Chronicled in Ost Guruth of the Nain Enidh in the Lone-lands of Eriador,
On this the 9th day of Echuir in the Year 3018 of the Third Age.
I discussed my thoughts this morning with Frideric the Elder, leader of the Eglain, but he deems it unwise to travel on alone, for the road east of Mitheithel is fraught with peril: from Ost Guruth to the ancient Last Bridge, patrols of yrch from the Hithaeglir and wargs out of Rhovanion roam unhindered across the wild hills of Talath Gaun and along the Great East Road.
Now these beasts have entered not into my mind since my chance meeting with Folthorn beside the Old Forest on my first journey to Bree, and Frideric's account of them is a horrifying tale. For they are monstrous wolves, intelligent and malevolent, with eyes shining red and fierce as flames; and they are ridden by yrch in the manner of horses. Their origin is clouded, but Frideric surmises that they might yet have been among the fell creatures of Morgoth in the Elder Days, for it seems to him that they are inhabited by evil spirits (not unlike gaurhoth, for it is likely that they too are descendents of Draugluin, the first Werewolf, or of the wolf-hounds of the line of Carcharoth of the First Age.) All that is certain is that they hail from the northern Vales of Anduin, and are allied with yrch who themselves may yet be the remnants of Morgoth's armies from the years of the Wars of Beleriand. Alas that the Black Hand reaches yet across the Ages and into our time!
And thus have I delayed my journey and so remain in Ost Guruth, and so do I write here to occupy my time. But ever do my thoughts turn to my absent friend, as I recall his foreboding of treachery within the dwarven caravan... could this perchance be the reason for his mysterious return to Bree and misadventure in the Barrow-downs thereafter? I know not if he shared his misgivings with his kinsman, but it seems to me that Orlin has prospered greatly from Todsi's removal as head of the company of travellers. Nor did Todsi, to my knowledge, unravel the mystery of the half-orc bandits while I was away exploring the ruins of Ost Haer with Aric the Stone-speaker; or mayhap he did learn something? And if so, then perhaps he is not recovering in Orlin's halls, but kept prisoner there?
Ae! My mind reels with supposition and suspicion, but where can I seek answers? Not from Orlin, nor the dwarves of the caravan. In Bree perhaps? But my heart yet yearns to come to Imladris and there learn the answers to my own mystery!
No, my heart says more strongly that it is to Bree I must return, if my friend is in need!
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