Resistance RPG

[piosenniel]

25 October

Elven Warrior's post

Assiram threw open the door of the Prancing Pony and walked towards Bill Ferny's usual seat in the dark corner across the room. As he briskly walked across the Common Room, Assiram never took his eyes off Bill's table, and pushed past anyone in his way without a second glance, for there was money to be made this night.

When, he reached the corner, Assiram noticed Bill sitting with his back in the corner, as he was apt to do of late, and one of Bill's many southern friends sitting on the opposite side of the small round table. Assiram stared down the southerner, his gaze seeming burn a hole through the man of the south. Finally the southerner looked stupidly at Assiram, who said simply,"Get up. You're in my seat." The southerner disregarded him and turned back to Bill. Assiram's arm suddenly lashed out and put the southerner on the ground in a heap.

Assiram then calmly took his place at the table across from Bill and said," So you're back in Bree, eh, Ferny. What kind of a job have you got for me?"

"I'm only back for a short while," Ferny said. Then switching to a businesslike tone he said,"There've been a few hobbits who won't quite submit to Sharkey. They're not giving him all they owe. I need you to find them, and if they still won't follow the Rules, then make an example of them and I can guarantee you'll be well paid. Here's a list of them." Ferny slid a piece of paper across the table to Assiram.

"I'd better be well paid, unless you'd like your head to roll,"Assiram replied, standing to leave.

"We'll leave in the morning, then," said Bill, knowing this meant "yes".

[ September 22, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

25 October

Burzdol's post

Helios ran through the slightly crowded streets, trying to find Bill. Of course, he knew that the man would be in the Prancing Pony, but Bill had been acting strange. Deciding to give up his search, Helios went into a back alley to see if he could make some money.

"Hey, who are you?" a man called from the shadows.

"Just an innocent gambler, and you?" Helios replied.

"Well then, you came to the right place," the man pushed aside a cloth covering to reveal a doorway. The he started, "So what'll it be? We got a gambler's every single wish her..hey, where you goin'?"

Helios walked away because sitting in the corner gambling was none other than, Bill Ferny.

Helios sat down at his usual corner seat, on the other side of the room from Bill Ferny. He had just started to doze, when Assiram came into the Prancing Pony. The young man watched the meeting as it came to be. As soon as Assiram left, Helios walked over to Bill Ferny.

"Ah, back in Bree, eh? What's the job?" Helios asked before his boss even spoke.

"I'm only back for a short while," Ferny said. Then switching to a businesslike tone he said,"There've been a few hobbits who won't quite submit to Sharkey. They're not giving him the respect they owe. I need you to find them, and if they still won't follow the Rules, then make an example of them and I can guarantee you'll be well paid. Here's a list of them," he said as Bill handed Helios a paper, "I told this exact same speech to the man that just left. Assiram is his na..."

"I know who he is. So how much does this pay? It better pay well."

The men greeted and spoke and soon got on the talk of payment, "So how much you going to pay me?"

"Depends on how well you do."

*********************************************

Helios started to plan as soon as Ferny walked out. Thinking of what he'd do with the money he could earn. He joined his companions at a table in a dark corner and talked about the plan over a beer.

[ September 24, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

25 October

*Arwen*'s post

Ahriman slowly slid out from behind the tree and crouched in the undergrowth as he watched Helios leave. He hadn’t seen Helios since the day he left Ferny either, I wonder what Ferny is up to?
He waited until Helios had disappeared into the darkness before he slipped out and into the darkness of the building. He could see the figure of Ferny in the corner and wondered whether he had seen him yet.

“Ah, Ahriman, I wondered when you’d be getting here.” Ferny turned and grinned a yellow-stained toothy grin.
Ahriman stepped out from the shadows,
“I see you haven’t changed a bit Ferny, still as sharp as ever.”

Ferny gave another of his grins and beckoned Ahriman over. He came obediently; it was not a good idea to get on the wrong side of Ferny – especially when he has positioned himself between you and the door.

“What up then Ferny? Why have you called me here?” Ahriman tried to stay control of the situation. He was not going to let Ferny walk all over him, not like last time.

“We seem to have a few hobbits that won’t submit to Sharkey. I really need some help to control them. I have already sent Helios out to find them and I would like you to join him. You two are my best – I know I can rely on you.”

Ahriman sneered, he had never liked Helios.
“What about the pay? It was really rubbish last time. I’m not working for that little money again!” Ahriman was starting to feel good. That would show Ferny.

“Do not worry my lad, just take this list and go.”

Ahriman sneered and grabbed the paper.

“So its just me and Helios?” he asked, he wanted to be sure.

“Actually, no. There is one other man. His name is Assiram, do you know him?”

Ahriman remembered vaguely hearing the name from someone, might have been Helios.

“Don’t think so.” He said, pushing the crumpled paper into his pocket.

Ferny turned around to pick up another piece of paper that had fallen of his lap.

“Ok then you can….” He began and then stopped, Ahriman was gone. Ferny leaned back in his chair slowly, a smile forming on his lips. This was going to be good.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

26 October

Lyra's post - Bill Ferny

“Well, will you tell me the pay now?”

Bill smiled in a way that had nothing to do with amusement. Here was Helios, and he could see the shadowy figures of Assiram and Ahriman approaching too. Waiting until they had reached him, Bill named a figure.

“Are you joking?” Ahriman asked, without amusement.
“You’ll be going after the richest family in that rich little land” Bill added lazily. “You might not even want to claim your pennies”

He watched as one by one the men in front of him nodded or grunted assent.
“Very well” he said with a vague approximation at haste. “I’m off on horseback, Sharkey’s orders, to get a few of Sharkey’s little feather-capped stooges to help you out. It’ll take you four days to get to where you’re going. Known as the “Tookland”, right?”

After a few more mumbles of comprehension Bill repeated his hollow smile and walked off to get his nag for the journey back to the land of rich pickings.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

27 October

Imladris' post

Two men, pipes hanging from their mouths and heads wreathed in bluish grey smoke, studied a light brown board checked with black intently; carved chess pieces of mahogany stood in military array upon the different squares. Well, at least one of the players was technically a man, the other was a fairly wealthy hobbit.

Snickering slyly, the man, Bill Ferny by name, smoothly threatened Olo Underfoot’s king with a queen. Rotten yellow teeth revealed themselves in a gloating sneer as Bill leaned back in his chair and blew a cloud of smoke into the sky. “Check, Olo.”

Olo grimaced slightly at the board and blew a smoke ring from his fat lips. Rubbing his pudgy tanned hands thoughtfully, Olo considered Bill with a pair of rich brown eyes. Ferny was a clever man, but Olo knew that he was smarter than the sallow faced man that crowed in early pride before him. With a shrug, Olo said, “You are not lackin‘ in brains, Billy. Though I must admit ye had me worried when ye took up with them southern men. Thought ye was a fool and I imagined that ye would loose everything you possessed, even though that was precious little. I see I was wrong.” He fingered his brass buttons thoughtfully before he added, “Thanks to ye, I’m richer than I ever thought possible. Technically, o’ course, it was all because o’ Sharkey. ’Twas a happy day for the Shire when he came.”

Bill Ferny laughed scornfully and said, “That’s not the tune you were dancing to when he first came. You were all afraid that Sharkey would ruin the Shire, and look at ya now: one of Sharkey’s best men.”

“That’s because ye opened me eyes, mate. ‘Twas ye that showed me that Sharkey really meant to improve the Shire, this poor land that wallowed in its unchanged state and that plodded contentedly on in ignorance of great mechanical advances. If it weren’t for ye, I’d be starving in some dank cell, becoming thinner and thinner and yearnin‘ for a bit o‘ smoke.” Olo jiggled his fat stomach appreciatively and patted a leather tobacco pouch which was stuffed so full with Leaf that it threatened to burst its seams. Glancing at the board, he countered Bill Ferny’s move with his knight and watched in unrestrained glee as Ferney’s smugness faded and was replaced with irritation.

Swiftly moving a pawn, Ferny said, “Not all the Shire folk think as we do.” Nodding towards Tookland, he said, “Thain Paladin is making plenty of trouble. Tomorrow, you and two of your fellow shirrifs are goin' to have a meeting in the morning.”

With a disdainful scoff, Olo replied, “I’m goin’ over with two o’ my fellow shirrif to see to him, try an‘ convince him to our side, if ye know what I mean. If they refuse,” he said with a careless shrug and a forefinger swiping at his throat, “Sharkey will see to ’im, Under his finger, the Tooks will bend an’ bend ’till they snap.” With a flourish, Olo maneuvered his queen to a black square and peered triumphantly into Bill Ferny‘s yellow face. “Checkmate.”

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

27 October

Arvedui's post

The guardhouse, comfortably warm in the thickly cold night, made Brass Stonetoe inadvertently smile. "Ahh fire." He muttered as he pulled on the iron knocker. A shadowy man twice his size gave him a black-toothed grin and waved him inside. Even two weeks ago the sight of this behemoth would have been enough to send him into a stuttering ball of fear; but now he only nodded stepped inside. A great "Hoohhh!" washed over him, and Brass ambled over to the table where Bill Ferny and Olo Underfoot were playing chess. He blinked, Horribly bothersome game, chess. Straining to see what the big to-do was about.

Olo, beaming as though his birthday had come early, declared so all the cramped guardhouse could hear, "Checkmate." Brass clapped automatically along with everyone else in the room, it wasn't really important; but everyone else was doing it, so Brass figured he should do it too. He was just about ready to sit down for a good after-supper when, "Olbard!" An imperious voice made Brass turn, his blue eyes looking unfocused around the room. "Behind you." The voice corrected, pointedly.

"Oh." Brass turned and ogled at Olo Underfoot. "Sorry, I- how did you do that?" Olo's sharp brown eyes were alight with mirth. "Never mind, listen," He lowered his voice conspiratorially, "Tomorrow, you want to come with me to Tookland?" It wasn't a question, really. It was a statement. But still Brass furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?" "'Cause we're gonna straiten them out." That seemed fairly straightforward. "Okay." Olo broke into a wide grin, and handed him a hunk of cheese. "Then be at the usual spot in the morning, and not after elevenses, mind you." The other hobbit added shrewdly. That stung, but Brass looked at the wonderfully warm cheese in his hand and chose not to complain. "Sure, I know the score." His fellow sherif chuckled as he turned and walked away. "Sure you do."

He shrugged. Olo was planning something, he always was. But Brass was indifferent to it. So long as the good food kept coming, whatever he had to do, he'd do it. No sense in causing any bother, but as Brass sat down to revel in his cheese, he wondered why the Tooks didn't know that.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Child's post

Hob crouched lower in his seat as he saw Bill Ferny pick up the paper with the names of the Shirriffs who were being sent to Tookland to "put the Thain in his place". He could not think of a worse assignment than this. All his old friends from home would see what he was doing in the employ of the Shirriffs and give him a mighty earful.

Plus, he couldn't imagine standing up to the Thain. It would be downright rude and ungrateful. On any number of occasions, Paladin had graciously extended a helping hand to his parents to get them through the tough times. He remembered being caught stealing a chicken out of the Took's henhouse when the drought was on, and his little brother was so hungry. Not only had Paladin agreed not to punish him; he'd actually had the missus roast the bird in the oven with that nice, savory gravy she made so well and send it home with a little note for his mother that didn't even mention what he'd actually been doing. It made Hob's mouth water even to think about it.

But that was not the worst of it. If he went to Tookland and harassed the Thain, his bride-to-be Cami would certainly learn what had happened. And she would not be pleased. Cami had practically grown up in the hallowed halls of Bag-end, learning her letters and numbers at Bilbo's kitchen table. She had been friendly with Frodo and his friends before they'd gone away, and was sure to complain about any ill treatment of Pippin's father, the 'mighty' Paladin II.

Hob crouched lower as the names were read off to the assembled Shirriffs, groaning quietly under his breath: Olbard Stonetoe....Olo Underfoot. Those hobbits were great admirers of Ferny and his crew, the sort of Shirriffs who might even be snitches. Whoever went with them would have to watch their back.

Hob closed his eyes tight and clenched his fists around the arms of his chair. Then he looked up in shock as Ferny read out the final name on the list....Hob Fields! Hob Fields? Hob moaned inwardly, then plastered a smile across his face and hastily jumped up. "Oh, yes sir. Thank you, Mister Ferny. I'll be pleased to help carry out this important duty." Inside he was screaming a loud 'no', but that would get him nowhere except the Lockholes. If he valued his neck, he'd better play along with Ferny and the other Shirriffs and try to see where all this was leading.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Lyra's post - Bill Ferny

“I need to talk to the chosen Hobbits” Bill announced after the usual duty postings and reprimands. “The rest of you get back to duty”

He watched the three who remained in their seats as the rest filed out silently. Two were of the new order, the future of Hobbits. One still seemed to resist. His loyalty would have to be tested or his spirit broken.

“Well” he said with a leering grin “you’re all very lucky. Them Tooks have had far too much freedom to disrespect our Chief, but you will at last get to put them down. You’ll set off tomorrow morning and watch them. There’s a few men who’ll meet you there. And when all the Tooks are… gone you’ll have the chance to fight it out with my men over who gets the booty!”

He watched the looks on the Hobbit’s faces. They all looked a little uncomfortable. Might be fear, could be that they didn’t want to do it.
“Any problems?” he asked, leaning down threateningly.
“No no” they all said hastily.
“Go on then” Bill answered, and watched them scurry out the door.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Lyra's post - Paladin

Paladin gazed with ill-concealed annoyance into the little container half full of the best Longbottom Leaf.

“Eglantine!” he called towards an open, round door.

“Yes Paladin?” His wife answered as she bustled cheerfully into the room.

“My tobacco box has not been filled. It’s less than halfway full.” Eglantine fidgeted with her gown, eyes suddenly fixed on the floor at her feet.

“Eglantine?” Paladin asked in a commanding voice, irritation growing.
Why in Heaven’s name is she acting like young Pippin after one of his scrapes? he wondered grimly.

“Well, my love…You see…” her voice trailed off.

“Come, Eglantine! Surely you don’t think I will bite your head off?” Once again she shifted uneasily.

“No of course not.” She replied doubtfully. “You see Paladin, the thing is- you’ve run out”

“What?”

“It’s those ruffians. They don’t allow trade of tobacco. We’ve haven’t had any new supplies for quite some time. For the last few weeks you’re the only person who has actually had any.”

Paladin sat slowly onto his old chair. That’s all there is left? he thought disbelievingly.

There hasn’t been a shortage of Leaf since…there hasn’t been a shortage of Leaf! And they have been going without, for me. Even Adelard, I suppose! Anger bubbled to the surface. Those...men. We have to get rid of them. Coming in, changing things. Setting up that Sackville-Baggins as chief. Sackville-Baggins! I ask you, what’s wrong with traditions? The Thain has always been in charge, if anyone has to be. And the Master, in Buckland, I suppose. Sackville-Baggins. It’s not even a proper name! Baggins, yes, and even Sackville is a respectable-

“Paladin?” His wife’s voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up. Her cheerful face was creased in worry.

“Eglantine. This has gone on for quite long enough. It’s time we showed them that Tooks will not stand for this nonsense, whatever Grubbs or Hardbottles may do. We need more Leaf. I’ll lead a party to-”

He broke off. Eglantine had, if anything, become more agitated.
“Paladin” she began slowly “Are you sure? You were always very adventurous, but don’t you think you’re perhaps…a little old?”

He looked at her sternly, then sighed. “Maybe I am at that” he admitted with a sigh, then squeezed her hand. “Well, then. Let us find some younger volunteers. Where is everyone?”

Eglantine gave him a very pointed look. “Most are eating Elevenses, Paladin.”
”Of course, of course” Paladin murmured absently “Good, good. I’ll announce it in the Dining Hall.”

Paladin walked to the front of the great dining hall slowly. It was almost completely full, and yet he knew many Hobbits were not there. There had always been many Tooks, but now they were joined by huge numbers of Hobbits who had come because only the Tooks were doing anything against the enemy. The enemy of ALL Hobbits. Paladin had had to make some hard decisions, not least the order to kill trespassers. It was always hard for a Hobbit to kill. He could understand why others had decided to put up with the occupation, but it was not in him to accept it. Everyone had to make their own choices.

The noise had died down a little on his entrance, which simply meant that Paladin could hear himself think. Speaking was another matter entirely. With a smile he picked up the heavy bell that had been lying on the top table for centuries. As long as anyone could remember it had been rung to give the news of births, deaths and marriages in the Took family. He could still remember picking it up the first time to present himself as Thain. Recently though, Paladin had used it in more serious ways- announcing his intention to oppose the invasion, giving permission to raid the dwellings and holds of the men, and ordering the death of trespassing men. It was rumoured that it had been given to the Oldbucks by the King himself, and in those days it had certainly been used for purposes like to the ones Paladin now put it to. He was proud, in a way, to be upholding the traditions of his ancestors. Yet he would swap it all to return to his previous quiet life. And the return of his son. And a batch of good Longbottom Leaf. Deliberately he rang the bell, and silence fell.

“By the sounding of the bell I call to the notice of the Took clan a matter of grave importance.” Paladin began with the traditional words. “Listen well and tell anyone who is not here, that all will hear my words.”

Here tradition ended. Paladin was grateful that his ancestors, or the Oldbucks, had had as little desire for speeches as Hobbits of today.

“My dear Tooks” he began, from his own head “and all honoured friends. I will not make a long speech. As you all know, I am an old man” He looked significantly at Eglantine, who was standing near the entrance smiling. “and all old men have certain…caprices. Friends, we have run out of Leaf. I would call upon a number of our young Hobbits to go and get some for me and my fellow old men, who, I understand, have been going without for some weeks. I ask this not only for my own gratification, but also because the interlopers have no right to disrupt our traditions. Will any volunteers please come to my study this afternoon.”

Paladin waited for the reaction. There was a few moments silence, then a thunderstorm of clapping. There was even some cheering. He smiled a satisfied smile. Yes- you could depend on Hobbits, in the end.

The first young Hobbit into his study was a lad Paladin knew very well, his nephew Josias. The name still made Paladin smile, for this scruffy lad hardly seemed to suit it. He had lived at the Smials for some years, being taught with young Peregrin and Pervinca. Finally Emmie, the sister next-older than Paladin and the tattle-tale bane of his childhood, had taken him away for fear that he was being corrupted by his cousin’s influence. Paladin very much feared that the damage had already been done, and felt it served Emmie very well. Josh had always been in awe of Pippin, and done his best to keep up with his, and young Meriadoc Brandybuck’s, pranks. Indeed, Emmie’s taking him back to Buckland could only have brought him into more contact with Meriadoc, who could have had very little as a stabilising influence. Still, Josh was a good lad. He impressed Paladin talking of his desire to rid the Shire of those men and his wish for adventure. Paladin could remember feeling similarly himself. No doubt it was inspired, at least in part, by Pippin’s going off for adventure. Paladin nodded briskly: yes, the lad would do very well. He had excelled himself in some of the raids.

“Very well lad” He cut off Josh’s flow of speech. “I will entrust you with charge of this expedition, but make sure you listen to advice. I have found that to be the secret of leadership. I want you to go to Longbottom- you know the way by the Shirebourn do you not?”

Josh nodded eagerly.

“Good, good. I want you to try to keep out of the way of everyone. No attempted heroics. I think there will be time enough for that soon. Well, go and prepare. Send in the next, won’t you”

“Thank you very much, Uncle Paladin” the lad answered, his eyes shining.
I hope you will be as happy afterwards, Paladin thought with a sigh, knitting his hands together as he watched the boy walk out. Hard decisions…

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Manardariel's post

“Oh my gosh, there he is!” Tim Bracegirdle lazily turned his head towards the voices and winked, smiling pleasantly. He was sitting on a little stone wall just out side the Took residence in Great Smials. Behind him, he well knew, two or three lasses of barely fifteen were spying on him. The usual. Tim squinted at the sun and, calculating it was about time for lunch, strolled inside the house. The girls followed him, much like a very gigglelish shadow, but Tim didn´t mind. On the contrary, he loved it. In the large hall, he turned around as was about to say something, something cool, when-

“Tim, there you are! Have you heard?” Melody. Of course. Tim gave a his sister a half-annoyed look as she pulled him away from hall and fanclub into a little side-off room.

“What??” He asked, curiously. “Any distant relatives? Bad news?!”

“No, no, no. There´s a shortage of leaf, and Paladin wants to send a group of youngsters off to get some. People like Doderic, and Ilberic-”

“-and me,” He finished the sentence for her. She nodded, anxiously. “You seriously think, I am going to go to through half the Shire, get myself roasted by one of those ruffians, stabbed by a shiriff and drowned in a river to bring old Paladin his leaf?” He peered at her, impatiently. Adventures, that weren´t his kind of thing. No parties on the way, and it became so boring after a while. He liked it here- lot´s of food, good ale, pretty girls...

“Tim, please! They need you! You´re such a good bowsman, and someone needs to convince the farmer to give you the leaf. You´re made for something like that, you like the outdoors, walking- and if you succeed, we´ll all have our leaf back. Please, Timmy! Please! Your brother´s can´t go, they have to stay with the farm, but please, do this! Please!” She fixed him with a pleading look, her eyes tight on his. After a pause, she lowered her voice, then added: “ Paladin´s awaiting young adventures in the study. Miss Grubb would be so impressed....”

Melody winked and left the room.

He stood there, staring. He didn´t have to go. Nobody forced him. He could go into the hall, talk a word or two with those girls, make them blush... He could make himself a nice time here, find a fishy excuse to silence his sister....he could.

You just want to save your own little bum

The voice came from the back of his head, small, defiant- disgusted. He´d never would hsve thought it was there, but it was. And Tim new, it would stay there and make his life living hell if he didn´t do anything about it.

Tim pulled up his shoulders and walked into the study.

“Hello, Tim!” Paladin smiled at him, his face round and kind much like a ripe apple.

“Good day, Sir.” Tim shoved his weigt from one foot to the other. He could do this. It wasn´t hard. He just had to say something. Appear smart and winning, so Paladin would accept him on the quest. But did he want to be accepted?

“Tim? Can I help you?” Paladin asked. Come on! Tim thought. This isn´t that hard! His mind was made up: he would go. Now all he had to do was convince Paladin of his perfect skills for this.

“Sir, it´s been a pleasure for me to stay at your house for all this time. I- I´ve been wondering if there was a way for me to return that kindness to you. And... there appears to be one indeed!” Tim smiled, and dropped his head slightly, enough to appear bold, but not enough to look silly or down-putting. “Sir, it would be a great pleasure for me to organize leaf for you.” He continued, his eyes fixing Paladin with a winning smile. “I´m a rather good bowsman, if I may say so- and as I said it would be a great pleasure for me. Would you- would you consider me? I´d be honored, Sir. It would be something I could still tell my grandchildren about.” My grandchildren! Like I even want children in the first place!

But Paladin seemed charmed. He got up and put his hand on Tim´s, his eyes shining with affection. “Thank you, Tim. I´d be happy to have you. I will not forget it.”

Tim smiled and left the study. In the hall, he turned to the livingroom where, sure enough, he found cousin Doderic. “Hey, Dode! I´m going on adventure!” His voice was casual, and only Doderic could tell it was raised above normal standards. Laura had just passed by.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Niluial's post

Niluial sighed as she opened the door to her cottage. She didn’t want to admit it but she felt very lonely often and wished she had some more company. She liked to visit Melody Bracegirdle for the exact reason that she was Tim Bracegirdle’s sister. She looked at the clock… my time does fly she thought.

Niluial sat on her couch and watched out the window. Little hobbits were picking berries, others were singing and some were playing games. “Oh get a grip of yourself Niluial! Please you are strong and though. Stop sulking find something to do!” she said to herself in an irritated voice. She fixed her hair and picked up a basket on her way out "picking flowers might be fun" She said to herself.

On her way back she saw the Took residence. A grand tall, rather beautiful building. In the distance she saw Melody looking rather irritated. She decided to walk up to her but before Niluial knew it Melody was inside. She saw a window open and decided to go see what Melody was doing. She snuck up and leaned against the wall, right next to the window and listened to what Melody said… “No, no, no. There’s a shortage of leaf, and Paladin wants to send a group of youngsters off to get some. People like Doderic, and Ilberic-”

“-and me,” a young mans voice said.

“You seriously think, I am going to go to through half the Shire, get myself roasted by one of those ruffians, stabbed by a shiriff and drowned in a river to bring old Paladin his leaf?” Melody said again.

Niluial always did want to interact with Tim more… this was her opportunity… so what if I go through half the shire, so what if I get myself roasted by one of those ruffians or even get stabbed by a shiriff… at least I can be with Tim… from that moment she decided she also wanted to go with the group of youngsters to bring old Paladin his leaf!

A few hours later Niluial found Paladin talking to an old friend. "Paladin...

Paladin" Niluial called waving her hands up high.

