Daigan came by today. I had not expected that, but his visit was a welcome one.
He decided that it was high time I got out of the house and thus he was going to take me riding on my new horse. I had been taking my lessons from the hobbit in Waymeet but I had not gotten very far. In fact, I am pretty certain the hobbit in question is beginning to despair of my complete lack of aptitude for riding. Still, I agreed to give it another go.
He rode along as if he had been born in the saddle. In comparrison, I bounced along like a graceless sack of bones. At one point, he decided that I should let go my grip of the reigns, at least with one hand, to hold his hand instead. I am not entirely certain what the point was behind that. I only know that I was absolutely certain that I would fall!
We went to the Green Dragon in By-water to have some tea and whiled away the afternoon talking. He brightens up the day wonderfuly, always managing to make me laugh. Even when we spoke of my distaster with Davick, we found the funny side of it.
We spoke a little of his new lady. More to the point, he sort of drifted off looking all moon-eyed as he thought about her, which made me smile. It is so nice to see him so happy and optimisitic about things. He is generally of a very up-beat nature anyway, but something changes in him when he speaks of her. He has said that he will bring her to meet me one day, which I am very much looking forward to. I have asked him to leave it a while longer, letting me get a little more used to the idea of new people before they appear, but still I think that I would like to meet the woman who makes him go so dreamy. She must be something very special.
He left some time later, promising to return when he could and so I made my way back to Baradar's house. I decided to walk this time, leading my horse by the reigns instead of riding her.
Later in the evening, Baradar came home. We had a few words and he apologised to me for sending his hobbit friend. He felt guilty, he said, about having to leave so soon after bringing me here, but I think he understands now that I settle better when left to myself than I do when being bombarded with new people.
