Day 463
It is sad when people have made a name become an ill omen when spoken. Such a name I came across last evening when I spoke with the woman of Rohan.
Nearby people called upon curses to the tavern with their speech and what they called for came. Dread filled the air and those at the table where asked to mind their tongue but instead it only brought further darkness as the woman of the group rose to approach and speak poorly of my company. My attempt to calm and lighten the air before it would be too late fell on deaf ears.
The name Aallan was spoken and I felt the air darken once more as the name was used to harm. I knew then that speaking this name may bring ill around those who utter it.
Those who called upon a curse on the tavern got their wish fulfilled for not long after a dwarf came who spoke the name of Aallan as well. I watched as the dwarf ventured to the back with the newly wedded, I was not invited to join them and so I remained.
It was then I felt the weight this name has for I no longer wished to stay in the tavern, I felt something was wrong.
I left and made my way but on my path I saw the man on the horse who had followed us some time back. I greeted him and hoped to learn more of him but he was eager for his drink. I tried to warn him of the gloom in the tavern air but he would not heed it and was quick to part from my company.
I fear for what may have happened. I shall however not return to that tavern for some time now. We shall stay at the Mad Boar to thank those who have hosted us and give them our gift. When time comes we will begin our travel to the land of Shire.
With all that happened I was unable to learn more about how to get to the Shire. After speaking with a Hobbit named Clarance, a friend of Brynleigh, he said I would be unable to cross the bridge and needed to go around the land and enter from the north. Said I should bring offerings of mathom which I am still uncertain what are.
We shall travel to Buckland and speak with them. The Hobbit mentioned we may be able to go cross the river by boat from there to enter the land of Shire.
*the writing continues on the other side of the same page*
The day before this evening was a pleasant one however when we met with the man who helped us find the celebration of the newly wedded, Khazim. We had gone to explore the ruins outside the town and while my companion had gone off to find wood for a fire I had remained to enjoy memories of old though my thoughts were interrupted as the man appeared.
It brought me joy to see him again and we spoke. When my companion returned they exchanged their greeting and by the shelter of the ruins we built a fire to sit by and speak.
We learned much about this man and his land, his culture and his tribe. I like to think that he learned much from us as well. It was pleasant to be able to sit there and speak in peace, to see ignorance being replaced by knowledge as the two shared the ways of their land and their people, how each viewed life and death.
We told him of our plans to travel to the land of Shire and further and he was intrigued. I offered him to come with us and although he seemed tempted he has made promises here and commitments. A man of loyalty. Perhaps one day we shall have another companion to join our travels.
Heng learned much this day and I am glad for it and I hope that it has opened his mind further to the world outside his home. That not all are as wicket as stories would tell, even if we have come across foul things even here.
Recently I spoke with a man who goes by the name Kris. We spoke of the brigands me and my companion had found and he told me that it is a mercenary group that has taken upon the foul act of hunting people of the hill side as if they are simple beasts. Him and other seem to be stuck in the illusion that all who are cast from settlements and forced to survive on their own are foul and twisted of mind.
It saddened me greatly that such a narrow view of their own kin has given them the illusion of justice so that they may continue their slaughter. I hold fear that we shall come across more bodies as we did before if this is the mindset of the Bree-landers, but if this is their way I must respect it while I travel through their land.
*An image is painted on the bottom of the parchment, the author/artist making experiments with more tools to work the coal. (image is made by me)*
