The diary of Cynwin Greenfield, alias Eowin Lightpath - 2nd place in the Madhouse Tavern diary competition!

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Dear diary,
 
I do not know how to act, feel and behave this day. Everyone expect me to be in a good mood like always, and tend to the wounded at the Army's base. I’ve told no one about who I was, who I really am. None except my cousin, Saracyn and my beloved Keithelm. I’m sitting in the very room Hereleofu was killed in by that murderer, and I can’t help feeling a responsibility for Saracyn, the only living relative I have left. It is my fault that that man has her now, he’s using her to get to me.. That man, Hal he calls himself, is here in Breelands to track me down and take me back to Rohan. My beloved father only did what he thought was in my best interest when he promised my hand in marriage to that awful Hamric Strongarm. I made a real mess by running away after papa's death, didn’t I? If I hadn’t, Saracyn would be safe and I would be Cynwin Strongarm, at least I would have some part of my real name..

If anyone is reading this, I’m dead. You may be confused by my words, which is why I will tell it from the beginning. This is probably my last chance to come clean about myself, and I wish whoever finds this diary to find Keithelm Bravewind, Saracyn Lightpath or Captain Isilorbor and give it to them, and they to pass it to the next person until they’ve all read it. This is my first and perhaps last entry, and I’ll use it to tell mine and Saracyn's story up until now.
 
I lived a happy life in Rohan, with caring and loving parents. My mother, Edwina Swiftsteed, was a combined tailor and farmer, yet she hailed from Edwig Swiftsteed and Eoleofu Wulfblood. You might recognize the name of my grandfather, famous both inside and outside of Rohan for the skill in horsebreeding and training, which has been passed down from generation to generation for as far as one could see. He’d married my grandmother, a guard of Rohan, out of love that lasted forever and ever. They had two daughters, my mother and then my Aunt, Sarawin Swiftsteed. As they had no sons, the land was passed down to my mother, who gave it to my aunt, since my mother lived with my father at the time, and Aunt Sarawin's husband, Hulgar Lightpath, had no land of his own.

My grandmother died first, in a battle, as many guards do. My grandfather lived some years after, before he succumbed to an illness that took his life because of his old age. Shortly after that, Alric Greenfield, my other grandfather, who lived in the same house as I did, died from age. He was a warm and kind man, born and died an honest and hardworking farmer, I still miss him greatly. After his death my grandmother stopped eating, stopped getting up from bed, stopped living. She just lied in bed all day, refusing to eat and get up, even refusing to play on her beloved harp. She died within a week, from heartbreak I was told, just like in any of the sad, romantic songs she sang. Cynwyn Fierceblood, bard, daughter of a soldier and my grandmother. My father, Cyric Greenfield, inherited the farm we lived on, and Aunt Sarawin would visit often with her family. I had two cousins, Saracyn Lightpath, only three years older than I, and Hereleofu Lightpath, only two years younger than I.

A few years later, when I was twelve, my mother died. It was sudden and unexpected, took only three days from her feeling bit feverish to her last breath. In mere months after, Aunt Sarawin died in the same way. She’d been an inspiration and role model, a gentle and caring woman, and a lovely bard. After her death her husband Hulgar had sold their home and started to live a traveller's life with his daughters, and I saw them more rarely. My father, an honest farmer just like his father, became worried about me and my future after the death of my mother, and the death of my aunt pushed him to a rash decision, to promise my hand in marriage to Hamric Strongarm. He thought it would be good for me, as Hamric had seemed a kind man at first sight, and he and his family was the best horsebreeders and second best in horsetraining, where my mother's father had been the best in horsetraining and second best in horsebreeding. He only wanted someone to look after me, but he didn't trust uncle Hulgar to do so, because he’d become a drunk and a fighter. After my hand was promised to Hamric it became clear that he was not the faithful type of man and that his only interest in me was my father's land, which I would inherit after he had passed on, and my pedigree. He wanted my mother's father's lines and reputation, earning him both best and second best in both horsebreeding and horsetraining.
 
I believe my father had know he was getting ill, for soon after he’d promised my hand away to Hamric he became ill in the same illness that had claimed so many of the ones I loved, and soon he was claimed as well. I heard people whisper about my father dying partly of heartbreak, both for the loss of my mother and for my fate. I was sure Hamric would reconsider marrying me, but he was still of that intent, which I found out after confronting him. I felt I had no other choice but to run away, to leave my family's history and land, and I lived where I could find shelter.

