Author's note:
Well sorry for the very late update. It's a short chapter. Been busy lately. So enjoy!
Thanks to all the daily reviewers and readers.
Disclaimer: Toklein owes LOTR
Chapter 19 – Journal Entries in Gondor
Journal Date: 20th December 3001 the third age
This is my sixth day in Gondor, and I have to say that it's quite pleasant.
Boromir and Faramir have become my close friends here during my stay and have shown me much of Minas Tirith. I like the cuisine here, especially Marthia's cooking. My favorite is the honey grilled chicken with herbed potatoes and vegetable stew.
I managed to chat with some more of the citizens here, who were suspicious at me at first because of my hood, but after talking to me, we can get along well as acquaintance. (Thankfully) But I still cannot let down my hood in public, and somehow, it's getting quite tiring for me to keep on hiding my face… except when I am only around with Marthia and Valento, together with the two brothers, and in my room. Sigh… I wonder when can I reveal my face, without hiding behind a hood?
Oh yes, Gandalf still in the libraries working hard. Hopefully he will find the information soon; I wished to go back to the Shire. I missed the hobbits a lot.
One thing about me is that I tend to forget things easily… faces, objects, places and so on. One moment I placed my handphone in the drawer of my desk, five minutes later I forget where I left it. Sigh…
Well, Marthia is calling me for dinner. Update soon.
Journal Date: 2nd January 3002 the third age
Happy new year! Back in my world, this period of time is the day where Chinese will celebrate and have family gatherings and give red packets to each other.
I can't believe it, it is almost a year since I have entered Middle Earth. Life is still the same for me in Gondor. Slacking in Velour's Inn, helping Marthia and Valento in doing some kitchen chores and stuff. Sometimes, Boromir and Faramir would drop in to visit and we will chat on random stuff like lore and Gondor's history and cultures from my world. I even tried to teach them Chinese, only the basic greetings and introductions. Faramir can catch it quite well whereas Boromir… well… he still has much to work on, but he's quite not bad.
I have been drawing around Minas Tirith for quite sometime… sketches more likely and failed ones they are, but I am slowly getting the hang and the way to draw sceneries and people. Perhaps when I get to meet Bilbo again in Rivendell, I can hand him some of the drawings. Oh yes, and to Frodo too.
I managed to listen to one song from the mp3. Still left full battery luckily. I believed it will not be long like after 3 years for the mp3 to stop functioning if I listen to it when necessary. But still, it's better than not listening to anything at all from my world.
Sauron has not entered my dreams so far since the last time thankfully. But… his deal still remained in my head no matter how many times I tried to forget… and my family's smiles and faces that night…
Yuna too has not appeared again since that day. Not that I not mind but, I wished to talk to her somehow… of herself, the Dimension and hopefully news from my world…
Oh yes, Boromir and Faramir have to go on another mission to Minas Morgul by orders of their father with their small band of warriors today. I pray that the Valar and the Lord will bless their safety.
K, have to sleep now. Good night.
I swear my entry is getting longer and longer. (Insert pic of me sleeping)
Journal Date: 20th January 3002 the third age
I forget that today is actually my 18th birthday.
Marthia and Valento were the ones who reminded me when they gave me a small surprise party in the Kitchen in the morning. It's quite nice of them to remember my birthday… but I did not remember telling them. That's when Gandalf came in to the kitchen and gave me a huge surprise with his presence here. We ate and chatted for a while before Gandalf returned back to the libraries again.
Marthia and Valento gave me an expensive looking ink bottle filled fully with black ink for drawing and writing purposes, which I was grateful after all; my ink supply that Bilbo gave me is running dry. Gandalf gave me a necklace surprisingly at my part as a present.
To tell you the truth, I do not wear jewellery and stuff, especially necklaces and earrings, but the necklace was well made. The more surprising part is that it was made by Gandalf himself! I asked him when the heck did he managed to find time to made such a necklace, which consisted of a sliver chain and with it was a small maroon blue jewel that glowed in complete darkness. He just smiled mysteriously! Bloody wizard, always keeping his secrets. He told me to wear it at all times even in sleep but what reason, he does not tell… somehow, I have this gut feeling that this necklace has some magic in it.
k. I better start getting myself some Gondorian clothes. Perhaps I should ask Marthia if she can get some men clothes for me…
Oh yeah, my hair has grown much longer now. Shoulder length. I wonder if I should cut it short again… hmm… I can still somewhat remember my secondary school days where I left my hair long… I miss them though…
Journal Date: 30th March 3002 the third age
Sorry for the really late entry. Two months!
