet. For his sake we shall certainly depart soon, but I cannot do so yet.
This is definately the place from my memories, I know that much. I recognise the shape of it, the flowers, the tall stairway at one end and even the carved pillars encircling this small garden area. I have been here before, that is certain, but I cannot quite recall what happened during that time.
From the corner of my eyes, it seems that the shadows shift and change, chasing one another or reaching out to me just at the edge of my vision. Whenever I turn my head to look at them more fully though, they are naught more than simple normal shadows - static and clinging to the surfaces. Is this what I meant when I told the others that the shadows had found me here? Is this what I saw when I was broken?
It feels like some fundamental truth is just within my grasp but snatched away every time I try to close my hand around it. It is frustrating to be so close to it and yet so far away. Perhaps there is something else that I need to know first. Perhaps there is some other truth that I must discover before I am ready to learn this one.
