Nimuviel’s Diary: Page 14

Iavas day 32, Breeland The weather has much improved since the last time I wrote and I was able to cross most of the Shire and a large enough part of Breeland in the last nine days. I’ve stayed well north of the Old Forest and am approaching the town of Men. There is only a small stream and a couple of farmsteads between myself and them, now. I chanced upon the strangest of persons today. Or perhaps he chanced upon me. I was setting up camp in the shelter of a crescent shaped cliff, and a very pleasant place it was, too: I would have the rock wall to the north of me, keeping out the cold winds that now come to me in the night, and to the west side a crop of trees and foliage that would provide me with enough shadow to cover my presence entirely, or so I thought. How daft are those who think themselves cunning enough not to be noticed, and are so confident in these thoughts that they care not to notice others! I fancied myself so well-hidden that I did not care to be watchful. I had made a small fire and had gutted some small game I had shot earlier that day (my skills with my new weapons increase daily, even if I can only put them to household use thus far) and was just about to roast my catch when I noticed a shadow moving from the corner of my eye, with less abrupt movement than the branches of the trees would move in the wind. Indeed, this shadow seemed watchful and brooding, and just as I reached out behind me to grab my bow and quiver it stepped forward and the shadow revealed himself to be a Man. I’ve known his kind some years. They live in the hills north of Lin Giliath. They go clad in greens and greys and they are a silent folk. This one with me, he is silent, too. He seemed amused over my apparent stunned astonishment over seeing his shape loom over me out of the shadows, though he has not told me so. It must be because he does not wish to embarrass me. He had some small game with him as well, and we gutted it and roasted it along with mine and spoke a little when our bellies were full. He insists I call him ‘Randir’, which made me smile within my mind, for I remember another of his folk asking my master to call him the same, some years ago. He keeps watch now while I write, and when the moon is up right over the ruins to the south of us I shall take over so that he may sleep somewhat. He says he must go to Amon Sul, and I have told him some small part of my business in that part of the land, as well. I can hardly believe it has been only twelve days since I was in the warmth and comfort of I Randír Îdh.