It's been an hour since my last meal, and nearly a day since my meal before that. Aside from a few cakes and biscuits I managed to pack, my diet has become rather scanty. My thoughts have remained with Blackberry, and some good news and fortune regarding her dire situation has seemed to inspire hope in me, and of course replenished my natural appetite.
At dawn I left Buckland. I nibbled a biscuit for breakfast while I saddled Blackberry and managed to get her to drink half a cup of water prior to departure. We left as hastily as possible in her circumstance. Blackberry was packing essential foods and water for our journey to Bree, and I my usual pack of a cloak, snacks and pipeweed. No time or need to bring the lute. Essentials only. I feared the extra weight on her back could do more harm than good, but thought it necessary for our walk to Bree. A dozen-and-a-half leagues or so to the Big City is torture for a Hobbit on foot, but for an ill and saddled pony I dare not ponder. I left the cart nearby the stable in Buckland, covered as much as could be done, and pleaded the stable master to show a bit or mercy and have an eye for thieves. I suppose I shall see if a Buck can keep his word.
Her pace remained steady throughout the early morning. I felt like a tater-head thinking walking was the same as riding. It certainly felt different. Much longer and farther on foot, indeed, it seemed. Perhaps packing only snacks was a grievous mistake, as my belly seemed to roar more often than Blackberry whimpered. Luncheon is certainly not the same as being around a table, but eating a biscuit beginning to stale while sitting on a blanket by the roadside with Blackberry was all I felt that mattered. Soon she would get some aid, I hoped. She drank half a pint of water and two bites of a carrot at noon, but remained feverish and fatigued. Fear can be a fickle friend, but often motivating. Perhaps the Big Folk are onto something wearing those metal dresses and fighting for what they believe in. I certainly believe in Blackberry, and I find it more than worth the inconvenience of having no comfort for the day. I dare say fear of her nature certainly motivates me to move on, no matter the pain in my knees and the soreness of my feet.
I recalled a camp on the far side of the median to Bree on my journey last. Hunters and traders, but a place to camp should her fatigue force us to stop for the night. Eventually, I could see the smoke rising on the horizon. Surely no more than a mile away, but Blackberry began to fall into a more dire state. It's as if every step caused more pain. The closer to safety she moved, the more pain she had to endure. My poor girl. That last mile was surely one of discomfort for her, only finding myself uncomfortable empathetically. I'm sure the road felt like walking on a path of exploding fireworks at the Party Tree to her. Alas, she was strong. A few words of comfort and a few strokes of her mane seemed to provide enough motivation for us to continue.
We arrived near tea time, and made for a nearby fire. Strange. With her fever, I figured heat would be her last desire. I removed her saddle and placed down her bowl alongside her with cool water as she lay nearby the fire. Looking for help seemed a failure at first. Most of the Big Folk seemed to ignore me or were uninterested or incapable, but help can come in the strangest of places. Fate is also a curious thing. It seemed a rider, hooded and masked, was coming from the west, and at the same time a lovely and fair Big Miss was coming from the east. A scary fellow with that mask, he was, but they seemed to know each other, and all the Big Misses I've met so far seemed rather kind. And right I was - they answered my call for help.
I felt less intimidated by the rider, learning his name to be Rovenon, after realizing his anxious and nervous nature. He also had a stutter which seemed rather queer for a Big Folk dressed so frighteningly, but kindness is a virtue to be esteemed most of all, and my new friend seemed quite an example of such. Even a bit of trickster he was, as his recommendation for treatment was changing the horseshoe on my dear Blackberry. That wasn't the first time I laughed at someone's expense, and certainly willn't be the last. The lovely Big Miss was truly good fate coming to fruition. She seemed a natural with horses and said Blackberry had a horse flue. I suppose misfortunate returned the favor when she laughed while I remained confused why she thought Blackberry had recently acquired a chimney. A flue is apparently an illness as well, and fitting of her symptoms. I later learned her name was Miss Brynleigh, and she tended to Blackberry like she was her own. She is delightful and kind. I think I shall host a contest between her an Miss Owena for the nicest Big Miss in Bree. Or maybe a celebration. Don't want to find myself in poor thoughts between them. But, who would've thunk these two Big Folk would come to the aid of a Hobbit? I suppose I'm learning to trust someone until it's broken, and give them the benefit of the doubt like they did for me. But, I digress.
Miss Brynleigh said she required a few herbs in Bree and needed to move Blackberry to the Big City. A scary proposition. Apparently this flue can get worse if left untended. My two new friends suggested I head back to retrieve my cart, considering Bree was my original destination. They assured me their oversight and care for Blackberry while I would be gone, and Rovenon offered his stallion, Tin Rock, at my disposal. At least that's what his name sounded like. Queer name for such a fine stallion. Certainly Billy or Chuck would've been a fitting name for a stallion that seemed so bold and fearless? But I suppose rocks have little to fear aside from the occasional collision with an Orc face. A dreadful fate that rock must've had, but this Tin Rock was certainly a sturdy steed. It was obviously something of a trophy horse, clad with fine saddling, and fine cloths sticking out of the saddlebags, and the saddle easily adjustable to fit a Hobbit. The fastest of stallions if I've ever seen one. I made sure to strap myself in threefold. A Hobbit would surely plummet to his demise at that height and speed!
Nonetheless, my journey to Buckland was safe and quick without any danger aside from starvation. The stable master kept his word on watching my cart, to which I offered a barrel of pipeweed and a sack of carrots in compensation. He declined, although I hastily tossed both of them to him before my departure back to camp. I latched on Jim to head the cart and tied off Rovenon's steed alongside him. Two is better than one, I thought, and boy I was right. Jim could barely keep up, but Tin Rock carried the wisdom to realize a maximum pace for both stallion and pony. I made it back to camp before nightfall, just in time to eat and spend some time with Blackberry. Miss Brynleigh said her progress remained the same, but I could sense a bit of chipper spirit coming from my girl. Perhaps she knew she was in the right hands, or at least on the way to becoming better. Maybe she was getting better because Miss Brynleigh is like a lady wizard! I shall await fireworks.
The fire is exceptionally warm tonight. I can only imagine it feels so wonderful following a true full days ride in the cool of an oncoming winter, with a thought that Blackberry will soon be better. We ride out tomorrow for Bree. While I find comfort around the fire with warmth and food, I also find it in company and friendship. Hope was with me, and perhaps it is with us all. Is there really such a thing as being in the right place at the right time? It seemed I was today. Did fate bring us together? Maybe I'll never know the truth, but I've learned that putting your mind to something eases its accomplishment. Sure, I starved all day and can't stand to walk another league for a month, but perhaps it's not about what I want, rather what I can do to help others when they need it. Just like Mister Rovenon and Miss Brynleigh helped me and Blackberry when we needed it the most. I've never had the luxury of friendship in The Shire, but maybe it really is a luxury. If it is, then we all have it, and we just need to give it.