When I had just turned seventeen I found myself in Bree, where there had recently been a murder of a young girl in the tavern known as the Prancing Pony.  To my horror, I found out that girl's name had been Hereleofu Lightpath. My dear innocent cousin, who’d thought no ill of anyone.. She’d taken up music as a hobby, and had begun to work in the Prancing Pony in return for food and a place to sleep for herself and her older sister, after their father had abandoned them there, in Bree of all places. I can’t help but to blame uncle Hulgar for the death of sweet Hereleofu, though I know she would have wanted me to blame no one for it. She only reached the tender age of fifteen, and as I met my other cousin, Saracyn, I could clearly see that a big part of her died along with her sister. Saracyn, raised as a son and fighter by uncle Hulgar, who’d wished for a son more than anything, took to blaming herself for her sister's fate.

If the murderer hadn't been killed by a soldier of the Bree Guard during an attempted escape, I'm sure Saracyn would have killed her. I know sweet Hereleofu, my shy and pretty little cousin, wouldn't have wanted to be revenged, especially since the murderer had been a female elf driven insane by the death of her little daughter, but it ended as it did. Both Saracyn and I searched for uncle Hulgar, who'd vanished without a trace nor word, though it ended with the search being in vain, as he were nowhere to be found. I know Saracyn blames him, and doesn't care for him, but it's still her father, drunken no-use or not. Despite her hatred of her own father, Saracyn is a brilliant, smart and lovely girl, and I wish her the best.
 
In Bree, in the famous, perhaps infamous, Prancing Pony, I meet my beloved Keithelm Bravewind. He became a friend, a companion and a shoulder to cry on. He is my rock, my foundation, and I love him with all my heart. We have never gone beyond a friendly hug, I believe it's because he's fourteen, almost fifteen, years older than I, but since when was love cured from its blindness? It might also be because his late wife and daughter, who he's lost like many others lose their families. At least he will have his brother and sister if I don't survive or am taken away, though I'm sure he'd try to come after me, which would surely end in his death. I therefore ask that he leaves me to my fate, or I will take my own life, so he can stay safely away from Hamric and his ruffian friends. My dear Keithelm, how much I will miss you..

Now, as I’m a month away from turning eighteen years, I've joined the Eriador Army, in which I've met a lot of new friends, such as Gurnar; the wisest dwarf I've ever met, Rasheke; who showed me that even sicknesses of the mind could be cured and who I owe a lot for warning Keithelm of "Hal", and not to forget, Irmiel; who I will continue to look after and tend for from the other side. I've met others as well, if only briefly, such as Zelderan; I've never seen anyone so trusted as Isilorbor trust him, and Cuthanor; who is brave as few but could practise his aim a bit more, and Kello; a proper hobbit if I ever saw one. I also met Driadriel, polite and somewhat shy, but caring, she remind so much of Hereleofu.. Last but not least, I've met Captain Isilorbor; who has become like an older brother to me, and I will never forgive if he blames himself for my death. I also ask that no prayers are said for me, only to remembered with joy for the good times.

I've met friends outside the army as well, most dear would be Fallidir, who's been a supporting and never failing friend, and Miss Cymaru, whose kindness I will never forget. I will never forget any of you, even if I've not been completely honest about my name. To my ancestors: I'd like to ask that you watch over the ones I love and care for. To Saracyn: Please remain who you are and stay strong. To Keithelm: Please remain safe. To Eriador Army: Stay strong and fight on. Never have I seen such a close bunch of people from so many races. To Fallidir: Thank you for all you've done, I'll do my best from the other side to help you find your wife. To Cymaru: Thank you for your kindness, I’ve come to look upon you as a mother figure, and I can never thank you enough. To all my friends and loved ones: Live on and feel no sadness, for I will do my best at watching over you. To Hamric: If I survive to see you again, I'll kill you or die trying.
 
Cynwin Greenfield, known by most as Eowin Lightpath and to some as "Hot Tongue"; Daughter of Rohan, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, unwillingly engaged, orphan, refugee, adult, soldier, farmer, bard, tailor, cook and fisherman.
(Oh, I do hate that nickname Isilorbor gave me, my Tongue is not that sharp, I only speak the truth.)
 
I will meet "Hal" to hand myself over and Saracyn will be set free. I will have help from Kello, from Eriador Army, to try and free me after Saracyn is set free and to assure that everything will go smoothly and well. Kello is one of the shadowy fellows, and will prove useful as "Hal" need to think I'm there alone. The most important thing is that Saracyn survives, I will take my fate standing, and I'll fight to the end.

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