I feel like I ought to be glowering, grim, maybe angry, or at least upset, so I can't explain the spring in my step and the laugh comes so easy to my lips. Truth is I feel like I been carrying a great heavy stone and I only just realized and set it down. Which is funny, or leastwise in the mood I am now it feels funny, because now I am, in fact, carrying a heavy stone.
The reason I ought to be cross is, for me to go back north and take up my life there, I got to accept that means I am no longer a man of the Mark. I don't got a home here no more. The Thane told me that in times of strife and war, I might not even be allowed to come into the plains, on account I'd be an outsider. Seems a harsh cost on the face of it, but somehow it don't bother me so much as it should. Maybe that'll come down on me later.
Then there's the good part, which is that Kestrel's still with me. The Thane said as I could ask for any boon I wished that were his to give, in thanks for the service of these three year. I asked for Kestrel and then realized, three years is a long service, but not long enough for the likes of him, which is just what the Thane told me. But he agreed anyhow, mayhap on account it seems that were what Kestrel intended anyhow, what with him getting loose of the stable every day to follow me. But he set terms, which are that he stays my horse, I'm not to sell or give him away, and that I don't breed him. I can't hardly complain about that.
And the other part is, somehow, they think maybe I'm still the one what can see what no one else can see, so when I go back up north, I'm to live my life, free and all, but I got to keep a watch for anything new as seems it might break the Curse. Might not be a lantern, of course. But maybe the fact that I choose to live up north is why it's only me as might find it. If'n I do see something seems like it might be right, I'm to send word, and I agreed to that.
And with that, we're to go, and be quick about it. And to give Edoras a wide berth so's they don't think I'm coming there to stir up trouble or suchlike. Went back home -- back to the family farm, that is -- to say farewells, and continued on afore midday towards Woodhurst where we stayed with my aunts. Afore we left the farm, pa took the top stone from the memorial they made for my funeral and told me for to take it as a good luck charm. "You outlived your own funeral. Maybe it'll keep you alive again." With that, plus a box of bottles of Kingsmead I bought in Woodhurst, near all the space freed up in the saddlebags by all the et-up Bottle Cakes and lembas is took up, and even that's possible only on account Muffin's back to being a pack horse. Seems an odd thing to carry a heavy stone back from the Mark through Gondor and all the way to the north, but then, it'll also be a bit of my old home to place at my new home.