"Niluial, what is?" Paladin said. Niluial watched his face brighten as he spoke to her.

"I want to go..." Niluial demanded.

"To get my my leaf? But Niluial... you are a young..."

"I dont care I want to go please" Niluial said as she interrupted Paladin.

"Oh, well if you wish. I dont understand why"
"Well you dont need to. Thank you and keep safe!" Niluial said kissing Paladin on the cheek and running off.

"Oh bye" Niluial said in the distance. She was so happy that her heart was racing. "I always wanted to go on some kind of adventure" Niluial exclaimed knowing well that no one was listening!

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Dragon Elf's post

It was a fine day in the Shire. So Falco decided to go to his old friend Paladin’s house for a good smoke and some gossip. Falco walked up to Paladin’s house and he was sitting outside but he looked very puzzled.

“Hello good friend how are you today,” said Falco to his good friend.

“Oh, hi Falco why have you came to visit me on this fine day,” said Paladin, but Falco noticed that he seemed a distracted.

“Why are you distracted Paladin?” asked Falco

“Well I have a favor to ask you?”

“What is it old friend?”

“Well I would like you to help some young hobbits to get to Longbottom and get Gaffer's such as us some of the Leaf that those ruffians keep form us. I need a wise hobbit as yourself to accompany them.”

“OK when do we leave?”

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

28 October

Durelin's post

"But honey-cake!" cried Dury, trying his best to look pathetic. His wife only stared at him. Her fists were planted on her hips, and she wore a scowl, but her eyes glittered with a certain fondness for her husband. Dury had always hoped that that fondness would come through in her actions, but he was fairly sure that his hope was in vain.
"Honey-cake?!" Dury winced at her angry shout. "Is your mind always a'lying in your stomach, Dury Greenhand?"

"Why no, muf-…uh…my dear wife. I just wanted to make sure you made it right and all, you know tha--"

"You quit worrying over whether I make my plum cakes right or not, my dear husband. Worry isn't any good for the soul."

Dury mumbled something incoherent and stalked off, as much as a hobbit can stalk, to go sit in his cushioned chair. "Play with Mirdy while you have your smoke!" came Mirda's voice from back in the kitchen. Dury sighed heavily, plopping down in his chair to stare dejectedly at his feet. Mirda came hurrying into the doorway of their little parlor, hands folded at her waste, now, and her eyes no longer glittering, but looking worried, sad, and sympathetic all at the same time. She frowned at the back of her husband's chair. "I-I'm sorry, dear. I always forget, and…but it has been over two months hasn't it." She said the last part under her breath. There was no use reminding her poor husband that they had been out of any leaf at all for such a long time. "Its alright dear," Dury answered her half-heartedly.

Shaking her head sadly, Mirda turned to go back to the kitchen, ignoring the little thing with dark curls that brushed past her skirts. "And dear?" came Dury's gloomy voice. Mirda stopped but did not turn around. "Did you hear?"

"Yes. The Tooks are being guarded."

Dury grunted. "Perhaps…no."

"Yes dear. Perhaps you should. Do something."

He grunted again, though this time it was more of a groan.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[*Arwen*]

Pio's post - Assiram Oct. 28

It was sixty miles from Bree to Buckland on The Great East Road. Assiram pushed the Helios and Ahriman on their run down nags as fast as he could. ‘No time time to stop,’ he yelled at them. ‘Ferny ain’t payin’ us to do any sight-seein or nappin’!’ They glared at him, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t in this for the friendship; it was the promise of cold hard cash and the notches he could add to his belt that drove him on.

The three of them crossed through the Hay Gate in the dead of night, nearing daybreak, knocking the sleepy warden out of their way as they made their way into the Shire and turned off the main road toward Stock. ‘It’s only a cuppla hours til we reach the Perch,’ he shouted at his sullen companions. ‘Keep them broke down oatbags goin’ til we get there. I’ve got a taste for summat other than brackish water from the waterskins. And an itch to show the Shire rats a little of the Boss’s power. Teach ‘em a little respect, if ya get my drift!’

His face twisted into a foul grin and he smacked his horse hard with his heels . . .

[ September 24, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

October 28- Late Afternoon

Halfway through eating his afternoon tea Paladin suddenly jumped to his feet.

"Eglantine, I didn't explain to those volunteers exactly what they would be doing!"

Eglantine sighed and bent down to pick up the plate he had knocked over in his haste. Paladin began to pace up and down the room.

"How could I let them agree to something that they don't even understand?" he asked worriedly.

"Well sweetheart" began Eglantine rocking back on her heels "there's another day until they have to go. Perhaps you could at least finish your food?"

"No, no" answered Paladin. "I could never eat while I'm this worried."

Eglantine watched him with a smile and folded arms.

"Oh, very well" he answered and sat down. "If you insist."

********************************

"Josh, may Paladin speak to you?"

Josh looked up from the remnants of his afternoon tea to see his Aunt Eglantine smiling at him. Looking past her he an older Hobbit.

Josh nodded and stood up, then followed Eglantine and the others to where another older Hobbit was sitting.
After collecting this older Hobbit they didn't move for a while. Josh looked up to see Eglantine shaking her head and tutting.
"What is it, Aunt Eglantine?" he asked, worried for a moment.
"The fourth and fifth members of your party aren't here" she answered slowly. "Well, Paladin will have to be satisfied with three. From what I've heard of Tim Bracegirdle he won't opt out of this journey because of Paladin's dire warnings of imminent danger. I don't know about the young lass."

Josh looked at her in surprise. This was why they were being summoned? To be given the choice of giving up? He didn't know whether to be more insulted that Paladin thought he would or that Eglantine also thought that Tim Bracegirdle was less likely to give up than him. He settled on the easier solution of being angry at Tim as the root cause, and followed Eglantine to Paladin with his blood boiling. Beneath the anger he felt a pang of regret that the lass wasn't around. She really was very very pretty.

Once they arrived at the small living room he gazed around, forgetting his anger in a moment. He remembered this room from a few years ago. Quickly he dashed towards a wooden bench, nearly pushing one of the older Hobbits out of the way. He tutted, and Josh felt he should apologise but didn't want to have to explain. As everyone else settled he bent back and tried to look discreetly at the back of the bench. Yes, there it was:
Pippin, Merry, Everard, Fredegar, Ferdibrand, Hermand, Josh, Ally- Halimath 1413

"Josh?"
Paladin's voice cut into Josh's thoughts and he twisted himself upright so fast he nearly fell off the bench. With red cheeks he stared intently at Paladin, who began to speak.

"I thought I should tell you exactly what will be expected of you, so that you can make an educated decision whether you want to withdraw your participation in this mission. You will be setting off the day after tomorrow, and journeying through Green Hill country (for as you know the roads in and out of the Tookland are watched) towards the Shirebourn. Then you will meet the road, far enough away from the Tookland for safety, I hope. You will reach Longbottom and find a farm to trade with. It may take more than one visit to find a farmer willing to deal with you. Then you will come back. If some of the farmers who you have been to report you to those abominations who call themselves "Shirriffs" you may be followed, so you will have to wary. I will expect you back on the fifth day. Does anyone wish to leave the party?"

Josh waited, and everyone stayed silent. He certainly would not withdraw, and those Shirriffs had better watch out if they came up against him! Still everyone was silent.

"Very well" answered Paladin. This would seem a good chance to get to know each other. I shall leave you here."

As Paladin walked out of the room, followed by Eglantine, Josh looked around at his companions.
"Hello" he said, with an uncertain smile.

[ September 09, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Imladris]

Olo Proudfoot glared malignantly at the door wishing he could glare directly at Bill Ferny's face. He swore silently and turned towards Brass and Hob. Taking his pipe from his mouth, he filled it with weed, lit a match with a slightly trembling hand, and blew a smoke ring into each of the hobbits' faces. He pictured the wealth of the Tooks and their magnificant hobbit holes. A slight dribble of saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth as he drooled over the wealth that he could gather to himself. Except for one thing. Billy had said when the Tooks were gone...a very subtle hint that they would be killed. Olo grimaced in distaste. It was one thing swindling from kin, but it was an entirely different thing to kill them.

"Well, boys," he drawled, puffing another smoke ring into their direction, "Ole Bill Ferny is one o' Sharkey's henchman. What he says, goes." He could feel a subtle resentment in the group. They obviously felt about it the same we he did.

[ September 05, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]

[Dragon Elf odin Ragnorock]

Falco gets up and dusts himself off just when Paladin comes through the door. Falco just pulls up a chair and waits to be spoken to, but he isn’t until a young nevus hobbit says

“Hello”.
“Excuse me but are you Josh?” asks Falco.
“Why yes I am, and you are?” asks Josh nervously.
“Hello, I am Falco Proudfoot I think I am the oldest hobbit on your teem of resistance fighters.”
“You are?”
“Yes, and by the looks of this group I think you are doing to need my knowledge and wisdom to keep them in line and on task.”

After his little talk with Josh Falco goes and sits down in the chair he was sitting in and he pulls out his pipe and starts smoking and just reflects on what he has to do.

[Durelin]

"…report you to those abominations who call themselves "Shirriffs" you may be followed, so you will have to wary…"

"Errr…" An uncertain, harsh, gurgling sound emerged from Dury's open mouth. He was fiddling with his suspenders and kept fidgeting on his feet, his eyes still locked on old Paladin. The man had lost his wits in his age. Well, he wasn't that old, really. Truly, the man just was such a perfect grandfather, and all those cheerful wrinkles fit him so well, that Dury often forgot that the hobbit was still far from his dying day. Still, age or no, Paladin was losing his wits. This 'hike' the man spoke of was a dangerous trek into the unknown! May be followed? Those Shirrifs were sure to get in on this, and their Chief…that Lotho…he could ruin lives in… Unconsciously, Dury snapped his fingers. That startled him back to his own wits, which, no, he had not lost.

"Yes, and by the looks of this group I think you are doing to need my knowledge and wisdom to keep them in line and on task."

His ears had been opened again, and Dury did not like what he heard. Whirling around to face the hobbit who so dared to make such a comment, he put on as fierce a face as he could. Blast these Tooks! And Brandybucks too! The hobbit who had made such a nasty comment happened to be much less wrinkled than Paladin, and Dury could tell he was much younger the old grandfatherly hobbit, though still much older than Dury. This one had lost his wits quite early…quite. So, this hobbit was full of knowledge and wisdom, which would aid them on their perilous journey? Dury shivered at the thought, but quickly recovered his anger. Eyeing the hobbit before him, he could not find this wisdom. Nor anything of use in this hobbit.

"May I ask, sir, where you will pull this magical wisdom from to save us all when we are lost on our little journey?"

Dury clamped his mouth shut. Why oh why? He had just said he was going. There was no way he would ever leave his hole for more than a day, and especially not on business that was illegal! Even a good leaf was not worth the trouble. But that was his wife's family for you. His wife's family… Oh dear. No, he would not live this down if he did not go, and if he went. Oh my, oh dear. It was either the Shirrifs or his wife, one of those he had to face. I would rather face the Chief himself than Mirda, Dury thought wryly. Still, there was truth in that. In fact, if he did aid his wife's family, what then would his wife think of him? He didn't care what those Shirrifs thought, and he would get his leaf…perhaps there were more advantages than he had thought. Besides, he would be home in five days, as long as they were careful. Home, sitting in front of the fire with a pipe full of good leaf and little Mirdy on his lap. Tearing himself away from those thoughts, and keeping a smile from adorning his face, Dury went back to being indignant.

[ September 07, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

28 October

Hob shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and stared down intently at the floor, as he repeated Ferny's words inside his own head for the hundreth time. He wasn't surprised the Shirriffs had been ordered to spy on the Tooks. That kind of thing was going on daily in every nook and cranny of the Shire. He didn't like the part about dividing up the property that belonged to the family, but even that was nothing new. Hob had seen folk turned out of their burrows and their possessions hauled off without as much as a 'by your leave'.

No, the thing that bothered him was those few words spoken near the end of Ferny's speech.....And when all the Tooks are...gone. Gone? Just exactly where were they going? If Ferny had said 'driven out of their burrow' or 'carted off to the Lockholes', that wouldn't have been quite so bad. But Hob didn't like the sound of that little word 'gone'. It seemed so very...final.

Hob ruefully remembered something Cami had told him about the history of the Shire. That ever since their people had settled here, there'd not been a single case of one hobbit intentionally murdering another. He figured she must have been right, since she was always poking about in one book or another.

Hob looked away and shuddered. Whatever Ferny might say or do, Hob was not going to be party to such a thing. He'd rather run away or be dragged off to the Lockholes. Anything was better than helping murder another hobbit. He wouldn't even do that to the Chief, although he'd sometimes wished he could give Lotho a good hiding for all the trouble he'd stirred up in the Shire.

Hob fidgeted deep in his picket and drew out a ratty scrap of paper that had been folded over any number of times. He set it down in front of him and carefully smoothed out the creases, rereading one part of it again:

Dearest Hob,

....Mother wants me to promise to set a date for our wedding. She says it's time I settle down like a sensible hobbit lass.

Well, perhaps it is time to wed and raise a burrowful of young ones. I'd like to stop taking care of other people's children and take care of our own. I'm quite ready to do that except for one thing.

Hob Fields - Cami Goodchild is not going to marry anyone who calls Lotho Sackville-Baggins his Chief. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever...

So if you want to carry me over your threshold, you'll have to choose. You can be a Shirriff and live by yourself, or you can say 'no' to Ferny and his crew, and come to Buckland to marry me. I just can't believe you bought into their lies. All this claptrap about bringing about improvements in the Shire with machines and such! If you believe that, you'll believe anything.

All these folk want, pure and simple, is to take over the Shire. And if they can't do it by peaceful means, they'll likely kill us off one by one.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

So Hob...it's up to you. You decide what to do. But until you decide, this is the last letter you'll have from me.

Your sorrowful sweetheart,

Cami

Hob set down the letter and sighed. Perhaps Cami had been right. Perhaps these folk weren't only greedy but murderers to boot. Perhaps Lotho's words about helping the Shire were only a smoke screen. But exactly what was he supposed to do? He was just one small hobbit in the middle of a big mess.

Hob looked over at Brass and Olo who still stood near the door. He just couldn't deal with these difficult thoughts today. Not with Ferny breathing down his neck and these two fellows likely keeping an eye on every move he made.

Hob went up to Brass and Olo, and tugged on their sleeves, thinking it might be wise to try and make some friends. Supporters of Ferny or not, at least they were hobbits. "Hey you two, I've got some pipeweed and a bit o' ale that I managed to rescue from the Big Folk's private stores. Either of you care to join me under the bridge and just relax for an hour or two? We can get our travel satchels together later today. After all, tomorrow morning will come soon enough."

[ September 06, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Arvedui III]

The steps of the guardhouse seemed rather cold, Brass thought once Bill Ferny had finished talking to them. Gone. It was the one word that was troubling him as Olo lit his pipe and Hob fingered with a paper of some kind in the quiet night. Where would the Tooks go? Brass furrowed his brow and thought, quite a bothersome activity if anyone asked him, until his head hurt and he shrugged it off. Wherever the Tooks would go, he supposed it wasn't his business, but still, the way Ferny had put it bothered him.

Gone. Well, just forget it, Brass Stonetoe. It's just a word. Words can't do no harm.

Shifting his feet in the awkward silence of the evening, Brass was beginning to wonder if and when his fellow sheriffs were going to move when he felt a tug on his left sleeve. Brass started, looking jerkily around for whoever wanted his attention. He was eyeing a particularly bright star when the voice of Hob Fields oriented him. "Hey you two, I've got some pipeweed and a bit o' ale that I managed to rescue from the Big Folk's private stores. Either of you care to join me under the bridge and just relax for an hour or two? We can get our travel satchels together later today. After all, tomorrow morning will come soon enough." It was too dark and too late for Brass to register everything Hob said, but he did hear the key words: pipeweed, ale, relax. Now there was sensible hobbit.

Sporting a grin that got successively larger with each new word of relaxation and pleasure, Brass replied, "I like the way you think, Hob, and I wouldn't be a hobbit if I refused yeh." Hob seemed to smile back, although it was a much smaller grin than Brass's. Olo also, smirked down at them and voiced his opinion with a merry, "Well then, bring on the ale, mate!"

As the three of them walked jovially toward the bridge, Brass couldn't help but thinking that this mission was going to turn out just fine.

[Manardariel]

Tim was having a wonderful time. Lara and Minna Fields, sisters he´s known forever, had invited him, Dode and Ilberic over for a picnic, along with a charming girl he did not know. They were sitting in the sun by a group of trees, eating fruit and cakes, laughing. Tim turned his atention from the sisters to the new girl.

“So,” he said. “Who is this charming lady? Why haven´t we met before?”
The girl turned a sweet shade of rosé, and looked up, as their gaze met.
“I´m Lilly Boldger, from Waymoot.” She smiled, her white-and-blue checked dress quivering slightly.
“And how well the name suits you! Lillies are such beautiful flowers, I must say!” Tim grinned at her, sitting up straight. Dode groaned from the side, but Tim ingored him. This was a wondeful opportunity for some fun, before he´d be seperated from girls for who-knew how long. “Miss Boldger- would you like to go for a little stroll. There´s a charming little creek nearby, and I´ve seen a beautiful there sometime ago. She was almost as pretty as you are...” The girl blushed some more, getting up. “You jest....” They walked a few paces, speaking of this and that. Tim found out she was a distant cousin of the Field-sisters; “as am I!” he laughed. She was a sweet, charming lass. While they walked, Tim picked her some field flowers, and presented the bouqué to her. She smiled some more. Tim felt exitement, a quick heartbeat. This was going wonderful. He liked Lilly, a lot- her shyness and inncence appealed to him more than anything. Well, expect for. No, he wouldn´t think of Laura now. She was so different. He´d focus on this sweet lass whose hand was shyly gliding into his. As they walked back, their eyes hooked in each other. Tim leaned forward, barely knowing what he was doing. Her eyes were beautiful, and those lips...

When he returned back to the Tookhouse, Tim was in an expetionally good mood. He hummed a merry little tune as he walked through the sitting room, into the hall. There, he was, once again, grabbed by Melody. “Tim! Where have you been! Stealing some innocent girl´s heart I expect..”
“Ask no questions and I shall tell no lies, Melody.” Tim casually replied, rolling his eyes at his sister. “And why to you care, anyway? You don´t ahve to baysit me anymore, you know-”
“Because,” Melody hissed impatiently, “there was an important meeting about your journey, which you missed! Honestly, Tim...”
“Okay, okay, skip the lecture. Damn! why can´t they tell me earlier...” Great. Just perfect. Now he was also in trouble with Paladin, not to mention the other travelers. “I´ll talk to Paladin right away.”

He wanted to walk over into the study, but suddenly someone walked into his way.
“What d´you want in here, Hardbottle?” Josh Brandybuck. Now what did he want from him?
“For your information, that´s Bracegirlde. And what do you think I want in there? Marry a goat?! No, I want to talk to Paladin. About the trip...”

[Imladris]

Olo leaned against the cool stone of the bridge, took a swig of ale, puffed a smoke ring, and gazed at his mates in turn. Brass wasn't a bad fellow. Didn't need to expect any trouble from him. Why, the naieve hobbit didn't have enough wits to see through Bill Ferny. But that was alright, Olo thought with a scornful shrug. That just made it easier for him to manipulate ole Billy. He snorted in disgust as he took another swallow of ale. Bill would get burned one of these days. Olo smiled smugly: out of all his devious ways, he, Olo Underfoot, had never tasted the bitterness of defeat.

Turning his attention to Hob, Olo studied him carefully. That Hob...something wasn't that right about him, though he had plenty of good hobbit sense. Olo saw him fingering a piece of paper nervously. Climbing to his feet with a groan, Olo lounged over to him, and said, "Eh, what you got there, mate?"

[Child of the 7th Age]

Hob eyed Olo nervously, "This? Oh, this is nothing. Just a letter from a lass. You know how they can be!" Hob shrugged his shoulders and tried to look nonchalant while he hastily stuffed the paper deep inside his vest and cursed himself for being so careless. If Olo got hold of this letter, Cami could easily land in the Lockholes, and Hob could definitely wave goodbye to all his hopes of ever marrying the lass, to say nothing of what might become of his poor Cami.

Deciding it might be best to beat a hasty retreat before his companions asked any other embarrassing questions, Hob quickly leapt to his feet and muttered, "I'd best be off now. There's still packing to do to prepare for the morning."

He tipped his cap to Olo and Brass, and set out at a rapid pace along the road making his way back towards the guard room as quickly as he dared. His leisurely afternoon with the two other Shirriffs hadn't turned out quite the way he'd planned. Even with ale and pipeweed to smooth the visit, there were still too many differences between them for Hob to feel at ease, especially with that miserable Olo. He'd need to be more cautious for the remainder of the trip, or he'd end up permanently assigned to the 'tater peeling squad, or something even worse!

After arriving at their headquarters, Hob ducked into the dingy hall that passed for a communal dorm, intentionally avoiding the looks and greetings of the others in the room and striding over to his own small cot. He began sorting through his belongings, stuffing them inside a pack, still being careful not to say anything to anyone else. As he set aside the things he'd need for the trek, he came across a small pocket knife that the Thain had presented to him while still a youth in Tookland; it was boldly engraved with the Took family crest. Despite his efforts to maintain a blank face, he shuddered at the sight and furtively stuffed the knife deep inside his back pocket making sure no one else saw it. How had he gotten himself in such a situation? And what would Ferny expect him to be doing over the next few days? But, as far as Hob could tell, there was no way out of this mess. He was just one small hobbit who'd better keep his eyes open and his mouth shut if he hoped to come out of this thing in one piece.

[ September 09, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

28 October
Josh eyed Tim interestedly. So this was the wonderful Hobbit who would never turn his back on the quest? He didn't seem that amazing. He was quite tall, Josh thought, unconsciously drawing himself up to his full height. But apart from that...

"Hello Tim!"
Josh trned and saw the pretty Hobbit lass smiling at him- no, past him. At Tim Hardbottle. It seemed everyone shared the same opinion then. Why talk to Josh when you could talk to Tim?

Unhappily he went and sat down in a corner. It didn't seem like there would be much for him to do on this journey. Falco and Dury were the oldest, so they would probably be in charge, and Tim and Niluial could have nice little conversations together. Which would leave just him. Tim sighed heavily.
I bet Pippin never had this problem on his adventures, he thought grumpily. Josh didn't like this feeling, like a weight on his stomach. He wasn't used to feeling grumpy at all and it wasn't pleasant. With another sigh he stood up again and plumped himself down near Dury, who was the only Hobbit who he hadn't yet talked to. He waited to see if Dury would start up a conversation.

[ September 09, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Niluial]

28 October

Niluial grabbed her coat and ran outside in a scurry. “Well fashionably late” Niluial murmured to herself. Niluial had been invited to a picnic by Minna Fields a good friend of hers. Niluial had known Minna Fields for most of her life. Though they were not that close they liked being in each others company. Niluial stopped running after a while for she thought it was pointless to run she was already late!

“Aha, there they all are” Niluial said as she saw the hobbits and the picnic layout. Niluial ran to them “sorry I’m late!” Niluial said with a sheepish smile.
“We are not surprised” said Minna Fields with a smiling face! Niluial walked off to the picnic layout and grabbed an apple! As she bit into the appel she saw Tim. She gasped as “ Lilly Boldger” she hissed. Lilly was sitting right next to Tim giggling and smiling. Niluial had never liked Lilly Boldger, she always did better than Niluial in everything. “And now she’s after Tim. I already know who is going to win” Niluial said with a sigh. Lilly Boldger wasn’t prettier than Niluial and she wasn’t better. She just wasn’t clumsy and forgetful like Niluial which made Lilly look elegant and graceful like a swan.

Niluial was miserable and was not having fun at the picnic anymore. She spoke to Lara Fields about the journey for Paladins Leaf. As they were talking about it Niluial kept looking over at Tim and Lilly and a wave of jealousy would come over her. It was silly to be jealous but it was understandable. Niluial had wanted Tim to be with her for years but he never really took note of her. Other hobbits would love to be with Niluial. Why didn’t Tim want her?

It was the end of the picnic and Niluial sat on a rock even after everyone left. Get a grip of yourself Niluial thought. She stood up and put her coat on. Suisun Treeblossom waved at Niluial in the far distance; Niluial waved back and put on a false smile. “Maybe I should go see my good Melody (Tims sister) I need some cheering up and she does always make me smile” Niluial said to herself. Niluial walked to the Took residence and picked flowers on the way.

Niluial knocked hard on the beautifully carven wooden door. “Melody its me!” Niluial shouted. The door opened and Melody stood there with a stunned face. “Weren’t you going on the journey too?” Melody asked.
“Yes, why?” Niluial said knowing something had gone wrong.
“First its Tim and now its you! You were on that stupid picnic weren’t you? Niluial you have missed the important meeting!” Melody said sounding aggravated!
“I am not everyone’s baby sitter. Now off you go! You shouldn’t be too far behind Tim, now shoo!” Melody hissed. Niluial was always late or forgot about something it makes no difference she thought. Well at least someone ells is late!

