A Kinship History, part 5

I was only ten and eight when I left Gondor searching for what was left of my family. Needless to say that I had greatly underestimated the distance and the perils along the road. Looking back, all the lands I crossed, the rivers I waded, the forests I walked, all seems but small pieces of a larger puzzle. And in each of these pieces I grew a little, in skills, techniques, maturity. Cair Andros, Sarn Gebir, Emyn Muil, South Undeep, Anduin, Mirkwood, East Bight and up along the Celduin, to Dale, city of men and refuge of my last hope. 
To see these names on paper can mislead you into thinking that the journey was short and easy. In truth, by the time I reached Dale, I was twenty and eight. Many people had crossed my path by then, dwarves, elves and even a shape-shifter, by the name of Beorn. 
I didn't see it then, eager as I was to reach my goal, but all of them made me the guardian I am today. 
Alas, it was not to be: Dale proved to be a disappointment of sorts. 
Some of the men seemed to remember one of their own arriving with a samll child, but it had happened ten years before and no one could tell me who or where to find them. Eventually, an old blacksmith took me to the side, as I was pondering upon my next move. 
"The man was a traveller. There was a little girl with him, by the name of Freawyin," he said. "I know there was, because before they left Dale again, she came right to me and she asked If I had a spare sword to give her." Then he laughed, but kindly. "As it happens, I had a small one, a dagger you may call it, but for her it was big enough. She swung it around with a glint of determination in her eyes, before thanking me profusely. 'Does it cost much?' she asked me. I told her no - if it helped her to stay alive and kill a few goblins in between, then I was more than happy to gift it to her. It was the last time I saw her, and I do not know in what direction they went." 
So here I was, in a far away land, unsure of how to proceed. I knew that Freawyin was alive -or at least she had been then- but where, I did not know. I didn't see any reasons to go back, but now I had a renewed hope that I may one day find her. I thanked the old man, paid for my sister's dagger and left Dale. 
Ahead, was the Old Forest road that cut into Mirkwood. If I follow it, I thought, it will lead me through the High Pass and on to Rivendell. Perhaps, Master Elrond would show me the way.