This evening, staring into the fire, I had words with Xandilif. She is in Anorien still, driving out a Uruk captain and his men who had infested a group of ruins, and typically having a splendid time. However at my entreaties she finally agreed to come west once her work is done and see if she might pick up Xanir's trail elsewhere, perhaps at Esteldin and amongst the foothills near Angmar. I think she agreed to such an action simply so that when she finds him she can taunt me over my baseless worry and failure as a huntress for years to come. I can still hear her laughter in my soul. Some days I truly hate her, but in truth her aid will be welcome.
She asked me, at one point, why I did not return to the road and seek him out myself in such places and asked her to do so instead. My relations with the Rangers are far more cordial than Xandilif's after all, and the brave men of Esteldin would surely aid my quest if I asked them. For a moment I had no answer. Indeed for the past several days I rose from my rest resolved to ride forth and seek Xanir amongst the goblin tribes, yet I did not. Why? I chose not to answer and our conversation took other roads, Xandilif is seldom one to stay on a topic long.
On refection, I know full well why I linger in Bree. The people I have met have moved me, and I see there are things here that need doing.
For example, the other day in the Pony I fell into conversation with two local gentlewomen, a wolfslayer of nearby Combe called Leonnie and a copper haired woman called Cilyniton who is a merchant of Bree-land. Both were most reassuring in our discourse concerning Xanir and pleasant to spend time with before a warm fire...however I felt a lingering darkness behind Cilyniton's words, as if she were skittish prey who felt the hunter too close behind her. She was nervous and ill at ease yet seemed quite interested in Leonnie's comments about rustic Combe but unnerved by them as well, as if she feared to say too much. I am unsure if the wolfslayer felt the quiet desperation in her probing questions but I certainly did, and when Cilyniton beat a sudden retreat I was concerned for her.
The next evening, as I relaxed near the clearwater fountain before the Pony, I was pleased to find that Cilyniton sought me out again though her news was less pleasing. She had come to tell me she was going upon the road for a time due to "business". This caused my concern to grow at it was clear this business frightened her and she wished reassurance or at least someone to know of her travel. Somewhere within her, I felt, she feared she would not return from this expedition. I tried to console her as best I could, and learn more of what trial she was preparing to face when my dear Fille arrived from her labors at the forge in quite a rumpled state, the poor thing. We spoke the three of us for a time as I tended to Fille, regarding the nature of trust. After a time and hearing of her thoughts and trepidation I expressed my concern directly to Cilyniton, but she seemed quite determined to see this matter through to its end, despite her misgivings. I think the presence of the Gondorian maiden kept Cilyniton from fully unburdening herself as she had thought to and she fled politely, but I shall seek her out before she departs. There is more here that I wish to understand and I do truly fear for the woman.
Fille also felt the shadow that had touched our companion, and being of a generous spirit she shared my concern for Cilyniton. Bathed in the last light of the setting sun we spoke by the fountain as I enjoyed the grace of her company, however my thoughts kept returning to the copper-haired woman and whatever haunted her.
The past is a dangerous beast when stirred up...I hope Cilyniton is as wary of it as she should be.
