If anyone had been looking out at the fields bordering the town of Bree five days ago, they would have seen a lone figure, walking in the wind. A storm had been threating Bree for some time, and as the gray clouds blew in people ran for the inn. But as Bree was, no one but the gatekeeper thought to keep an eye or ear out past the borders of their city, and likely wouldn't have cared at any rate. So the figure walked in silence and in an unnoticed void.
This figure now stopped about three miles from the forest Mirkwood. The wind played at his old, worn gray cloak that billowed out behind him. His tan clothes were now stained brown from travel. At his hip he carried a water container, food, and supplies in a crude sling pack. A bow and quiver were strapped to his back; both were covered in dings from many old squalls and journeys.
His name was Siendar, son of Kudar. He was an exile, an outcast, and a wanderer.
-I should have found someplace to spend the night instead of continuing on ahead of the storm.- Siendar thought to himself. - Mirkwood shouldn't be extremely far, but all the same, I'll be arriving their wet and cold.-
Continuing on, Siendar put up his hood against the setting chill before the storm. -How I miss the mountains now!-
The thought of Shawdon resurfaced old memories of days that would rather have been forgotten, days that were better. But it was gone now; gone like a leaf in a breeze.
Siendar sighed. -No one knows but me what happened. Isn't standing up for what you believe in a good thing? Why did no one see that spy but me?-
Rain started to come down, first in a drizzle, then in a downpour. Despite the rain, Mirkwood loomed ahead, and in about half an hour, Siendar stepped into the shelter of an oak tree. The coolness of the trees heightened the coldness, and Siendar found himself pulling his cloak tighter around himself and wondering why he came here in the first place.
-Because something's not right.- Siendar reminded himself for the thousandth time. -You left your hideout because there is something wrong. The darkness that was once small has started again, growing with each passing step I take. It clouds my heart. I must find out if anyone else realizes this.-
Deciding he would be dry enough, Siendar continued on into the woods.