choices

Preparations to be made. I left him scouring the refuge for whatever can be spared or bartered for. It is better so - I trust his judgement - what do I know about snow? Time too, for him to reflect upon the choice he has made ... or his victory... however he may see it. Godrich at Ost Forod gave me his report. The information from the woman I found holds true. Now I must choose, and hope I do not choose ill. Do I trust Amlarad with this, in the hope that he may have more information to add? Or do I keep my own counsel, as is my want? I do not want these northerners to act without my hand on the helm, I fear that he will consider it their business... and there will be more argument. But ... I believe he has a certain wisdom, and in truth I would be interested to hear his counsel. As to trust ... how do we know who to trust, ever? Trust works until it is broken. I am far from home, further than I could ever have envisaged. I bear the burden of choice, of Godrich's safety, of completing my orders however dark they are. It is a lonely thing, this. I would that I could trust, even for a short time, and hold these burdens more lightly. But trust is a dangerous path. Once begun more and more is given. Once secrets begin to be spoken they slither from their hiding like a nest of snakes and nothing is ever safe again.