Dear Turuviel,
how distant the memory of Duillond is and it's not even that long ago that we have dined and rested there before we continued our journey.
Duillond being the usual stop before Celondim on my usual route, i know the traders and horse masters quite well. Therefore i could secure enough horses for everything, even a few spares plus all needed supplies and food.
Our Lord Tindir shared with me the intended route, going eastwards through the Shire then southwards of Bree. While this is not my usual and preferred route of choice, i do understand the need of keeping close or on the established trade routes, even if this means an increased chance of being noticed. We do have a numerous Host, with civilians and baggage and they cannot possibly follow the wooden game trails that a less conspicuous party might.
Trade routes invite bandits and of those there are enough, mostly around populated areas such as Bree and Ost Guruth. It is for this reason that i usually choose a more northerly path, well beyond Amon Sul, then across the wooden Bree-lands south of Lake Evendim and then as usual, through the wooden cover of the Hobbit-lands. But all this with a less numerous and more agile party.
On the account of this, i also packed enough wood for some basic encampment defenses, in accord with our Hammers. With their military rigour, the camp is erected and secured quite quickly, just in time for evening tea.
Our distinguished ladies of the Harp and Pillar told us many stories of the treasures and mysteries they discovered and hope to decipher more thoroughly at home. Camp life can be quite enjoyable with our dear kin.
We are now half a day's ride away from Bree, a short way away from the last hobbit settlement. Here, in a secluded area off the main road, ideal place for a camp, we have found a man - a ranger from the looks of it - hurt and in need of help. Lenglinn is his name and we, with the help of our healers, helped as best as we could. His injuries were too severe for a quick recovery and we know we'll have to leave him behind. We'll leave him stocked up with some emergency supplies, a good tent and some more medicine. I'm quite confident he'll make a full recovery.
I also managed to get acquainted with a few of our kin. For example Golvagor who is a smith, like my father used to be way back in those days. And then there's Arradril, also an Arrow and very dependable in the field.
Ahh, the candle flickers, close to the end and we have an early start tomorrow.
I hope this finds you well and healthy!
Warm thoughts be with you, my friend,
Eryllin.