Spring has already arrived in Minas Tirith. Come to think of it, it seems that there is no winter in Middle Earth, well except at the Misty Mountains. I could see flowers being sold at some shops at reasonable prices. I bought some for Marthia and Valento to decorate their halls. The flower lady has been quite generous with the flowers. I bought some daisies too, reminding me of Frodo, the Party and the Shire. It should too be spring in the Shire. I am sure Sam must have been busy in his gardening.
Boromir and Faramir returned at February 22nd, carrying the same news from Minas Morgul of Mordor's army remained stationed there with no movements of attacks which were good for Gondor.
So far no weird things happening so good news.
Oh yes, I have learned how to bake bread from Valento, bread with nuts and herbs inside. On my first try, it tasted not bad. Marthia said that she will teach me how to cook more dishes soon when she is free. Can't wait!
Gandalf has not visited the inn since my birthday. Should be still continuing his search. I miss him a lot. Hopefully he will visit me soon.
Sorry for the short entry despite taking such a long time to write it. I have to sleep now. Good night.
Journal Date: 2nd February 3003 the third age
I wonder… why the book selected me to come here to Middle Earth?
That question has been in my mind for a long time. It's getting to me… a burden to keep on reminding myself to wear a hood and not reveal anything of myself to anyone save those that I trust… as though I am doing something bad for me to hide my face.
Sometimes, I wished that it was not me who was chosen to come here, instead it should be a person from America, or New Zealand, (to think I still remember my world's countries.). Their lives will be much better in blending in Middle Earth… unlike me.
Faramir came and visit today alone. He looked saddened and troubled but he will not tell me anything when I asked him. He just smiled and changed the topic to lores and of my world again (which was a great fascination to him), but his rarely seen troubled face remained etched in my mind.
Come to think of it lately, his smiles were always strained… as though something happened… What kind of a friend am I for not noticing such evident change in Faramir? I believe I need to have a talk with Boromir when he dropped by again.
My hair reaches to half of my back now. It's difficult to maintain such long hair, especially since I spent most of my life in short boyish hair. I had wanted to cut it but firstly is, I don't think there is any hairdresser in Minas Tirith, seeing all the people here accustomed to keep their hair long, and secondly, I can't even use a knife or a dagger to cut my hair. Besides, Marthia has reprimanded me long of me doing so.
She said, "Your hair is beautiful and long. You should not cut it away like that. You look more feminine now than the time when I first saw you." What's with all people saying that I look like a male?! Well, my chest is small and yeah… not that I mind.
Gandalf visited me just a few days ago, after nearly a year in the libraries, 'for a breather' he said with a weary grin in his excuse and we sat and chat much on my well-being, any new dreams or visions made and of Boromir and Faramir. He told me of his relationship with the steward of Gondor, which was not a pleasant one and why he is closer to Faramir than Boromir.
It seems that Faramir and Gandalf have some common interests in lores and stuff, duh! And not forgetting that he was the one who always approach Gandalf whenever the wizard visits. Denethor was utmost unhappy to know he has become somewhat a 'wizard's pupil' which I totally disagree.
I mean, to become a 'wizard's pupil' you have to learn magic from the wizard himself right? But Gandalf taught no such things to Faramir, but more like a counselor and mentor the younger man. I hope Denethor will stop putting Faramir down...
Boromir… well, Gandalf told me that he was much like his father, Denethor, proud, stubborn but yet cared for the people of Gondor. Although the elder had heard much warnings from his father not to be close to him, Boromir still chats with him once in a while, with the presence of Faramir, though he was slightly disapproved of his younger brother keeping on meeting the wizard despite their father's warnings, fearing his father's treatment would worsen on Faramir.
Those two men have close bonds… I wonder if I had ever such bonds with my brothers…
k. I better sleep; Marthia has just knocked on my door to signal me to sleep. Nite.
And this ends the entries of Jacqueline on the Journal, although there are much more.