Dear Father,
I do not know why I am writing this to you, knowing that there is no possible way to establish a correspondence, at least not one that you might return. I have missed you, and Mother, a great deal since your departure to the West. Annachel is off somewhere, doing Eru knows what, though I had thought to catch up to her recently. It is amazing how fast she has taken to the wandering life, having been so studious before your departure. I admit that I am somewhat jealous of her prowess, given that I am supposed to be an able bodied hunter, and she a simple scholar. Yet I still find myself dogging her footsteps as she wanders to and fro across the world. This time, I had heard, from a reliable seeming captain, that she had come to an old forest south west of the human settlement Bree. She had moved on before I arrived here.
I have been hunting in the Old Forest, as the men of Bree call it, for nearly three weeks now. It is hard work, and many times, I find myself quite surprised by the wildlife. I have twice been ambushed by great spiders, and three days ago, I was attacked by an oak tree! I am still recovering from the scrapes and bruising that I endured in my wild flight away. I have taken to collecting ore, when I find it, and selling it to a merchant caravan that has a camp on the outskirts of the forest, along with the skins and some of the meats from my hunts. I have even been employed (Me! Silly Artue!)to hunt bears for their skins on occasion. There was one man who hired me to hunt for trophies. I nearly refused, feeling a bit ill at the thought, but if I am to continue to hunt down my wayward sister, I need the funds. I am amused to realise that many of the men believe that, just on the virtue of being Eldar, I must have great wealth. How do they come up with such tales?
I bought this journal from a trader near the town of Bree some weeks ago, before I came this far. I am unsure why I bought it, surely the money could have been used more wisely, but I suppose writing helps with the loneliness. I know that you never meant for that, never meant for either of us to leave home so quickly after you did. I remember well that you jokingly (were you joking?) bade us stay in Edhellon until we were ready to sail out to join you. I might have, had the Incident with Annachel not sent her running, and me after her. I still do not know exactly what happened, only that it involved that strange Man that often passed by the haven.
Bree was horrible. How do Men live like that, all pressed together in their small and unstable looking homes, amid the smell of their own excretions? I made some small use of their smithing facilities to make some new gloves. I am getting better at smithing, though much of what I make is too heavy and noisy for my own use. Perhaps some of the people there would be willing to trade some leather goods in exchange for my elven made Armour? It is a thought, in any case. I did sell some of the Iron Bands that I had made back home. Perhaps I should take up your craft again, and do you proud, rather than sell all of the ore that I find.
I have heard that an Elleth matching Annachel description has been seen in The Shire. I cannot think of any reason that Annachel should be there, except that it is possible to reach Ered Luin by that way. I intend to follow as swiftly as I can. Perhaps she means to join the community at Duillond or Celondim? I worry that she has left no word, surely she has realised that I follow?
