Dear Mother and Father,
Rua said it would be a good idea to keep a record of what I am doing, so that when we finally meet, you can read about what I have been doing.
Where should I start? Well, I can start by saying that I am well. I was found by Ruaidhri, a dwarf, when he was on his way to Thorin's Hall, from a trip to the Misty Mountains. He travelled a lot through the Shire towns between Needlehole and Oatbarton and one day while he was travelling the Bindbole Woods road he heard crying up ahead. He got curious and followed the road, which was also where the sound was coming from, until he found me.
He says I was sitting on the side of the road, under a tree, bawling my eyes out. At the sight of him, I stopped crying and stared at him. He says that I didn't look hungry, but when he offered me a crust of bread, I took it and chewed happily on it. He stood there, looking at me, wondering how I had got there. I wonder too! He searched all around, but there was no sign of anyone else nearby. He tried asking me, but I hadn't learned much talking yet, just Mamma and Dadda and a few other words. In the end, he picked me up and took me with him. He says he went to Overhill and Brockenborings and even Scary to ask if anyone was missing a hobbit toddler, but no one seemed to know anything. What I don't understand is that no one would take me in either. So after a few weeks of questioning and searching, he finally decided to take care of me himself. He bought the prettiest hobbit hole in Songburrow and that's where we live.
Why was I sitting beside the road like that. Did I fall off a cart? Were we walking to Overhill or maybe Brockenborings and did something happen that made you leave me behind? I hope one day we can meet so you can tell me! I'm sorry, but I don't remember anything from before Rua found me. My first memory is of standing under the breakfast table, looking at him and giggling. I don't remember why.
Rua has been so good and kind to me and I'm very grateful he took me in when no one else would. He has dark green eyes that watch intently and a huge, curly, dark rusty-red coloured beard of which he is enormously proud. He wears his hair brushed back into plaits 'Ta keep't oot ma eyen when th'axe is in ma hand' he says. Outdoors he always has an axe in his hand unless he is smelting or crafting. He leaves it next to the front door when he comes inside. He is a metalsmith and he says he will teach me how to see between the different ores and metals and how to work them and to make ingots. Rua is already teaching me how to cook. I can boil hens eggs. I hope that one day I can cook you a meal.
Goodnight for now,
Your loving Zara.
