It feels like forever since I was last here.
Mother and I made the journey to Bree quite quickly. Jikista opted to stay behind. I think there is a tribesman she has her eye on. Still, mother might not be as young as she once was, but she remains a hardy woman and difficult to tire. I think she rather enjoyed the journey itself. I know I did.
We went first to Esteldin and there changed clothing. I think we might have caused quite a stir had we gone through Trestlebridge in our leather and fur. The dress fits her perfectly and it looks good on her. Seeing her now, it is hard to believe that she is Iron Crown from her looks alone.
Speaking of looks; my own has changed for the better. Along the road, I caught sight of myself in a still pool. My time amongst the Hillmen has done me much good, it seems, for I have put on a little weight and no longer look like a walking corpse. I was surprised to find that I now appear to be simply slender, lithe and have some muscle to my body, even if it is not very much. Added to that, mother pierced my right ear. It still throbs a little, but that is easily ignored. It is strange, however, to have such a weighty thing hanging on one side of my head, nevermind wearing jewellery at all! It is a beautiful thing, though; black metal inset with three red gems.
We stayed in Esteldin for the eve, then travelled onward to Trestlebridge. A few goblins tried to attack us along the way, but mother and I made short work of them. My training at the hands of Blaecwyn and her men is paying off, it seems, and mother is deadly with her walking staff!
Passing through Trestlebridge unmolested and without even a second glance from the inhabitants gave us both a little more confidence in my mothers ability to not appear as what she truly is. Even so, she wished entrance to Bree under cover of darkness just in case. Thus did we enter the town under cloak of eve with not so much as a passing glance from the watchers.
Mother seemed quite impressed by the town itself. Less so with the people in the inn. Life out in Angmar is harsh whilst life here in Bree is much more sedate. She believes that difference has caused the people to become lazy; drinking in the inn when they should be turning their hands to other work. She does not think much of the food either, for all that I introduced her to honey-cake.
Still, I took her to the house I am to purchase from Blaecwyn. She was very much enamoured of it, I could tell. Interestingly, she wishes me to have another bed brought in, so I assume that she plans for us to stay for quite some time. Whilst that is not necessarily a bad thing for it does give me ample chance to catch up with all my friends here, still I find myself feeling a little out-of-place now. I look forward to our return to Aughaire.
