Good morning to the world! Winter is back with a fury today. It's cold as anything, my fingers are frozen and the fires are fighting hard to keep the house warm. But the sun is shining!
Bree has been bustling like a swarm of mud-wasps in summer. I've run into so many faces that I don't know if I could recall all of them! It's pleasant to say hullo to folk and meet new ones, but bless me, I'm relieved to get back to Knotwood every time.
Let's see now. Where to start? I got to see Miss Gustine in the Prancing Pony a few nights back! Sweet little hobbit, standing on a chair so she can see everyone. I could just hug her and snatch her up and keep her, but of course, Mister Theo might not like that! She were talking to Mister Leoffrith, while Miss Lumina were standing by the fire with another foreign lady named Miss Israa. Everyone were so warm and friendly! I've never really gotten a chance to speak with Miss Lumina much, other than her asking me to knit some things a while back, but she seemed like she were glowing! So affable and kind and sweet! I wonder that I never got to know this side of her before. I hope I get to know more of it now. I told Mister Leoffrith that I'm sure he's a big reason what made her so happy and full of warmth.
Speaking of! The very next day I got a letter in my post-box and what do you think? I'm invited to their wedding! My heart nearly burst with how sweet and warm and lovely it felt to read that! Mister Leoffrith were so incredible thoughtful. He's trying to find a way for me to get there on horseback, maybe using a special harness to help me stay on the saddle. I admit, it sounds a bit frightening, as I've not ridden horses much at all, and even less since my leg were hurt. And I were thinking, what if there were some kind of accident or the horse went lame or got spooked and there I am, strapped to its back and flouncing about. That scares me worse than anything on account of that's sort of how I broke my leg in the first place! But I were so touched that he thought of such a thing, and I will be at the wedding if I have to crawl on my hands and knees! Though, I don't think it'll come to that. I told him I could just hire a cart and pony if it comes down to it.
Now I've got to figure out what to wear. I suppose the blue dress would do, but... it's a wedding! Shouldn't I have something fine to wear? I've been saving my coin well, as I don't really buy much for myself. So I might could visit the shops in Bree and treat myself to something. It never feels right, to buy things for myself that I don't really need. I guess that's just part of growing up poor and working for every bite of food that you get. You realize how much you just don't need.
I don't think I have the guts to ask if I can accompany anyone else who might be going. I'm sure the hobbits and dwarves all have their own arrangements. The wedding itself is going to be smaller and less folk, I think. And then a big party for anyone and everyone after. There is someone I rather hope to see at the party. But I don't know if I have the courage to ask if they might be there. I wonder if anyone will dance?
Do you know, I saw Mister Gregwald by the hearth in the Pony just a day or two ago. And he's still a silly flirt what thinks he can eye up any girl he sees and not get a smack for it! But the longer he talked, the less silly he was. Did I really see a little peek of an actual man behind all those jokes and winks? Mister Leoffrith says he's determined to make an honest man out of him. I'll enjoy watching those efforts!
How curious is it, to see all these dark-skinned foreigners coming into town! Or, not even coming in, but apparently some of them have been living in Bree for years, and I've just never seen them? Maybe they keep to themselves a bit, and that wouldn't be a shock, as most Bree folk are suspicious and untrusty of strangers. I wonder now, how long has Miss Lumina been living in Bree? I wonder how she and Mister Leoffrith met. And her friend, Miss Israa, did they come here together? And then I saw another gentleman what called himself Mister Ka-zeem. What a strange name! But I like it, I like the way it sounds when I say it! He were all dressed in dark clothes and with his dark face, he just looked DARK all over. But he had such a kind smile, and he said he'd been living in Bree for nigh ten years! I were shocked by that. I didn't get a chance to pepper him with questions like I tend to do with curious, new folk from other lands. And I haven't seen Mister Zal since that one night, either. I wonder if he left?
