I've lost count of the months, but it was about half a year ago, late summer or early autumn, when I were first in Bree and starting to think about the trip back to the Mark, and now, at last, we're taking the first steps. Today will be an easy start to the journey, as me and Miss Adri only mean to make the camp-site below Weathertop, by the spring, same as last time. After that, we cross the Lone-lands and the Trollshaws to the Loudwater, then follow it into the land called Hollin, where Elves used to live (that's where Icky Mirror-Bell is, though we probably won't try to stop there). From there we'll see the three peaks what show the way to the pass of Carrot-thras.
Once there, we got to pause to stock up firewood as there's like to come a point where there's no more trees, but we'll need fires all the more. We figure several days across, all the slower since we got to haul that firewood up and over. Won't be near so hard as on the return journey, seeing as how this time we got Muffin to be a pack-horse to help carry provisions -- her bags are full up with Bottle Cakes right now. Bought Muffin for the journey, and Ben to be Beoda's horse and a gift for the Cob family. And now Miss Adriellyn's got a proper horse, what's named Twilight, Rascal can also help carry up firewood, though he can't carry quite as much as Muffin can. So we won't lose too much time on the crossing carrying firewood, not near as much as when I crossed the High Pass and had to keep doubling back to carry more, since not even Kestrel could carry me, my provisions, and enough firewood for the whole crossing. That might be how it's like when we return, though.
Once we come down the other side we should be fair near to Dwimordene. Got no real idea how that'll go. And then we follow the Great River into the Mark, which we'll see near all of, afore we pass through the woods towards Mundburg, and then on to Dol Amthor. Then the same route back, only without having to go through as much of the Mark.
We're mostly getting by on Bottle Cakes so we can keep moving rather than having to stop every few days to hunt, fish, or forage, to keep the journey shorter. While we're resting the horses and letting them graze, we might get a bit of fresh food to make things last longer. But more than half the trip will be spent in the Mark and Gondor, where we should have no trouble finding stables, barracks, and inns. That means we don't need to burden with a lot of extra arrows and the like. We do still need heavy furs for the mountain crossing, and all the other things I brung on our journey to Imladris, but that's about it.
We don't expect there to be so much danger, though of course any time you talk about a journey folks is always making it out like there's goblins and bandits behind every tree -- especially them as want work helping guard against all those dangers. But our road's mostly through the same way as we went to Imladris for the first while. We did have some trouble with wolves on that journey, but that were most unusual; most the time, wolves won't bother folk unless they're cornered or desperate. This time it won't be bitter, hungry winter, and we'll be a bigger party. Not as much as it looked for a bit; Miss Baker sent along a friend to join us, fellow named Hueber, but then it turned out he couldn't be away that long after all. But even without his sword, we'll look like a whole train of folk, what with two extra steeds. Hollin's a fair and quiet land by all accounts, and then there's the crossing, which is by far the most perilous part, not due to wolves or goblins, but cold and heights. After that, though, the way should be fair clear to Dwimordene and on.
The last preparations were about the folk we leave behind, that we will be thinking about returning to, all the days of the journey, most like. Back at the Cob farm, where Beoda wears my ring, and wishes she could have come with us, as she'd planned -- that's why I bought Ben -- but the farm can't be without her that long after all. Will be thinking the most about her, and about a quiet wedding when I return. And Miss Brynleigh, with whom I'm leaving a key in a letter, so she can use my house while I'm away if she needs another place to be. I had to leave it where she'll find it without me running into her, which is hard, as she's coming out of the house more these days, even started working up at the stable again -- just in time for me to stop. I've been worrying about her for so long, and now it'll be more months away to worry in. Miss Sareva was so sure as I should defy Miss Brynleigh's directions and visit her anyway, but that just don't seem like me.
As we take our first steps onto the road, I'm thinking of when I will return. Shouldn't I be thinking more of where we go? Of seeing my family and homeland, of the Thane's approval of my attempts? No doubt as the road slides behind us my thoughts will venture those ways, but I reckon even when we're standing on the docks of Dol Amthor looking out at the great Sea, I'll be thinking the most of home. How much more home means to me when it's one I chose.
