On the Road to Angmore...

The sensation of being watched gets stronger and stronger every day. While stompi... sorry, gliding - stomping is SO unladylike - one day, I abruptly turned and asked that little weasel of a halfling whether he's been following and watching me secretly. He denied it strenuously, and I'm half-inclined to believe him, because he was crap at sneaking around. I caught him crashing through the woods yesterday while I was taking a refreshing dip in the river and he claimed that he was just getting firewood. As if! He probably just wanted a glimpse of my shapely, nubile form. I had my back to him, although I glanced around and glared at him the moment he broke through the treeline. He stared for a moment then ran away shrieking. Haha... the power of the glare. I'm good! No, not just good. I'm magnificent! He was probably both awed and terrified at the magnificent glare I directed at him!

Well, enough about that. I found in camp later packing his things. He seemed rather jittery and jumped at the sound of my voice. I didn't know I was that good at scaring people! I didn't mind him leaving, although he did ask me a very odd question before he went. He asked me who my parents were, and he kept glancing at the bangle I wore around my upper arm. It's usually covered by the sleeve of the tunic that I wear, but I had just been to the river and was wearing a simple sleeveless sheath that hugs my curves in all the right places. It was rather odd that he wasn't staring at my boobs instead...

Yes, the bangle. It was made of some metal that looked like iron, but lighter and stronger. It was made so that it looked like a claw grasping my upper arm, with two talons meeting the third around my arm. It looked old, but the scales covering the talons were intricately carved and the talons themselves were pretty formidable-looking. Maybe that scared him? Silly halfling. It was just a bangle. It wasn't even gold, so it's probably just some keepsake or token. The old man told me never to take it off. I don't see any way to, anyway. The metal was too strong for me to bend, and there aren't any hinges that I could see... how did it ended up on my arm in the first place? Odd, that. I've never thought about why he wanted me to keep it on all the time. As for my parents, I don't even know who they were. I shrugged and told him as much. Anyone who dumped me in the woods is not worth thinking about anyways.

Scarile scurried off, interrupting my train of thoughts. He didn't hear what I said! He managed to gobble his share of the rabbit on the spit before I got back from the river. Greedy lil' bugger. Guess I'll be travelling alone again, except for the company of one silly male hawk who makes eggs wherever he goes. I'd have frowned, but that would create frown lines on my beautiful face, so I decided to put it out of my mind and settled down for the night. When I meet my prince, it'd be easier not to have to explain the presence of a greasy little halfling tagging along. That thought made me smile, so I was in a much better mood when I got ready for bed.

The shadows came again... it always started the same way. It would creep up behind my prince and envelop him in darkness, swallowing everything around it, but this time, I heard a murmuring... There seemed to a voice, or voices, in the shadowy darkness. I stood there, petrified, before I woke up with a gasp. Damn dreams! Interrupting my precious beauty sleep. It has to stop! Grrr... Wonder why I keep getting them...

It's a beautiful morning, the dawn of my birthday, or what passes for it, according to the old man. I kinda miss him. Not that I'd tell him that. Still, he always woke me up and somehow managed a present. Like the bow on my tenth birthday. How to fletch arrows on my eleventh. The swords on my twelfth. Hand-to-hand combat on my thirteenth... whataminute... it's all combat skills and weapons! Well, there was the green dress he got me for my last birthday... well, I suppose he tried. Not sure why I'm feeling nostalgic all of a sudden. Probably because someone as breathtakingly beautiful as I am should always get something spectacular for my birthday. Perhaps my prince might make up for all the lost years by showering me with gifts? That made me happy, for a moment. Suddenly, I saw something glinting next to my foot. I scrambled to my feet and prodded it with one of my swords. It didn't move. I took a closer look.

How odd... it was a long necklace with a pendant - a carving of a dragon holding a polished red stone in its claws. I glanced around the clearing, but did not see or feel the presence of anyone. I gingerly lifted it and inspected it closely. It seemed to be made of the same metal that my bangle was made of. The pendant was just the length of my little finger, but the details on it were amazingly lifelike.

Who could have left it there? Curiouser and curiouser...  I wonder if the old man somehow managed to drop it here? That seemed too convoluted even for him. I considered throwing it away, but it was such a beautiful piece of work that it's practically made to compliment my magnificence. Pity it isn't made out of gold... gold is such a nice metal. So warm... and shiny... I shrugged and tucked it in my belt pouch. Time to continue my journey...

The past week has been rather… eventful. While stomping around in a huff, I bumped into a fellow traveller on the road. Goes by the name of Scarile something-or-other. That name just doesn’t flow, unlike mine. Aeriella… Aeriella… see how it rolls off your tongue? Having the right name is very important. Didn’t know the old man had it in him to give me such a pretty name. I should thank him for that, I suppose.

