Found:
I left Thorins Hall as I found it: beautiful and strange. I'd only been there for a few days, but however vast this place may be, still it began to feel claustrophobic after a time. The lack of sunlight and outside view has ever been a bane to me. I love being free to wander, or at least having the choice to do so. The home of the dwarves is all walls and stairs. Far too many stairs!
As I made my way back south, eager to explore the more temperate lands there, I happened across Rowan in the Vale of Thrain. Given our similar trajectories, we opted to travel together.
It's a good thing that we did, for this bedamnable snow is a treacherous thing and the ice is out to get me, I'm sure of it! First one of the trees dropped its load of frozen white straight upon my head and later I ended up face-down in a snow bank. The first instance brought a hearty laugh from my companion, making the freezing indignity worth it. The second was entirety my own fault for trying to run, but again, he and I had some fun with it.
Despite being bundled up in my clothes, furs, coat and his cloak yet again - he wrapped it around me before I could protest! - it wasn't long before I was dithering again. So, we opted to set up camp. Just in time too, for shortly after we became comfortable, the wind picked up speed. I would have hated to be outside in that!
It's been a strange evening. He told me more of himself than ever he has in the past. Does he finally come to trust me, I wonder? Or has this change in him also loosened his lips? Time will tell, I suppose.
Regardless, I think I understand him more now. I can see why he acted as he did... Sometimes anyway. There is much that cannot be explained by what I learned this night. Maybe that too will change in time.
I sit here now before the dawn. Outside, the wind whistles. But inside, all is calm and warm. Beside me, Rowan lays sleeping. There's a slight smile upon his lips right now. A pleasant dream? Or a remnant of the eve before? It's been a long time since either of us spent the night in the warm embrace of another person. I think it may have done us both some good.
At least I awoke before him. The man has threatened to steal my bodice in the night! If he does stay with me at my Bree-land home a while, I shall be certain to keep an eye on my dresser drawers, just in case.
