Found:
For the first time in a long time, I had a good night's sleep. The nightmares came, of course, they always do, but my slumbering mind was pulled away from them in short order. I can only suppose it had something to do with Ryheric's little trick. Odd that such a silly seeming thing could be so effective. I am left to wonder though...
Is he such a light sleeper that he notices so soon? Did he remain awake and watchful just in case? And could this be a permanent solution? I sincerely doubt a single application will do the job and yet...
I can hardly perform such a thing upon myself. That means either taking him into my tent of a night more regularly - if he'd even countenance such a thing - or simply enjoying it as a one-off and enduring, as I always have. I cannot say that the latter option is overly appealing, but it is what I am used to. The former, far more tempting for many reasons, but highly unlikely.
Endure, it is.
Sitting in the courtyard before the Prancing Pony after lunch, I was happened upon by Clothilde who opted to join me without greeting. Her boldness is so very refreshing! It is almost abnormal for a Bree-lander which, I think, makes me appreciate it more. We spoke for a little while. It was a decent talk. Although the girl has lost much in her short life, she did not speak of it with bitterness. It was presented as naught more than cold, hard fact.
It seems that she wishes to find friends, and may desire to count me amongst them. An interesting notion, I must admit. It might well do her some good to form some bonds with those around her, but I wonder if I am the best choice for such a thing. My tendency to disappear for months without word could prove... difficult for her.
Ryheric would issue a warning over this, I think. He tolerates her, but certainly does not trust her. He does know her better than I. However, whilst some of his observations I would be inclined to agree with, I've yet to see the same in her as he has.
I will be wary, of course. Such is my way. Nevertheless, I prefer to see people with my own eyes rather than through the eyes of others.
I ran into the man himself some time later, hiding behind a rock whilst he played his lute. That may well be a good sign. He seemed happier today, if more... pensive. Despite my high mood, our conversation veered more toward the solemn. He joked in response to my jests, even made one or two of his own, but his heart wasn't entirely in it. Something is bothering him, something beyond the nature of our discussion yesterday I think, but he's not ready to speak upon it yet. Or perhaps he is, but not with me. 'tis all the same in the end. He will talk, or he will not. All that is necessary is allowing him space to decide.
Recent events have spooked him, I suspect. 'tis understandable, but there is little to be done about it, so any concern on my part would be painfuly misplaced and about as useful to either of us as a banquet to a corpse. He's no idiot. He'll come to a conclusion that suits him best, which is all any of us can do. One can only hope, for his sake, that it proves to be the right one for him in the long run.
Time to move the tent, I think. Two days is more than long enough to be in a single spot.
