I thought yesterday was bad. Well, it was, but today has been a definate contender to the crown of Worst Day This Month.
It started off well enough. After a good nights sleep my mood had improved drastically. I spent a good portion of the morning having a pleasant conversation with a man named Lenwood and a hobbit called Garradoc.
Saelran passed by, so I excused myself to talk to him. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Drevorin was nearby and saw us conversing. I told Saelran that Davick was innocent of the incident in Combe and that Drevorin had threatened harm to Blodwynn, then we parted company. As I was making my way back to the common room of the inn, Drevorin pulled me aside and began asking questions. Luckily, I was able to convince him that Daigan and I are no longer on speaking terms - which is true - and that Saelran was no friend, just an interefereing old man. He let me go on my way and everything was fine for a time.
Later, I saw Blodwynn and we spoke. I really do bear no ill-will toward her. It is far from being her fault that Daigan is such a twit. She told me some of what had happened; how Drevorin had been demanding answers from Daigan, but he had refused to give them and of how she had then spoken to Drevorin to find out what he wanted. That, apparantly, resulted in him threatening her life to make Daigan angry.
I was reassuring her that it was not her fault when Drevorin appeared. Having heard much of his methods from both Davick and Daigan in times gone by, I thought it best that Blodwynn and I leave quickly. This we did and, to my consternation, he followed.
Having a good idea what that would mean if he caught us in a quiet area, I bade Blodwynn to run. Together we got to the south gate with him not far behind, so I told her to get on a horse and just go. It was a split-second decision, and one that I would make again, that I should stay. I know his type, I have lived and breathed with his type. Blodwynn was too far ahead by then, but he would follow me for I was an much easier, and closer target upon which to vent his ire. My plan was to lead him away, outrun him and get back to somewhere more densely populated, but I misjudged how close behind us he was. He caught me.
He is much larger and stronger than I, but then so is almost everyone. It did not take him much to drag me unwillingly along an alley. After pushing me up against a wall, spouting some threats and pulling his sword, I was able to get away. For such a large and imposing man, it seems he is overconfident around small women. He did not take into account my size or lack of girth and left an opening large enough to me to slip through. I tried to stab him in the hip on my way past, to slow his inevitable pursuit, but he is far better trained than I - which is no surprise - and manahed to fend off my weak attack whilst catching me a glancing blow in the process. Nevertheless, I ran for all I was worth.
Eventually, I managed to lose him along the Scholars Stair, but by then I was bleeding badly from two cuts recieved - one just below my collar bone and one across the back of my shoulders - and my face was aching from where he had back-handed me earlier. To my surprise, Davick appeared then and whisked me away atop his horse. Odd that a man like he could have such a flair for the dramatic.
Looking back on it all, a part of me wishes that I had never returned to Bree. Two days there and I end up having my trust broken, losing friends and gaining enemies. My back, my chest and my face all pain me terribly, but I know that it is my own fault. I did not have to go with Blodwynn; I could have just told her to run. I did not have to stay behind to lead him away; I could have taken a horse of my own. Still, I know that I would make the same choices again.
Another part of me, however, is glad of it all. I know now that Daigan cannot be trusted. It is a bitter lesson, but better to be learned than unknown. At the same time, all of this has made me realise something; I am not afraid anymore. I am not afraid of what Davick or Drevorin will do to me. I am not afraid of what the men from my past will do should they find me. I am sick and tired of being frightened, frowned at, looked down upon, hurt and insulted. I will not take that any more. I will not walk in fear of the actions of despicable men. I will not bow to them or run away. I might not be able to fight much as yet, but I can certainly stand my ground. It is only a matter of time before I build on what little I have been taught and learn to do more.
