Found:
It's been a very strange couple of days.
A trip to Atharann's study for more of that soothing goop has certainly done my face some good now. The bruises are fading swiftly, and my eye opens almost fully again. I found Dara there, looking over her new armour. Talk turned to darker subjects and, in light of the Dundan's admissions, I found myself speaking of one of my own. I've no doubt the girl thinks worse of me now than she did before, but it's to be expected. It may even be for the best.
You have that thing all wrong, you know. It wasn't my guilt that drove us forward. It was yours. So strong as to be overwhelming. Those men deserved all that and more. I did that which was necessary, as I always do,
Hm. Thank you for the insight there. It does explain a few discrepancies.
Regardless, she seemed... discomforted at first, which is, I suspect, a normal reaction from a normal person. Although, once matters were given more context she appeared to accept it a little more. I do wonder though...
After Atharann went outside to chop wood, we had a bit of a poke through the place. Well, I did anyway. She was mainly looking at the maps. I came across a ledger with my name on it. If that's not an invitation to read, I don't know what is. My name, after all. The contents were mostly mundane. A very well-drawn portrait of me, accounts of prior meetings. It was the last entry that caught my attention though. I'm really not sure what to think or how to feel about that...
Tell him where to go. We don't need that. We don't want it.
We cannot dictate the feelings of others any more than we would allow them to dictate our own. His perceptions are his and his alone.
I saw Curnden in the tavern a day or so later. I was finally able to make good on that offer of a drink. It's been a goodly time since last we met, and he seemed in fine spirits. He's been away for a while, apparently, but had heard about my recent altercation when he had returned to work. He is, thus far, the only one with enough sense to believe me about that whole ridiculous matter, although he did ask me if I planned to seek retribution over it.
I don't. Doing so would only make things worse, after all, and I am not a woman who seeks out fights for the sake of pride. If the man leaves me be, I'll leave him be in turn.
He also asked me to accompany him to Frostbluff come winter. 'tis a kind offer, of course, and greatly appreciated. However, my dislike for snow and cold makes it a little off-putting and, truth be told, I don't even know if I'll be in Bree at that point, which would put paid to his alternate suggestion of visiting the Bree-land winter festival.
He planned to speak to his peers on my behalf, apparently. Try to convince them that I'm not so bad and certainly no curse-casting witch. He's a good man.
Of course, his words to the other guards will not be enough to keep the townies off my back if these rumours persist. Already, the wife has thrown a tomato at me in public. A small thing, perhaps, but unless it is dealt with matters may well escalate. A delicate hand is needed here, but I have an idea...
Millie may have witnessed the assault by deadly fruit. She didn't ask, though. That's good. I need some time to deal with this and would rather not inadvertently involve anyone else.
I also saw the Bard for the first time since my outburst. I greeted him, asked him to visit me when he has time, though from the look upon his face I'm not so certain that he will do so. I have what I need on the off-chance that he does come, but my hopes are far from high.
You're putting far too much effort into this. Just give him up as a lost cause and walk away. It'd be easier, simpler and still more than the man deserves.
Untrue. He overstepped, yes, but my response was disproportionate. I'll own up to that, even if you - and likely he - won't. And if I'm putting effort in, it's because I believe it warranted.
One more awkward encounter upon a week full of them.
