I did as Lord Elrond commanded and found my way to the refuge of Celondim. It was not an easy journey, for I lost my shoes and my cloak when I was wading around in a creek looking at a fish. I suspect a bandit stole them. I asked this accursed bird if it saw the thief, but it only chuckled and went back to preening its feathers. It is about as useful as an apple dumpling thrown down a rat-hole, and I wish it would stop following me.
I presented myself before the Loremaster Athradir today, and did attempt to hide my bare feet by covering them with mud beforehand, but I do not think my efforts were very successful. He looked down his long nose at me, made a ‘hrmphing’ sound in his throat, and held Lord Elrond’s letter up to the light, as if inspecting its veracity! I suppose he was satisfied that it was genuine, because he told me to go off for a bit, and find some way to make myself useful around town, as he had work to do, and he would consider what to do with me later. Away I went, cast off as a very beggar, though I admit I must look like one. When I get the chance, and the money, I shall fashion myself a new suit of clothing of the style they wear in these parts, which I think is very ugly, and I would rather wear my leather jerkin, but I suppose I must try to fit in with this folk, or they shall think me strange, and I will not be considered a stranger. As the old saying goes, A stranger is like a stink badger in the house: long after he is cleared out, you still smell him in every room.
