Lumina's startin' to feel the upset stomach and suchlike of carryin' the baby, real bad, worrisome bad.
We had been talkin' afore that about the idea of a journey to the Shire, then on up from there to Evendim, where she been once afore, but I ain't never been. I hear people tell of how pretty it is, though, rugged and maybe a bit dangersome, but the lake, Nenuial, make it all worth it. That's where Finchley went and seems she been gone a long time; I hope she's all right. Prob'ly it's just it's so pretty she's stayin'. And we talked about goin' to Rivendell; I still think Lumina would be all manner of happy there, talkin' to the Elves in the library, readin', just seein' how lovely and peaceful the whole place is, and calm, and suchlike. We even talked on the idea of visitin' the Mark once, so she could see it, and meet my family, but of course that were afore the news, and now it hardly seems worth so long and perilsome a journey, even if we heard as the Mark were safe to return to. But the baby changes ever'thing, don't it? As she gets closer to the day, she'll be ill more and more, and travel's harder, and of course any peril, even somethin' as small as a slip and fall, becomes so much greater. And then there'll be a little to care for, and we can't go takin' a baby, or even a wee child, on the road. So all them journeys we figure prob'ly won't never happen, or leastwise, not until the children is growed mostly up. All of 'em (and we're like to have more'n a few).
But we thought, the Shire's an easy ride, two day there, a few days around, see things better'n she did the one time she passed through it (seems she were in a hurry), visit the Brockhouses, and two days back, with no peril the whole way. So if we do it right quick then it should all be fine. Took me a few days to make arrangements with Master Rosewood, and sendin' to Missus Nettle, and buyin' a book made for children as Miss Cesistya suggested for me to help get better at readin' since practice ain't doin' it, and packin' up goods and food for the journey… and by the time we left, it were already on the edge of summer. And prob'ly would have been better if'n we'd gone earlier.
Things went fair well to start. Kestrel and Steorra were happy for to get some miles under and behind 'em, and the weather were fair pleasant, warm but breezy. We got past that place Adso were buildin', but then she didn't want for to camp too near the road on account the Old Forest gives her the willies, so we climbed high up to near one the towers, and later even climbed up into it to look out over the Brandywine. Next day, we set out to cross the bridge into the Shire.
We was hardly past Stock when things first started goin' not like I figured they would, as she were tired out way sooner'n I reckoned, and we camped right outside Stock (she also didn't much like the idea of stayin' in the inns, and the idea of keepin' in a farmer's hayloft, even more so.) I reckon we scandalized all the Hobbits what wake early by bathin' in the river they call The Water. She seemed in right playful spirits, even askin' if we could move to live in the Shire. But goin' north toward Brockenborings didn't interest her so much, so instead we continued west, toward Bywater, and the Party Tree, and Waymeet. We did a fair bit of shoppin' there, bought books and a tea-kettle and scarves and quilted blankets for the baby, then camped on the hill above. Next mornin' in we went to Michel Delving, had a very nice walk around in this right pretty garden they got with flowers and a big wood statue of two Hobbits, and then went to the inn for a nice meal -- mushrooms, she only wanted mushrooms.
But afore we could even get served, she went explorin' and somehow she found a wee rabbit, in the inn, what had wandered in. I ain't never seen a rabbit so wee or so cutesome. Well, sure enough she wanted to keep it. I guess I can't be sore about her wantin' to take in all the strays, like the cat, and Hathgar, and now a rabbit called Blossom, seein' as I could count myself on that list, couldn't I? Trouble was, here we got a hungrified street-scamp dog with us, what had already gone huntin' and come back with a rabbit -- they call 'em 'coney' in the Shire -- and I were worried as to how we'd safe transport a rabbit, on horseback, without Hathgar gettin' at it. Lumina didn't seem to understand the problem; she were sure Hathgar would behave, like somehow he'd know this'n is not for eating, and what's more, me tryin' for to figure out how we could get Blossom safe back to home alongside Hathgar, she took it like it were me not likin' the rabbit, or bein' cross at her, or somethin'. I don't right understand what went wrong or how I could done better, but it were a glum breakfast, that's for sure. I'm still not sure she sees it as me tryin' to make it so's she could get all she wished for. Maybe she were feelin' a bit ill already and it come out in her feelin' hurt and like we was at cross purposes.
