My dearest Mamma,
I hope this letter finds you and Papa well. I am very well.
Well, when I left home, I was not expecting such excitement as I have had! Please excuse the long letter, but I know you will want to know every detail of everything that has happened since I left and I have been adding to it each night. Please do not worry about me, as I am fine, as you will hear.
Daffodil dropped me off in Buckland and I remembered the way to Aunt Iris’ house and she held a party in my honour, with her special mushroom stew with chicken and green herbs (I have written the recipe on the back, as I think you will enjoy it). Although I had intended to leave early the next day, they wanted me to have breakfast and then there was elevenses, but eventually I said I must be going, so Aunt Iris made me a lunch to take with me. Cousin Periwinkle came with me part of the way, but then he stopped to have a snack and then he had a nap, so I set off without him (I did leave him a note and the rest of the cake for when he woke up).
I tried to follow the map that Great Uncle Ferdi found for me, but I’m afraid there must have been some changes since it was made, as I couldn’t find ‘the Well the Big Folk made’ or the ‘patch of lovely flowers by the bridge’ and I got a little bit lost. There were no hobbits around, so I asked some Big Folk for the best way to Straddle and they must’ve also got confused as they sent me through a very dark, scary part of the forest! I saw a BEAR! Luckily, it didn’t see me.
What with the late start, avoiding the bears (and one of my new friends Purgo said that there are WOLVES in the forest too!), I don’t think I went very far and some of it was in circles. I thought I was going to have to sleep in a tree, but luckily I found some folk camped near the path and they were kind enough to let me share their fire and I played them some music and they said it reminded them of Home and we parted in the morning as Friends.
They showed me the path to take to get to the Bree-road, but warned me not to stop or look back, no matter what I might hear or see out of the corner of my eye, as they’d lately heard Stories about Odd Things happening where the dead folk Sleep. At first the Downs seemed pleasant-enough in the sunshine, but there was something there that made me feel queasy and sick the further I went and I’m afraid to say that by the time I got to the other side I was running very fast, though I saw nothing to explain it.
Anyway, after I this I was lost and confused again and I was also tired and hungry, as I hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast at the campfire (I couldn’t manage even a snack going through the Downs!), and it was starting to get dark so a nice Farmer and his Wife let me sleep in their barn, in exchange for which I chased away some flies from their field and caught their chickens which had escaped (I don’t think they are careful about keeping the gate shut). They even gave me some porridge which I ate with my last apple and was Thankful for, but it wasn’t as nice as the porridge Papa makes.
The next day I walked a long, long way through the fields. As it grew darker, I could see the lights of Bree, but I couldn’t find my way to the gate (Purgo, said I walked up when I should have walked down). Instead, just as I didn’t think I could carry on, I found the town of Combe. A kindly Hobbit lady was on her way home from a visit to her sister when I came through the gate and she asked if I needed any Help. She gave me an apple and a cake and some berries and some bread and honey (she said I looked like to faint with hunger and I fear she was right) and pointed out an Inn which she said she would be content for her daughter to visit, where she said I should get some proper food and some rest.
The Inn was very busy. There was a couple of hobbits that I got to talking with. My new friends are called Purgo Woodcarver, who is a cousin of Young Harry in Straddle, at whose party I was to play! and Lavendulla who is a really brave hobbit lass who helps run her family’s farm in Breeland. Purgo taught me Harry’s favourite tune and I showed him the tricks I was going to do for the party. He watched them very closely and said that they were very good, which was kind. They were with some nice Big Folk called Byrthig, Oswind, Threnduil and Jacoben (I hope I have spelled their names right).
They were all very serious Men and I fear that Threnduil seemed to be quite unwell, poor thing. There was also some rowdy Big Folk who caused some trouble until my new friends Saw Them Off. I was scared, but Purgo and Oswind were so brave and said that they would protect me. When she left, the leader of the bad Big Folk said something that scared my friends and they made a Plan to travel to Archet, which Purgo says is just north of Bree and has been attacked!
Purgo said he and the Men were to go and warn them of the strange group at the Inn – Lavendulla was determined that she would go and help too and grew very Fierce. I wasn’t sure if I should go or if I’d just be in the way, but Purgo said the Poor people of Archet might like some music to cheer them up and when he said that, I said that of course I would go and he said that I didn’t need to worry and that they would look after me and he even wrote to Harry to tell him what had happened so he wouldn’t worry or think that I hadn’t wanted to play for him, which was very Considerate of him.
We set off at once, although it was still night-time and I was so tired I was nearly asleep on my feet! There was no trouble on the way, although we did see a very large Bear. One of the Men said that it would not trouble us if we left it alone and this was thankfully True. I think that Threnduil has suffered some sort of shock, as he is a Bag of Nerves, like poor Great Uncle Finch.
We are now arrived at Archet and it is very Bad. More than half the buildings have been burned down and there are people just sitting and weeping. I had a little cry for them myself before we camped for the rest of the night and I am more Grateful than ever that The Shire is safe from harm.
In the morning we will meet with the Man in Charge in Archet and offer what Help we can. Many messengers are travelling between here and other towns so I will send this letter with someone passing Stock tomorrow.
Please send my fondest regards to everyone. Purgo and Lavendulla and my other new friends send their best wishes. I will write again soon.
Your loving daughter,
Lily x
PS post can be sent to me care of Trader Hodor Thornberry, who is unofficial Hobbit Postmaster in Archet until things are back to normal.
