((The musings and thoughts of Gold as his mind wanders of back to Umbar.))
I love Bree. Don't get me wrong... The green grass and trees, all the lakes and streams, the rich farmland, and even snow... This is all still new to me and I love it.
But I miss home. I miss Umbar. The heat of the desert sun and the hot breeze of the Southern coast. The crystalline blue waters shimmering in the sun's light. The city made of white and beige stone. I miss the bustling crowd of the market, and hearing merchants hawk their goods. To smell the spices and the tea, the perfumes and the fresh fruit. I miss the docks, the white sails and dark masts, the 'Umbarean trees' as we used to call them. The smell of salt, fish and wood. The sounds of the wooden ships creaking with the tide. The piercing cry of the gulls and the constant thrum of the sailor's songs. I miss the taverns, to hear the singing and the drums, the jingle of the dancer's costumes and the music. To smell the rum and the arak filling the air, and tobacco smoke strong in the air.
Even more so, I miss my old house. As much as I hated it... I miss it. The tall white walls and thick, black iron gate bearing our family's crest, the symbols of safety and peace from the busyness of the outer world. To a child, it was a palace.
It was a place of work; with the merchants coming in and out to meet with my father and to do their business. the soldiers; a place to train and to serve, to protect our household. For the courtesans and entertainers, it was also a place to serve and entertain, filled with music and laughter. With dancing and bright colours of the ladies silks, the jingling of their jewelry and coin-sashes. But to us slaves, it was a place of brutality, torture, and unending work. But we were safe here. Safe from the criminals outside those gates, safe from murderers and thieves.
We were respected back home. Those who bore the crest of the Umaarah's were respected and feared. My father has gained reputation in the Silk Merchant's Guild and has been chosen to be one of the four councilors running that Guild and the rest of Umbar. We were considered one of the Great Families of Umbar. The ones that held most of the naval power in that city.
I miss home. I would go back if I could. I oft find my thoughts drifting back to the ever shifting dunes and the great port. I yearn to walk those roads again and to be home once again.
