Dear Diary,
I had the strangest of days.
I met Carlyon again, he appeared next to me as I was checking the drainage in the lower fields.
We moved to a copse of trees near the river.
He asked me to join him as he ate what little food he had. He said it was a week's travelling rations.
I didnt want to tell him I had twice as much food for snacks during the day. It would be impolite.
He told me of the great war when Elves and Men stood together against a common enemy.
It was such an exciting story, filled with adventure and forrin places.
The story ended when a great king of men cut off the finger or was it the hand of the Evil One.
Apparently when this happened the Evil One disappeared and was never seen again.
But evil never dies, it lives on in hearts and minds like a sickness. It consumes, controls and destroys.
Carlyon looked scared as he finished his tale. I never knew an Elf could be scared.
He told me that the evil had been growing in the East.
It was growing dark, so I invited him to join me for dinner at the farm.
He gladly agreed and we walked back to the farm together.
After we had finished a small meal of meat and bread, with taters, vegetables and gravy followed by fruitcake and cream with tea, cheese and crackers to finish it off.
Carlyon told me to pack a bag and leave the Shire.
He said "Your music may be needed in the dark days ahead. I wish it could be otherwise."
I didn't understand what he meant and told him as much.
He explained that the music I had been collecting had power, the power to heal the broken mind of a battle weary warrior and give them strength to face the enemy anew.
Folk who use songs in this way are called Minstrels, not the travelling entertainer we know as minstrels in the Shire, but a true battlefield rank. I am so scared of what could be waitin for me in the future.
My talents are needed if we are to stop the evil from reaching the Shire.
He told me to meet him at the Brandywine Bridge at dusk, two days from now.
I am to tell noone where I am going.
Tomorrow I am going to see Gramma, I shall tell Her I have to go on a journey to the Elves of Rivendell to learn how to cure tater blight.
I hate to lie to her, but I need her to look after Popsy while I'm gone.
I shall also be selling my townhouse in Michel Delving so I can afford to buy some travelling clothes and ecwipment equipment, maybe even a pony.
