Dear Mother and Father,
This week has been busy. Rua has been preparing to go on another trip to look for ores and sell the tools he makes, but he says he won't go just yet. I think he is reluctant to leave Jardic behind, the two get along so well. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong in my own burrow any more. Which is very silly I know. But I can't help it. Rua is teaching Jardic all sorts of things about crafting tools and finding ores, well, all the things he taught me, really, so they are spending a lot of time together. To keep myself busy, I have been attending the Lithe Festival and fishing a lot. During one fishing session, I caught three Starry Flounders right after each other!
In the evenings Rua and Jardic tell their stories again and again, so often I can repeat them almost word for word, though of course they change things, like exactly how many Dourhands Rua fought off and just how many walking skeletons Jardic ran away from. When the stories get too ridiculous, I tell them off but they just laugh at me so I go outside and watch the hens instead. At least they don't go around bragging, unless it's to tell me they've laid a particularly big egg. I just lie outside in the hammock, watching the hens, listening to them clucking as they scratch in the dirt and to the waterfall off in the distance. It's such a soothing sound.
When friday came, it was such a nice night that Miss Amorey and Master Tahitoa played their music outside and we stayed there until it started to rain. It was just a light, warm, summer rain, but it seemed to frighten some hobbits. Perhaps they thought they would melt! Though I admit, the wet isn't good for musical instruments, so we all hurried inside and carried on dancing there.
Miss Tibba was in charge of making sure everyone who wanted to got a turn playing music or reciting a poem. And she certainly took advantage of her status! She even let some play the bagpipes! Miss Lina's hair would have stood on end had she known, I'm sure. But I won't be the one to tell her, I can keep a secret. But I trust you with my secrets, Mother and Father! I know you would never tell anyone.
One last thing before I stop. Master Jardic told me he was visiting the Lithe Festival when who should he run into but Master Simbo and Miss Amorey, wrapped up tight in each others' arms! Jardic said he just waved at them and then left again since he didn't want to disturb what looked like a very private meeting. I'm not sure exactly why Jardic felt he had to tell me and master Simbo always has been a bit of a Casanova, saying "So many lasses, only one Simbo!" Who knows how many other lasses he's been with? But I shall keep my distance from him from now on. Yet another example of how hobbitlads can't be trusted.
Your loving Zara
