My boots crossed into the Shire for the second time in my life yesterday. Leoffrith and I camped on a hill that overlooked Buckland and the Brandywine, and we woke early in the morning to go inspect the tower in the distance. We weren't able to climb to the very top, but we did climb up the first bit of the wall that was crumbled. We crossed the bridge and went into Stock, stopping at The Golden Perch to have dinner. Leoffrith wanted to sleep indoors, but I wanted to find a place in the fields to set up camp, away from the prying ears of nosey hobbits.
My stomach is beginning to look bigger now. I've had to put away my regular robes and start wearing the new ones I had made for me, and soon I will have to get even looser clothing. I remember that my mother never got very big whenever she was with child, sometimes it was hardly noticeable at all. I must admit that I'm rather vain, I was hoping that I would take after her. I remember thinking that she only looked as if she was bloated after a large meal. Not everyone is so lucky, she would say.
I wonder if Leoffrith would find it silly that I brought this book with me on the trip, but I felt like it was important to chronicle our adventure through the Shire! One day, I hope we can travel even further together, all over Middle Earth. Until then, the Shire is a good place as any to begin your adventuring, I suppose.
