Part-way through Eregion toward the Trollshaws, another night finds Adriellyn making an additional entry in her journal, taking advantage of the waning firelight.
We had an unexpected meeting last night and into this morning. Delayed us a little, but gave us some news, and a little variety in our travelling fare. Met this bloke name of Firithain, with the usual 'son of, and son of' thing, from the Mark. He hailed us in Rohirric, but given our horses, that would make sense. I mean, Kestrel and Aduial are both bloody obvious as being of Rohirric stock, if you know what you're looking for.
It was quite a surprise to have an Eorling talk to us about Bree-town, and when we asked, then about Hookworth even. Somewhere in there, we switched to Westron again. Oh, I should mention, I suppose, we were just coming down from the Redhorn Pass, so it's not like we weren't where people would meet up if they were going to. But having him be of the Mark, but coming from Bree as we're going back – that was strange.
Still, he had some mead to share, and we split our Bottle-cake dinner three ways instead of our usual two. A little short for dinner, but he went and took down one of the mountain goats, and we set up to drain it and field-dress it, and get it going for smoking after. So, we had a hearty breakfast to make up for our thin dinner, and left Mister Firithain getting his smoked goat rations ready for crossing over Caradhras. Goat-steaks might not be what I'd choose for breakfast if given a chance to dream and wish, but they were a welcome change even so.
He had a little news about Miss Brynleigh, and a brief mention at least of Missus Inayat, and that was good to hear, especially seeing as the news was good. His own business of going back to the Mark to see to his dying father, of course, wasn't so good. Considering – well, a lot of things – I sure hope he gets back in time. He said he would be returning to Bree after, but the question was whether his sister would be with him. Given I don't know her circumstance, I'm not sure which way to hope on that. He seemed a pretty decent chap, though, from what little I could tell with such a short bit of getting acquainted.
We're getting near the way into the Trollshaws. It's hard to believe we'll be back so soon as now looks likely. Of course, it's time to be even more alert now as we travel. Once we get done with being in troll country itself, we'll be getting into the areas where brigands are wandering and desperate. And then there's the goblins, and the less-desperate but better-fed brigands. And, of course, now that we're travelling in even better weather, well, that brings more of them out, too.
My heartache does still hit me hard at times as we ride, but our tale-telling and other conversation has been helping, as has been trying to look ahead. It'll be good to see Audea and Owena and Cesistya and Sareva again. Or at least, I hope it will be. And Marney and my aunt, of course. And lots of other people, if I do see them, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much for anyone who might have reason to travel still being there, let alone wanting to have anything to do with me after so long. But some folks I think I can be sure enough of to manage some hope. And that'll have to do, for now.