I wonder if trouble always finds me or if I find trouble, Niluial thought while walking to Paladins house. As she entered the door a strange fellow dressed in a suit asked “And you are?”
“I don’t even know who I am” Niluial said miserably to the strange fellow. He looked at her with and let out a grunt “I have no time for this!” he moaned
“Oh, my name is Niluial Brandywine!” Niluial exclaimed.
“Brandywine? Isn’t it Brandybuck?” the fellow said.
“I know my surname its Brandywine, ok! Just let me in” she snapped at him. He let her in. She hung her coat on the wooden coat hanger and sighed. “Well I better go see Paladin” She muttered to herself

She walked in the room and the meeting was still going. “Not that late" she said happily to everyone. They all burst out laughing! The only chair available was next to Tim she sighed and walked over. As much as she liked Tim she was a little frustrated! Tim spoke to her (like always) in a decent manner. He never seemed to flirt with her just talk. Niluial saw Josh watching her. He was sitting all alone and he looked lonely. Josh got up and sat next to Dury one of the oldest hobbits that was going on the adventure, Josh looked like he was trying to make conversation but it was no use. Dury and Falco would probably be in charge seeing that they are the oldest and they were wise. Niluial got up and walked over to Josh. “Uh, hi Josh! I am Niluial, I believe we met before, though it was a rushed conversation for we were interrupted by Melody, if I recall correctly” Niluial said with a smile showing off her beautiful white teeth.

[ September 09, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Durelin]

Late Afternoon on October the 28th

Dury snorted loudly, just as his questionable companion did, and just as loudly. They both blinked in surprise, but quickly regained each of their angry composure. With a sniff, Dury turned sharply away as the other hobbit went back to his pipe. With a nod of acknowledgement for Josh, he strode of to find Paladin. The young hobbit had been about to speak, and Dury felt bad to ignore him, but he had things to take care of. He was not going. He was not. Dury squeezed his hand into a tight fist. It took far too much strength to keep his legs moving at the moment. To say yes to such a request! Five days of illegal journeying, with some of the strangest hobbits in Middle Earth…Tooks and Brandybucks! Ah, but to have leaf again, and to have done something against what this Chief -- an abomination! -- was oppressing the Shire with. Rules and more unjust rules! He would not stoop to call them laws! Angry determination set his legs right, and his mind straight. He was going, curse him, but he turned back around.

Josh was eyeing Dury strangely, and he had right to. He was acting like a startled hen! Dury Greenhand certainly was not a hen! Though, he was easily startled... Dury stifled a growl. Needlessly adjusting his coat, the hobbit ran a hand through his untamable, curly locks, and opened his mouth to speak. Josh beat him to it. "Are you alright, Mr. Dury?"

"Do I seem…," he began angrily. He paused a moment, calming himself. The answer had been all too automatic. "Yes. I am fine, thank you Josh," he said in a mild tone, as cheery as possible when being forced. A smile wouldn't come, though. "I am a bit…uncertain…concerning this journey. Though I do want my leaf!" He chuckled lamely. "Could…could you…er… What does your old uncle have in mind? This might be tricky, eh?"

Tricky? Downright dangerous! Those Shirrifs may be poppycock -- and a pile of it! -- but they held powerful positions. Powerful positions meant powerful actions. Get on the wrong side of them, and...reputation was the least of Dury's worries. There would be much more at risk. At the end of the day, would it all be worth it? How much can a group of…what was it -- five hobbits? What could five hobbits do? Five leafless hobbits…

[ September 14, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Josh looked from left to right, smiling broadly. The rather strange Hobbit, Dury, had began a conversation at exactly the same time as Niluial had. Suddenly he was the one in demand! At the back of his mind he wondered if now Tim was watching. Probably not.

"Hello Niluial" he said, knowing that he was most interested in talking to her. "Have you, have you met Dury?"
"No" she said, smiling prettily at the older Hobbit who looked charmed and a little embarassed. "Hello Dury"
"Hello" he replied, fidgeting a bit.

"I don't suppose there would be much danger" Josh said consideringly. "I mean we are going through the hills for that reason and I don't think the Shirriffs at least would be violent or anything..." he trailed off, fighting the urge to look at Niluial.

"Oh..um, yes" Dury answered. "Yes" he said again, looking confused. "Very well"
With a half smile he wandered off and sat down. Josh wondered whether he was embarassed to seem scared in front of Niluial. He would be!

"Are...are you worried?" he asked the lass, looking at his feet.
"Not really" she answered.
"Me neither" Josh replied, pulling his gaze up to her face. She smiled again.

"Are-"
"My my!" Paladin's raised voice cut across Josh's thoughts. "Time for dinner already" Paladin continued. "Well, I'm sure you'll all want to be on your way"
There was a general murmur of agreement as Hobbits began to make their way out of the room.

"Goodbye" Niluial said with another beautiful smile.
"Would you... um, I mean, would you like to um... pack together tomorrow?" Josh asked, his eyes still on the floor.
"Alright" Niluial replied. "I will see you tomorrow."

****************************************

Later that night, just before he dropped off to sleep Josh thought about all that had happened that day. It seemed almost like a week. In the morning he had had very little to think about and now... He was going to have his adventure, and even if he was going to stay within the Shire it was a start. But the very last thing he thought about was a pair of very pretty blue eyes.

[Imladris]

Olo chewed thoughtfully on his pipe as he looked with a slight dismay at the miscellaneous items arrayed upon his bed. He would never be able to fit everything that was needed into his very small leather knapsack. Spitting a stray tobacco leaf out of his mouth, he muttered, "Tobacco is a must, a spare pipe wouldn't do any harm, and three changes of clothes should just about do it." Putting the items into the sack, he stared thoughtfully at each one and said aloud, "Of course, a few blankets will be in order, what with sleeping on stones and all." He grimaced in distaste and consoled himself with the thought that at least there would be a great deal of wealth awaiting him at the end of the journey. Everything boded well, except for the blood of the Tooks that would be spilt...he hastily shoved the thought from his mind. What Sharkey said went, he said to himself fiercely.

He glanced again at his small pack and said, "Somethin's missin." Frowning, he tried to snap a pudgy thumb and finger, but failed due to the amount of sweat upon them, so instead he clucked his tongue and waddled to the kitchen. "Food, mate!" he scolded himself as he rummaged in the cabinet and brought out bacon, ham, and bread. "A hobbit can't live without food!"

[Niluial]

Niluial watched Josh, he looked nervous and was fidgeting a lot. He must be very worried about the adventure she thought.
"Are...are you worried?" Dury asked.
"Not really" Niluial answered.
"Me neither" Josh replied, pulling his gaze up to Niluial’s face. Niluial smiled again.

Josh was just about to say something when Paladin said aloud “My, my! Time for dinner already. Well, I'm sure you'll all want to be on your way!” All the hobbits stood up chatting to one another as they walked out the room.
Niluial stood up “Goodbye” she said. Dury and Josh looked at her both smiling. Niluial turned around and was about to walk away when Josh said "Niluial, would you... um, I mean, would you like to um... pack together tomorrow?"
Niluial thought for second, why not? A new friend for the adventure, I need some friends and he seems really nice! "Alright" Niluial replied. "I will see you tomorrow." Niluial said smiling, she winked at Josh and walked out the room.

***************************************

Niluial brushed her hair while humming a tune. The bright stars in the sky caught her eyes and she walked over to the window. She looked out the window and could see the Took residence in the distance, the windows were lit up. She thought about Tim for a while and about his silly new crush on pathetic Lilly Boldger. Niluial let out a sigh. She remembered that she was going to meet Josh in the morning. She thought about Josh for a while and how Josh acted so strangely at Paladins meeting. Niluial climbed into bed and read a few pages of her book, she then blew out her candle and fell fast asleep.

[ September 16, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Imladris]

Olo strolled happily among the fields of the Shire. He glanced at the other hobbits, Brass and Hob and wondered if they enjoyed the walk. Olo frowned and pondered his muse. Did he really enjoy walking for for the soul delight of it? Or did he enjoy keeping a sharp eye out for profit? He shrugged. It didn't matter really.

The sky was blue above and flimsy white clouds were strewn across the firmament. The wind was light and brought the scent of bright flowers, the fetid scent of feritilizer, and...what was that? Olo's nose twitched. Tobbacco. Weed. Good weed. Olo licked his lips greedily and looked about him. A solitary hobbit hole dimpled the flat landside and a wisp of bluish grey smoke floated gently upwards and drifted to the east. The smoke was coming from behind the hole. "Come on, friends," said Olo, jerking his head towards the hobbit hole and trotting as fast as his fat carcass could carry him.

Rounding suddenly around the hole he came across a lone hobbit farmer, curls streaked with grey, his aged face creased with wrinkles and slightly sagging. Laugh wrinkles crinkled around his eyes and they were closed in a contentment that only a good smoke of good weed could bring.

Olo cleared his throat loudly and said, "Hello, mate. So just where did you get that weed, South Farthing by the smell?" The other two shirrifs grinned uneasily at the old farmer and shrugged slightly. Hob glared at his furry feet.

The old hobbit's eyes snapped awake and fear clouded them for an instant. "Oh, I had it around," he said carefully.

Olo nodded and pursed his lips. "Around? Well," he said, eyeing the man's pouch that was laid carefully upon an old rickety stool, "if it was just lyin' around, as you say, somebody must have put it there."

The old hobbit looked uncomfortable and winced slightly. He glared at Olo.

"And if somebody just put it there," Olo continued off handedly, "then the person who picked it up, that would be you, sir, would be obliged to give it back. Right?"

The hobbit nodded reluctantly. "But," Olo said, raising a finger and glancing innocently towards the sky, "that's rather hard for an old farmer like you who's busy workin' for Lotho and Sharkey, right? And that's were we shirrifs come in," said Olo, beaming brightly. "Hand the leaf over now, and we'll make sure we found the lawful owner."

The hobbit farmer hesitated and his hand went towards the weed protectively. "Now, now," Olo tutted, "you wouldn't want to be accused of stealin, now, would ye, mate?" The two hobbits glared at each other before the farmer, fuming, handed the pouch to Olo.

Underfoot, in turn, bowed his head and turning on his flabby feet said, "I thank ye, mate."

[Child of the 7th Age]

29 October

What a lousy thing to do! Stealing a few plugs of leaf from a poor ol' fellow like that. Despite his determination to keep quiet, Hob made a face and felt his stomach go all queasy.

He uneasily walked away from the farmstead wishing he could somehow vanish off the face of the earth. He even thought of inventing some wild pretext hoping to slip back and offer the farmer a pouch overflowing with the finest Old Toby in the Shire. He had plenty of the stuff himself and would not have hesitated to share with a friend.

But that nasty Olo was glaring over at him with a stern look on his face. Hob had a most unpleasant feeling that if he tried to sneak back into the farmer's burrow, Olo would end up snitching to Ferny, and that could have dire consequences. Hob could definitely do without that so he kept his opinions to himself.

He vowed to try and keep his mind on the route itself. They'd left very early in the morning and maintained a brisk, determined pace. With so many miles to put under their belt, they would be hard pressed to make it through to Great Smials in one day, especially being on foot. But with the orders given by Ferny, they really had little choice. One way or another, they had to make it.

Once or twice a cart came rumbling along the Great East Road, and the three of them managed to commandeer a lift. The driver usually didn't look too happy at the prospect of carrying a passel of Shirriffs along with him, but the fellow was generally too frightened to refuse. Now and again, Hob tried to get a bit of gossip out of the driver, but all he garnered for his efforts was a curt 'yes' or 'no' without any really interesting news. Being a Shirriff under the new regime had some definite drawbacks!

Hob took the lead in the group, glad to leave his fellows straggling behind him by a dozen paces or so. He cut straight south across the fields and gentle hills and headed for the woodlands, since he knew the Green Hill Country like the back of his hand. The Stock Road that led from Woodhall over to Tuckburrow was the fastest and best route to get to where they wanted to go. Hob just hoped that he wouldn't see anyone he knew. Just to make sure, he pulled his cap with its jaunty feather down low over his face and threw on a cloak to further help camouflage his familiar form and features.

[Arvedui III]

29 October
A gentle breeze floated lazily through the green hill country as Brass and his fellow sheriffs trotted towards Tuckburrow. Or, his fellow sheriffs trotted, anyway. Brass had, from the start, absolutely no intention of walking any faster than he was required to. Walking was work, after all, and the wonderful day, which was far too pretty for any type of work, he concluded, had throughly backed Brass's thoughts on the subject. By mid-day, the journey turned uneventful. and even the lush green landscape couldn't halt Brass's untimely boredom.

Early in the day, Olo had somehow swindled a farmer out of his weed. Although Brass could not for the life of him follow what the sly hobbit said, the weed was excellent, and he supposed that was all that mattered. Afterwards, they had hitched a few rides on the east road. Despite Hob's attempts at conversation, the drivers seemed to be very disagreeable folks, answering with little more than a ‘yes' or ‘no'. So at the time, Brass was glad that they were now cutting across country to get to Tookland faster. Yet boredom set in, and now with Olo about ten paces ahead of him, and Hob a good twenty, Brass sighed against the weight of the pack on his back, the miles still ahead of them, and the lack of any apparent energy, even in such a lush part of the Shire. From farther up, Olo groaned and turned back to him, "Keep up, Brass, would you?"

Perhaps this mission wouldn't be as fine as he had first believed

[Burzdol]

29 October

Yesterday morning, early, they had swaggered into The Golden Perch. Assiram bore a wicked cudgel made from blackthorn and glowered as he entered the Common Room. There were few about. Mostly the two sleepy servers and the Innkeeper who was still yawning as he polished the last of his glasses. And a few early farmers on their way to the market place in Newbury.

Assiram woke the place up with a bang of his cudgel on the bar, breaking the pyramid of pint mugs the Innkeeper had just finished stacking there.

‘Hey!’ the Innkeeper shouted, reaching for his own stout stick he kept hid behind the bar. He yelped, clutching his upper arm as Assiram landed a hard blow to it, knocking the stick from the Innkeeper’s hand.

‘Now where you two little ratties goin’, leered Assiram, as the servers, now cowering in a corner tried to creep toward the door to the kitchen. ‘You two get back here and get me and my friends here some ale, and lots of it. And one of you rouse the Cook – we’ll be needing breakfast.’

They stayed for breakfast and then for lunch. No other customers dared enter the Inn – Assiram and the other two threw their empty mugs at them as they opened the door. As soon as lunch was served, they ordered the Cook to pack up several baskets of food – they would be heading on.

‘Important business for the Boss,’ was what Assiram said as they headed out the door, already planning on the fastest way through the Green Hill country to Pincup.

The Hobbits were exceedingly glad to see the ruffians go and watched from the windows as they headed on down the path then angled west and south. None made a squeak when they saw the three take three of the finest horse from the Perch’s stable, leaving their old nags in their place.

Old nags were better than ruffians any day was their thought on the matter . . .

[ September 24, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Imladris]

Olo heaved loudly and wiped the streaming sweat from his brow. Beads of moisture glistened on his lips and he wiped them with his tongue, enjoying the salty taste. He looked impatiently ahead of him, at Hob running so swiftly across the land -- curse the hobbit for his swift feet. That Hob...much too kindly for a shirrif, Olo mused, raising his head to squint a little at the hobbit. Burdened under the corpulent body of Olo, his feet, weary as they were from the added strain of walking briskly across the Shire, stumbled upon an innocent stone that sent Olo Underfoot stumbling and rolling down a slight incline like a filled winebottle upon a disgruntled river. His shrieks could be heard rising through the air like a flock of crows as the lumps of earth poked his ribs (how they managed to find his ribs under the rolls of fat, Olo never could imagine). After some time, his tumbling roll slowed and finally, reluctantly, came to a stop. He lay still eyes closed. What bones have I broken? he whispered into the green grass. He smiled gently, licking a bit of blood from his lips. They shoudl be coming now, rushing to my aide, showering comorting upon my waiting ears. He heard a rustle and, slowly forcing one pig eye open, he saw that it was a mere rabbit. Drat and blast! Where are they? Raising his sagging self to a sitting position (his back creaking agonizingly all the while) he squinted his eyes from the baleful glare of the sun, and looked about him. Oh, there were the hobbits! he thought angrily as he saw them merrily ambling...think of that: merely ambling to his, his aide. Was he not Olo Underfoot, shirrif of the Shire, he thought indignantly as he waited from them to leisurely approach.

After a long while ( too long ) Olo thought ominously, the other hobbits, Brass and Hob, finally reached him and plopped beside him in the long grass: Hob fidgeting nervously and Brass rolling onto his back, chewing upon a piece of grass. Clearing hsi throat, Olo said, "Now we need to reach the Smials by evening, nightfall at the latest. That means no stragglers ," he said, wagging a pudgy finger into Brass's face. "Neither should we we plowing forward like a pony anxious to the feed," he added, rounding upon Hob fiercely. "Now," he said, fishing in his pocket for the stolen weed and a pipe. "We are going to have a smoke, me mates, and then we are going to walk at a suitable pace for the Smials." He fished some weed from the stolen leaf and filled his pipe. He handed the bag around, and was slightly miffed when Hob declined, though beamed with pleasure when Brass took a generous portion. "What a fool," he said scornfully, referring to the hobbit farmer. "Couldn't he see he was being hoodwinked by his own kind?"

"Maybe he was fool enough to see that you would have done him harm if he had protested," Hob muttered.

"Oh really?" said Olo indignantly. "And ye would have had him protest, would ye? It would have been more sport if he had," Olo added, blowing a smoke ring. "No matter."

Rising, he carefully replaced his pipe in his pocket and said, "Now we all walk together, no lagging no driving ahead."

[Dragon Elf odin Ragnorock]

Falco runs home and starts to pack for the next day when they will be leaving. He grabs a backpack, his trusty walking stick, wraps some food up (for four days) a coin bag, and his trusty sling. Since he had been talking all night long Falco thought that he would get a nap before he went to get the rest of his supplies from the store. He had slept for about three hours, when he woke he grabbed his stick and headed down to the store. On the way he met up with Tim who just seemed to be going for a walk.

“ Hello Tim.” said Falco cheerfully
“Hello, um who might you be?” asked Tim
“I’m Falco, I saw you in the meeting room you were talking to Josh.”
“Oh yes I remember you now you were on of the quiet hobbits in the corner.”
“Yes the was me.”
“ What were you doing in the corner?”
“I was just reflecting on how hard the job will be for us to get people to join Pipin and Paladin in the resistance.”
“Yes that is very true.,” said Tim in a soft contemplating voice
“Well I have to get to the store I will see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”

[Lyra Greenleaf]

29 October, lunchtime

There she was! Josh felt a strange sensation of butterflies in his stomach as he looked across at Niluial where she sat eating. He had hoped to see her at breakfast but hadn't, so he spent the morning doing not much. He didn't want to pack just in case he bumped into her and then didn't have the excuse of packing together to talk to her. Now was his chance.

He felt silly just walking up to her, especially since she wasn't on her own. What if she laughed? Another problem was that in the dining hall at Great Smials everything was news, and if people saw the two of them go off together it would probably get around that they were courting. Josh wondered if there would be any way of getting the girl with Niluial to walk out of the hell with them then go away. Probably not. He sighed and took the plunge.

"Hello Niluial" he said self consciously, walking up behind her. She turned, then gave one of her dazzling smiles. Josh blinked dazedly for a moment, then managed to smile back.
"Could you help me pack?" Josh asked. "I'm afraid I'm not very practical. I don't know what to take!"

Niluial nodded. "I'm worried myself" she said slowly. Then she brightened up. "Perhaps we should find Tim? He would know, I'm sure he would"

"No, it might take forever to find him. Or he might not even be around. He might have had to do something at the last minute or..." Josh trailed off, then sighed. Niluial was lookingat him conusedly.
"We could try to look for him if you really want" Josh said glumly, looking at the floor.

******************************

Bill stroked his chin thoughtfully as he watched Helios leave the Dragon. He didn't trust him as far as he could spit. Not that he trusted anyone, but with an important job like this... Sharkey would be most upset if anything went wrong. And Sharkey upset was not a pretty sight. Besides, getting rid of them uppity- and rich- Tooks would be a pleasure. Quickly deciding he picked up his pack and left the inn.

"Hey" he hailed Helios and the other two men. "I'm coming with you. Check there's no funny business, you might say"
All three men glared. Bill leered back, pleased at their discomfiture, then wiped his forehead. It was warm for the time of year.

"Come on then" he said in a slippery voice. "No time for dawdling. There's a job to be done"
The man followed, in silence. Bill didn't suppose they had exactly been getting on like a barn on fire before, but he had obviously riled them. Worried about a smaller share of the profits, no doubt, he thought with a grin. This could turn out very interesting. Very interesting indeed...

[ September 20, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Niluial]

29 October, lunchtime

Niluial laughed at Melody. “Now, now Niluial, it is obvious you are into my brother” Melody said with a smirk.
“Oh melody you look way too far into things. Your brother is just a hobbit with good looks and a big ego! How could I like him?”
“Well I think you do! You act like it and I heard that you were quite jealous at the picnic the other day when you saw Lilly and Tom together” Melody said.
“Ok I’ve had quite enough of this! You are making something out of nothing, just drop it” Niluial demanded. “Now let’s talk about those flowers in your garden!”
Melody rolled her eyes. “Oh and that Josh is into you too! I think so. Have you seen the way he looks at you? I am quite jealous of you Niluial, you have the looks and that dazzling smile which every lad falls for! Except my brother” Melody said looking around. “Please can we drop this awful subject!” Niluial said, turning red.
They both sat pocking their food with their forks.

"Hello Niluial" Josh said as he walked up behind Niluial. She around turned, then smiled. Josh blinked and looked as if he was in a trance. Niluial laughed and hugged Josh “talk of the devil!” Niluial said with a giggle. "Could you help me pack?" Josh asked, looking pale. "I'm afraid I'm not very practical. I don't know what to take!"

Niluial thought for a second. Now what if Melody was right, all I need is to lead Josh on. But then again Niluial you must admit you can feel that attraction for Josh coming over you. What if Tom is just an infatuation?

Niluial nodded and smiled. "I'm worried myself" she said slowly. Then Niluial brightened up. "Perhaps we should find Tim? He would know, I'm sure he would" "No, it might take forever to find him. Or he might not even be around. He might have had to do something at the last minute or..." Josh trailed off, then sighed. Niluial looked at Josh as though he had gone crazy. Now what was this about? “We could try to look for him if you really want" Josh said glumly. Niluial felt bad and hated seeing Josh upset. “Uh, no we don’t really need Tom. I am sure we can pack by ourselves.” Niluial said with a sigh. She just really didn’t want to fall inlove with anyway yet. Infatuations were good, but love just breaks hearts.

“Niluial picked up her basket with muffins inside. “Did someone give those muffins to you? Or did you make them” Josh asked curiously. “No I never made them. They are from Tom Grass, he loves giving and making me things! Niluial smiled at josh as they walked out the hall.

Niluial walked into Joshes cosy home and she handed Josh her coat which he hung up on the coat hanger. “What a lovely home you have. And it smells lovely too” Niluial said sniffing the air. Josh laughed “the flowers from outside have a strong fragrance which makes my home smell lovely!”
“Oh I must have some of your flowers then” Niluial said with a giggle. Niluial followed Josh to his bedroom and she looked around. “I never thought you would have such a nice home. I have been to many hobbits homes and they were all pretty scruffy.” Josh opened his cupboard and they both sat on the bed for about fifteen minutes laughing and decided which clothes were going and which clothes weren’t.

Josh closed his bag and looked up to Niluial “Thank you for your help. But I better go help you pack now!”
“Oh that would be great! And then we could have some tea in my garden! I have worked hard in my garden and I think it’s time I show it off” Niluial said as she winked at Josh. Josh handed her, her coat. And they both walked out his home.

Niluial opened her door and sighed. “Emily, Emily” Niluial called her maid.
Emily walked through the door. “Won’t you boil some water? And heat up a cake?” Niluial asked. Emily nodded and walked off.

Once they had finishes packing they both sat outside sipping tea and eating cake. “Oh that cake was perfect if you don’t mind me saying” Niluial said.
“Yes perfect! Well I must be off. I remembered I have to fetch my knife from the blacksmith” Josh said.
“Oh, well I’ll see you later then” Niluial smiled at Josh and kissed him on the cheek. “Bye for now” Niluial shouted as Josh left her home. She waved and closed the wooden door.

[ September 21, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

29 October, evening

At the very end of the Stock road lay the town of Tukborough, tucked away in the recesses of the Green Hill Country. The town's one and only claim to notority was that it was the home of the Took clan, the branch of the Fallohides best known for their love of adventure and equally outlandish behavior.

