Daily musings next to the fire by Boromir, son of Denethor Steward of Gondor on his way to Imladris, occurring in the time immediately preceding the events of the War of the Ring.

Week 6

Day 36

Sleeping in the tree put my back out, but with that massive group of orcs on the loose, I need to stay safe while I rest. I would create some kind of hammock like the pirates of Umbar use, but I simply wouldn't feel comfortable carrying it everywhere with me and I don't know where to find a shoulder-trained parrot at this hour of the day.

Once again, no more orcs- clearly, they're no longer roving in three-orc bands but rather large groups. I think they're ganging up on me- Wilfred agrees.

Day 37

I made a hammock, but it broke when I moved and I fell a good fifteen feet, hitting multiple branches on the way down. Still no orcs, however.

Note to self- find some athelas that is actually athelas and not going to cause a repeat of that incident, when I woke up and had been shanghaied onto a Umbarian Corsair along with Faramir and a Rohirric prostitute with whom I had apparently adopted a hedgehog.

Day 38

I have so far encountered two problems- one, I need to get some proper sleep and two, I need to get some proper food. I can no longer ransack dead orcs for supplies, not having encountered any in surmountable numbers recently, while in the case of my first problem I cannot sleep on the ground safely, lest I never wake up. I could put Wilfred on watch, but he is a product of the enemy and therefore cannot be trusted.

Day 39

With Wilfred watching my back, I trapped a bunch of rabbits in their warren, but this led to yet another problem- now, without pre-cooked food, I must make a fire which would indicate my presence quite clearly to the roving orcs. Instead of deciding immediately, however, I finished off the supplies I have left- I can work it out tomorrow. Wilfred, of course, is quick to point out that if I find an orc campsite with the remnants of a fire, I can safely make one on that spot- I am inclined to agree.

Day 40

Didn't find orc campsite but did manage to find a tree with a large amount of branches forking at the same point- by lodging some sticks in appropriate places, I was able to make a platform on which to make my fire and cook myself some delicious, delicious rabbit meat. By delicious, of course, I mean partially burnt and stringy.

I've decided to sleep in this conveniently-forking tree. Wilfred is apparently going to be my sentry for the night- I've given him one of the orkish blades I pilfered a while back. Hopefully, however, my wonderful camo tent will keep me hidden enough- I personally doubt Wilfred's ability with a blade, what with him being a leaf-covered helmet and all.

Day 41

I suspect that I'm finally getting closer to Imladris- with this, however, come the multiple river crossings I have yet to endure. Today I reached one such place and, after refilling my waterskin, decided I'd be blowed if I wanted to get wet just before the cold of night and encamped up a tree again.

Day 42

Once again, I am cold, wet, covered in tree products and developing a rash. I am reminded unpleasantly of my demon horse and, when Wilfred made an impertinent remark, dropped him into the river to be carried away by the current.

I regret nothing.