Aallan

I find that, in the absence of madness, my mind has a chance to quiet itself, and return to simply thinking about things. It's been some time since I could simply sit and think, without having to worry about folk around me screaming bloody murder or having knives thrown at me, or any other number of chaotic occurrences that seem to have overtaken Bree-town recently. 

After spending yesterday doing little but sleeping and scribbling here in between my naps, it feels quite incredible to be wide-awake once again, with a bit of energy back in my bones.

  In the following nights after Aallan proposed his plan to rob a giant in the Brandy Hills to Dufr, he drew up a map of the far western areas of Bree-Land using a quill pen, a sheet of parchment, and an inkwell.  All three of which he certainly did not steal from a drunkard or a crook of a book-keeper...  On and off, he would illustrate the areas and where the giant could possibly be, as well as mention his 'little' venture with the fair Brynleigh.  Upon hearing of this trip to the giant's hut, she had worried in her heart if Aallan had gone mad.

Yesterday was a blessedly quiet day, at least for the most part. I don't plan on a lengthy recording here today, but we shall see. My thoughts of late seem to be endless and I have trouble reigning them in once I put the quill to the parchment. 

It's a good thing that Jack awoke me before dawn this morning, though I was irritated at first with his incessant stomping and snorting outside the door. The fair weather has him restless and wanting to move about, and though I snapped at him to take his gargantuan black and white hide away from the house, I have to feel rather grateful now, as I have much to record here before I start my day's work. 

Oh, where to begin? I think I must've encountered half of Bree last night, in the space of just a few hours. 

  Before this short tale begins, Aallan had in fact, met Kitowyn weeks before the actual trip into the Barrow Downs.  He saw her reading something intently, and peered over with interest.  Once she noticed him, she jumped a bit, feeling rather startled.  The two introduced themselves, and Aallan made an offer to her to find some Barrow scrolls.  However, she did not have money on her at the time.  Thus, Aallan allowed her to tag along to one Barrow for free.

   It appeared to be another night at the Prancing Pony, when a man clothed in red, and a dwarf in blue entered the common room.  The two had just returned from a journey rather unimportant.  The man in red was known as Aallan Scarlet, who was rather an odd character, for he was honest for being a thief.  The dwarf who was with him, was Dufr Stonebeard, as he was known to his kin for having a beard so strong, it stopped a blade from claiming his life.  

Why did I finish my last entry with the words "what may come"? I spoke in haste, it seems, for yesterday was another whirlpool of madness, both terrible and lovely. Will life ever just calm down for a day or a week or a month? Bree seems to be some sort of hub for insanity of all kinds...as if it draws folk of passion, both wicked and good, from all corners of Middle Earth, concentrating them into the hedged walls of this little town and tumbling them together.