Dear Mother and Father,
What should I do? Master Jardic insists he is going to go on an Adventure to see the world and he can't even bake biscuits! Also, I caught him picking mushrooms in the Grand Order's mushroom tent early this morning. I woke up because I heard a door bang and went to investigate and there he was, bold as brass, sitting picking mushrooms as if he had every right to be there! I told him off of course, but he just said they wouldn't miss a few if they were good neighbours. They're such good neighbours precisely because we don't steal things from them! It was bad enough that he took a book of adventure stories with him that time we snuck in there. He insists he will give it back and that it was the book that gave him his idea for a present for Lyshko, but it annoys me so much that he just takes things. Though I will admit to you that I was also surprised and perhaps even a little proud that he dared sneak into the big hole at night with me. I didn't think he had it in him.
When we got back, it was time to start breakfast, so I went to the henhouse and found three beautiful fresh eggs. Jardic followed me and asked if anyone had invited me to go with them to the Summer Picnic. When I said no one had, he asked if I would like to go with him, since he will be leaving soon after and he thinks it would be fun to go to the picnic with me, since he knows me best and he wants to show how grateful he is that he's been allowed to stay. I have to admit his flattery got to me, so I said yes. It's not like a proper date or anything and I'm very well aware that Jardic is a Lightfoot, but he did actually bring me a present. And he made breakfast when he said he would, so he does seem to do what he says he will, unlike a certain other Lightfoot I could mention.
Later on, I was trying to write more of my song when Jardic decided to bother me, asking about travelling and camping and things, to help him when he goes off on his adventure. I tried to change his mind about going again, but he was very insistent, even asked if I'd like to go along with him! But I really don't want to go anywhere right now, I'm still enjoying being home after my very long trip. Someone will have to go with him though, the hobbit can't even bake biscuits. I put away my book and helped him bake some because he really had no clue. He didn't put any sugar in the mix and then nearly burned them because he was explaining how grand his adventure was going to be and how he'd have something to tell all the hobbits when he got back. He did burn his hands though, because he was so excited he forgot to put on oven mitts to take them out so I had to put burncream on them and bandage them. He won't be playing his lute any time soon, that's for sure!
Nothing I say seemed to have any effect, Jardic is still very keen to go on his adventure, and not even burned hands will stop him. I tried saying that the other hobbits would call him a troublemaker, a disturber of the peace and even a black sheep, but he just kept saying how I travel all the time and they don't think I am. Well, some do, but luckily most of the hobbits at the GDF are very tolerant. And I travel to find gems and rare metals for my jewellery making, not just for fun!
So then he changed the subject, asking all sorts of silly questions about me having more than a few hobbits courting me and things like that. I said I don't encourage that sort of thing and he thought it might be because having a dwarf as a guardian would be intimidating. Perhaps that's partly true. Besides, I don't have time for that sort of thing anyway, I'm often away travelling and no hobbitlad worth his salt wants a lass like me. I felt very uncomfortable while he was talking and to make matters worse, he said he would like to introduce me to his cousin Bucky! That was the last straw. I told him in no uncertain terms that if he ever mentioned my name to Bucky Lightfoot, that he would never be welcome in my hobbithole again and then I stormed off. So stupid! Now who knows what he thinks. But I don't care. I hope he goes away on his adventure soon and gets eaten by a troll! No, I don't really, that would be a horrible death and he's not that bad. But how do I convince him that adventuring is a bad idea?
Your loving Zara
