It is night, the air is clear and the stars shine brightly over our camp. I am sitting watch once more, I think we finally made it out of those troll-infested cursed woods. Ruins of old elvish towers can be seen on the high ridges to the south. These are the fields of the dried up rivers we passed over a month ago.
1. Women.
My stay in Bree was more restless as I would have hoped. I met this wonderful young noble woman who me and my brother saved from the clutches of the evil men. She was kind to me and I never thought she would wish to see an insignificant man with a poor bloodline as myself, for a second time. Her presence around me set my loyal shieldmaiden on fire. It was a fire that would have set the town ablaze. From that point I got caught in trouble caused by my own foolishness, which turned out to be a big mess. Her fire, however, did not only destroy, it also set a spark in my own chest which now turned into a fire I no longer can keep under control. We try to hide it still, but the eyes of Ferawyn escape nothing. It is unbearable to act 'casual' to her, I do not know if I can much longer..
2. Trolls
We set out of Bree last week, everyone seemed elated to finally start a journey which has been a topic of discussion for many a month. Yet we also left many friend and kin behind. It is different to travel with a larger mounted group, we attract way much more attention compared to our previous journey on foot. All went well and easy as we rode through the wastelands that lay east. To my dismay we had to enter the forests again after the last bridge. Our presence did not go unnoticed. Rocks and boulders the size of dogs were soon thrown off a cliff to our company. We had to seek shelter behind a rock formation. The throwing continued and it was a matter of time before people would get hurt, I rode towards the cliff to provoke whoever was throwing all this debree. Trolls.. I had just pulled up my leg before a large boulder smashed my steed Graegwine to bits. I rolled over the forest floor, and felt my kin pull me to safety. The horse must have broken every rib, as it lay moaning on its side. Melowen had to take him out his misery with her crossbow. It was the best horse I have had, shame it was only for a short while.
3. Elves
The upcoming sun made the trolls flee and we made it out of there. We rode further through the forest. Some insisted on forsaking the known path to seek more supplies in some elf valley, taking us deeper in the forest. Some have respect for elves, yet I fear them, and heavily objected for seeking them out. To my relief we could not find the valley of the elves before sunset, so we set camp on an elevated and rocky clearing out of the dense forest. Here we rested for a few days. Standing watch most nights is a task I like to fullfil. Ever since the head of Leofmund had been brought to me I am staying ever more vigilant. There is a chance the wizard knows of our journey, and he may have send his hunters upon us. Most of my kin think I am worrying to much, but they do not know of Leofmunds demise except my brother and Wulfreda. Not to mention the constant presence of those black birds.
4. Horses
This new scholar girl, returned with a new horse for me. She bartered it with elves she said, yet I had a hard time to believe her story. It was a wild beast which did not accept me as its rider. By force I got him to obey some orders, but every chance he gets he will run away, in my annoyance I named him 'mule'. And he did run away after another troll attack. At one night scouting around the camp me and three shieldmaidens were attacked by strange branch covered trolls. I recall Ferawyn being grasped by roots coming out of the ground. Soon after I charged in, I was launched into the air by one of the troll his arms, knocking me out when I hit the forest floor. When I woke up the trolls were dead and the ravaged looking shieldmaidens were licking their wounds. There was no sign of my horse who ran south. Following its tracks we incidentally found a new passage going south, out of the troll forest. At a pond we found mule, and Ferawyn did an attempt to gain its trust. At first it seemed mule would run off, but her soothing voice and some nuts was too much for the wild steed to resist. The horse walked to her and Ferawyn simply grabbed its reins and mule was mine again, impressive to say the least.
5. Dwarves
We keep running into dwarves. Not without reason though, they give us an alternative route through their mines, for a payment. The old contract of Irwthryth still holds. They are quite sure our path through the mountains will claim our lives. Yet the stories of their mines keeps me from willing to entering it. It is no place for a horse, I bet my kin will not leave their trusty steeds behind. Besides, I am reluctant to put my life in the hands of a dwarf. But I could make one exception, if the mountain path turns ill.