He's a shorter than I am, and he looks pretty harmless. Just an ordinary adventurer. Doesn't look like he can fight too well. He's been staring at me since we met. It was rude of him to stare, but I can’t blame him. He was probably bowled over by my beauty. Mentioned that I was heading to Angmore, and since he’s heading in that direction, decided that some company would help alleviate the boredom.

I wonder if he’s the one who’s been following me around?

You wouldn't believe what happened yesterday! Met a little old lady in the forest who was selling bodice ribbons. Weird place to sell ribbons, if you ask me. Saw this beautiful ribbon braided from red, yellow and blue silk. Was even willing to part with precious gold from face cream stash, but she wouldn't sell it to me! Said it was for someone else. Asked her who it was, and for a moment, she had this look of pure hate on her face. Must've been my imagination though, for she gave out this merry laugh and said it was for a princess. Must be that twit I left back in the forest. B!tch! Now she's getting my ribbon too! Very miffed. Finally, old peddlar woman offered me another ribbon, blue, green and brown. Not quite as eye-catching, but still pretty, and matches my eyes and my green dress. Wouldn't even take money for it! Was less miffed. Still think red is more my colour.

Rest of the day passed on uneventfully, and I set up camp just north of the forest. Spruce went hunting and brought back a couple of fish. Nice change from rabbits, but they are so smelly! They stink up my precious hands and I'm running really low on hand cream. Decided to let Spruce have the fish. Bastard. He knows I hate dealing with fish when there's no one else around to clean them. Was too tired to hunt, so just got some berries and nuts and had a light supper. Should watch my waistline anyway.

Then early this morning, just as I was packing, who came wondering by but another old lady with a basket, selling combs! I didn't know there was a brisk business for these things in the woods, but who am I to quibble? She looked familiar, so I asked if I've seen her before. Denied it vigorously, but I could've sworn that she looks like the other peddlar lady. Shot me a bad look. Gave me a chill... scary woman. Her eyes dart to my swords and bow though, and she said nothing. Maybe she's jealous of my breathtaking good looks. Wouldn't be surprised... she had such wrinkly skin. Told her she should get some of that face cream the wizard is selling. She had a lovely, lovely ebony comb which was really shiny, but she wouldn't sell it to me! Why are they keeping their best stuff for that mindless little brat in the woods?! Finally settled for a less shiny ebony comb. Was rather put out though. Why should she get everything I want?! I had a good mind to go back to the woods and hunt for her. Had even started back, but was almost ambushed by bandits. Good thing Spruce was around to give an early warning and clawed one of the bandit's eyes out. Hah! I took care of the rest, but it was a close shave. If it wasn't for Spruce, I might've been wounded, or worse. Hate those stupid leering looks on their faces. One of them kept saying, "C'mere, my pretty pretty..." Eeeeewwww!!! Who'd want to be his pretty pretty? Horrid scum. Only had a few silver pieces on them too. Waste of my time. Pah.

Finally out of the woods. Good riddance to that so-called princess - hope she comes to a horrible end in the woods. Hmmmphh....

Had a dream last night. This time, there was something different. I touched his hand before the shadow swallowed him! I think it's a good sign. However, it was also very disturbing as the shadow was creeping up towards me too! It seems to swallow everything it touches: trees, stone, animals... even the sky! And it kept coming! Woke up in a cold sweat. Thought I saw a flicker of a shadow out of the corner of my eyes - almost screamed. Then found out it was Spruce getting it on with another lady hawk up in the sky. Jeez, more eggs?! Silly twit of a bird.

Oiled my blades, checked the bow and arrows - everything seemed to be in order. Must remind self to get one of those dashing pointy hats with feather in it. Would help keep sun out of pretty face. Running out of hand cream too - I wonder if rabbit blood helps? The old man was telling me to dip my hands in warm rabbit blood to keep it supple and soft. Hmm... wonder if Spruce is up for more rabbit hunting? Had to drag Spruce away from this lady hawk too, but this time, he didn't protest as much. Guess she wasn't as pretty as the last one. Hah!

Met a young woman in the woods. She had black, black hair, skin even fairer than mine - wonder if she uses the wizard's face cream? - and blood-red lips and a too-healthy blush on her cheeks. Didn't anyone tell her that too much rogue on the cheeks is so passé? Despite that little point, she's almost as pretty as me! Miffed. Didn't expect to meet any young, marriageable girls competing for my Prince's attention so soon. Worse yet, she told me she was a princess! And that she was waiting for her Prince Charming. Seems like they've already met! Is that my Prince she's talking about? It's so unfair! Left her wandering in the woods. Heard there were nasty little dwarfs around. Maybe they'll kill her for me.

