In a small stone walled room there is little furniture. A simple wooden bed under a small window, a vase of wild flowers sat upon its sill. A bedside table made from an old crate given a new life, its top covered by an old cloth that has been lovingly embroidered with pictures of grasses bordering running streams and tall trees. On the other side of the room is a small desk an ink well and pen take pride of place in the centre and above it a small shelf carries a few volumes of poems and tales. There is also a large leather bound book, it looks careworn and the ribbon holding it together has been delicately tied in a bow. It would if opened display the thoughts of the owner of the room, those thought but never said:
Times are changing. I think that is the traditional way of expressing what is going on at least. Things are happening. Happening fast, so fast that I am not even sure what is going on if I tell you the honest truth. Everything is just spinning about. Words thrown about all over the place, new ideas, hastily made choices. I’m not sure if I am doing the right thing, going the right way, if I lost sight of what my intentions are? If I even know what my intentions are.
Well some half sane rambles are not going to help clarify the matter at all. I simply have to get a grip, get everything written down and then see if that makes some sense.
A meeting was called by the Master-in-Arms of the Bree Town Guard, the notice in the jail was written with such a tone that upon first reading it was already clear it was not going to be a quiet meeting, and that was right it was one of the most dramatic I had been too.
The meeting was led by Garriot Bilberry he started with some lengthy discussion about the level of crime in Bree and the treatment of the Town Guards by the hooligans that can be found within its walls. He went over many examples of the foul behaviour he had witnessed, making these vile vagabonds the emphasis of his speech. It was as if working in Bree was really quite horrid, which I was not all that sure of.
It was clear this drawn-out talk had some purpose although it was not clear to me what it was for quite some time. After over an hour of this exchange finally the purpose for the whole assembly was announced. Garriot had been re-hired as a private mercenary. I think he said it was something he had done for many years before heading to the guard, but I am not sure. So he was up and off out of Bree which was not much of a shock after the early conversation had taken place.
What was a shock was he wished for many of us to accompany him. Including myself. I was amazed and confused; there were so many questions that needed answering. Who was it we would be working for? What about Bree? Where would we stay? Would we get paid? There was simply a rush of enquires all at once. And Garriot tried his best to answer them; of course he had just taken the job himself so he could not answer everything could be answered straight off the bat so on some things so it looked like we were going in part-blind.
We were then asked to decided, the Bree Town Guard or The Volunteer Militia? Many chose swiftly most going straight for the Militia. I myself and a few others required a little more convincing. After all I joined the guard because of Alf, what would he think of all this? I spent some time pondering that, it seemed so strange to consider moving away from the area he knew and loved, the places we grew up together in. I came slowly to realisation I was thinking about it from my own cautious point of view, and not really thinking of Alf’s opinion at all. He would tell me to grab it with both hands, the chance to explore the world and get paid to do so he would have loved that.
I signed up for the Militia.
I do hope it was the right choice. Writing it all down makes it seem much clear, much less hectic, and makes my answer seem just that bit more justified. It happened so quickly the speed is what made me uncertain. I have always been one to plan ahead, and look at everything with meticulous detail. I think I made the best choice though. As it was a spontaneous one, Alf would approve.
