No further delays; when the sun rose, Miss Adriellyn and I were already making our way from Hookworth's gate along the road east. The weather was cold, though not as cold as it had been a few days earlier, and bright and sunny; more similar to my travels bringing a horse from Hengstacer Farms to the Forsaken Inn. Which in itself was worrying. That was the very journey where I learned how much time I lost in the cold, and we would be going a league or so past the Forsaken Inn, to camp by the spring below Weathertop. It's true we were starting east of Bree, while that journey started farther away at Hengstacer Farms; but even so, I worried we might lose more time.
However, we made good time despite the cold. Neither Rascal nor Miss Adri seemed much affected by the chill, and Kestrel simply set his pace by following Rascal, rather than by heeding me. It made for a bumpy ride, and I was quite sore by time we were in sight of the Forsaken Inn, but I didn't want to let on. An Eorling having trouble riding? I wouldn't lie about it, but I can also choose not to make a point of it. Too embarrassing.
We passed a few others on the road, heading west into Bree, or east to points unknown. A few hunters, some bearing their catch, others bearing only disappointed and frustrated expressions. One woman on foot who looked familiar, though I only caught a glimpse; but as she didn't carry a bow, it couldn't be who I thought. One waggon carrying, I expect, a late harvest of winter wheat from some remote farm to Bree's markets. And two or three travelers whose purposes I couldn't guess. But no one that seemed threatening, and no sign of goblins, even near the marshes.
Much of the ride was done in silence, but not all. Miss Adriellyn and I spoke at some length about this and that to pass the time, mostly about what Rivendell would be like, and my reasons for going there. I also told her about the Bree Yule Ball, which she regretted missing. I'm afraid that, as I do when I'm nervous, I talked rather too much about too little, but she was as patient as ever -- or at least she didn't complain aloud. And she seemed somewhat interested in my tales of my life back in Marton, and what she might expect to see next year when we visit together.
It was good to see the Forsaken Inn nearing, and even better to see it fall behind. The last time I stayed there, I threw away my meal and slept outside, despite having wasted coin on both food and room, as both were that awful. Soon, as the sun was nearing the horizon behind us, the looming bulk of Weathertop rose ahead, and we began to climb. Without Adriellyn leading the way, I would have been hard pressed to find the spring; it was much higher, and farther around the mountain's girth, than I had expected, and nowhere near in sight from the road. The water that spilled down from the peak collected in a rocky catch-basin, icy cold and refreshing, and nearby was a niche between stones that made a good place for a camp: the stones reflected the campfire's heat back towards our tents, and kept animals at bay. Under the stars I heard the baying of distant wolves, but none approached the camp.
So far, we're keeping to the plan. Tomorrow's ride will be slightly longer, but hopefully easier, as it'll stay on the road. I hope it won't be windy, because there will be precious little shelter from the gusts.
