Wait, what do you mean you’re not going? Da, I already found you a room and everything! It’s all settled and– what? But ma wouldn’t want you to stay here after all this time in mourn– Oh da, don’t do that. Please, da. Don’t cry, for pity’s sake. Da?

Look, da, I have news and it’s happy news. Ma would like it, and I hope you do, too. I was going to tell you on the way to Bree, but… Da? Are you listening? Here, have this rag.

I met a girl, da. Tch. No, another girl. Her name’s Edie and we plan to wed. That’s right, da. We’re betrothed now. Her family’s all right with it and everything. And best of all, da? I love her. Just like you loved ma.

When we get married her aunt said she’d give us a house to live in. She’s really rich. Her aunt, I mean. And you can live with us, da. That’s right. So come on, da. I’ll help you get the rest of your things together. You deserve a nice rest. Aw durrr. It’s only because I love you, da.

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Them fellas are right good at keepin’ mostly out of sight, but they ain’t little like me. Guess them hooded cloaks help ‘em out a bit.

Been talkin’ to ‘em some. Heard a bit of word what’s good and some ain’t so good. And some? Well some I can’t rightly make out if it’s good or not. Leastwise some of ‘em knows that fella I met a while back. Was with that cousin of… well. Got made a fool of right like me, I guess.

Need to ask Mr. Heartwood about them houses. Might have a buyer for one of ‘em. Guess I ain’t a good one to point at strange names. But what kinda name is Maker, anyhow?

Hope Arth don’t tell nobody he’s teachin’ me to write and read. Ain’t nobody’s business. Could be when I learn it good, might write Harry a note. Might be handy.

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The rings are finished. I managed somehow to surprise Des with a new house, and the craftsmen promise to be quick about furnishing it. All that’s left now is the ceremony. At last the happy day approaches.

It seems strange to say that I’ve enjoyed my time in this place, considering the sad things that brought us here. I’ve never before been a guest in the fine house of a wealthy man. I never thought to be such a man’s friend. But Faeldur isn’t as I thought rich men to be. He doesn’t look down on me for my humble beginnings, as many with far less than he have done. I see now why Des took to him, and through him, to his wife as well. It’s a pity I never got to know her.

The conversations we’ve had — all of us in this house, sometimes by twos or threes, but occasionally as much larger groups… I feel fortunate to renew some old friendships and strengthen them, and there are new ones, too. I begin almost to feel like my family is here despite the fact that those few remaining of my blood are still in Gondor.

Ah! I must not forget the amaranth.

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Urp! What have I done? I mean… she was the one who brought it up. How was I supposed to know she didn’t mean right now? Well, at least things seemed alright when she and her aunt left.

(Heath actually writes a reply to a letter. Wonders abound.)

Dear Edie,

Oh thank goodness! I was really worried when Ren told me about your accident but he said you were alright. I felt like a big idiot when I blurted it out to him about us. I mean, I was going to tell him like you said but I thought he already knew. But it turned out all right anyway. I’ll come to Combe tomorrow. I hope your ma and your sisters won’t beat me with brooms.

I’m telling May tonight. Ren said I should, and I guess he’s right. Did you know that he’s SEEING her? He told me himself! Well, I guess it’s not like she could have. I mean, I haven’t seen her since she and Ren had that drinking contest.

You know what? I sort of like seeing it in writing. Weird. That you love me, I mean. Not weird that you love me. Weird that I like seeing the words. I love you, too. Woah, I don’t think I ever wrote a letter this long before.

Heath

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Yes, yes, yes, yessss!

I think it’s alright now. Edie finally found May. I guess her drunken uncle was good for something after all, durrr. Anyway, it wasn’t like she thought, and there’s no baby. But she acted a little odd when…

Hm. I wonder what they talked about, really. Edie acted like there was something going on. She sort of got button-lipped when I said I thought sure May had found some fellow a year and half ago. Not me, I mean. Since… we’re just friends. And all that. She said May might write to me or something.

Silly girl. She asked me if I still wanted it. Her, I mean. Edie, that is. Sure I do. She’s my girl now, isn’t she?

Haha, Arth. Funny man. Finally met him. I wasn’t on the tower when he came in, though. It was in the middle of the night, I heard.

Call me pissy, will he? Hah! Guess that showed him. So what if my knuckles are a little sore now. It was worth it to see his head jerk back like that when I hit his jaw. Gotta hand it to him, though, I didn’t see that gut punch coming.

Oh well, I didn’t plan to really hurt him anyway. What with him being Edie’s brother and all. So sure, when she said she’d run for the door if we didn’t stop, I had to yield, didn’t I? For her.

Whhhsssht, seeing May again after all this time… That was weird. Even stranger was watching her in that drinking contest with Ren. The way they both sort of fell down at the same time, I’m not even sure who won. But I never saw her quite like that before. The way she acted with Ren, I mean. I think Edie’s still a little jealous. Of May. Maybe.