The chief burrowing place of the Tooks was known as the Great Smials. It had been established almost four hundred years before by Thain Isengrim II, the twenty-second thain of his line. Generation after generation of Tooks had lived in the comfortable tunnels and nooks of the Smials adding layer after layer of burrows for a whole assortment of hobbits. Brothers, sister, cousins, servants, and various kin --all lived comfortably under the watchful eye of Thain Paladin who had staunchly refused to let the Chief's Men enter within its borders.

All this was old news to Olo, Brass, and Hob as they made their way on the final leg of the trip, hungry and exhausted after a long day on the road. Hob kept a careful eye on the roadway relieved that they'd met none of his former neighbors or friends, since these were unlikely to take kindly to a passel of three shirriffs, even without the presence of any of the Big Folk.

Yet, at the same time, he was becoming increasingly hungry and was wondering where they would ever find a decent meal. He even thought about traipsing into the town itself, perhaps hiding his cap with its bright blue feather, and trying to pass himself off as a mere traveler on the road and get a good square meal and a half pint to boot. He mentioned this plan casually to Brass who thought the idea a good one, but it was soundly vetoed by Olo who reminded the other two of exactly why they were there, sternly adding. "And it isn't to eat plates of venison or quaff down drinks!"

Under Olo's watchful eye, the three hobbits set up camp just outside of Tukborough, in a spot that was well concealed by overhanging gorse bushes yet still gave them a good vantage point on the road and any travelers who might pass by. The pickings for dinner were thin, and there was more than one complaint. But the group had to make do with leftover bread and a thin watery soup consisting of a few herbs and mushrooms and other plants tossed into a pot, which they'd managed to collect along the side of the road.

Brass bemoaned the lack of provisions several times, until Olo took charge reminding his companions that, if they did what Ferny said, they'd be sitting pretty in just a little while and could have as many haunches of roast and eel pies as they might desire. With the thought of food dancing in their heads, even that of Hob's, the three hobbits settled down for the night.

[ September 23, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Pio's post - Assiram - Oct. 30th - evening

The sun hung on the western rim of the world, slipping slowly down below it in a blaze of gold. Assiram, Helios and Ahriman pulled their mounts into a small dell tucked into the rolling hills just east of Tookland. They had dropped off the main road just west of Woodhall and made their way through the forested hills toward Tuckkburrough.

In the light cast by the small fire they built, Assiram crouched down and drew a map for his companions. Using a stick cut for kindling, he scratched an ‘X’ to show there present position. ‘Just about ten miles north ‘a here,’ he said, ‘is the Three-farthing Stone. We’re still in the South Farthing section of the Shire, just a short ways from the boundary to the West Farthing.’ He drew a straight line from their camp to another ‘X’ he had marked west of it. ‘Now this here’s where we’re goin’ to get to tomorrow. Called Tuckburrough. Some of the Shire Rats who think they’re important in these parts hole up there.’ Assiram drew a circle around Tuckburrough, as Ahriman and Helios drew in closer to take a look at their goal.

Ahriman cocked his head this way and that at the map. ‘What’s so important about a collection of the little fur-footed runts?’ The man rocked back on his heels, and pulled out his knife. ‘Nothing my little sweethearts here can’t whittle down to size,’ he continued, drawing out his other one.

Assiram glared at him. ‘We’re not killin’ anyone unless we have to. We got to find the old guy – the one that runs the place. He’s got gold socked away in the hills. He’s rich and so’s his family. We’re gonna hold ‘em for ransom . . . as much gold as we can wring outta them. We’ll be rich men by the time we’re through with the Took family.’ He looked slyly at his companions. ‘Ferny says we can keep all the gold we can get our hands on.’ He snickered at the prospect of getting it. ‘And while we’re at it, he wants us to teach them rebellious little squirts some manners!’

The group ate a hasty supper – leftovers from The Golden Perch and were just settling down for some sleep, when Assiram’s voice drifted over the lulling night sounds. ‘Oh, yeah . . . I forgot to tell you. Ferny’s sent those shiriff’s to meet us somewhere near Tuckborough. They’re supposed to be helping us. Keep yer eyes peeled for any sign of them.’

The other two grunted at his words, then one of them spoke up. ‘Be just like the little cowards to leave us high and dry now, wouldn’t it?’ There were sounds of assent, as the other followed up on his companions words. ‘Well, help us or no, I’m not sharin’ any ‘a my takings with ‘em!’

[ September 25, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

29th October, nighttime

A sort of nervous excitement made it unusually hard for Josh to get to sleep. Tomorrow was the big day. The chance to prove himself, the chance to get back at the big men and the chance to have adventure. It was the moment he had waited for his whole life, since he pretended to be old Bilbo fighting trolls and goblins.

There seemed to be a flock of butterflies in his stomach bumping into each other and trying to escape. He was not scared- of course not, but he was wary. The Shire wasn't the safe place it had once been, especially for the Tooks and their kin. It was right to take precautions and think things through. It didn't mean he wasn't brave like Pippin and Merry- or Tim Hardbottle. Bracegirdle. Whatever it was.

Uneasily Josh turned over and tried to sleep.

************************************

Bill Ferny didn't want to sleep. It wasn't particularly wise, staying in one of these Shirriff houses. Not with those puny little Hobbits, who might turn out to be a rat sent from those blasted Tooks or somesuch. Not to mention Helios, Ahriman and Assiram who'd probably slit his throat for a larger share of the spoils, if it wasn't that Bill was in with Sharkey. A lot of good that would do though, the amount that one changed his mind. Could even be more dangerous!

The community in Waymeet was more or less compliant though, which was one thing. They didn't have the trouble that there was in the Tookland, the Buckland or up by Hobbiton. Any dissidents had gone to join the Tooks, mostly. It meant it was easy to get whatever you wanted. Walk in and take it- no payment, no fuss. Bill fondled his lovely new dagger, liberated from the blacksmith and ostentatiously held it up to the light. Spread around the room he saw eight or ten other men, all awake, all waiting for the others to sleep first. Bill leant back against the wall. He wouldn't be first, that's for sure. It was just a waiting game, to see who was firrst to crack. He smiled grimly and leant forwards again. It would be a long night.

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Imladris]

Olo glowered at the food, or lack thereof, and fished for his pipe in his pocket. Sticking it into his mouth, he desperately wanted to light it but decided that that might attract too much attention from any disgruntled Tooks who might be wandering about. He missed his poor pipe and he hadn't been able to fondle it with his tongue when he had been trotting so briskly across the country. His musings were interrupted by Brass:

"This is such poor fare," Brass mumbled as he gazed with a queazy eye at the thin soup and slightly stale bread. He glanced at Hob, who was playing with the soup and said with a furtive eye at Olo, "That plan of yours, Hob..."

"Shut your trap, Brass," Olo snapped, imitating the southern men. "We are not going into the village for a few reasons. One, we are shirrifs and we are proud to be shirrifs. We do not go slinking around looking for food when we can have plenty of it in a days, courtesy to our big strong southern, orcish monkeys. Three, we've already eaten --"

"If you can call that eating," one of the hobbits muttered.

"Enough," said Olo. "Jest wait an' see, foolish hobbits. This will seem like a thorn in the side as soon as we're through rootin' the Tooks grand burrows."

With a baleful glare at Hobs and Brass, Olo, with numerous grunts of effort, managed to wriggle his blanket from one of his pouches. Spreading it upon the ground, he eased his corpulent, massive body onto it and wrapped the ends of the blanket over him. Knobs of hard earth poked his flabby sides playfully, gnats hovered near his ear, firebugs flitted playfully and tauntingly in front of him. Frogs croaked, his back began to ache, and something soft and ticklish crept up his legs. Olo groaned. It ws going to be a long, uncomfortable night.

[piosenniel]

Durelin's post - 29 October

Fingering his empty pipe, Dury unconsciously stroked the curly-haired form curled up in his life. Mirda watched him with a frown. She had been overjoyed that Dury was willing to aid her family, but after she had heard the dangers…and after she had seen her husband's face… She watched him with a sympathetic frown. In the hearth, the fire was burning low. Mirdy should have been in bed hours ago, but if Dury was to leave the next morning… Soft but firm footsteps announced the arrival of Dora. Even at only four years, the little hobbit took being the oldest seriously, and was constantly wishing to help. Most times it was quite helpful, though she could go too far. Dury looked up to smile at her. Dora flashed him a smile back, though that quickly turned into a yawn.

"I'm sorry, muffin. I'm keeping you and Mirdy up."

Glancing down at the two-year old on his lap, Dury's smile widened.

"Well, I'm keeping you up. Off to bed now, I'm only to be gone for a few days."

"Five, da!" Dora exclaimed indignantly. She really was a lot like her father, though her mother was doing well in straightening her out.

"That's not so long. You know very well your mother can take care of you, and I expect you to take care of Mirdy."

"O' course."

"Off to bed now." Dora began to move, but then hesitated. "Give me a hug then."

She threw her arms around him, though careful not to jump on Mirdy. Then she picked up the sleeping hobbit-babe, and went slowly to their room, constantly looking back at her father. Dury could have sworn he saw her wiping her eyes, and he frowned.

"Will she be alright, Mirda, dear?"

"You know your daughter."

Dury grunted. "I suppose your right." He paused to put his pipe down, finally, and then looked up at his wife. Her eyes glistened, but not with their usual happy light. "But will you be?"

"Of course," she said, then laughed. Dury was glad to hear that. "I sound just like little Dora."

Dury smiled once again. "I'll be back soon. I know you girls can manage five days."

"You had best, Dury Greenhand, or I'll give you a reason not to!"

Dury rose from his chair to embrace his wife. She did not cry, and he was proud. He was much relieved, too. He felt a lump rising in his throat. Why had he even insisted on returning home for the night? He had said his good-byes before, hadn't he? Now he had a long way to go in the morning, and was going to cry and make a fool of himself. A hobbit had to be strong in front of his wife. Grasping for control over himself, Dury let go of his wife. Looking her in the eyes, he forced a smile. When he finally got into bed, he felt tremendous relief at having gotten through his farewell. Little did he know that the next morning would be as much a struggle.

[ September 27, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Manardariel's post

29 October

Tim woke up with the distant feeling that he desperately had to do something. He feebly got up and slipped into a pair of pants and a shirt, when he remembered- he had to pack, for the trip. The adventure. As he splashed cold water in his face, he wondered what to pack. A pair of trousers, a shirt or two. The essential crossbow. What else did he need? Suddenly he felt very free. These two weeks would be wonderfully uncomplicated- no parties, no social commitments. No hangovers, no lasses giggeling wherever he went, no one asking him to live up to his reputation. Fool! he thought. What was happening with him. He liked his life. Everyone loved him. Looking at himself in the mirror, he tried to smile. But then he realized what was wrong. The question is not: do others like you? The question is: do you like yourself? The truth was; sometimes Tim detested the partying creature inside him, the boy who thought of nothing save for the playfullness. He looked outside. A strong scent wavered over the gardens, the smell of old apples, of nuts and leaves- the smell of autumn. He watched a squirrel hop around, collecting nuts. This squirrel had a purpuse. This squirel knew what it had to do, what it should be doing. Why couldn´t he be like that? Why couldn´t he be so free, and yet so determind. He sighed. Pondering did no good. He had to act. This adventure, these two weeks full of freedom were his chance. He would prove to the world that there was more to Tim Bracegirdle then blue eyes and dancing feet. Prove it to the world- and to himself.

He walked downstairs, ready for a nice breakfast- the last big one, he figuered. They´d be leaving by tomorrow, maybe even today. He had been too busy thinking about Lilly yeserday to listen what they´d discussed at the meeting. Something about responsiblity, it might have been. Ugh. Apart from the kind of “I hope you bring my daughter back in whole” thing, he´d never taken responsibty. He didn´t like the sound of it....it sounded so grown-up. And if there was one thing Tim didn´t want to be, it was grown up.

Someone appeared next to him. Dode was laughing, thumping his shoulder. “Here´s the heart thief, aye? Tim, Tim, you really must stop doing that-“ he started laughing again.
“And since when are lillies so sweet you want to smell them...with your mouth?!” Ilberic joined in. Exasperated, Tim watched them for a minute or so. Then he brusquely broke out of the group. Leave I must, and the sooner the better!

Later, he found himself sitting in the backyard, composing a letter. This was the only place where he could be alone. No Melody, no Dode, no fanclub...only he and his thought; and now a quill and parchment. He was writing to Lilly.

Dear Lilly,

I hope you are well. I enjoyed it very much yesterday, and when I fell asleep, the scent of lillies lingered in my nose. I do not know if you are aware of this, but we will not see each other for two weeks now. I am very sad about this, yet I cannot redeem it- I am going on an important mission for the Sir Paladin. It is about these ruffians, and about the courage that has seemed to have failed most of us hobbits. In truth, I myself was not sure if I should do this, but you gave me courage.

I would be very happy to see you upon my return.

With many regards,

Tim

He nodded, this was a good letter. Most of it was true, and no harm was done. He wasn´t planning on breaking Lilly´s heart. Laura won´t have me, but this girl will! He had told the truth: Lilly had given him courage that might have failed him otherwise. He walked to the road and handed the letter to a boy who was on his way to the village.

[ September 28, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

Pio's post - Assiram - October 30th

Assiram pulled his blankets close around him and buried his head in his rolled up cloak. He was having the most wonderful dream!

He and his two companions had broken into the Great Smials. Most of the younger hobbits were gone, leaving only the older fellow and his wife there along with one or two old servants. Ahriman stuffed the servants into burlap bags from the mill while Helios and Assiram tied up and questioned the old man and woman. They were self-righteous little prigs - contemptuous of the men and especially the Boss.

The old guy spilled his guts soon enough, though, when Helios threatened his wife with a knife – actually drawing a little blood on her arm. He led them to a secret room at the back of the holes. And when they opened it up, it was stacked from floor to ceiling with gold coins and jewels. assiram reach out his hand to grab a handful . . .’

‘Wake up!’ The grating voice of Helios pulled him from his sleep, followed by the none too gentle nudge of the man’s boot. Assiram was on his feet in an instant, his sword drawn on pointed at the man’s gut. Ahriman stepped in, shaking his head at the two. ‘I thought we were getting an early start?’ he said, pointing at the sun that had already inched up above the horizon. ‘Might as well get goin’ now. We don’t have any more food – we’re gonna have to scrounge for breakfast.’

Even the horses were in a fractious mood as they rode off. Not enough grass and tasty bushes to forage for a satisfying meal. Assiram cursed at his mount and kicked her in the flanks. But she was having none of it, and turned round to nip him hard on the leg.

In a foul mood he led the other two westward.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They had no sight of the shiriffs as they rode along, and their stomachs protested loudly at their empty state. It was not the men who suffered the worst at this lack of food. It was the unfortunate Hobbit family whose little holding stood in the path of their advancement.

Assiram urged his horse through the garden, mashing down the last of the winter’s vegetables and tubers. His two companions wreaked havoc on what few livestock the Hobbits owned. The fence round the chicken coop was knocked down and the chickens’ scattered in all directions. The pigs were turned loose and driven into the brush beneath the trees.

When the man of the house tried to protest and shake his walking staff at them, he was knocked down with a blow from Assiram’s cudgel and his Missus ordered to cook up some breakfast. Ahriman came riding up with a big cured ham from the little smoke house and threw it at her, ‘Here cook up some thick slabs for us – ‘long with some a them eggs from the henhouse.’

Assiram pointed at the oldest boy. ‘And you! Get some of them taters picked up and cleaned off and fried up for us.’

There were a number of small Hobbit farms along the way to Tuckburrough, and each was dealt with in the same brutish way. The men cut a wide and destructive path as they made their way west.

No sign of the Shiriff’s were seen anywhere. ‘Damnable laggards and lazy louts!’ cursed Assiram as the day marched on. ‘Useless little rats!’

It was just as well the Shiriffs were not there to add fuel to the fire. The three were in such a mood, that they might have cut down the Hobbit officials had they encountered them . . .

[ September 25, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

30 October


Hob warily retreated underneath his blanket and plugged two fingers into his ears to shut out the early morning racket. He'd been having such a wonderful dream until the birds had woken him with their raucous serenade.

There he'd been.... proudly seated at his own board while Cami ran back and forth from the kitchen to the table carrying heaping platters of eggs and fried ham which she lovingly offered to him. He could almost smell the whiff of warm bread and rasher of bacon as the sweet odors wafted up to his nostrils..

Neighbors politely knocked at the door of the burrow and stepped inside, asking Hob for advice or paying their respects to the newlyweds. With a tip of the hat and a respectful bow, they thanked him for his part in helping to clean up the Shire. "Ah, yes, Master Hob, you Shirriffs are top notch.I don't know what we would ever have done without you. You deserve all the rewards the Chief has heaped on your head..."

As the words drifted away inside his mind, Hob sighed and pulled the covers over his face making one last futile attempt to slip back into his dream. But it was no use. Several twigs were poking him squarely in the middle of his back, and he couldn't find a comfortable place to settle on the ground. With a grumble of protest, he uneasily stood up, glancing over at his two companions who still lay sleeping soundly.

Hob was not looking forward to the day ahead, especially once they managed to meet up with the Big Folk and carry out whatever plan against the Tooks that Ferny had in mind. Still, there was no use dawdling or lying abed. He trotted down towards the roadway, hunting for the small stream they had passed last night just before they'd stopped to make their camp. The soft gurgle of water and the splash of fish leaping out of the pond and then down again greeted his sleepy eyes. He knelt and brought up a handful of water to his face, splashing it about, in an effort to pull himself back to reality. It was then that he heard the gentle clip-clop of a pack pony trotting along the road, seemingly coming in his direction. He heard the traveler hesitate and mutter some unintelligible words and then stop the pony for a moment, leading the beast off the road in the direction of the stream.

With his heart all aflutter, Hob hurriedly pushed his body into a nearby patch of thick bracken, lying flat against the ground, but lifting up his head just enough to be able to see who had come down to the water. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the incongruous scene in front of him. For there, squatting on the ground and hastily filling her water bottle, was his beloved poppit Cami Goodchild.

Cami did not look to be too happy. Her face appeared tired and irritated as she tilted back her head to take a drink and stuffed a small piece of journeybread into her mouth. Wherever she was going, she was in an awful hurry.

For one instant Hob thought to pop out of the foliage and run up to her, throwing his arms about her shoulders and giving her a welcoming hug. But then he stopped. That action was totally unthinkable. Cami would not approve of the hobbits he was travelling with, and even more importantly, she was apt to open her mouth and find herself in some serious trouble with the Shirrifs and Ferny.

Hob watched as Cami picked up the reins of the pack pony and urged him back down the road, jogging as fast as she could in the direction of Tukborough. He shook his head and sighed. Hob had no idea what was going on, but he did not like the looks of all this. Cami was supposed to be in Buckland tending to the Brandybuck children, not gallavanting off across the countryside.

He strode back uneasily towards the campsite, vowing to keep the matter to himself. With a well-aimed kicked on Olo's rear, he bellowed out to his two companions..."Hey, git up. Break camp. We've plenty of work to do today." At the back of his mind, he kept wondering if perhaps they'd be fast enough to find out the answer to exactly why Cami was speeding towards Tukborough.

[ September 27, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Imladris]

30 October

Olo suddenly found his peaceful sleep disturbed by a most impudent imp who had kicked him in the backside, sending the miserable hobbit tumbling down into the leaves. Hob, for so the hobbit proved to be, was shouting about breaking camp and doing a lot of work today. "Oh, shut up," Olo muttered as he hauled himself into onto his feet. "We are not going anywhere until I have a smoke and until we have breakfast and that's that. We can go without elvensies and second breakfasts, but we are not going without breakfast." He shot a baleful glare at Hob. Stomping over to where Brass was pleasantly snoring, Olo hauled the blankets from the hobbit and bawled into his ear, "Up ye lazy bones!"

As Olo fried a bit of bacon, he said, "Here is the deal. We go find our big strong men and let them do their thing with them Tooks--" revolting images flashed into his mind -- "but we are not to interfere. Sharkey's our boss--" poignant glance at Hob --" and what he says goes." He remained silent, thick grey smoke curling into the peaceful sky. He mentally fidgeted and squirmed: this business with the Tooks was not what he called profitable in a sense. If they were to just haul them off to the Lockbottoms and watch them suffer that would be all right, especially since some of them were rather amusing when riled. Olo stifled a chuckle as he remembered that uppity Lobelia Sackville Baggins. A doubt gnawed in his mind. There was another thing. He hadn't seen much of that Lotho lately...probably too lazy to get out of bed, Olo thought scornfully. "Let's go!" he shouted, jerking himself from his ruminations.

[ September 27, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

30 October

Frustrated at the slow progress she was making, Cami hoisted the pack onto her shoulders and quickly mounted her pony, giving Dandelion a number of good kicks in the withers until they were cantering briskly westward along the road. The first rays of the sun were just visible over the horizon as Cami made her way into Tukborough. She hurried along the central roadway of the town past the rambling structure of the Great Smials, heading for a small burrow that she knew was inhabited by one of her old neighbors from Hobbiton.

Cami pounded loudly on the round door and snatched at the bell chain with a decided yank, waiting impatiently for someone to answer. There was a rustle inside and a groan or two; then the door opened and Niluial stood in front of her.

The graceful figure yawned and peered over at Cami, rubbing away the sleep from her eyes. Then, realization seemed to dawn in Niluial's mind as she slowly recognized her childhood friend. "Cami, is that you? Camelia Goodchild! I don't believe it! Whatever are you doing in Tukborough? Why aren't you in Buckland taking care of the Brandybuck family's children?"

"Well, I'm not in Buckland, as you can see. And that's a very long story." Cami looked upset, hesitated for a minute, and then plunged ahead. "You wouldn't happen to have anything to eat. I'm keeling over from hunger."

Niluial reached out to squeeze Cami's hand as the two women went over to a small table and sat down. A pitcher of milk and a plate of bread magically appeared. The plump hobbit began ravenously devouring the entire loaf, cutting off successive slices at one end and making her way through to the other.

Between mouthfuls of bread and gulps of milk, Cami managed to explain her situation to Niluial. She'd been given a month's holiday by the Brandybucks who thought she was working far too hard. With so much free time, she'd decided to go up and visit Hob. Perhaps, they could talk things over and make up their differences, and she could persuade him to leave the Chief's employ. Perhaps they would even set a date to get married.

Only after she'd arrived at the Shirriff-House, Hob was nowhere to be seen. One of the hobbits had confided to her that Hob had just left that morning on an errand to Tukborough with two other Shirriffs. No one seemed to know exactly what that errand was. But as Cami went about the guardhouse asking questions, she began to get a little suspicious. Still, the only real information she could glean was that the three were headed towards Tukborough on some task that Bill Ferny had devised.

Cami leaned over confidentially to Niluial, her face red and angry, "Bill Ferny! Can you believe that? My Hob on an errand for Bill Ferny! Everything I've heard about that man makes me twitch. So I said to myself 'enough is enough'. If Hob wants to work for Ferny, then he can sleep alone in his bed. I'll not marry a man in Ferny's employ! Not for the richest farmstead in all the Shire."

Cami grimly folded her arms in front of her chest and glowered back at her friend. Niluial leaned over reassuring Cami with a gentle pat on her hand. "I'm so sorry all this has happened. That sluggard Hob deserves a rap on the head. But I still don't understand why you're here in Tukborough."

" Here! I'm here to find Hob and throw his betrothal band back in his face. To give him a piece of my mind!" Cami held up her left hand showing a handsome ring with a bright red stone. "And if I can't find Hob myself, I'll hand it to his parents with a nasty note."

Niluial glanced over at her friend and lowered her voice, "Cami, I do have another idea. A way to get back against Ferny and his lot, and to help Paladin out. A way to show Hob that you mean business!" Niluial cupped her hand over her mouth and whispered in Cami's ear, outlining the details of the plan to travel to the South Farthing and secure a load of pipeweed for Paladin and his household right under the nose of Ferny and the Shirriffs. When Niluial finished, she leaned back and asked, "So, will you do it? Come along with us...?"

Cami sat a moment and thought, weighing the arguments Niluial had made. Uncertain what to say or do, she finally responded, "Niluial, I would. I'd love to go with you and Josh and the others. But I have such a craving to tell Hob off to his face that I don't feel I can leave just yet. I need to find him and take care of this business first."

Cami looked up and added, "But I can promise this. I'll search the central town and marketplace this morning. If I manage to find Hob and do what needs to be done, I'll swing back to join you before your group rides out. If I know hobbits, someone will insist on a second breakfast, and you'll never leave before mid-morning."

Niuluial shook her head, "You're probably right." Then she told Cami where she could meet the band which was gathering at the old trysting tree just east of town, quite close to the main roadway.

