All is ready! I have packed, given my books to Miss Addiela and paid her and Miss Nethrida a visit at the Soothery, and, when I came back to the boarding house for the evening, I finally -- Yes! Finally! -- trimmed my fringe. Of course, Miss Addie had given me her hairband that she always wears earlier this evening to keep my hair out of my eyes. Bless her! If it looks especially silly under my traveling cap, I'll keep it about my wrist instead.
I've made sure Miss Taite has enough coin from me, in my absence, and that the dishes are not just clean but, as my Grams would say, spick and span! Even left a little thing for that rascal, Pumpkin. Since the cat likes my quill so much, I took one of my old ones, broke off the feathery bit, and used some twine to tie it to a stick. If that was enough to keep the kittens born behind Grams house occupied, then surely it will suit Pumpkin very well. Perhaps even Tumunir will even use it to play with her. If he ever comes back the boarding house that is. I wonder if he's simply busy with work and hasn't told anyone? I hope he's alright. He has been acting somewhat normally but it's everyone else that seems to act oddly around him. I'm sure there's more to the story than I can glean from what Doc and even Mister Maurr has said.
Old Barly at the Pony should have enough flour and grain in his stores to last him for months and I've arranged shelves upon shelves of books for the Scholar's Hall in the hopes that perhaps they'll have less trouble finding things without me there. One can only hope!
But I can't help but to feel worried! While I was visiting with Miss Addie and Miss Neth, I perhaps heard more about some of the particulars as to why they were harmed than I probably should have. Something about a person named Strongboar and Miss Kithri -- who is an excellent maker of stew! -- being 'taken too many times'. I hardly know what all to make of this and Miss Addie said that there should be no secrets kept from me. But, being so close to this trip and needing to focus on aiding and, indeed, supporting Mister Maddoct, I hadn't the heart or, perhaps, the courage to ask. But, I'm sure that what I've heard will buzz about in my head like a bee for a good long while and I'll end up asking her when we return.
And then there's Miss Xandilif. Honestly, sometimes her actions put me off, to say the least, but I know her intentions are good. Certainly doesn't excuse some of her coarser actions but I feel better knowing that she's meaning to do right by most people. I know she'll do what she must to protect Miss Addie, Miss Neth, and Miss Kithri from further harm. I don't think she is as bad as she (intentionally?) portrays herself to be. And, the more she speaks, the more I think that perhaps she and her sister are two sides of the same coin. Surely, Miss Xandilif cares more than one could guess at first glance. I just wonder if perhaps her coarseness is borne of something awful that she's seen or experienced. But, what do I know? She's lived hundreds of years by now. I've only lived a few decades. I often think about all the wonderful things elvish folk have seen in their long lifetimes. But I know that stories, even the most beloved, have their dark moments. Someone with so many years has to have seen much of those dark moments too.
Ah! The candle's almost out! I need to sleep and rest up and stop going over this again and again in my head. It's all written down here now. I can return to it some other time. Now I need to focus on being a proper travel companion to Maddoct and supporting him and his heart, whatever happens.
I am Finchley, and I will not let my worry give way to any despair. Everything will be alright.
