[Kath]

"But enough about my issues. I can't help I'm this way. What's interesting about life in the Shire?"

Allowing Ariane to skirt around these personal issues that had so affected her life in Gondor, Astilwen set about making her feel more at ease with tales of the Shire. As she spoke though, she found it hard to think of things that made life interesting. Fun and enjoyable and comfortable yes, but not interesting. She loved it here, and would never wish to have been born anywhere else, for even in Bree the hobbit parents weren't so free with their friendships and their children, having to look out for the Big People all around. The sheltered life that hobbits in the Shire had was often taken for granted, but it was still appreciated.

She realised that she had trailed off into thought, and that Ariane was looking saddened at the thought that perhaps the Shire was not the paradise it was made out to be. Feeling ashamed of herself for thinking such thoughts about her home Astilwen quickly set about telling tales of parties and happenings that had occurred in her lifetime, and soon had the other woman laughing at her descriptions of hobbits so fat after sumptuous meals that they could not walk themselves home.

"It sounds wonderful!" Ariane said through her giggles.

"It is." Sighed Astilwen. "But sometimes I feel that I would like to leave, to see more of the world, like you."