Cami said nothing but stared soulfully down at her ring. Hobbit lads could be such a nuisance. Her mother had insisted that she settle down and get married, and she was really trying. Was Hob the right one or not? He was a good man and kind when he wasn't running round with the Shirriffs, yet, in all truthfulness, she really wasn't sure. But she did know one thing. Until Hob set down his Shirriff's cap, she was not about to give him the time of day. And today she would go out and tell him that in no uncertain words. Maybe, if she finally confronted him, she would learn the truth, not just about Hob and his post as a Shirriff but how she really felt about him in her own heart.

Keeping her final confused thoughts to herself, Cami rose to say goodbye to Niluial and told her she would see her later.

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Durelin]

Even after finally getting out of his door, Dury had much trouble keeping himself moving. He usually loved walks, taking in the view, visiting friends, saying hello even to those who would have liked to chase him across the shire with a garden-hoe. Now he saw little of the things that passed him by, and it was dark besides, too early in the morning for the sun, and therefore too early for any hobbits. It was only several miles to the old trysting tree, to where his companions would be gathering. Well, more than several. He only wished he would not be the last to arrive. They would have to wait for him, though. He was, after all, one of the oldest hobbits of the group. A strange thing, as Dury had been all too used to there being someone older than him, at least outside his little family. There was always a grandfather before this. But, then, grandfathers were much to old to go on journeys, especially one such as theirs.

As the first fingers of light rose on the horizon, followed by a burning orange ball, Dury tried to decide just what kind of journey it was. 'Dangerous' was a word that popped into his head too often. It was a family journey -- his wife's family. It was rebellious. Dury winced. Now there was a harsh word. Rebellious against that Chief and his cronies? Any hundreds of hobbits would be hard pressed to be that. What was the point of this journey? What were they doing, going off to this farmer? Were they merely picking up some goods, quite a normal activity? Or…were they resisting the force of 'the Chief?' Well, if they were doing that, 'the Chief' happened to have a lot of force, and they certainly did not! Paladin may be a wise old hobbit, and a wild Took at that, but he wasn't even taking part in the actual journey. He was simply a force behind it. A small force, mind.

The clouds above shown in bright colors, and the light ran through the trees along the road to play between shadows in the grass, but Dury didn't notice its beauty, all wrapped up in his dreary thoughts. Or perhaps he did notice; though no natural painting could affect his mood. Drawing near Tookborough certainly did not. He was surprised to find himself in lands he associated with his wife's family; Dury did not remember walking all those miles. Where would he meet them? O yes, the Stone. He remembered how fascinated by the stone he had been as a child, it had been such a good play thing. It had been a fort, a great mountain, a wall, a bed, and any number of things. Those memories brought a smile for the first time that dreadful morning. Mirdy and Dora would be big enough to play on it soon!

The smile was wiped from his face, as the memories were from his mind, all at the sight of the source of the memories. His companions to be surrounded it, most spread out on the grass talking, and some even cooking second breakfast. He was the last one to arrive, though the others seemed in no hurry to leave. Dury counted the hobbits present. Five. That was their group, wasn't it? Were they not leaving? Adjusting the pack on his back, he gave himself the time to think. And to bring himself together! His mind had been in a thousand places at once since he had awoken that morning, and his dreams had not been much better. There was nothing worse than a bad dream, except waking to a bad day. Dury tried not to frown, but he had the feeling his attempts only made him look pained.

Dury dropped his pack and sat down heavily by Josh and Niluial. For some reason, young Josh looked no better than Dury felt, though Dury was sure Josh wasn't worried about the journey ahead. Perhaps nervous, but not worried. The boy was a Brandybuck-Took, after all. "Err…Shouldn't we be on our way?"

Dury waited a moment, but Josh didn't answer. He kept glancing at Niluial, though his mind seemed to be far away.

"Josh?"

"Oh! Hallo Dury! I-I hope your walk here was nice."

"It was…fine," Dury changed what he had wanted to say. Horrid. Ghastly. "Shouldn't we be leaving?"

"Well, we're going to, but Cami might join us, and we all wanted a rest before we start."

"Of course. I just thought… Well…," Dury eyed some sausages being cooked before him. "Do you mind…?"

For a moment Josh looked at him, a picture of perfect confusion. 'The strangest hobbit he is,' he must be thinking, Dury thought.

"Oh!" For the second time in moments, he had surprised Josh. "Of course, Dury, though you'll have to wait a bit, they can't be cooked yet. It's only been a minute."

Dury nodded and said his thanks. Good. A rest before they started off was most welcome, but they had best get moving soon. The quicker they got to that farm, the quicker they were home with their leaf, and the quicker the 'resisting' was over with.

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Lyra's post

30 October

Bill grimaced to himself as he made his way east. It wasn't that it was any surprise to him that his orders had been changed suddenly- that was a frequent occurence. It was annoying, that was all. Instead of being able to plunder the rich pickings of the Tooks, he was sent to guard the gate from Bree. From what? Those trees that the Hobbits seemed so scared of perhaps?

An honoured duty, the note from the boss had said. Bill snorted. Oh yes, honoured alright. Still, if he made fast progress perhaps he could drop in on the Brandybucks. They were little better than the Tooks. He couldn't do anything drastic, not without orders, but they must have some things lying around. In this life you had to take what you could when opportunity showed itself.

*****************************************

The sun was now quite high in the sky, and morning was passing fast. Josh stretched himself lazily, struck by a sudden lethargy. His stomach felt pleasantly warm and full. What he needed now was a nice lie down. A picture of his bed, covered in greenwool blankets drifted across his mind. A short nap would set him up for the day. He didn't see the point of this leaving-at-dawn thing. Not that it was dawn. Surely it would make more sense to leave in, say, the early afternoon? Just after lunch? It wasn't like Longbottom was going anywhere. Surely Pippin and Merry, wherever they were, weren't expected to leave at dawn to go off on their adventures. It was quite impractical. In fact, perhaps today was not the right day to start after all? Maybe...

Josh shook himself. He looked around, as if to work out whether any of the other Hobbits had seen that his courage had failed him. He felt ashamed of himself. The adventure hadn't even started and he was being a coward- there was no other way to put it.

With quiet determination Josh began to plan out the route in his mind. He knew the area well from his childhood, which was perhaps why Paladin had put him in charge of finding the way. They would make their way through the hills, avoiding the villages, towards the river. There was a grove of trees there, sheltered, with a sort of travellers resting place- a fire pit and that sort of thing. It was the only place near there that was any use to camp, because it was surrounded by marsh. Josh wondered about the past time when that had been necessary for safety. Perhaps the Shire wasn't even the Shire then. Men might have lived there, or even Elves. The camp spot was a little out of the way because it meant you had to go back through the marsh on the safe path to get back onto the way, but Paladin thought that was the safest place to camp. Josh had been surprised Paladin knew about the campsite. He couldn't imagine his uncle as a lad, exploring.

Then it was simple to travel to Longbottom. They would go part of the way along the road, even. This was the dangerous part, because men and Shirriffs used that road. Josh felt a little rumble of anxiety, and squashed it. They would be fine.

***************************************

Paladin gazed on the assembled Hobbits with an air of paternal pride. There were the party who would be going to Longbottom, as well as relatives and well wishers. And what were they doing? Not checking the equipment and bidding tearful farewells, but eating second breakfast and laughing. It was at times like this he was most glad to be Hobbit.

"Friends" he announced, clapping his his hands together. It took a while because of the chatter, but gradually the Hobbits fell silent and looked at him. "We are here to bid goodbye to these brave Hobbits who, knowing the risks of the present situation, are off to do a good deed for us- and a bad one for those men!"
There were a few cheers.

"Even with the state of things how they are, I have no doubt that they will return safe and well in a few days time. Nevertheless I salute these Hobbit who are not accepting the situation, who aren't just getting on with their lives and ignoring everything else, but who are doing something about it. I look forward to the time when the rest of us will follow their example."

There was little reaction to the speech. Paladin could see expressions of confusion on quite a few faces. They couldn't work out exactly what he was trying to say. He smiled fondly, and nodded farewell to the valiant young Hobbits who were setting off. At least he'd made them think.
********************************************

Child's post

Niluial had found herself growing more and more impatient as Dury and Josh sat down to eat an overflowing platter of sausages with several stacks of pancakes served up on the side. Cami had been right about that second breakfast. Niluial pouted in frustration; she'd had her fill of eating and waiting and talking.

Let's get on with it! she thought to herself. There's no sense sitting here while the better part of the morning slips by. What was wrong with these folk? It was as if they really didn't want to go. Frustrated and unable to sit still, Niluial gathered up her pack and headed down to the nearby stream, throwing pebbles into the water.

It was then that she heard a familiar voice calling out to her from across the distant field. "Niluial, it's me. Cami..."

Glancing up, Niluial saw Cami emerge with her pony from the thick grass and bracken. Niluial ran forward to greet her, barking out her questions, "Any luck? Have you seen Hob? Are you coming with us?" The queries all came rushing out of Niluial's mouth with no rest in between.

"No, no, and no!" Cami responded with a vehement shake of her head. "I've seen nothing of Hob or his companions. I must have asked two dozen folk, and no one has caught a glimpse of any Shirriffs in these parts. I've scoured the central part of town from one end to the other, including the market place and the Great Smials itself."

Cami ruefully looked at her friend with a discouraged expression on her face, "You and your friends will have to go ahead without me. I'm really sorry, but I refuse to leave this place until I give Hob a piece of my mind! He and the other Shirriffs must be camped somewhere on the outskirts of town. I'll ride out on Dandelion and have a look all about the surrounding countryside. They can't have vanished into thin air."

With that, the two friends parted for the second time that day. Cami mounted up on her pony and quickly headed out, hastily cutting across fields and wooded groves, leaving the main roadway behind her. Niluial went back to her friends and was pleased to see that all the company had finally finished their breakfasts and gathered together with their packs and weapons strapped to their backs. Paladin was just finishing speaking to them and final goodbyes were said to the few friends who had come along to bid them farewell. The band set out and made its way steadily eastward on the main road that ran towards Stock. Long before that point, Josh intended to have the hobbits veer off towards the south, heading east of Pincup towards the Shirebourne, which Paladin deemed a safe place to camp for that night.

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

30 October

They kept off the main road that ran from Stock to Tukburrough. It’s not that they minded anyone seeing them - it was just what was the fun of walking along a road scaring the travelers on it, when they could be busy with the little weasels in their holes. Knocking some sense into them, flexing the Boss’ arm, showing ‘em who was who now in the Shire.

Assiram had grown up on a hardscrabble little holding on the outskirts of the old Osgiliath. Thugs there had hit his family’s and others holdings hard during those years. His parents eventually dying in one of the raids. It had made an impression on the scrawny little kid he’d been then. Best get on the side of power – ‘It’s the strong arm what gets ya what ya want,’ he remembered one of the ruffians rasping out at him in one of the early bands of roving men that had taken him in as an extra hand.

He’d kept that as his motto. Making himself strong and useful and making sure he always stood on the side of the one he saw as giving him the advantage. And now he was working with Ferny, and Ferny he could see worked for someone even more powerful. ‘Ferny!’ he spat on the ground as he thought about him. He had the ear of the big Boss now, but Assiram thought that after this little venture, perhaps Ferny could somehow quietly ‘disappear’, killed in the skirmish . . . and with him gone there were ‘possibilities’ that opened up . . . someone would be needed to fill his ‘position’ . . .

It was in such a mind that Assiram cursed at his two companions and ordered them on at a quicker pace.

Just east of the Great Smials, they holed up for a while in a small clearing near a stream. ‘We’ll camp here for now, and wait for the sun go down,’ he growled at them. They threw up a hasty, cheerless camp. ‘No fires,’ he’d growled at them. ‘I don’t want us to be seen.’

After a silent, cold meal of journey bread and dried meats washed down with water from the stream, he gathered the other two near him and spoke of the plan he’d been putting together as they drew near to Tukburrough.

‘We’ll go look it over tonight, when it gets dark,’ he told them. ‘There be plenty of stories the old Hobbit has a lot of gold and other treasures hidden away. No reason why we can’t make quite a haul from raiding him.’ he picked up a small rock and threw it toward one of trees at the edge of the clearing. It bounced off the bark with a satisfying thunk, leaving a gash in the trunk.

‘You two need to check on the number of men he has there – it’s a big place, we’ll need to know the number of rats that need taking care of, and how well armed they look.’ He waited for their nods of assent. ‘I’ll poke around and see how we can best get in and out of the nasty hole. Tomorrow we’ll hit ‘em hard . . .’

Assiram fished in his pack for his little whetstone and drew out his dagger. Snick . . . snick . . . the sound of the stone against blade edge added a sinister undercurrent to the natural sounds in the clearing.

Keeping his head down, bent on the sharpening of his weapons, Assiram’s oily voice wove another unpleasant note into the air. ‘Either of you have any questions . . . or suggestions . . .?’

[Niluial]

30 October

Niluial watched Dury and Josh and other hobbits stuffing there faces with sausages and pancakes and many treats. Cami had been right about that second breakfast. Niluial huffed and sighed so many times and yet no one picked up that she wanted to go already. Let's get on with it! Niluial thought. There's no sense sitting here while the better part of the morning slips by. What was wrong with these folk? It was as if they really didn't want to go!

Niluial stood up unable to sit still and gathered her things and packed her bag and stampeded down to the nearby stream. She picked up a smooth pebble and threw it in the water. And then another and another and soon ten minutes had gone.

She mumbled a few words to herself and groaned a little more. Ok so I am a bit of a moaner but they must learn to live with it and learn to keep track of time, food is not important Paladins leaf is! Niluial heard a distant cry "Niluial, it's me. Cami..."

Niluial glanced up and saw Cami in the distance on her pony. Niluial ran towards her to greet her (and of course be nosey and find out as much as she could). "Any luck? Have you seen Hob? Are you coming with us?" Niluial asked. Cami looked confused and couldn’t answer one question for another one was thrown at her.

"No, no, and no!" Cami responded shaking her head. "I've seen nothing of Hob or his companions. I must have asked two dozen folk, and no one has caught a glimpse of any Shirriffs in these parts. I've scoured the central part of town from one end to the other, including the market place and the Great Smials itself."

Niluial looked at Cami with a depressed expression. "You and your friends will have to go ahead without me. I'm really sorry, but I refuse to leave this place until I give Hob a piece of my mind! He and the other Shirriffs must be camped somewhere on the outskirts of town. I'll ride out on Dandelion and have a look all about the surrounding countryside. They can't have vanished into thin air."

With that, Niluial and Cami parted for the second time that day. Cami mounted up on her pony and smiled and waved at Niluial and Niluial waved back. Niluial walked back to her friends and was happy to see that all the company had finished eating their second breakfast and they were all packed up with their packs and weapons strapped to their backs. Paladin was just finishing speaking to them and final goodbyes were said to the few friends who had come along to bid them farewell. They all set out and headed eastward on the main road that ran towards Stock.

Niluial looked at Josh wondering Josh is acting strangely today. She tried to get his attention but he did not look over his shoulder. Niluial sat sighed and looked over at Tim and yet he was too busy dreaming of his precious Lilly. Today was most certainly not Niluial's day.

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Despite everything Hob did to try and encourage his companions to get moving, a full hour had passed before they finished breakfast and sat down to discuss their plans for the day. Ferny's men were still nowhere in sight.
"But, weren't they supposed to meet us outside of town," Brass objected. "So we can all go together to the Tooks?"

"I thought so," responded Hob. "But maybe we're mistaken." After much debate back and forth, Hob suggested he take a look around town to see if Ferny's henchmen were already there. Olo gave his consent, albeit grudgingly, since Hob was the only one of the three Shirriffs who'd spent any time in Tukborough and knew his way around the place.

Swathed in a heavy woolen cloak with the hood pulled down over his face, Hob disappeared over the ridge and made his way towards the Great Smials. Once in the center of town, he was careful to give a wide berth to anyone who might recognize him and generally stuck to the side streets and alleyways, taking care to ask questions only of folk he did not know. If the whole truth be told, Hob spent as much time searching for Cami as he did for Ferny and his men. But the results were equally discouraging. There were no reports of any Big Folk in town and no hobbit travellers who fit Cami's description.

It was on the way back towards camp that Hob first got sight of the band of hobbits heading eastward. They were walking briskly along the road, evidently on some kind of an important errand, and were carrying an assortment of weapons, as if they feared to run into trouble along the way. Hob's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Josh Brandybuck leading the band, since the latter was known to have close ties with the Took and to be unsympathetic to the Shirriffs and all the new ways that the Chief had brought in.

Taking a shortcut across the wooded grove to avoid detection, Hob came running in to camp, bubbling over with the news about the hobbit band heading out on the road.

Olo was frankly perpelexed. "You're sure Ferny's men weren't in Tukborough?"

Hob vigorously nodded his head. "I'm sure. Someone would have seen one of the Big Folk and been talking about it."

"And you're sure about this other group. Perhaps they were just out on a picnic or other such foolishness."

"No, I'm sure. Come, they should be coming this way soon. We'll hide in the bracken on either side of the road, and you have a look. Then tell me what you think."

Within a few moments Josh and the other travellers came swinging down the track, looking very determined, and discussing some sort of errand on which they'd been sent by the Tooks."

As they watched the lads and lasses march by, Olo stood up and shook his head, whispering to Hob, "I hate to admit it, but I think you may be right. That bunch is up to no good. Maybe we better have a look."

Brass cut in, "But what if Ferny's men come? They'll be angry we're not here."

Olo thought a minute and sighed, "But Ferny will be even angrier if he hears we let a whole crew of armed hobbits get away and not find out what they're up to."

The three agreed to trail along behind to try and find out what was happening. Hob heaved a sigh of relief. As much as he'd like to have caught up with Cami, anything was better than their original mission of launching an assault on the Great Smials, even tracking a group of hobbits out into the countryside. For the rest of the afternoon, the Shirriffs cautiously made their way through the underbrush along the side of the road, close enough to keep an eye on Josh, but always being careful to stay out of sight.

[Durelin]

Dury tasted dust. Grit, dirt, and dust. Or perhaps it was just his imagination. Will everything else so horribly wrong and terribly horrible, Dury was sure his mind could easily add something so small as a mouthful of grime into the mix. His legs were horribly sore, he had cut his foot on a stone, and he was positive he would not be able to walk after they stopped for a luncheon. Not for days. And they had days yet to go, days of walking, eating only what could travel with them. They would stop for lunch, wouldn't they? He knew they would not be stopping at any inns. Word would reach the Shirrifs at a snap of fingers, if a Shirrif was not actually present at the inn. Dury's head hurt. He had been thinking all morning, his forehead creased with worry. It seemed that the creasing was becoming permanent. He tasted dust. Was it not only an hour ago that he had tasted nice, juicy, and tasty cooked sausages?

Dury had hoped to stall the beginning of this journey even further than second breakfast, but he had been quite unsuccessful. He had barely managed a quarter of an hour more in taking as much time as possible in packing and sorting and re-packing his things. If only he had written himself a list, then he would have been able to busy himself with that. Still, most likely that Falco would've gotten his hands on anything that would have aided Dury. What a pushy...a pushy...hobbit! He had herded Dury like a little lost sheep. A particularly bad behaved little lost sheep. Even though Falco was exceptional at herding and being a very nasty person indeed, it seemed Niluial was the rightful leader. At least, in Dury's mind she was. She was quite intelligent, and seemed enthusiastic about this journey. If her common-sense were so scrambled that she was thrilled to be doing this... But, Josh also seemed to be wholehearted about their 'mission,' and he was a smart lad. Dury would have said the boy would be the perfect leader if Josh were not so shy and awkward. Once he grew out of that, though, he would be the next candidate for Mayor of Michel-Delving.

It took Dury a few moments to get his feet moving faster, but he was able to shuffle his way up beside Josh. The legs beneath him had most definitely seen better days. They had seen better mornings, that was certain. Josh looked little better than...Dury's foot. Well, it was not that the young hobbit seemed sick. No, it was more that he just seemed so...so far away. Dury could tell Josh was thinking just as much as he himself had, yet no lines of worry creased his face. That, at least, was good. The young Brandybuck-Took was just thinking.

Dury cleared his throat loudly. "How do you ail, Josh? I already am sore to the bone from all this walking."

Dury chuckled a bit, a dry, halfhearted laugh, sounding almost fake. Really, it was fake, mostly. Part of it was a laugh of weariness, though. The laugh trailed off as Josh continued to let his mind wander far away. Dury fiddled with his belt. Perhaps it would take a moment for the hobbit to draw his mind back. In the mean time, Dury's mind wandered off again, thinking again of those sausages and that beautiful, wonderful, blissful hour ago.

[ October 03, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami had spent several hours riding about the countryside searching for any sign of Hob and his two companions. It was now mid-afternoon, and she was extremely tired, her muscles aching from too much time spent on the back of a horse. Her stomach growled in protest, as she had missed both lunch and first tea and had neglected to bring along anything to eat, relying only on a few berries and nuts that she'd found along the trail.

Her search had turned up nothing. She'd scrutinized the roads from one end of Tukborough to the other as well as many of the wooded groves and open fields on the outskirts of town. She'd run into any number of hobbits who'd tried to help her, but no one had seen Hob or a group of travellers dressed in Shirriff's garb.

A couple of these folk had expressed concern that she was out on her own scouring the countryside without a companion or a real weapon to defend herself. They had urged her to return to the safety of the town or at least to take other precautions, since there were too many bad 'uns out these days to let down one's guard completely, even here in Tookland, although the place was admittedly safer than many others in the Shire. Cami promised to heed their warnings but then went blithely forward on her errand, certain that these hobbits were being overly alarmist.

Coming to a lovely clearing just under a hill with an inviting stream running through it, she'd thrown off her pack and let her pony graze on the tall grasses growing nearby. After taking a long drink and filling her bottle with water, she sauntered up the hill to have a look at the spring that was the source of the water bubbling down into the clearing. Following along for a short distance, she came to a stand of tall pines at the very top of the hill. She stopped to sprawl out on the forest floor, intending to rest for only a moment. But the ground, which was blanketed with soft pine needles, reminded her of a fine feather bed. Having ridden the whole night before without any rest, she curled up on her side, drawing her knees close to her body, and soon fell asleep.

Several hours had passed when Cami finally awoke. The sun had dipped lower in the sky and, although it was difficult to be sure with all the trees obscuring her view of the horizon, she judged it to be late afternoon. Cami groggily sat up and was about to go hunting for Dandelion when she heard the sound of voices coming from the clearing just below. Thinking that she'd finally stumbled upon Hob and his friends, she almost ran down the hill to welcome her new neighbors, but something inside whispered a word of warning. Instead, she crept up to the edge of the clearing and peered out cautiously surveying the entire camp.

There were three Big Folk engaged in conversation. Just from their looks and bearing, Cami did not feel too safe. And what they were discussing caused her to draw back in real fright.....confusing words about going to steal 'treasures' from the Tooks and how the 'little rats' needed to be taken care of. Cami doubted the Tooks had any treasures that would interest the Big Folk, but, from the sound of their voices, the members of this small band meant serious business.

Her first impulse was to find her pony and gallop down the hill and straight across the fields to warn the Thain. But that was impossible. Her pony was nowhere in sight, probably running back to the Great Smials himself since he'd been there many times before and knew that he could get a comfortable stall with a load of hay to eat.

Cami's next impulse was to crawl up to the grove of pines and head down the back of the hill on foot, taking the long way around the men's encampment. But that looked awfully risky. The far side of the hill was much steeper and rockier that she expected, plunging downward in a sheer cliff for a number of feet. She was no expert at rock climbing and would likely end up with a broken head if she tried anything that daring.

She considered creeping carefully to the far side of the camp through the undergrowth and bracken, escaping under the very noses of the three men. But the sun was still bright overhead and the look of the one fellow who was sharpening his knife made her extremely reluctant to try that. The man named Assiram had stationed a guard on the perimeter of camp and, with the way her luck was running, she would most certainly get caught.

Cami frantically looked around, noticing several large boulders that had tumbled halfway down the hill along with the remains of a fallen tree. Acting out of instinct, she did what any hobbit might have done in similar circumstances. She dug in and stayed. Crouching down behind the rocks, she began to claw frantically both with her hands and a nearby tree branch enlarging the hole underneath the tangled limbs. Within a few moments, she was able to slip her body adroitly inside the makeshift burrow, settling in to wait. Once darkness had fallen, it should be safe for her to creep to the other side of camp and return to the Great Smials as speedily as she could.

[ October 03, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

October 30 - Lyra's post


It had been a hard day's walking. Josh was suddenly aware of how little he'd been doing recently, and his legs seemed even more aware of it than he was. There was a dull ache running up the backs of his shins, ever since early afternoon. When they'd had their lunch he'd been fine, he hadn't wanted to stop in fact. It was a lovely bright day for autumn, and the Green Hill Country was more beautiful than he'd remembered.