Other than that, was a pretty uneventful day. Still, every now and then, I have this disturbing feeling that I was being followed. I have been expecting something of this sort. Men can't stay away from my beauty, after all. Wonder if whoever it is will come out and confess their feelings towards me? Would be amusing to laugh in their face and let them know that I have a Prince waiting for me somewhere. That thought cheered me up considerably and kept me going for the rest of the day. Getting tired, will write again tomorrow.

Journey has started. Old man was glad to see me go, muttering something about saving expenses. Stingy old fool. I must have only the best! And yet I've been putting up with that grimy old place for years! Why couldn't some rich lord or baron or better yet, a king, picked me up from the woods? Why a woodcutter?!

Anyhow, he did bring me up and taught me how to shoot a bow and use a sword. Amazingly, he was pretty good at it and when I found out, I wouldn't let him rest until he taught me. I wonder where he learnt them... he's only a woodcutter! Never did talk much about his past. I left him some gold. Was a big sacrifice on my part. There was that new face cream I was eyeing, and now it'll have to wait. Woe is me.

Packed up my equipment, and found the space to put in my green dress. Had to drag Spruce away from that new lady hawk he's been spending too much time with. It's just eggs! What's the big deal with eggs? He sulked for two days, until I got tired of it and shot a pigeon down and skinned it in 10 seconds flat. I know my way around a bird's anatomy almost as well as I know a rabbit's. Threatened to do the same to his lady friend. Not sure if he understood me, but he seemed to have gotten my point. Gave him the best parts to put him into a better mood and saved some of the feathers as quills and for making arrows. Useful, that.

Sun is unbearably hot. Had the misfortune to bump into kobolds. Nasty, annoying little creatures, waving their daggers around. I soon took care of that. Picked a few off from far, and my twin blades took care of the rest. Even Spruce helped. Managed to retrieve a couple of arrows in pretty good condition. Saves me the bother of making new arrows. Surprisingly, they had some gold on them. Wouldn't expect it from kobolds. They probably robbed someone earlier. Well, the gold's mine now.

Decided to save up to buy that miraculous new face cream that everyone has been talking about. Some wizard had a fireball went really wrong and ended up with scars and burns on his face and hands. Being the vain person he was, he couldn't accept the fact that he wasn't good-looking anymore (when are wizards good-looking anyway? All the ones I've seen are old and boring), so he experimented with all sorts of spells until he came up with this ultra secret formula that healed his scars and gave him even smoother skin than before! He's been packaging and selling all over. I thought it sounded really fishy, but Daena, daughter of Lord Besson, got some and it worked wonders on that lousy skin of hers! Smooth, glowing skin in a week! Imagine what it would do for me! I'll be the most beautiful woman in the land if I manage to get my hands on it!

It's very expensive though. Very. Damned wizard must be making a fortune. Bastard. Have decided that I must look perfect before I see my Prince, so will join a mercenary guild in Angmore to get the gold for it. The old fool mentioned a guild that he said I could join if I'm heading for Angmore. Something about having old friends there. Any help is better than none, so I'll look for that guild when I get there.

I have been having those dreams again, those misty dreams where he appears and holds his hand out to me, beckoning me to go with him. "Come and join me, my love," he said, and my heart would race wildly, and just as I reach out for his hand, a shadow would creep up and swallow him, and I'd wake up instantly, filled with a sense of despair and loss.

Who is he? Is he my destiny? My love? My future? Perhaps he's the prince of some faraway lands. Yes, I'm pretty sure he is. The thought of being a future princess - no, queen! - sends tingling shivers up my spine. I could just see myself gliding down the red carpet amidst cheers and adulation from my subjects. I'd be wearing a red velvet dress with gold trim. I think red brings out the blushing tone of fair skin and pink cheeks. I'd be wearing a crown too: gold with sparkling rubies and diamonds. Oh, the splendour of it all! I simply can't wait!

First, I have to find him, this prince in my dream. I don't really know what he looks like, since it is so misty in the dream and all, but I'm quite certain he's tall and handsome. We'll look so good together! Writing this is sending delicious little thrills up my spine.

This shadow that keeps appearing in my dream is rather worrisome. Is there a threat on my Prince's life? There is a dark, sinister force at work here. It will probably threaten the life of my prince, and as dark shadows go, it might even destroy the world! I must save him! I must save the world! I have decided that this is the destiny that awaits me, and the same destiny will bring me fame, love and glory! I must start out on my journey at once!

Note to self: Must bring enough quills and parchment to record my exciting journey.