Laurelindo

The sudden ending of my guard-duty, and the headache from the battle wound I incurred was very hard for me to endure, but I bore it as well as I could.

On the 24th day, we left that swampy part of the Tauremorna when Lord Veryacano led us away under the trees and across a small river to the southeast. He seemed puzzled, as if something he expected never came into sight, and would often pull out the map that he copied from Grimbold’s men, and stare at it blankly.

There being no way to cross the fords of the Isen, because of the invasion of Men, it was determined by Lord Veryacano that we would make our own crossing, and he bravely waded into its icy waters to secure a rope bridge. The River Isen is large and swift-flowing; and it was with great difficulty Lord Veryacano got through it: sometimes he would be in the waters up to his neck, but by good fortune, and his mighty strength, he was able to cross over.

My kindred, not content with any common enemies that lessen and destroy us, were set on reducing the great multitude of despicable Men into far less numbers, and deliver a powerful blow to our Enemy by purging the land of their tribe, settled so close to the borders of the Horse-Men’s lands; and by this bloodshed, show that we stood on the same side, and meant them no ill will. It was decided that one of the Dun-Men would be spared, to become our bartering tool to the Horse-Men.

I was still thinking about my healing supply and about how I could reduce the time of preparation to finish three of my antidotes sooner rather than later when I joined lord Tindir, lady Himwen, lady Nirhen and Telpenaro.

Lady Himwen asked about my work, if I had the time to finish it. Well, for the moment yes, as some preparations needed some rest during the fabrication process and I was sadly at this point on them.

I was enjoying doing nothing for once, in relative peace as lord Veryacano was nowhere in sight and Parnard was well enough last time I checked on him, when I noticed lady Nirhen close by. I knew she wouldn't answer, and would probably see it as an annoyance, but I couldn't resist asking her if she was well, it was too tempting. She didn't answer, as was expected, though she didn't ignore me completely which, I'll admit, surprised me.

It was a good morning to go search for some fresh eggs. I had seen a wild hen walking around when we arrived, and there she was again. I do not think she was happy of me taking her eggs, but the Elves in the camp were waking up and there would be nothing better for them to have with their bread than eggs and some tea from Rivendell, from the very last leaves of it. I also used a kettle to get some cleaner looking water from the nearby stream – it would be all boiled, after all.

I lie down and look at the rest of the company around me, and I felt each one being alone with their own thoughts. Lord Veryacano had told us to watch over the massive camp of dunlendings warriors while he considered Parnard's idea of sending his falcon down.

The 15th day we left the Gravenwood, crossing through it not far from where I was caught in the accursed orc mangling trap. It was to the Gap of Rohan that we were bound, to recover Lord Anglachelm, at least, that was the idea.

It seems to be hours since I left lord Estarfin and Turmagor to go to sleep. And still sleep evades me as the past two days events keep coming to my mind. Oh, alright, not all these days’ events. Just some of them.

How Parnard basically owes his life to the fact he was suffering from more than one arrow wounds to beginning with and how I didn’t noticed the state of Parnard’s ankle, which could have healed badly, provoking a permanent fragility of the joint, chronic pain and blood circulation problem.