Durrr, got paid today.

Sure are a lot of visitors at the hall lately. Wonder what’s going on.

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Buhhh… What have I done?

Can’t I ever just keep my big mouth shut? Just when I thought I had a girl, I go and spoil it all. Everything. Now I’ve got nothing but memories of a few kisses.

Rotted… Damn it, May. Where are you? I have to find you before– ugh, what a mess. What a stupid, stupid mess. It was only that one time. Just one! And now this.

I can’t even tell Ren what’s wrong. I guess it’s sort of lucky that we don’t have to work the tower at the same time today. He’s going to see his aunt withhhhh… Woah. There’s that woman with all the curvy bits again. She sure does wear bright colors. I wonder what they talk about in there. I heard she knows that Arth fellow. He sounds odd, what little I’ve heard about him. I wonder if he’ll come back, like they say he might.

That little man with the funny name hasn’t shown up in a couple of days. Mr. Heartwood says he knows where that other one is. I wish I knew more what’s going on, but I guess it’s not really any of my business. I’m just supposed to watch for trouble, not to know stuff, I guess.

I wish things weren’t so… so messed up. I should just forget her. Durrr. But I keep seeing her in my mind. It seems like the birds out here keep chirping her name. Oh, this is just stupid.

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Why do I always end up thinking of things I should’ve said after I already said what I shouldn’t have? Ffffff.

Well anyway, I did get work. I’ll be on the tower. Renshaw seems like a decent fellow. At least he’s normal, like me, and about my age, too. Mr. Heartwood, though… Blast, I felt so stupid. I sure don’t know how that man can even walk and talk, let alone smile and be polite and such. If what happened to him happened to me, I guess I’d probably curl up under my bed for… oh, about a year. Or something. Well, if I had a bed, anyway.

I should do something nice for Edie to thank her. She helped me, after all. And now, dramatic or not, da won’t die from cold or hunger, and I can maybe help out with that other thing, too.

Damn. I can’t find May anywhere. It’s hard to find anybody who even knows her, but I finally managed to find out she didn’t die in the fire, anyway. So that’s good. But it’s like she vanished. Just… poof! Not there. Maybe I should be worried. I don’t know. Maybe she… hm. Should I be worried?

Durrr, I should’ve done that sooner. Or maybe not. Sometimes they run away if you kiss them too soon. I hope she doesn’t get in trouble for staying out so late. I didn’t mean to lose track of time. I guess she didn’t either.

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Ugh. Why did I go and do something so stupid? I never wrote a poem before. Well, maybe I made some up in my head sometimes. Like to keep a rhythm while I walked or something. But for a girl? No. Oh blast, no. All I wanted was to say I was sorry for making her mad. Why didn’t I just say that instead of coming out looking like an idiot… probably. Grrrr.

Well, maybe she’ll answer my question about her brother, at least.

Whew, I got a note from her and she said she didn’t think I was stupid. She probably really does, though. But anyway, she said she did write to her brother, but she hadn’t heard back yet. Tch, I hope he lets me know something soon. I hope Mr. Heartwood doesn’t hire someone before I get a chance.

I didn’t find May yet. I was worried because I heard Archet mostly burned to a crisp. Edie told me I should look for her, but she might’ve just been saying that to be nice or something… like girls do. Besides, May probably wouldn’t want to see me now, anyway. Not after last time, when… Ugh. I hope I hear about that work soon.

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Heh, what luck. Who would’ve thought I’d meet the sister of a fellow who might be able to help me get work? And for the Heartwoods, no less! I don’t know. I never worked for rich folks like that. Maybe they don’t need me. She said I should ask, anyway. But I think I talked her into writing to her brother for me. That should help.

Hm. Not sure why she wouldn’t kiss me after I took her eggs all the way to Staddle for her. Most girls would’ve. I think. Psht. It’s probably that… that foreigner she told me about. Bulletneck? Hmm, Bellynick? Balladeer? Some damn thing like that. A tree-cutter, she said. Great, just what we need around here. More men from away to come take jobs our own men need. And talking to our girls.

Oh well, I guess there are plenty of others to win kisses from. She said she has a pretty sister. Ha! But hm, I need her brother on my side. I hope I hear from him soon. Work like that could set me up really well. Besides… I don’t know if she even can tell when a fellow is jesting? Durrr. I thought my side would split from laughing when she thought I said…

But damn, she sure is cute when she gets mad.

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Could be I can try sidlin’ over, like. Could be he won’t run off no more. He ain’t near got that skittish look in his eye so much like he did. Maybe if I can just get close and talk slow and soft, like. Let him know it’s just me. Tell him what Mr. Heartwood said.

I’ll be a– did he know I was here all these times? I swear he looked right at me just now. Didn’t even look the least bit surprised neither. How in thunder… Well, here’s for it, then. Sure hope I can talk him into it. Mr. Heartwood didn’t say it, but him and his folks need Arth just right as much as he needs them, I’m thinkin’.

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