March 2, Year 2988 , Third Age
Well, I got this book today, for my birthday. Mother gave it to me, and she says I must strive to write in it every day. Every day! She says it will one day be my most valuable possession. I will never believe that a book could be more important to me than a sword - perhaps to Faramir, but never to me. Perhaps it is because he is only five summers old, but he seems far more inclined to spend time in the library than on the training grounds. I shall never understand the lad!
Anyway, I complained to Father about this book. Told him I don't want to write in it, that I'd much rather spend my time practicing with a blade. And he said that if Mother gave it to me, I must write in it! Father did! It seems like he should be on my side about this, but for some reason he is not.
"Boy," he said. "If it will pleasure your mother, you must do it. If you would be happy in life, you must learn the value of pleasing a woman. And she is right; it is to your benefit to learn the skill of writing."
So I shall be forced to go through this every day, I fear. At the least, I can here lay out all my complaints and indecent thoughts. For now I can think of nothing more to say.
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July 1, Year 3018, Third Age
So here I am, back to my little book at last. Since I am to set out on a journey in three days' time, Faramir saw fit to rifle through my belongings, and he found this.
"Since when are you allowed to search my chamber?" I asked him.
"Since you decided to undertake this dangerous mission yourself, brother. Anyway, all baby brothers sneak into their older brother's chamber when they get the chance. It's my privilege!" He replied; it does so bother him when I call him 'baby brother' that he likes to throw it back in my face whenever he can. Poor lad, he shall be a baby to me forever, I think.
He is insisting that I take this book with me and record anything of importance that may occur. I suppose that will be everything, as far as he is concerned. He has promised to punish me most severely if I treat my recording as I did back when my mother first gave me this book. It is unfortunate, perhaps, that none encouraged me to continue after her death. I will not despise her gift as I did when I was young, though I still can see no need for it. If it will make my little brother happy, and if it does not hinder my travels, I will do this thing gladly.
Let me tell, then, of my journey. It is to be long and treacherous, I fear, yet that is as naught to me. I go to seek the answer to a strange riddle, sent to me in a dream, such as even the elves may have trouble to answer. I set it down here, that it may be remembered for all time:
Seek for the Sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand. (1)
Faramir was eager to undertake the trip himself, because he had the dream many times and I but one; yet after a long while I was able to convince him to allow me the journey. Father is none too pleased about it, but much as I respect him, I really don't care. Not only do I relish the thought of the adventure, but I also do not wish to see my baby brother going out into the wilds all alone. Father, I fear, cares far too little for the safety of Faramir. Even as I wrote of my brother those thirty years ago, it is still true. He is a most skilled and valiant warrior, yet he does not hold the same desire for battle that my father and I share. Still would he be content to pour over books and maps, and listen to tales of old. Yet, I know the value of my little brother. He is a noble man, a fearless fighter, and the best of friends. Just see how he would have gladly gone on this perilous journey himself, and not at all from selfish love of adventure, as I do. This is why Father would rather that Faramir go, because of the danger.
As the riddle directs, I shall go to Imladris. I know not precisely where this place may be found, save that it is in the North. It is said that Elrond Half-Elven dwells there, and that he may answer me this riddle. I know not what good it will do to find a broken blade in this time of war, yet Faramir thinks there is some important significance to it. It may be so; I never was one for studying overmuch. If perchance this blade can help us reclaim Osgiliath and overthrow the new darkness that besets us, it will be well worth the effort. If not - I know not what will become of Gondor.
I shall take two horses on my trip. One will be my own destrier, a fine beast of purest Rohirric lineage. The other is a sturdy gelding, which will carry my gear; I fear I must take more vittles with me than I can easily carry on my own horse, due to the length of the road. If the worst came to the worst, the creature itself would also provide enough food to last me many days. Other than that, I shall travel as I would for any other journey. My sword and knife, my heaviest cloak, and my horn. Faramir wishes me to take a map, since I am 'unfamiliar with the land to which I travel', but I have no use for maps, save for laying out battle plans.
Oh yes. I will be carrying this book as well.
(1) FOTR, part two, chapter two.