Then gradually the pains had started, and he'd stopped chatting quietly to Niluial about their gardens. He'd walked alone, trying to ignore the pain by thinking about the past, the times he'd come here before. Many Hobbits believed Merry and Pippin were dead, along with Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee but Josh couldn't imagine it. Pippin had always been there. At a more mature age now Josh could laugh at the hero worship he'd lavished on his cousin, but he still couldn't see him as anything but indestructible.

Lost in the past trying to escape the pain of the present Josh only grunted at frequent "Are we almost there?" and "Can we stop here?"s from Dury, even though he would have loved to stop where he was too. Pride was the only thing that made him continue to the campsite Paladin had chosen, as Josh thought that his uncle's caution was ridiculous. This was the Shire, and more than that it was the Green Hill Country. The Tooks' back garden. Aching legs were the worst you could expect here, Josh thought, sighing with relief as he finally spotted the edge of the marshy land around the Shirebourn. Finally.

[ October 05, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

October 30 early night - the Henchmen and Cami

‘Rotten blighter!’ muttered Ahriman, a mean scowl clouding his face as he looked toward Assiram. ‘Who does he think he is . . . ordering us about . . . like he’s the High King hisself . . .’

Ahriman grumbled to himself as he walked the perimeter of the camp. He’d had enough of tramping through the countryside and wanted to get back to the comforts of the Inn. A pint of ale, a pipe to smoke, and plenty of coin jingling in his pocket . . . that plus a little roughing up of the Shire vermin and he’d consider this a job come to a satisfying conclusion. He’d made the suggestion when Assiram asked for it - that they just force their way into that Smials place now and be done with it.

‘We’re armed better’n them,’ he’d said. ‘And bigger. Let’s just smash in the door and take what we want. Make an example of Mr. High-and-Mighty-Hole-Dweller while we’re at it.’

Assiram had spat on the ground at his suggestion saying they were going to do it his way – he wanted plenty of time to look around the place for what the old man had. Then he sent Ahriman off to patrol the camp. Patrol the camp! What a joke! Here they were in the middle of nowhere and who was he thinking was going to attack them . . . Such thoughts as these preoccupied the man as he trudged slowly about the outskirts of the area. The sun was hanging low in the sky, a chill evening breeze had come up. Ahriman pulled his cloak tighter about him. He continue to grumble and mutter as he walked . . . He looked toward the west where the sun was barely visible through the trunks of the trees. ‘At least it’ll be sunset soon, and we can get on with our business.’

He’d come to the area where they’d picketed the horses, glancing at them as he walked by. His eyes went wide. He squinted at the group. There were four horses there! No, not four horses – three horses and a pony! And a brassy little pony to boot. There it was chomping away on the oats they’d put out for their mounts!

‘Oy! You! Scurvy little hayburner!’ Ahriman went running at the pony, his arms flapping wildly. The pony eyed him and snorted - then took one more bite of oats and with a kick of his heels toward the advancing man, took off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cami heard the man’s shouts and peeked out carefully from round the boulder. There was Dandelion running pell mell up the hill while one of the ruffians sat on the ground shouting curses and holding his leg. ‘Well done, Dandy!’ she cheered to herself, stifling a laugh that sprang to her lips.

The grimness of the situation set quickly in on her once more, her face reflecting the seriousness of the situation. The doughty Hobbit gave a soft, short whistle, and after a few moments the pony found the way to her side.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

‘Wotcher goin’ on about, you fool! Shut your trap! You want everyone to know we’re here?’

Assiram and Helios came running to where Ahriman writhed on the ground, rubbing his right thigh. ‘Blasted beast kicked me!’ he hissed at them, motioning in the direction the pony had run.

The sun heaved a last sigh, its light flaring up for just a moment as the clouds scattered from the horizon, then it dipped beneath the rim of the world. Assiram squinted up the hill and saw nothing. The moon had not yet risen and all was in darkness. ‘Nothing there now,’ he growled at Ahriman. ‘Get up! It’s goin’ on dark. We’ll wait a space then go to the Old Took’s place and case it. You two getcher gear together and your mounts ready.’

Ahriman stood and said, ‘I been thinkin’ . . .’ An argument ensued concerning who was going to do what followed by another round of ‘Why can’t we just get it done tonight.’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was frightening to hear the ruffians argue. Their voices were harsh and often their fists were raised and threats made. Cami steeled herself against her fear and quietly led Dandelion up the hill, darting from boulder to tree to boulder until they reached the ridge. Then, making her way silently in the shadows of the trees she turned in the direction of Great Smials. The voices had faded as she put a distance between herself and the Men.

When she felt it was safe, she mounted up and kicked her heels hard into Dandelion’s flanks. ‘Hurry Dandy!’ she whispered to the pony, urging it on. ‘We need to get into town and let Paladin know what’s happening.’

[Imladris]

October 30th -- night

Olo stretched as he saw that they had reached the Shirebourne. "Drat those Big Folks...those men...those oafs," he mutterd to himself as he began to unroll his blankets. "Big Folk, eh?" he spluttered. "Big in brawn and big in height, but small in brains! They knew they were to meet us near Tookland and they ain't there. What a surprise," he snorted.

Perching like a barrel upon his wooly heals, Olo lit his pipe and mused the news that Hob had brought about the parcel of hobbits that he had seen. He frowned, and began to absently trace a square in the ground. Then he added some checks and did a rough outline of the figures on a chess board. "We're black, for bad," he mumbled through his pipe. "They're white for goody goodies." He blew a smoke ring on the board and studied it. "Hey, Brass me mate, what do them Tooks like, 'specially ole Paladin an' his gang?"

"Food," Brass suggested helpfully, glancing up from a piece of bread.

Olo rolled his eyes and stifled a sigh. "Every hobbit likes food, Brass," he said, pausing slightly after each word and adding particular stress to the word 'hobbit.' "Use yore head, Brassy," he added snappishly. "No...no...they're after something," he murmured, moving his bishop to threaten the king who posed for old Paladin.

With a heave he crawled around to the opposite side and pretended to be Paladin. "What kind o' fellow is Paladin?" he called to no one in particular.

"Kindly," Hob said promptly glancing at Olo.

"They're always kindly," Olo muttered. "Let's see...the men 'ave taken their food." He movied a pawn, a horse, threatening his bishop.

He switched sides again. "They have plenty of food at the block houses. We don't let them starve because they can't work when they're a rotting corpse in the ground." His rook retreated.

"We're in want of beer," Olo said nasally, mimicking Paladin. The white pawn that guarded the queen hopped forward two steps.

"Any hobbit can make beer," Olo snapped, bringing his knight into play.

"We're on a farming expedition," a pawn whined as he left the king's side unguarded.

"Too many people for that, especially with the lass," the black queen retorted, leaving the side of her liege.

"Relatives are sick," a bishop suggested as it manuevered itself so that it could threaten the black king in a move or two.

"I don't think so," said the black knight as it swept the white bishop off the field.

"A maying party," a pawn said, advancing warily a step.

Olo scowled at the board and swore quietly. The pipe fell from his mouth, the precious leaf spilled from the bowl and skipped dryly onto the dusty board. Of course. The Leaf supply was about cut off from the hobbits, especially the Tooks. They had to have run out somehow and instead of submitting to Sharkey, the fool had decided to go and get some, somehow. "Tobacco," the queen whispered as she glided up the board. "Checkmate, Paladin."

[ October 04, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

evening of 30 October

Cami crouched low over Dandelion's shoulder and spurred the pony onward towards the town, avoiding the road for fear she would be detected. She chose instead to cut straight across fields and grasslands in hopes that these shortcurts would get her there before the men. All thoughts of continuing her search for Hob had ended. The last omenous words she'd heard had been those of the ruffian responding to Assiram's suggesting that they go have a look at the Smials: Why can’t we just get it done tonight?

"Get it done tonight" Cami's stomach lurched upward as she remembered the casual tone the fellow had used, as if he was speaking of ridding an old shed of rats or other vermin. "Get it done" undoubtedly involved breaking into the Smials, carting off whatever loot could be found and, far more seriously, using daggers and swords against Paladin and whoever was staying with him.

If the men moved in the dead of night, the hobbits would be abed, probably deep in sleep after downing a hearty meal, and totally unaware that someone was about to disturb their peace. At any given time, Paladin had a goodly number of hobbits staying with him, relatives of the family as well as servants helping take care of the household. That would mean several strong arms to defend against the outlaws if they managed to break in, but it also guaranteed large hoards of hobbit children who would be totally defenseless against such an attack. And if the assault came without warning when folk were sleeping, all the strong arms of Tookland would not aid them in the slightest.

Cami spurred her pony faster at the thought of what such carnage could mean. Slipping into town through the side streets and alleyways, she glanced hastily over her shoulder and was relieved to see that no one was following her. She went up to the front entry way of the Smials and was about to yank down on the bellcord and pound loudly on the door when she stopped for a moment to jiggle the knob. The knob turned easily in her hand and the door swung inward. Like most hobbits, the Tooks were careless about locking things up and actually preferred to leave the entrance open so anyone would feel free to visit and enjoy their hospitality.

Cami shuddered to think what would have happened had Asiram and his band gotten here first. Thank goodness she had overheard that conversation! Leaving Dandelion tied up near the front gate and rushing forward into the hallway, Cami called out Paladin's name. For a moment or two, no one answered but then a small hobbit lad came skipping into the corridor holding half a piece of cake in one hand, the rest smeared generously across his face. The lad responded with a friendly grin, "Miss Cami, is that you? Are you visiting Tookland? Come inside. We're eating now. I know the Thain will want you to stay and have supper."

Without waiting to explain to the lad, Cami barged into the large chamber, which had a fire burning brightly and two long tables laden with assorted platters and dishes that had been set out for everyone to eat. Out of breath and shaking, she raced over to where Paladin was sitting at the very head of the board, spilling out her story as quickly as she could. By the time Cami had finished reporting, all the hobbits gathered near the front to listen to what the Thain would say. Paladin's response was swift and direct.

"So it's come to that, has it? Well, we expected it all along and have some plans up our sleeve. Cami, those were no ordinary bandits you saw. I'm willing to bet these are the doings of the Chief and the Big Folk who've come to cause trouble in the Shire. No doubt Sharkey is involved as well!"

Paladin turned to face the men, women, and children staring at him with anxious eyes, "No sleep tonight, and I'm afraid our dinner will have to wait. You all know what to do! Bolco and Tom, block the front entryway as best you can. I don't think it will keep them out for long, but it will buy us some time."

He stared over at his wife, "Eglantine, get some good stout frying pans from the kitchen, just in case. Then mount the children up on the ponies and make for the safety of the old cave that stands north of town, just as we discussed before. Wait there until I come out to get you when everything's calmed down."

Cami glanced nervously towards the Thain, "But if these thugs can get in the front entryway, how will you defend yourself?"

He looked at her and beamed, "Just wait and see. The Smials protects her own very well."

Cami glanced over towards the entry way where hobbits were bringing in wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow filled to overflowing with dirt and depositing it at the front of the main hall in which they stood.

*******************************************

Within less than an hour, the job was done. Eglantine and several of the women had led the children and ponies to safety, along with an assortment of dogs and cats and other household pets. The Thain had covered over the only entrance to the main tunnel quite clevery with a wall of dirt. Few would have suspected that this blank wall was actually concealing the one tunnel that led to the main occupied wings of the house.

But how will you get out?" puzzled Cami, looking at the mounds of earth blocking their exit.

Paladin laughed and explained, "There's a back entrance that leads to the other side of the hill. I don't expect the henchmen will find it, but just in case we've stationed a few hobbits there with weapons."

Cami had noticed two other tunnels that led out from the front hallway. These were now totally open and unguarded, and actually branched back onto a series of storage sheds filled with old junk, unoccupied burrows, and numberless tunnels that had been deserted years before. This maze deadended at the far side of the hill, with no way for the intruders to get out except to retrace their steps and exit by the front gate.

"That should keep them busy," Paladin rubbed his hands together in delight. "Those tunnels extend back up to a quarter of a mile, twisting and turning and looping in on each other. And as far as that old junk goes, they're welcome to whatever loot they can find. I've been meaning to clean those storage sheds out for some time now!"

"We'll stay here behind the earth wall armed and waiting, These men have no common sense when it comes to digging and burrows so I expect that they will never guess what's behind the dirt. But, just in case, we'll pile up the tables in front of the door and keep our weapons handy. If worse comes to worse, and they do find their way in, we'll hightail it out the back way before they get anywhere near us. Things are nothing. It's my people I'm worried about. Then we'll gather at the trysting tree and come at them good and proper with a contingent of hobbits fully armed."

"Shall I stay here and help you?" Cami asked, her face brightening.

The Thain shook his head. "I've another task for you." He began explaining to her about the group journeying to the South Farthing, when Cami interrupted and said how she'd already spoken with Niluial.

"Good then! No need for explanations. Someone needs to get on a pony and gallop down to their campsite on the Shirebourne as fast as they can to warn them about the men. I don't like the looks of this. Even if these Big Folk give up and leave, they may be hunting for another victim soon. This whole thing is just too much of a coincidence to make me comfortable!"

With that, Cami said her goodbyes to Paladin, stopping only to shove some food into a bag she thought she might be needing later that night. She was led through the maze of tunnels to the exit at the rear of the hill, and one of the hobbits brought her pony along to meet up with her. For the second night in a row, she was to ride hard without any sleep. She clambered up onto Dandelion's back yawning and struggling to keep her eyes open, then kicked the pony in the withers and headed out into the night. The last thing she glimpsed out of the corner of her eye was the shadowy outline of three big horsemen thundering down the lane in the direction of Tukborough.

[ October 05, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

Niluial’s post: Oct. 30th - evening

Niluial sighed. Look what you got yourself into! All for some boy. You ought to be ashamed. Niluial was a really fussy ‘tween’ and didn’t like getting her hands dirty or her feet or anything dirty as a matter of fact. She moaned and groaned for a while but she stopped after she got a whole lot of looks from all her companions. I could do with dinner. Maybe some sausages and some delicious home made food. And I could then rest my injured feet (though we all know that Niluial was being a drama queen for her feet were not injured just tired! And they weren’t used to walking such far distances). Niluial went cold. Are we going to stop at all? It is late evening and we haven’t stopped for dinner yet. What about sleep!.

Niluial looked over her shoulder to Tim, he was all in a dreamy mood. Probably thinking of his sweet little Lilly. Then she looked at Josh, but looked him in the eye, her eyes were communicating with him, what’s wrong? They were saying. Niluial looked at Dury and giggled. Dury was also in a dreamy mood like Tim, but not dreaming about some silly girl, but dreamy about lovely thing such as food, food and yet more food.

Niluial was hurled out of her thoughts when she tripped over a big stone and fell to the ground. Her face went red as everyone looked at her.

“Uh, silly me” she said with a bright red face.

[ October 05, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Oct. 30th late night to early morning Oct. 31st

As soon as it was dark, Assiram led the other two men from the camp. The moon was bright above the trees, allowing them to see the narrow track alongside the main road. They rode quietly, no talk passing among them to break the silence of the night. When they had ridden for a while, Assiram called a halt and spoke softly to them.

‘We ain’t seen no one on the road since we been ridin’ alongside it. Let’s take the horses up and see if we can make for the mark’s house at a faster clip.’ His two companions nodded their heads and urged their horses up the small incline.

It was just after midnight when they reached the outskirts of Tukburrough. Assiram brought his horse to a halt, hissing at the others to do the same. None of them had ever been in this part of the Shire, and it took them some time, skulking about in the shadows of trees and bushes to find the dwelling they thought was probably the old Took’s.

‘Well, it’s a big enough heap . . . hold plenty of the vermin,’ whispered Ahriman. They were hidden in the shadows of a row of bushes near the front gate. ‘You go round to the left there and check things out, Helios,’ said Assiram in a low voice. ‘And you,’ he growled at Ahriman, go round to the right. Both a’ ya see if there are any lights on, people movin’ about, anybody outside on guard. Find us a way in . . . and be quiet about it . . . report back to me when yer done.’

Assiram nosed about the area in front of the dwelling. He put his ear to the door and could hear nothing, though in all probability, he thought to himself the door was a thick one that would muffle any sounds. Hoping against hope, he put his hand to the door’s knob and turned it slowly, and quietly. He paused, once he felt the barrel of the lock come free, then slowly opened the door a crack. It was dark as pitch inside, and quiet . . . very quiet.

‘This should be an easy hit,’ he snorted, pushing the door open a bit further and peeking his head in. They’re all asleep, the little fools, and they’ve left the door open for us.’

He stepped back out, closing the door silently behind him, and stepped into the shadows to wait for his fellow ruffians. They both returned soon. There had been nothing to alarm them – no signs of anyone patrolling the grounds, no lights on any where. Neither of them confessed to the fact that they hadn’t gone all they way round the dwelling’s hill. Both of them in the dim recesses of their minds were of the opinion that being bigger and smarter (they were after all Men, weren’t they?) gave them the advantage over any hole-dwelling creature.

There was a hurried conference just outside the gates where their horses were tethered. Assiram bade them get out their small lanterns and get them lit. ‘It’s darker’n the backside of a goblin,’ he told them. ‘Make sure ya hood those lanterns, boys. We don’t want a bright light announcing we’re here.’ They each grabbed a stout club and stuck it in the belt of their pants, and a couple of large flour sacks to haul off their swag in.

‘We’ll stick together. Don’t want any surprises sneaking up on us.’ They nodded their heads in unison, all of them thinking that the real reason they should stick close would be to keep an eye on the others.

Senses alert for any noises or movements in the dark, they made their way down the first tunnel to the left. There were a series of doors along it, each opening up into dusty and disused rooms. After the tenth door opened they all began to grumble a little. Their backs were aching from having to walk stooped in the low-ceilinged corridor, the air in the tunnel was dank and still, and there had been no sign of the vaunted treasure they had been promised.

‘Looks like they got tired of this side and abandoned it,’ commented Helios, as he brushed cobwebs from his hair. The only creatures left livin’ here are the spiders it seems.’ ‘Let’s go back and try the other side,’ suggested Ahriman. He mashed a spider under his boot heel, wishing all the while it was either Ferny or Assiram that had been squashed. Liars, both of them!

Assiram grunted, and let Ahriman take the lead back to the from entrance. He had seen the murderous gleam flare up in the man’s eye as their gazes met. He wanted him where he could keep an eye on him.

The second tunnel, at first, appeared more promising. The rooms were filled with things . . . lots of things . . . all sort of jumbled together. They pushed as far as they could into it, examining the rooms and their contents closely at first, sure there would find hidden riches. They busted open vases, and smashed up old desks looking for the places the promised gold might be hidden. There was nothing . . . not even a scrap of old jewelry that might bring a farthing in Bree.

Tempers were growing short, and their actions louder as they smashed their way through several more out-branchings filled with junk. Ahriman had just banged his head on the ceiling once again and he let out a foul curse. ‘Quiet,’ you’ll wake ‘em!’ growled Helios, nudging the shouting man with his club. Ahriman took offense and pushed back with all his strength against Helios, tumbling him backwards into a large heap of raggedy old curtains. Clouds of dust flew up as his backside sunk into the mound, and he started coughing and sneezing. Eyes tearing from the dust, he jumped up, yelling, and took a swing at Ahriman. ‘Now who’s being loud,’ cried Ahriman, jabbing the man in the chest with his club’s end.

‘As if it matters . . .!’ The icy voice of Assiram cut through their bickering. ‘If you haven’t noticed, there’s no sign of anyone actually living here, no hide nor hair of any Hobbits, other than their leftover garbage. We’ve been had. Ferny dangled this carrot in front of our noses, and now that we’ve looked closer, it’s rotten through and through.’ He picked up a tattered parasol and threw it against the wall. ‘There’s no rich Hobbit living here, no treasure to be found and taken . . . he’s given us directions to the Hobbits’ garbage dump! Probably thinks it’s funny, too . . .’ he gestured to the two other men. ‘C’mon boys, let’s get outta here. We’ve got a score to settle with Ferny once we meet up with him. I don’t like being played for a fool.’ He spat for emphasis on the ground. ‘He’s gonna have to pay us more for helpin’ him now.’

They made their way to the front exit and out through the gate. First light was just creeping up into the sky. They mounted their horses and rode south a ways. In the shelter of a secluded copse of trees, they bedded down - weary to the bone from their exertions and lack of sleep. They dropped off into uneasy slumber as the sun rose, their dreams filled with thoughts of phantom treasure and revenge . . .

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child's post - 31 October

Cami clung to Dandelion's back like a small bur firmly embedded on a saddleblanket. Lying down close to her pony's mane and whispering encouragement in his ear, the pair kept up a steady pace as the miles slowly slipped behind them. Cami's initial route brought her due east along the Stock road; she then veered diagonally across the Green Hill Country on a southeasterly track that cut through the woodlands in the direction of the river.

More than once, her eyelids fluttered and grew oppresively heavy as her head nodded gently up and down in response to the pony's lengthening strides. She fought desperately to stave off sleep and clambered down from her saddle to kneel beside the stream and sluice cool water over her face. Once, after several hours of riding, Cami stopped to give Dandelion a rest and stretched out on a nearby hillock, coming perilously close to falling asleep. At the last minute, she yanked herself back to consciousness and climbed onto her pony's back, vowing to stay awake.

She kept herself alert by singing songs, reciting stories of Elves that she had learned from Bilbo, and rehearsing the stinging words she would direct at that worthless Hob the next time she saw him for having associates so scurrilous that they would dare mount an attack on the Smials. Mostly, she reflected on the small band of hobbits camped beside the river and wondered if Niluial was alright, or if Ferny had sent out more of his associates to accost other innocent folk.

It was close to dawn when she and her pony came stumbling out of the wooded grove. She had her first clear glimpse of the open fields of the South Farthing leading up to the Shirebourne River. The going was much easier here. There were no tangled tree roots or overhanging branches. The land was wet but flat, and Dandelion made good time cantering easily alongside the river.

Just when she feared that she could go no further, the small encampment of the hobbits came into view directly in front of her, nestled on the banks of the river. Spurring her mount on for one final effort, she galloped into the campsite, whooping and hollering for everyone to wake up.

In a few moments, she had spilled out every detail of her story about the conversation she'd overheard, the clever defense that Paladin had devised, and how she'd seen the ruffians galloping into town just as she was leaving. She warned Josh to be wary of anyone they might meet on the road and to keep a lookout posted day and night, in case Ferny decided to act. Relieved that her friends were alright, yet too exhausted to hold up any longer, Cami sank back into a bedroll that Niluial had loaned to her. The last thing she heard while falling asleep was that the hobbits planned to stay at the camp another hour or two to cook breakfast and discuss their plans before again setting out across the fields to Longbottom.

[ October 09, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Imladris]

October 31

Olo stretched and yawned as the bright sunlight insolently urged him awake and hauled him to his feet. The remains of his chessboard still remained in the dirt, but the fire was mere embers and needed to be revived. "Oh bother," he muttered looking at the sun. "No time to cook breakfast. Left over dinner it is, then." He made a wry face. "Everybody wake up," he bellowed as he began to pack up. "We get on the road now."

With much clanking and ruckus, Olo packed the cooking utensils and the food, throwing some cooked ham that he had discovered in his pack over to the other two drowsy hobbits. Taking a pail of water, he doused the glowing embers and listened with satisfaction the harsh sizzle that erupted from the clouds of smoke. Taking his large furry foot, he effectively spread the ashes across the land and said proudly, "Now no passing hobbits will ever know 'twas us here."

With heavy packs swung over their shoulders and some grumbling between their teeth, the hobbit shirrifs crept after the group of hobbits, Olo still berating the men. "Still, best not to go too swiftly," Olo mused to himself as he gradually slowed the pace somewhat. "We got loot to look forward to an' all, but what Ferny said about them Tooks..." he shook his head.

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]

[Durelin]

October 30th - Night

Dury lay sprawled on his blanket. He had been all too right. He was so sore he could not budge a limb. He had not strength left in him. He wished he could rub his legs, but he could not lift his arms. And that Falco had told him to stop complaining, told him a good night's sleep would bring him into a new day, ready for more walking. More and more walking. Dury drew a deep breath, and let it out in a dreadful sigh, only to regret it terribly. Oh, the smell of the place! They were camping in a bog! He swore it! Falco made it seem nicer, calling it a marsh, but Dury was not fooled by that hobbit's words. Falco was good at making things sound better, only, they made things seem worse.

Shifting in his blankets took much effort, and all of that strength was used just to get a large, very solid something digging into his back. With a moan, Dury turned over and pulled the wool blankets tight around him. He would be regretting much in the morning, if he did not sleep at all, and he attempted to block out any negative thoughts from his mind. Dury found that that left no thoughts at all. He snorted. Nothing but negative thoughts, as nothing but negative things had been happening since that morning. Had it only been earlier that day that he had arisen at dawn to walk, to travel on some 'noble' journey the lackwitted Tooks and Brandybucks thought up? He was not going to survive this.

