The stars were bright and sharp as I made my way out of the Last Homely House, my possessions bundled and ready. Miss Adriellyn was to meet me at the stables, I was told, but when I arrived there, Rascal was already gone, and the stable-keeper told me I was now to wait at the bridge near the path to the High Moors, as she had some last-minute things to attend. I loaded the last of my possessions onto Kestrel's saddle, then, wondering what useful things I could do, I set out for the market. Maybe I was trying to not think too much about what Mirwen had said, or its implications, but I thought replacing the arrows I'd used thus far, and getting some more trail food -- we had enough, but extra wouldn't hurt -- seemed like a wise thing to do with the extra time I suddenly had.
There was a pavilion of sorts where a couple of Elves sold bows, so I headed there first; but while most of the Elves seemed to speak Westron (usually better than did I), these two, it seems, knew only a few words of it. I struggled to get one of them to understand I was asking for arrows; he kept trying to show me bows, as I hadn't brought mine with me. Luckily, a dwarf named Vagnur Goldhelm happened along; he'd spent some time in Imladris and had learned enough of the Elf-tongue to help me get the arrows I wanted. The Elves didn't have pickled eggs, sadly, but they did have bundles of dried fruits and vegetables wrapped in leaves, which took up a lot of room but weighed nearly nothing, so I bought enough of those for two of us for four days. Vagnur was in Imladris for research as well, concerning his own people, but declined my welcome should he visit the Bree area, as he intended to continue east, and we parted ways.
With nothing left to spend my time on, I walked Kestrel back to the bridge, and once there, passed a few minutes checking him for stones, injuries, or other troubles. Not that I doubted that the Elves had taken good care of him, but I felt better once I'd verified he was d ready for the journey. I worried about how late Miss Adri might arrive, whether we might fall behind our schedule. But I could put off thinking about Mirwen's words no longer.
There was nothing much more to conclude that I hadn't already reached the previous night, or if there was, I did not find it that morning, but still I went over and over it. The thought that I had spent three and a half years in pursuit of a fancy seemed like it ought to make me sad, but strangely, it didn't. For that pursuit had shown me many interesting places, and led me to some wonderful people. It had led me from the idleness of waiting for my life to shape itself, to choosing an apprenticeship in a trade that might let me have a family one day. I had danced, and sang, and worked, and traveled, and wept, and sweated, and laughed. I had bobbed for apples. I had seen wonders. I had made friends, and found a new home.
And when I returned to the Thane, even if I could not return in triumph, lantern in hand, bound to be the hero that saved the Prince, I could still stand proud knowing that I had carried out my duty as far as any man could.
These were my thoughts when Miss Adri arrived, apologizing for the delay and reassuring me, before I even asked, that we would easily keep to schedule as the way would be mostly downhill with the wind at our backs. "But afore we goes too far, I gotta show y' the way back," she said, as she urged Rascal up the hill.
"The way back?" I asked.
"I were told y's welcome 'ere, so I gotta show y' the way, if'n y' comes back on y' own."
I expressed that I didn't think it likely, since the road was probably still too dangerous for me without her help. She agreed, though she also mentioned that might change as I grew more capable with swordplay and after I'd traveled more. As we rode, she pointed out a place where, unseen to our eyes, Elven archers waited to stop any intruders that had somehow slipped past the hidden entrance, and told me a few words I could speak in Sindarin if I had been forced to lead someone here, to inform the archers that I was under duress and my companions could not be trusted. As we departed the valley, she showed me a white stone, and a group of two trees whose branches had grown together, signs I could use to find the path back in, and had me try it a few times until I was sure I could find it. It was striking how easy it would be, even if one were in just the right spot, to miss the path, and yet even while being led into it, to not realize when the moment was when one passed into what was hidden.
The way back down the High Moors was much easier, but the cold, once we left the valley, was bitter. We did have the wind at our back, blowing down from the Misty Mountains, perhaps even from atop the High Pass. Better behind than before, but either way, it chilled the blood and made the journey slow. Miss Adri also showed me the rust-red stones buried amongst the hard-packed soil that one could use to find the path from the Ford up to the pass, and once I could find them, had me lead the way. As we went, I told her what Mirwen had told me, and my conclusions. She seemed to agree, and was glad to see my pride was overshadowing any disappointment.
As before, there's no good place near the Ford of Bruinen to set up a camp, sheltered from wind and weather and the wild beasts that roamed, so our evening was cold and dreary. The trail food of the Elves, though adequate, was unsatisfying, but when mixed with one of Miss Bottle's Bottle Cakes, and a bit of jerky besides, they made a most hearty soup. We both gazed into the campfire lost in our own private thoughts. I wondered what Miss Adri pondered, what secret business she had in Imladris, and would have when we returned. My thoughts were of home. I thought of Muffin, and Trouble, and even Dig, and Miss Brynleigh having to tend them without my help. I thought of Miss Syaven and wondered if, since our dance, she'd thought of me at all. I thought of all the other people of Bree-land I knew, and hoped they were warm and full of cheer, and would be glad to see me. Just three more days, if all went well, to be back home again.
