I found a job. It's not the best job, but still, it's A job. It's not really all that glamorous, it pays... kind of well? I think? I mean, I'm not going to starve and I have enough for supplies, so... that's kind of good? Might not pay for things like really nice furniture, but I have a bed and wood for my fire and maybe a bit more. But at the very least, it's something I did myself, and didn't have to have handed to me, or even given to me on a condition of my hand in marriage.
...I'm not sending a letter back home. I burned those bridges when I walked out, and I'm not going to be guilted into letting them know where I am or what I'm up to. I know my father misses me, but I can only imagine what my mother might do if she knew where I was. I mean, one of the last potential partners she found for me caught me when I was covered with scrapings from a latest batch of skins I'd gotten hold of, and he lasted... maybe ten minutes? Maybe less? I don't know. It was hard to ask him as he just seemed to walk or run away. Or maybe that was because of the odd screeching noise coming out of my mother's mouth, much like an overheated kettle as she realized I'd scared away yet another match?
Hanging around warriors, thieves, scouts, and magicy-types now, with not a plush seat or soft place to sit in sight. If this wouldn't send Mother into an early grave, I don't know what would. But it would be worth it to see her face as she realized I was finally out of her grasp for good, with a place to live, and people who... might care if I live or die? Maybe they might, maybe they won't. But still, at least it'd be on my own terms instead of getting nagged to death by hordes of children or bored to death as I sit around, listening to everyone fret about how terrible the world is, and have you heard the latest rumors of some person in some place doing some thing that we don't find at all proper (but secretly wish we were doing)?
There's more to the world other than Bree and all the lands surrounding it. I mean, I've decided- I want to see everything. I want my feet to carry me west, to the Shire, to the places the elves and dwarves call home- to the north, to the south, even to the east. Thorin's Hall, Hobbiton, Rivendell, Rohan, Lothlorien, whatever- I'm tired of just reading about these places. I want to see them with my own eyes, smell the air, and experience them.
I don't know how long I have to live- I think the oldest man I know of managed to hit seventy summers, before he was found in his bed? If I live as long, that gives me a shade under five decades before I'm bound for the afterlife. I'd like to leave at least one or two more things behind rather than just me being that single woman who lived alone and had an unhealthy fixation with hunting, gathering, and the outdoors in general.
You can't see the stars in Bree. You might see a few, but with all the lights and the noise and the angry people who nearly run you over with their horses because you're trying to watch the stars and they can't be arsed to watch where they're going, you aren't getting a good look- not even from the highest platform in town- and the guards aren't really find of someone sipping more than her fair share of hard cider and lying on the ground to stare at the few bits of stars you can see from there- apparently it makes me look like a dead body, and that tends to scare them?
But out in the countryside... the stars are beautiful. That's the road I want to travel.
The people here seem nice- at least, the woman who hired me seems so. She only has one eye, but... I like to think maybe she lost it doing something wild and heroic, perhaps? I'm not going to ask her, of course- that's right up there with 'hey, what color are your undergarments?' as things you don't ask strangers and people you just met, after all. I got a glimpse of a few others, but... I guess the others had somewhere to be, things to do, ale to drink, cheeks to kiss, that kind of thing.
...makes me wish I had a few of those things to do, myself.
I mean, I could go over my supplies again, or go get some practice- but I've done that too many times already.
I'm off to the Pony, I suppose. I swear, a pint of cider or mead gets you thinking that much better. Or maybe I'll go back to the house of the Company and see if there's anything to drink there, or someone to share a bit with. I ought to go meet more of my co-workers, I suppose- I mean, I might be expected to die for them, or something, but still... very least I ought to do is learn names and things so I can at least tell them to get down when I need to shoot over them, or something. I mean, 'Hey! Magic lady in red, out of the way, you're in my shot!' doesn't exactly flow off the tongue, now, does it?
I just hope they put up with me. I mean, I could go back to hunting and gathering and selling that, but... this just seems more fun, with less hassle. And besides, I bet I get to travel...
...maybe I ought to make a list. Or something.
More later. My hand hurts and I'm kind of bored. Let's see who's around...