Dury did not remember sleep overtaking him, but it did, and his dreams reflected his thoughts. Negative.

___

October 31st

Dury could barely remember being shaken awake that morning, shaken back into a sore reality. The aches and pains of that night had only grown worse, and now he was decidedly stiff. He waddled at the very back of the company, somehow keeping his legs moving at least somewhat. He missed his family this morning. Misery, negativity, loneliness, ache, it was what he would forever associate with journeys.

That morning, a frantic Josh had shaken him awake. The boy had doubted Dury was still alive! Just because he had not been awakened by someone's hollering... It seemed that Cami had decided to join them, and with much news. Terrible news, and yet another thing for Dury to mull over. Danger might be added to Dury's list of associations quite soon. That farmer had best have some divine leaf, and his wife's family had best treat him with more respect after this. He had done this for Mirda, and for her family, if only because they were her family. Mirda had best let him have an extra plum cake for this. No, a baker's dozen!

"A stop, perhaps?" he called up ahead of him, trying in vain to sound cheery, and polite.

"Not yet, Dury, I'm afraid."

A peal of giggles arose ahead of him.

"Well, I am glad you two young ladies are enjoying yourselves!" he called again.

More giggles came back to him, much louder this time.

[piosenniel]

October 31st

Assiram sat up rubbing the soreness from his left flank. A small tree root and several sharp rocks had made their impression on him as he slept. He had been so tired when they’d finally stopped to camp, he’d fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep . . . and of course the small flask of burning juniper berry spirits he’d grown fond of had assisted the process. But now he was awake, and his head was throbbing, his side was sore, and his leg muscles were threatening to cramp from the chill of the morning.

The sun had crested the tips of the trees. So, it couldn’t be too early he thought to himself. Groaning with the effort, he got up and walked the few paces to the little stream that ran though the small dell they were in. The other two were still dead asleep, snores and grunts issuing every so often from beneath the blankets of their rude beds.

He splashed a few handfuls of cold water from the stream on his face, and slaked his thirst with a long drink from it. A patch of sun beckoned him and dragging his small pack with him, he sat down in it, leaning his back against a tree stump. The warmth of the sun and the short walk had worked the cramps from his calves.

Reaching into his pack, he pulled out the last of the dried meat and waybread. Hardly noticing them as he gnawed on them, he set to organizing what needed to be done that day. Looking reflectively at the sorry little stick of dried meat that grew smaller by the minute, he moved the replenishing of their food supplies to the top of his list.

‘Should be some nice fat Hobbit holes we can raid,’ he thought to himself as he popped the last of the waybread into his mouth . . .

[ October 11, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

The Shirriffs and Cami - 31 October

Hob watched as Olo resolutely stamped out the remains of the fire to obliterate any signs of the Shirriffs ever having camped in the grove. Within a few moments, the three hobbits had pulled on their packs and were again heading out of camp, careful to keep their distance from the other band but still following close enough to see clearly where their track was leading without fear of getting lost. It was more difficult than it had been before, since there were only a few sheltering groves of trees to hide their movements along the river. Once or twice, they'd actually had to dive for cover in the Shirebourne and stay under water until the band ahead had dipped around a bend just out of sight.

After an hour or two of silent tracking, Brass had sprinted down the trail ahead of the others, drawn on by the hope of finding some berry bushes growing near the river for a little mid-morning snack. Scanning the ground from side-to-side and looking cautiously ahead, he came to an abrupt halt just outside a clearing near the water, in his panic pitching headfirst into a patch of tangled brush.

As Hob and Olo made their way forward debating the merits of certain varieties of pipeweed, Brass recovered enough to sit up and wave his arms madly, whispering a word of warning. "Shh! Be quiet. They're right there, up ahead. They've stopped for a minute by the river. I think they're talking about heading to the southwest across the fields towards the town of Longbottom. And look! One of them has a pony now."

Olo immediately got down on the ground and crawled forward, being careful to shield his body from sight. Hob quickly followed suit.

"Our bad luck!" muttered Olo between clenched teeth. "It will be hard to keep our cover when we have to cut across open fields. We'll have to stay alert, and keep far behind, perhaps crawling forward in spots."

Hob and Brass exchanged nervous glances at the unpleasant prospect of having to inch their bodies along the ground. But neither of them could really suggest an acceptable alternative. Hob crept up to an opening in the bushes and cautiosly stuck his head through to have a better look at the band of hobbits who were sprawled out relaxing on the ground. Indeed, one of the band had a pony, and the beast looked strangely familiar to Hob. He looked once, then twice, and gasped in recognition. For the pony was definitely Dandelion, one of the steeds in the Brandybuck stables! The pony had lowered his head and was gently nudging one of the hobbits lying in the tall grass who had apparently fallen asleep. One quick glance at the sleeping form told Hob all that he ever wanted to know, for the prostrate and sleeping hobbit with her wild brown curls and plump curves was definitely Cami. She sat no more than ten paces distant. With a clatter and a bang, Hob drew back in absolute alarm, but not before Cami opened her eyes, stared blankly into his own, and began to shriek out in panic.

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Josh turned and stared as an ear-rending screech filled the air. Unfortunately his feet didn't seem to want to stop moving and, not looking where he was going, he tripped over a tree root that didn't seem to be attached to a tree. His muffled protest called the toher Hobbit's eyes to him, and for a while there was chaos that seemed to belong to more than just five Hobbits as the others tried to decide what to look at, exclaim over or run from first.

Pulling himself upright Josh staggered over in the direction of the screaming, around a clump of scrubby bushes, followed by the others. There was a nameless dread filling his chest, and images of men with bows and swords, dragons and other monsters crowded his mind. It took willpower to force himself forwards but he did, unfastening his knife from his belt as he went.

Surprisingly all he was faced with was Cami, hands on hips, haranguing a red-faced Hobbit who seemed to be trying vainly toplacate her. His face was familiar to Josh, peeping from under a Shirriff's cockaded hat. Hob. Hob...Bolger? No, but a distant cousin anyway, he thought. Hob was, if he remembered aright, Cami's betrothed. Unless they were married now, which was possible. Josh tried to recollect family gossip, but eventually gave up. There was far too much!

Whatever had caused Cami- or Hob!- to scream seemed to have vanished, though. Josh was just considering whether to tiptoe away leaving the two of them to sort out their quarrel alone when a thought hit him like icy water. Hob, a Shirriff, was there behind them. Unless he was alone searching for Cami, one Shirriff meant at least one more. And why would Hob be wearing his hat if he wasn't on duty?

Carefully Josh looked around, peering at trees and bushes. Sure enough, there were two beady pairs of eyes visible through the foliage, as well as the outlines of two crouching Hobbits.
At least they aren't big men, Josh thought wryly. Although if there were we might all be dead by now...

The thought wasn't pleasant. Deciding to cover his nerves with action, Josh marched smartly over to the eyes waving his knife.
"All right" he said loudly. "Come out of there you. And no funny business"

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami and Hob

Totally oblivious to the ruckus that was going on around her, Cami rounded on Hob and came at him with eyes flaring.

"What are you doing here? I might have known! You and your Shirriff buddies." She glared over in the direction of the bushes where the advancing figures of Brass and Olo could be clearly seen. Olo looked to be totally beside himself.

Without hesitation, Cami lit in, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself. I've just ridden all night from Tukborough. When I left, Ferny's men were launching an assault on the Great Smials. If it wasn't for Paladin's cleverness, everyone inside would have been skewered by those nasty thugs. And they claim to be carrying out the directives of the Chief and Shirriffs!"

Cami went red all over, then surfaced to take a great gulp of air, still staring angrily at Hob. She calmed herself, stood up straight and stared her fiancee in the eye, "I've said it before but this time I mean it. Either you break with those men and take off that silly feathered hat, or this is the last time I'll ever speak to you!" She began to wrench off the ring from her finger.

Hob opened his mouth and was about to speak, but whatever answer he intended to make was drowned out in the hubub all around him.

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Imladris]

October 31st

Olo groaned as he heard the stupid lass scream and he himself shouted, though it was drowned out thoroughly by the shout of the girl, "Hob! Get back here now." Fuming because he himself had been unable to hear his cry, he decided to watch the scene in hiding as he saw Hob and the other hobbit approach one another: Hob the picture of abject terror. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice that said, "And no funny business."

"What the bloody ---" he choked upon the swear word as he turned to look at the impudent hobbit who stood facing them. Clasping the hands that were trembling with contained fury, Olo stood still for awhile, inwardly raging:
Stupid, stupid, fat hobbit!! -- he wasn't sure if he was speaking of the lass or Hob -- When everything was going so splendidly! Now its ruined, ruined! Instead of capturing them and getting a fat reward from Sharkey, they have captured us! And what is he doing?! Arguing with some red-faced lass when he should be here with us, standing by his fellow Shirrifs. What a traitor, what a deserter! I'll report him to Ferny and Sharky and they'll make him wallow in the darkness of a cell that is without furnishings. He shall live on bread and water once a day and shan't see a pipe or a solitary pice of Leaf! He shall languish in there until he repents!

After a suitable pause, which was mainly to rant and to show the other hobbit that Olo wasn't afraid of him, Olo dragged Brass to his feet and tumbled from the brush.

The hobbit lad who had discovered them looked as if he was trying to stifle his terror and was doing a somewhat good job of it. Olo peered intensely at him, he recognized him vaguely and it seemed his name was Josh. "Josh, right?" said Olo with feigned cordial. Sticking out his oily, pudgy hand he continued with a sickening smile, "I'm Olo Underfoot, Shirrif of the Shire and this here is Brass," he said, gesturing to the said hobbit with a jerk of his other thumb. Olo frowned when he saw that Josh stared at the proffered hand with scorn.

Olo glanced quickly around and saw that Hob and the other hobbit were still having a terrific spat, and that Brass was inching his way towards them. Looking around him, he saw the other hobbits, the bad-good hobbits -- what an oxymoron --, come towards them, weapons drawn. "Brass," he hissed, tugging the hobbit to him, "Look around you," he added, pointing at the hobbits. "And what might ye be doin' so far from home?" he asked Josh as pleasantly as he could muster as his hand slowly dropped towards his loaded cross bow.

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]

[Arvedui III]

All thoughts of berries forgotten, Brass stood stunned for a moment, looking wildly for something to focus on. Ack, too much noise and too early in the day as well. But, he held his piece while Hob and the hobbit-lass yelled back and forth. A cool breeze ruffled his hair good-naturedly as Olo and the other hobbits began talking. Brass didn't even bother paying attention to what they were saying, it was the weapons they were holding that he was concentrating on. "And what might ye be doin' so far from home?" Brass had enough sense to see Olo dropping toward his crossbow, and did likewise as the hobbit in front of them- Josh, was it?- narrowed his eyes in distaste. "I could ask the same of you, honorable sheriffs." Brass relaxed his hold on his club, deciding that these hobbits were pleasant enough. "Aye, but tis not your position to be askin' us." Olo responded.

For some reason, looking at the two, Brass was struck with the impression that they were locked in something like a staring contest, but it was far more serious than they hearty ones he used to participate in at the Green. A sickening silence seemed to stretch out, Olo looking triumphant and Josh looking wary. "Maybe we can both state our business and then be on our ways?" Brass spoke up helpfully for the first time, startling even himself by the statement. It did make sense though, after the other hobbits were gone, he, Olo, and Hob could get back to the job, and maybe find some berries. And food, was, and would almost be his main priority. However, while his statement earned him a thoughtful glance from Josh, the look Olo gave was completely inappropriate.

"You idiot!" He hissed quickly, but then smiled back up at Josh. "Well, me mate here makes a good point. We'll just exchange tales and then be on our separate ways." Then narrowing his eyes and drawing himself up to full height, Olo added,

"You first."

[Lyra Greenleaf]

"You first"

Josh squirmed uncomfortably. He felt, somehow, that this encounter was getting away from him. Surely he should be the one giving the orders? He looked around for help. Neither Dury nor Falco looked inclined to open their mouths, while Niluial and Tim both seemed to be watching CAmi and Hob. Cami, who would probably have talked for all of them, was busy. It was down to him.

"My name is Josias" he began, trying hard to look down his nose at a slightly taller Hobbit. Fearing it simply made him squint, he stopped. "As for my business..." he trailed off, considering. He could lie. They wouldn't believe him, but he could. Or he could just be honest. After all what could they do to him?

"My business is to trade" he said sternly, glaring at the two Shirriffs.
"Trade is controlled by the chief" the bigger, bossier Shirriff stated baldly. "Your trade would be unlawful"
"What is unlawful" Josh said loudly, drawing himself up full height, "is occupying the Shire with Big Men. And half-wits like you."

That's done it, he thought with a strange excitement. Now something's going to happen. But what? Idly he rubbed his thumb along the smooth cherrywood handle of his knife, over and over the carved pattern. It's all down to you Mr Shirriff. What do we do now?

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Hob

Hob looked at Cami who had her arms crossed and was still fuming. Then, he glanced back at Olo and over at Josh. The two hobbits looked as if they were no more than a hair's breadth away from coming to serious blows. Hob couldn't imagine how such a fracas would actually end. Brass and Olo were certainly outnumbered, but they had better training and weapons and would probably take a lot of the others out before they met their inevitable end.

Was this what everything had come to? All those years in the Shire where no hobbit had ever knowingly killed another now came down to this? And for the first time in his life, Hob knew this mustn't be. It wasn't right for him or Cami or Josh. It wasn't even right for Brass or that obnoxious Olo. No hero by instinct, and with his knees knocking loudly, Hob slipped between the two hobbit lads and stood stock still. He unbuckled the belt at his waist that held his dagger in its sheath and threw it to the ground; then he let his bow slide off his shoulder and glared first at Josh, and then at Olo.

"Alright, I'm unarmed. Do either of you want to come at me? You both got reason to be mad." He shrugged his shoulders and looked from one to the other. "I don't care what either of you believe. But hobbits don't kill hobbits!" He craned his neck over at Olo. "Workin' for the Big Folk is one thing but having them tell us to kill each other....that's just crazy. It don't make no sense."

He looked over at Josh. "Now, whatever I am, these two are Shirriffs, so you best be tellin' 'em what you're doin'. They got that right. And once you hear it, I advise you two to get outta' here, cause there are several more of them than you, specially if I decide to join 'em, which I just may do."

He looked over at Josh and Olo and sat down in the tall grass, waiting for someone to answer.

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

The sudden appearance of Hob between him and Olo startled Josh. Any slight feelings of disappointment were swept away by relief- Hob was right. Hobbits shouldn't kill one another. He tucked his knife back into his belt, glowering to keep up appearances, and was happy to see that Olo did the same. Slowly Josh turned his gaze from him to Hob, sitting on the ground looking stubborn.

"What madness made you work for the Big Men anyways Hob?" he asked indignantly. "Hasn't my Uncle Paladin always been good to you?" he added, hoping that he was right and Paladin had.

Hob mumbled something in reply, turning red.
"Never mind that now. Can't you sort things out with him?" Hob asked, jerking his thumb at Olo.

"Perhaps I can sort both out together" Josh said. "We're going to get weed, Mister Olo, Mister Brass and Mr Hob. And you can all do exactly as you see fit about that. If you want to come with us- not only Hob, all of you- that's fine by me. We could do with the help. And I'm sure you could do with the weed?"

The second Shirriff made an eager noise, but was cut off by Olo.
"That's not lawful, as you know Mister Josias. We shall have to arrest you and take you to be sent to the lockholes"

Josh forced a laugh, but the name chilled him.
"How will you do that then? Even if Hob there can't find the nerve to join us we still outnumber you. I'd like to see you try!"

He turned aside to Hob.
"But Hob, you must see we have the right of it? Don't you?"
Still sitting on the ground, Hob nodded stiffly, almost unwillingly, and mumbled something again. Then he pushed himself up onto his feet and came and stood deliberately by Josh.

"Very well" snarled Olo wildly. "We may not be able to arrest you all, but we can get someone who can. You won't go free, just like the rest of the damn Tooks. And you Hob..." He trailed off.
"C'm on Brass" he snapped and walked off. Unwillingly Brass followed.

"W-well" Josh said, trying to eject brightness into his voice and hide the tremor. "I should think that's the last we'll see of them. I'm glad you joined us, Hob. We should be going if we want to make Longbottom and find somewhere to camp before nightfall"

[Imladris]

Olo was wild with anger as he saw Hob go over to the Resistance and nearly thought that Brass was considering it as well. "Do you want to be locked in the Lockholes forever?" he shouted, as he hurried away from them. But they ignored him, though Hob did look a bit troubled. "Alright," Olo muttered, "the men should be around the Tooks somewhere," he said, chewing with a yellowed tooth upon his lip and smoking vigorously on his pipe. "To think that they'd go for some weed! They should be grateful for what Sharkey has done for them. Blithering idiots."

He was slightly disturbed and was inwardly fidgeting at the thought that Ferney, or worse Sharkey, would blame him for Hob's dersertion. Olo was inwardly sorry to loose Hob: he had been rather brave, putting him between him and Josh -- Josias. Olo knew that he should have done something more, but they had been outnumbered. "Once we have the men, we'll go after them and everything will be alright."

[piosenniel]

October 31st

Assiram returned to the stream and filled the waterskins. The horses were pegged to the picket line, and he loosed them; taking their reins, he led them to the stream to drink. Once they were secured in a patch of sweet grass and tasty leaved bushes, he hobbled them and let them graze.

By now the other two were awake, and he hollered at them to get up. Helios sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes, but Ahriman pulled the blanket over his head as her rolled to his other side.

‘None o’ that!’ growled Assiram, nudging him with the toe of his boot. ‘We’ve got to find us some food to get us by. And after that we had better find those Shire rats the chief wants us to hook up with.’ He spat a nasty looking gob on the ground. ‘Can’t imagine what use they’ll be to us.’
____________________________

A short while later and a meager breakfast for the late risers, and they were on their way. They raided two outlying little holdings as they rode east toward Pincup – taking the fresh baked bread from both of them along with a smoked ham from the first and some taters and carrots from the second. One of the ladies had baked an apple pie, and the ruffians took it, pan and all - slicing it into thirds and jamming it into their mouths as they rode along. The empty pan they sent flying back at the outraged husband, nearly hitting him in the head.

At the second little holding they raided, the older son had threatened the Men with his sling shot, hitting one of the horses on the rump as they rode off. He yelled out after them and raised an angry fist. The Men laughed. ‘Little dolt! Is that all you weasels can muster!’

The Men turned south after their second raid, just a little east of Pincup. They had heard that there were some farms that way where pipe-weed was grown. Their own supply had grown short, and besides – pipe-weed farmers did a good trade. Perhaps there would be some coins and other items of interest if they were lucky.

Late afternoon found them in a little clearing, fixing to stay ‘til tomorrow morning. They had plenty of food and had built a small fire to make themselves a mess of fried taters and thick ham slices. ‘No point in going any further today, boys,’ Assiram said, picking a piece of ham from between his teeth with his ragged fingernail. ‘We’ll head down towards Longbottom tomorrow . . .’

[Child of the 7th Age]

October 31

At Josh's suggestion, the band of resistence hobbits had headed straight out on the road again. This time, fearful that the Shirriffs would return with some of Ferny's men, they avoided all paths or trails, instead cutting across the open fields on a southwesterly course. The faster they could make their way to the farm and take care of business, the sooner they would find themselves back in Tukborough where things were at least a little safer.

By early afternoon, Cami's energy and spirits had revived. She walked alongside Hob with Dandelion following behind her, chatting of this and that as the two hobbits made plans for the future. Her earlier resentment seemed to have vanished. Cami whispered in Hob's ear how very proud she'd been for the brave action he'd taken and how they might want to speak with her mother and the master of the Bucklands, Saradoc Brandybuck, about setting a date for their nuptials. Niluial even came over and gave Cami a hug, on hearing what they were discussing.

Several times, Hob suggested running off and eloping, but Cami would have none of it. "I want a proper ceremony and a party with my friends in Brandybuck Hall. Then, we'll set off together to make a home in Tookland. You'll have the farm and I'll earn a little on the side by having a dame's school for little ones."

Once or twice, Cami wondered if this was really what she wanted. What about her dream of going off on a wild adventure, of following in Bilbo's footsteps? Would she ever see the libraries of Rivendell or Gondor that her teacher had talked about? But Hob was a good, decent lad and she was unlikely to do any better. She was tired of caring for other people's children. Why not care for some of her own just as most other hobbit lasses did? In any case, her mother's health was not good, and she would like to see her mother happy before she passed on. And Cami herself felt happier than she had in a good long time.

The band made steady progress through the remainder of the day. They stopped a few times to rest and eat a bit of lunch. But their trek was thankfully quiet with no trouble from the Shirriffs they'd left behind or any of Ferny's men. By the time they reached the outskirts of Longbottom, the sun was slipping beneath the horizon and the shadows of early evening extending over the land. Josh called a halt to their journey and the group made camp just outside town, with hopes that the next day would bring them a rich harvest of pipeweed to take home to Paladin and their other friends in Tookland.

[ October 13, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Burzdol]

Helios walked through the trees; the man kept thinking about what he would do with the money from Ferney. His thoughts were mixed between settling down, and keeping up his previous life. Unknown to him, Assiram walked behind him.

"So, what's wrong?" Assiram asked.

The other man was startled and turned to meet his companion, "What?"

"I can tell when you have a problem. So, what's the problem?"

"Well, after this is over. I mean our job and all. I'll be rich. I'm not sure what to do with the money. I don't know if I want to settle down, or continue the life I already have. There are just so many choices."

"Why do you have to decide now?" Assiram said.

They made a cicle back to the camp. Helios sat down and ate. The man soon was thinking deeply, which later became sleep.

[ October 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Imladris]

October 31st -- dusk

Olo was still plodding determinedly along for he was fuelled with anger at Hob for deserting and the Resistance for actually deciding to take, nay steal, some o' Sharkey's weed. Nevertheless, his pace had gradually stole into a mere, continuous, plod that reminded him of a water wheel turnin' 'round an' round an' round an' --

"Can't we stop, maybe, and have a rest?" asked Brass plaintively, halting in his steps and peering at the sky, which was turning to a soft, purplish hue. "Just look at that sunset," he said broadly, pointing, "it's just so purple, like plum cake --" licked his lips wistfully -- "and usually when sunset comes, actually an hour or so before it, we have somethin' like dinner..." his voice trailed off and he shrugged his shoulders.

Olo groaned and said, "Brass, me mate, you 'ave actually said something about which I can heartily agree with you. Stupid, stupid, stupid Hob an' that Hobbit strumpet -- Brass, do you know who she was? No matter," he said scornfully as he began to build the fire, puffig vigorously at the struggling sparks. "Stupid wood's wet," he muttered. Then he launched into a tirade where he uttered some choice words at the men, the hobbits, and the world in general that caused Brass's ears to change from a delicate pink to a violent crimson. "We camp here and rise at dawn," Olo said stressfuly. "Dawn: when the sun peeks above the horizon," he added for Brass's benefit.

[Niluial]

October 31 Late Evening

Niluial sat watching the fire. She moved closer and closer to it hoping to get warmer. Niluial had whinged all day. Her feet were covered in blisters, her hair was dirty and the rest of her and her dress was torn then there were other problems, Niluial was miserable. She put her chin in her hand and thought. Josh was sitting on the opposite side laughing at a joke and Tim sat writing a poem leaning against a tree. “This is it!” Niluial exclaimed getting up. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her. “I have had enough! I am leaving tomorrow back home” she said. Everyone jumped up “Don’t even think of stopping me!” she hissed, while flicking her hair back. Josh ran after her and grabbed her arm, forcing her to listen. “Niluial!” he said looking into her eyes “You are not going anywhere, its dangerous and you committed yourself! Now stop moaning, lighten up and smile. It works I promise!” he said while tucking her hair behind her ear. “Fine! I’ll stay” she exclaimed, rolling her eyes. Niluial was a spoiled brat at times and she just needed someone to be firm, she would listen but acted like she wasn’t going to listen, you know for the extra attention. She walked over to a near pond and put her feet in it, it was cold but soothing and at that moment she relaxed. The only reason I went on this adventure was because of Tim then *sigh* Josh. Niluial liked josh and was affectionate for him, even though she wouldn’t admit it.

Niluial dried her feet and walked over to the camp fire. Everyone lay there sleeping, thinking or writing a poem. Niluial lay and fell into a deep sleep, a dreamless sleep but a sleep.

She woke up the next morning, the sun glaring in her face and bird was chirping in a tree (not the best way to wake her up) “Be quiet! Wont you!” she shouted. Everyone woke up looking startled and still asleep.
“Oh my word! We were meant to be on the road by now” Josh said, packing up his things. “Come on, pack, pack, pack!” he demanded. Once everything was packed they started the new day’s journey…

[Durelin]

Night, October 31st

My Dearest Plum Cake...

