Andswaru

Another day of sword lessons. I am making progress, though my body is sore.
Andswaru is a very patient teacher, though I know I drive him to despair sometimes. I must try to become a better student.

I think I need a sheath for the sword. I walked to the training yesterday afternoon and I saw an Elf staring at me and frowning. He looked like a guard, perhaps a captain.
I do not think it is polite to run around this valley with a naked blade. I must ask Andswaru to teach me enough Westron to buy a sheath for the sword tonight.

I look through the previous pages of this book and I cannot believe that it was really written by the same person, and such a short while ago. Has it really only been a week? It seems like a different life now. So many things have happened -

"Wait, Vaarion." Andswaru rode forward and took Witimanu's reins to stop the girl from riding off. "Listen-"
"Hold on." Vaarion held up a hand. "Do you hear that?"
Andswaru shut up and tilted his head to listen. There was a sound coming nearer - hooves, two sets of hooves coming closer.
Vaarion was already gliding off her saddle and took a few steps towards the two horses coming running uphill towards them. She recognised the two draught horses at once.

Road, road, road, day in, day out. I'm already tired of those brown-grassed, barren lands, and we are only halfway through them.

Tonight we should reach Ost Guruth, and then it is at least half a days' ride to the bridge crossing into the forested lands Father says are called the Trollshaws. It will probably take longer, as Father wants to take the opportunity to rest the horses and hire new guides to replace the Bree-landers. I am expecting we will come there late at night and make camp at the river ere we cross into those wilderlands.

Now we have left Bree and are on the edge of the Wilderness, as they say. It's quite safe though, at least so far and as long as we stick to the road.

We are camped a days' ride from Bree now, past the Marshes. After dinner Andswaru and me went to that derelict pub we had seen on the way, just for an evening stroll. The beer was quite awful, it tasted and smelled horrible! I hadn't expected any better, but still.

Well, we are leaving the Shire behind now and are on our way back towards Bree. Everybody's singing as we ride now - we are all glad to be on our way home.