I did come up with a way, though. I'm sure if'n she had put her smart to work tryin' she'd've come up with a better idea, but I found a big basket, kind they carry around pies in, and bought it. Had to buy the pies, too, but we'll be havin' pie for a while. Well, I will. They's meat pies and she can't bear meat right now. It has a lid so's we can keep the rabbit inside, or just drape a towel over. Also got bitter greens for to feed the rabbit, and lots of meat scraps to keep Hathgar so full he wouldn't be gettin' no ideas, and mushrooms since she likes the Shire mushrooms better'n those we get in Bree, and a tray to keep it all on. But when we camped near Waymeet, she were feelin' ill again, and I think were still cross at me, even though ever'thing had gone well with Blossom. Next mornin' she felt even worse, and wanted to ride with me on Heafoc. We went to the Ivy Bush, but she could hardly eat anythin', just had some tea mostly, and then she weren't sure as she could even make it back. The thought of bein' on a horse made her near to ill, and she didn't think she could do it.
I were near to panic. I mean, I don't know if'n we could really think of movin' to the Shire, but certainly not by just gettin' caught there with no way back! When there's troubles and they need thinkin' to solve, it ain't good when she's too sick, or cross, to do the thinkin', because that only leaves me, and I ain't good at it. What I come up with, after a while of false starts, is buyin' one the big, bright-painted Hobbit waggons they use for haulin' goods about. They're about the same as them used in Bree-land; just cause Hobbits is small don't mean their carts wouldn't be just as big for carryin' just as many sacks of taters, or whatnot. Except for bein' a lot prettier with the paint. Then I bought a bale of hay -- well actually I traded it for helpin' tend a plough-horse -- and more blankets. The waggon got poles and a big canvas goes over 'em so the things in it can be covered from the sun. I spread ever'thing out and then hitched up the horses. Kestrel were right cranky; a Mearh prince of horses bein' hitched to a gaily colored waggon? All the draught-horses were prob'ly laughin' at him in horse-words. But as long as we kept the waggon movin' at a nice pace, just a little quicker'n a horse's walk, but no quicker'n that, the ride were fair smooth in the waggon, enough for her to not be too ill. It also made it easy for to camp when we left the Shire; we just used it as a camp, with the canvas already up over us. So now we own a waggon, which'll help with bringin' back things from market, I s'pose.
For one night, after we got home, and she had a chance to take some of her potions, she felt all right. Frisky, even. Though she's gone off mushrooms; instead she were lovin' this dish called colcannon, made from taters, I got from the Peaceful Peach. We had one right nice night, but by the next mornin' she were even worse, can't even move away from a bucket. Now I'm wishin' I didn't got to go back to the stable, so's I could stay home and look after her all day; but I were already away more'n twice as long as I said I would, and things need doin'. Maybe I can hire a nursemaid or midwife to come stay at the house for a few months.
I walked all the way to town next morning, so's Kestrel could rest after all that waggon-pullin', and worked late into the night. Stopped at the Pony for a meal what I were so tired I forgot to have, but more, so surprised, for who should be in the Pony but Miss Brynleigh! She's only stayin' in town a few days, and it seems she got my letter, so catchin' up didn't take so long on account she already knew all the big news. And she didn't much want to talk about her own time since she left, apart from a little bit about her work. It's good she's friendly but she's still keepin' her hurts to herself. Which is fair; I wouldn't be no help with'm. I only wish I were any good at things like that, but I ain't. She were most encouragin' about my plans to become a healer of horses, though. And sad as she can't meet Lumina, on account her bein' all took ill. Sounds like she's like to be leavin' back for the Mark fair soon, though. I reckon it's a hard journey; Jack looked a bit rangy, though of course well took care of. She's goin' for to move him to my stable so we can get him set to rights for the ride back. Plus he'll have them horses from the Mark what Miss Adri brung in, and the one that that Dunlending girl with the nose keeps there, but never rides, to keep company with.
Cesistya says that it's normal for Lumina to have the sicks and the hankerings, and I know Aelfwynn had 'em too. Which is somethin' of a relief. But it's goin' for to be a long five months ahead, if it's like this the whole way. I'm sure glad we got to take the journey we done, seein' as how we prob'ly won't never get to again. The Shire is so very pretty.
I wonder how serious she were about the idea of movin' there one day.
