Entering the Barandalf
At first light it was time for the unlikely party to move on. Rick had already eaten breakfast by the time Chaney had risen from slumber. He had kindly left some provisions for her which included an apple and pear stew complete with a little bread.
This she were grateful of as she was feeling very hungry and having had, to start with anyway, a broken sleep, would make her feel a little better within herself.
The two companions would gather and pack their respective belongings, say their farewells to the hobbits, well Rick would anyway. Chaney would in her very own way offer a slight nod of her head. After this they would both walk the short distance to the small track which led away from the hobbit camp.
Here Rick would give Chaney two options as to their travel northwards. The first option being the longer, but safer, route following the Brandywine River north along its sandy banks. The area they would be entering was called that of the Barandalf.
This was an extremely long and sandy area of banks and hollows as it followed the river its full course from way up north where its source flowed out of the great Lake Nenuial. The Brandywine would then flow far south until its meeting with Belegaer, or the Great Sea.
Of course Chaney did not know of this, however Rick was knowledgeable in the lays of the land. She did not care, however, for histories of the world.
The second option would be to head through the forested areas known as Men Erain, however, this would be fraught with danger. This would be a more direct and shorter route.
Chaney decided upon the less dangerous but longer journey and travel along the banks of the Brandywine. The two companions would set off and head northwards away from Dwaling. They headed steadily onwards down through the grassy knolls. These would eventually turn more sandy as they moved ever closer to the river and its sand banks.
They would stop just short of the first great sand bank. Chaney looked out toward the river and its sand banks which stretched as far as the eye could see.
Rick turned to her and said “Behold the Barandalf, I hope you do not mind sand in your boots? “
Chaney simply glared at him and turned her thoughts to far worse than sand before slowly climbing the first bank.
