After writing down everything from yesterday evening, I spent some
time considering my future. The question before me seems to be: should I
remain here and support my home of more than twenty years or should I
try and learn more about my past? As much as I love father and the
Bree-land, I cannot ignore this strange fate. I am compelled to learn
more, but where to begin?
The morning dawned crisp and
clear and the cool air rang with one of my favorite sounds: the clatter
of hoofs and waggon-wheels on the cobblestone streets as they splash
through puddles after a good rain. Home never felt like such a desirable
place, and yet I had finally made up my mind to begin a journey -- a
search for knowledge and truth. This journal has suddenly taken on a
very different meaning and purpose: I will use it to record my
adventures and document whatever I can learn about my past and my
family's history.
I won't go into everything father and
I said to each other at our parting -- it was not easy for either of
us. But, I assured him, I won't stay away forever. In fact, he knows
about my first destination quite well, even if he's never been there
himself. Since I now hold the strange medallion, and since the writing
on it is in a Dwarven mode, and since the Bree-land scholars were of no
real use (a fact which proves true far more often than not, if you ask
me), I decided I should seek out someone who might know a thing or two
about Dwarven runes: the Dwarves. Specifically, the Dwarves of the Blue
Mountains, who are known to travel through Bree on their trade routes.
The largest settlement we know of is at Thorin's Halls in the Blue
Mountains, which the Elves once called Ered Luin. I understand it is a
great colony with an immense volume of trade. Surely some Dwarf there
should be able to tell me more about my medallion, if anyone could.
The
journey will not be a short one, however: Thorin's Halls are located in
the far northwestern region of the Blue Mountains and there are any
number of leagues I must cross before I ever reach that land, including
the land of the hobbits, which they call the "Shire." We have hobbits
here in Bree, of course, but they are mostly sensible folk who mind
their own business. The local Staddle-folk (mostly hobbits) rarely have
anything flattering to say about Shire-hobbits, although I'm not sure
how they form their opinions since none of the Bree-hobbits I'm familiar
with have been known to travel so far from home.
In
any case, I at least now have a place to begin. There remains a great
deal to do before I set out, however. For one thing, I will need to
resign my post with the Watch and do my part to arrange for a
replacement, which might not be easily accomplished. I also do not have a
ready supply of provisions, tools, or other items I might need on the
Road or in the Wild. I will also need weapons, since I must return mine
to the Watch at the Bree-town Jail. This might not be an altogether bad
turn of events, however. I would never say this openly within ten miles
of Bree-town, but the Watch's weapons and armor are not necessarily of
the highest quality. I think this is one of those things everyone on the
Watch knows well, but they will never admit it since the stuff is all
crafted right here in our little land. If I am to be an adventurer,
though, I will need equipment of far higher quality. I have no idea how
to solve that problem, but I will think on it over the coming days.
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