Dury's hand's shook as he attempted to scribble down his thoughts by the bouncing light of flames. Crossing out the words Plum Cake, he ran the goose feather along his mouth in thought. Is your mind always lying in your stomach, Dury Greenhand "Is your mind always lying in your stomach, Dury Greenhand."

Dury jumped at hearing his own voice. After a shake of his head, he was lost again in his thoughts. He watched the flames dance and spark in the cool autumn night, feeling the heat fall upon him in waves and mingle with the chilly breezes that ruffled the colored leaves in the trees above. It felt at home, and Dury, for the first time in days, felt at peace. On wafts of heat from a cool stone oven, he could almost smell the sweet scent of fresh baked breads and cakes and tarts and…he was not hungry. He could not bring himself to touch those nice smelling things, would not ask for one. Did he really miss a smell? A taste? No, he did not truly miss anything, yet. Yet.

My Dearest, he began again. Our actions have been made known following a series of uncontrollable events. All the more do we resist what is so wrong in our home, what is wrong in any place in the world. But, all the more are we placed in danger. We have gained some sympathy -- no, not all who follow like sheep are cold stone-hearted folk -- but some does not make up for the enemies we have, enemies that know we consider them so. I had believed before that this would be like any other trip that I might take, even with its risks. Now, though, it is clear to me what these risks are, and that they are there.

For a moment, he paused, his thoughts trailing off with the rising of a great lump in his throat. A great lump of emotions. Going to write again, a wet drop caused the word risks to run.

I hope you read this with me by your side to explain my words, and my thoughts and feelings that are not able to be contained in them. If not, I love you, my honey cake and my two little plum cakes two.

Another drop fell, this time on a blank spot of paper, but a smile adorned Dury's glistening face, a small smile, but a smile all the same. With a careless flick of his wrist, Dury tossed his feather pen into the campfire in a great rising of sparks. It was a beautiful scene, picturesque, with brilliant gold sparks streaking out into a deep shining black to mingle with silver stars. It was all the more beautiful to the hobbit because of his simple action that held such overwhelming meaning. He would not write another word, as not one other word was needed.

He let the ink dry on the paper for a moment before folding it up and placing it in his shirt pocket, next to his heart. Dury lay down in his bedding, listening to the beats sounding to the same rhythm as the waves of comforting warmth. After an early rise, the long trek began again as the hobbits headed toward Longbottom, and Dury walked in the steps of comfort. The risks were there.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Pio's post - October 31st

Assiram was up most of the night, thinking. He had gathered a good-sized pile of twigs and small branches and sat near the small fire feeding the flames. Occasionally he would pick up the stick he was using for his poker and stir up the wood and embers sending orange sparks into the sky. ‘They look just like the pieces of gold we were supposed to find at the Shire Rats’ hole.’ He gave a disgruntled laugh and spat into the fire. ‘And just like them, our hopes for any riches winked away and disappeared.’ He was in a philosophical mood, rare for him who lived a mostly immediate life.

He hadn’t really wanted to come to the Shire. He hated those little vermin with a passion. In his mind they had displaced the real Men who should be living in the area, taken up land and space that didn’t rightly belong to them. Put the folk like him out of their due place; made his life a hardscrabble one. The thought that he was lazy to the core except in the pursuit of immediate pleasure did not figure into his equation, nor did the fact that he would no more be prone to the hard work of the land as would his cronies.

His cronies! What a worthless lot he’d been saddled with! He poked viciously at the embers sending up showers of sparks. ‘Be better off had they never come,’ he thought to himself. Why split the monies with them, when he could do the job just as well and by himself.

He looked over to where they lay, snoring under the fading stars, and considered what he might do.

[ October 19, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Arvedui III]

October 31st

The fire had already flicked and died, leaving only embers to desperately linger on into the night. Leaves rustled lazily, and the stars wield overhead, dancing slowly in their courses. But something very unusual was taking place: Brass was thinking.While he still held firmly to the belief that thinking was best left to those who were good at it, and the only types of decisions he needed to make involved dinner, Brass felt that tonight should be an exception. So now he stared, somewhat detached, up at the stars and thought.

Why would Hob go? Come to that, Brass fellow, why would he stay? Why're you staying, more importantly? Well, I guess orders are orders. No difference between a new lock and new rules for the Tooks. Well, maybe they're a bit different. But, why did Hob go? Maybe the food? No, Hob never ate all that much. The weed? No, that's not it either. We're supposed to get lots after this business is done.

That Josh fellow, then? Maybe. He seemed to be a good enough hobbit. Better than Olo anyhow. ‘When the sun peeks above the horizon,' indeed! ‘Course I know what dawn is; It's when they kick you out of the Green during Yule, is all. The lass? Hmm, that might be it. The lass. Well, if the big folk are really out there, you'll be glad you don't have a lass before the end, Olbard Stonetoe. Poor Hob, though.

Feeling satisfied, Brass allowed the dull ache on his forehead to finally halt his musings and his weary eyes to close. Dawn was close.

[ October 19, 2003: Message edited by: Arvedui III ]

[piosenniel]

Lyra's post - November 1st

Josh hurried the party along as they approached the outskirts of Longbottom. They'd started late after all the excitements of the day before, and it would have been even later with Niluial shouting. Josh smiled at the memory, she seemed more than a little rattled at the moment. Typical girl, she shouldn't have come. Then he saw Cami striding ahead with Hob, the only person who needed no urging to hurry, and changed his opinion.

Joah himself felt better now. Hard walking had strengthened his leg muscles again, and the freedom of just using your own two legs to travel wherever you want had come back to him. He vowed to keep up his rambles after all the madness had died down.

They were heading into town to make inquiries of the storekeepers as to whether they would sell them any Leaf. Paladin had doubted they would, but thought it was the best place to start. Stores were checked and often guarded by the big men, and the keepers would probably be too scared to give them any large supplies of pipeweed. Josh thought that an out of the way farm would be the best place to go.

During the late morning he was proved right, as storekeepers turned them away one after another. Most looked around and over their shoulders, as though they believed Josh and the others were Shirriffs in disguise, come to check their loyalty to the Chief. None of them would promise not to tell Shirriffs or big men if they asked after them. Josh felt a horrible sick feeling in his stoumach as he realised what the Shire had become- full of suspicion, pettiness and fear. Somehow word got around, and even people in the lanes gave them a wide berth as if to show watching eyes that they had no part in whatever might be happening. At the first sign of cockaded hats turning a corner, the party left Lonbottom in a hurry.

They ate a quick luncheon on the road, and then began making inquiries at the farms. Farmfolk, who suffered less frequent visits from the Big Folk were slightly more sympathetic. None felt they could risk suddenly disposing of such a large part of their harvest, but more than one invited them in for a mug of something and a bite. Josh only alowed them once, than much to Dury's disgust refused all the other invitations. A few farmers told Josh how much they admired and supported the efforts of the Tooks.

Yes, from your farmstead you do he thought cynically, then told himself off. What could he expect them to do? There was no organisation down here, no leader like Paladin. Or if there had been he would be in the Lockholes now, it wasn't as easy to guard as the Tookland down here.

The sun was just beginning to go down behind the hills when they came to a small, slightly run down farm. Wearily they approached it as they had more than a dozen others, rapping on the door as they saw no-one in the farmyard. The door was opened by a lass of somewhere betwen 10 and 15, followed by her mother, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Yes?" she asked, frowning slightly at the sight of so many Hobbits huddled in her doorway.
"Good day Mistress" Josh said politely, touching his forehead. He had no hat to doff or he would have. "We have come a long way to try to find someone with some of your fine Longbottom Leaf to sell. We can pay plenty. Would you be able to help us?"

The matron frowned deeper and placed her hands on her hips.
"You're not from around here" she said "but you must know that we're not supposed to sell to anyone but the Big Folk. Are you suggesting we get ourselves thrown into the Lockholes?"
"No" Josh answered. "But who gives the Big Folk the right to decide who gets Leaf? We know they pay you very little. We can give you he sort of prices you used to get"

A look of interest crossed her face and she appeared to think deeply. Excitement crept up inside Josh again. He had thought it would be easy, but as the day had gone on he'd felt very discouraged. This lady seemed more likely than anyone yet to sell them the Leaf they needed.
"I'll have to talk to my husband of course" she said slowly, drawing out the syllables.
"Of course" Josh agreed, nodding vigorously.

The matron walked around a corner of the farmyard and raised her hand to her head as she squinted towards the sunset.
"Bert" she called loudly.
"Coming" the answer drifted back.
She returned to the doorstep, and they stood in silence for a while.

Finally Cami took charge.
"So how is life down here?" she asked the farmer's wife. "Times must have been hard. Are these all your children?" she asked, indicating the first girl and two other lasses.
"No" the woman answered. "I have seven all told. Time's have been very hard for a big family. Those Big Folks don't pay well, and sometimes they don't pay at all" she added, shaking her head.
"Sill, your girls are very handsome" Cami told her.

Josh smiled and gave up listening as they began to discuss the children. Meanwhile Niluial was talking to one of the little girls. The other acted shy and ran behind her mother. Everything seemed to be going very well, Josh thought, as the farmer approached them.

"Well" he asked with narrowed eyes "what do all these folks want Tansy?"


To be continued later today... or if anyone wants to take over from now, feel free!

[piosenniel]

Child's post - The hobbits strike a deal - November 1

Tansy smiled at her husband cupping her hand over his, as she gently leaned closer and whispered a few words in his ear. He responded in kind. This guarded conversation continued for several minutes, until Bert stepped forward and carefully scrutinized the rag-tag band, finally nodding his head in agreement, "Alright, Missus. I suppose no harm can come from lettin' 'em in the kitchen to warm themselves and talk a spell."

With that, the farmer strode over to Josh and pointed the way towards a cozy room just off the hall that featured a number of sturdy chairs around an old wooden table. Along the wall was a blazing hearth fire where a pot of vegetable stew simmered in preparation for supper. Tansy bustled over with a tray of steaming mugs, each of them filled to the brim with hot cider, and a plate of sweet honey muffins, the very last in her cupboard although she was careful not to mention that to her guests.

Josh and the farmer sat by themselves near the firepit, purposely keeping their voices low so that others could not hear what they were saying. The children scampered in and out, each one showing off their favorite toy or trinket for Cami or Niluial, so that the late afternoon passed quite pleasantly.

At the end of about an hour, Josh called his companions over to listen to what the farmer had to say. Bert brought out a good sized box overflowing with pipeweed, which was passed around so everyone could share.

Then the farmer cleared his throat and began speaking, "I can't tell you how hard it's been. I guess it's 'cause this is where the pipeweed is, but the place has been crawlin' with bad 'uns. The Chief's men are far from the worst, or even Ferny's. We've had other folk passin' through. Real bad folk.... Folk who are sent down by Sharkey...."

The farmer turned and shook his head in disapproval, stopping to tamp his pipe. "Just this past week, I had dealins' with one fellow who'd only see me in the dead of night. Wanted to buy some weed for Sharkey, or so he claimed. Looked more like an animal than a man to my way of thinking. I finally gave 'em five bags of the stuff jest to git him out of my sight."

He glanced over at his wife who looked up with worried eyes, "I didn't mention this before. No use gittin' you and the little 'uns upset. But this fellow gave me the shivers. Big vacant eyes with deep shadows. He kept lookin' at Jud and me like we was some kind of prey. I was plenty glad that we was together. Otherwise who knows what he might of done!"

"No! I had enough of the like of 'im. We're half starvin' anyway. They come and drag off the stuff and don't even pay for it."

He turned and stared at Josh, "You be lucky up there in Tukland where folk can still enjoy their home and hearth! Pay me a decent price and I'll load down the pony with bags of weed. Nothin' on the bags to show where they come from. And I'm trustin' you to keep yer bargain and say nothin' of our dealins'"

Josh stood up and grinned ear to ear, hardly believing his good fortune. He hadn't been certain what the farmer would say. "You have our word," Josh assured him.

"You lads can bed down in the animal's shed, and the lasses can stay in the house with my girls." He nodded toward Cami and Niluial.

The hobbits ran up to Bert and shook his hand; Cami tiptoed close and placed a kiss on his cheek whispering that he was a "dear, dear hobbit".

"Enough of that now," he teased, shyly pulling away. "Just be careful to keep yer noses under cover so no one sees you. I'll git you off at early morn with a good, hot breakfast."

Josh counted out the coins fair and square for Bert and Tansy and shook hands on the deal, promising that he would never tell anyone where the pipeweed came from, except for Thain Paladin.

********************************************

Cami and Hob have a serious discussion:

It was a pleasant enough evening as the sun set over the farm and the hobbits enjoyed a modest meal with the farmer and his family. Josh managed to go off into the fields with his bow and came back with a brace of conies that were quickly skinned and added to the stew pot to simmer for the last hour.

Hob sat with his arm wound tightly about Cami's waist as the couple discussed everything that had happened earlier in the day. He had stuffed his Shirriff's hat into his back pocket with the feather all scrunched down so no one could possibly see it. He stared out sadly at the fields of weed and shook his head. "So much goodness and plenty. Enough for everyone to share. Why does it have to be like this?"

Cami shook her head and sighed. There really was no answer that would explain why things were the way they were.

"I was such a fool," Hob continued, barely speaking above a whisper. "I didn't know that workin' as a Shirriff meant siding with the kind of fellow that Bert described. It makes me feel like a real rounder." His shoulders sagged slightly as he thought back on the past few days and wondered why he hadn't had courage to break loose from the Chief. "I knew it was wrong," he muttered to himself. "I knew it was wrong but it just seemed so hard."

Hobb glanced towards the setting sun and then back at Cami. In response, she slid her body into the crook of his arm and leaned against him, lowering her head on his chest and nestling closer. Then he spoke out in a clear, quiet voice, "Cami Goodchild, I won't let you down again. Not today or tomorrow. I'll do what I can to stand up against these thugs. You'll see. You'll be proud of me. And when this is all said and done, the two of us will wed."

She reached her hands upward and stroked his curls, while he leaned over and sealed their bargain with a kiss full of promise and longing.

[ October 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

November 1st – mid-morning to night

With nothing to do, the men hung about their rude camp, spending their time in sharpening their weapons and making sure their boiled leather vests and arm braces were in good working order. At some point, a confrontation was expected. Best to be prepared and protected.

‘Those Shiriffs gonna meet up with us any time soon?’ asked Ahriman, oiling his blade.

Assiram grunted. ‘Who knows? They’re Hobbits. They’re unreliable at best and a liability at worst. They’d better be able to take care of themselves when we meet up with that so called Resistance.’ His companions both laughed at this. ‘I can tell you this,’ he went on, ‘when it comes down to the fighting, it’s every Man for himself as far as I’m concerned.’ Helios and Ahriman narrowed their eyes at this comment. They had had the same thoughts, wondering who might be left standing to claim Ferny’s promised payment for the job – all the payment, not just a third.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Late that night, as Ahriman took his turn at the watch, he was just about to doze off when he heard a scuffling in the thicket on the north perimeter of the camp. And the sound of two low voices whispering back and forth to one another. He poked Assiram, lying nearby, in the side and leaned near, whispering.

Assiram rose up, sword in hand, his eyes straining to catch sight of the intruders. He motioned Ahriman, and Helios, who had been roused by the small commotion, to go round to the sides if the thicket. He stepped toward the thicket, and beyond the circle of light thrown by their small fire.

‘Come out and show yourselves!’ he cried. ‘Let me see your faces before we run you through!’

[Imladris]

November 1st

Olo groaned and wondered if his legs could manage to pump himself forward much longer. Brass was lagging behind, apparently lost in thought: that was strange, since it seemed the hobbit never strayed into that troublesome realm and was mostly thinking about food and pleasant times...no matter. Actually, the thought of food seemed quite delightful and Olo was actually beginning to miss his hobbit hole a little: ah, but his piddley riches were nothin' compared to the Tooks. Once this job for Ferney was over, he was done with the bastard. Olo considered to himself why he had ever had dealings with the man: Ferney wasn't all that smart, though he thought he was; he was dirty. greasy, oily, filthy, and took up with unreliable oafs like the men they were supposed to have met with. Yet still he was a good source of information and could be played easily...Olo shook his head.

Lifting his eyes, he saw a trail of smoke drift faintly from a nearby thicket. "Brass," he hissed, "lookee over there!"

"Smoke," Brass whispered back as he plopped to the ground and began to rub his sore muscles. He sniffed appreciatively and said, "Lingering smell of dinner, too."

Grasping Brass by the lapels of his homespun jacket, Olo propelled him towards the thicket and said, "We just have to see who's there: hopefully it'll be our big, strong, brainless, greedy, orcish friends."

"Friends?" said Brass puzzled.

"Yes. They are here to help us, supposedly, but we all know what they really want is the loot (all Big Folk are that way), but there are appearances that have to be kept up," said Olo, condescendinly. He was being nicer to Brass than he normally was: probably because he was so tired.

"Isn't that what we want: the loot?" asked Brass as they crept towards the thicket.

"Shut yer trap," Olo spat as he kneeled down and peered into the thicket. Three men were sprawled around the smoldering remains of a camp fire: they looked like Ferney's type. Despite the fact that they were supposedly friends, Olo was slightly afraid of them and wondered how to best go about waking them. "I think we found them," he said in a barely perceptible whisper. "Brass? .... Brass?" Turning irately, he saw that the hobbit had fallen fast asleep just outside the thicket. Irately, forgetting that he was supposed to be quiet, he tromped out of the thicket and slapped Brass's face.

"Come out and show yourselves! Let me see your faces before I run you through!"

Brass and Olo both froze and glanced quicly at each other. Standing and shrugging, Olo straightened his shirrif-cap so that it assumed a somewhat jaunty air (as jaunty as it could be considering it was much too early in the morning) Olo strode boldy along, with Brass in tow, and saw that Assiram was pointing a sword at him.

Glancing down his nose with as much derisive scorn as he could muster in his muddied clothes and legs that trembled from weariness, he said, "Run you through indeed! As if you could skewer a pig with that thing! If your capability with the use of a weapon relates to your ability torondezvous, I believe we are quite safe from the likes of you."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Brass give a short firm nod in agreement.

"What's the blighter mumbling?" asked one of the men who stretched liesurely by the fire.

"Blimey, I think it's our shiriffs," said Assiram. "Except they got their story wrong," he said, scowling. "Our ability to ron-de-vou? You were the one that wasn't in the right place at the right time!"

"What do ye mean?" asked Olo loftily. "Think you that you were right? Why, you bumbling fools haven't even lived in the Shire for a year while I have lived in it my entire life. You probably lost your way and thought you were in the right spot. You poor deluded souls," he said in mock sympathy, "waiting for us, fondly imagining that you were right and we hobbits were mistaken. What a pitiful state do affairs become when men are blinded by such extreme pride."

The three men stared at each other, probably only getting half of what Olo was saying. Assiram grunted and sheathed his sword. "Alright, you simpletons," he said. "You can say and holler that you were right an' we was wrong, but that don't change the truth now does it?" he said leering at his cronies.

"Stop this nonsense," Olo commanded. "While you were waisting your time and raiding farmsteads instead o' meeting us, we ran into a slight hitch. There's a band of hobbits --" he began to use choice language describing this band and Hob in particular --" and they went to get some leaf from some stupid farmer. One o' our men --" grimace here -- "proved to be a traitor and deserted to them."

"Why should we care?" asked Ahiram, raising an eyebrow. "Why should we care about your problems."

Stifling a sigh, Olo said tightly, "They're stealing your leaf...mates," he added pleasantly (but Brass new Olo enough to know that he was inwardly cursing and swearing all of them.)

Dark frowns gathered and brewed upon the men's foreheads and Assiram said, "Now that does pose a problem. Helios, douse the fire, Ahiram, pack the camp.!

"Wait!" Hob shrieked, collapsing to the ground, "What about breakfast, or even second breakfast."

"Yeah, mates!" Olo chimed in, thinking that Brass really did have brains.

"What do ya mean 'second breakfast'" asked Assiram. "Why should we give you some of our food and wait for you to finish thereby loosing our time?"

"Because we were the ones who notified you about the blasted Resistance!" Olo shouted. "Ye owe us one, Scaliwags!"

"We owe them one?" asked Assiram to his fellows. "They just didn't meet us at the right place and time thereby making it difficult for us."

"I thought we had cleared this problem up," said Olo with some difficulty.

"Obviously not," said Assiram.

"We are not moving," said Olo and Brass together. "Not until breakfast, leastways."

"You'll move, and you'll come with us," said Assiram angrily, as he gestured to his two cohorts. With a shrug, they strode towards the hobbits and lifted them bodily to their shoulders.

"Let us go!" they shrieked, Olo biting and kicking the men violently. "Put us down!"

"We don't have time to deal with the likes o' you," said Assiram coldly. "We have our leaf an' other loot to get...as well as to stop the rebellion," he added as an afterthought.

[ October 20, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]

[piosenniel]

Tightly gripped by the two men, the Shiriff’s were carried to the picketed horses and sat one each to the front of Helios’ and Ahriman’s saddles. The men mounted hastily after them, hissing at the protesting Hobbits to keep their gobs shut. ‘Sooner we get this taken care of, the sooner we part company,’ growled Assiram as he rode past the other two and took the lead.

It would take them the better part of the night to reach the area down south where the pipeweed farms were located. They stopped once – to pull some old, hard waybread from their packs, grudgingly shared with their Hobbit companions, and take a pull from their waterskins . . .

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Josh leaned back contentedly and looked at the stars above him. It was good to have a proper bellyful from a proper Hobbit farm. That was one thing he had missed on the road. When Bert had offered the Hobbits the barn to sleep in, Josh had refused for his part. It was quite beautiful to look up at those stars that had been there for so long, looking down on man, beast, Hobbit, Elf and all.

Things like Pipeweed must seem rather small to them. Hobbits must seem rather small altogether! Perhaps that was right though- a small problem for a small people. Josh suddenly realised that he didn't mind being small and unimportant. Perhaps he would never meet the Elves like Bilbo Baggins, but with the Chief and his cronies out of the way he could live happily. He realised that in the end, that was what mattered. With a sigh of contentment he rolled over and slept.

NOVEMBER 2

He felt a lot less contented in the morning when he was shaken awake.
"Whassappenin?" he asked slurriedly, opening his eyes to see a concerned blonde face- no, face with blonde hair- looking down at him.

"You have to get up or we'll be late" Niluial said, shaking his shoulder again.
"Fine" he answered yawning and stretching. He stood up. From somewhere the smell of bacon was radiating around the farmyard. Josh followed his nose to the feast.

After eating, the Hobbits thanked their hosts and packed up. Josh offered Bert a copper coin for the food.
"Nay" the old Hobbit answered "I may not be one of those who'll fight for this place, but I'll help you all I can. You're welcome to some food. I've packed up some apples for you, but don't tell Tansy."

Josh tried to give the coin to Tansy, who smiled and pushed a package into his hand.
"Bread and cheese" she said with a wink. "But don't tell Bert"

Josh smiled. Hobbits!, he thought, shaking his head.

[Child of the 7th Age]

November 2

Cami listened carefully while Josh stood in front of the group just as they were about to leave the farmhouse. "We're homeward bound," he assured his friends. Cami's sturdy pony Dandelion was loaded down with several large burlap bags filled with pipeweed. Smaller packets of weed had been tucked away in packs and satchels strapped to the hobbits' waists and backs. Josh grinned and nodded at his companions. "We did everything Paladin asked us to do. Let's keep our eyes open. This may be the most dangerous part. We'll cut through the open fields and keep off the roads. Who knows if the Shirriffs have ridden off to get help from Ferny's men?"

With this final sobering thought, the band set out in a northerly direction winding through the tall grasses of the meadows and staying within the shelter of whatever overhanging bushes and shrubs they could find. Still, in many places, there was no cover at all. They were silhouetted starkly against the horizon, clearly visible to whoever might be riding or walking nearby. Neither Josh nor Hob felt terribly comfortable with this, but there was little that could be done to alleviate the situation.

Only about ten miles into their journey, they came to a place where the grassy flatlands gave way to some small rolling hills. The first rays of the sun were just spilling over the dappled hilltop on which they'd stopped for a moment, when Josh came over and hastily latched onto Hob's sleeve pointing urgently to the plains below. In clear view, not more than half a mile distant, three mounts came trotting wearily overland, making their way slowly through the bracken. There seemed to be a man mounted on each of the horses; two of them had an additional passenger--small, huddled figures about the same size as a hobbit who were precariously perched on the front of the saddle.

[ October 22, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

It had been a long night of riding; made worse by the presence of the two Shiriff’s who protested continuously. More than a few times, Assiram had to halt his mount and ride back. One or the other of the Hobbits had pushed the man they rode with to his limit and were in danger of getting tossed to the ground like so much useless baggage.

‘I don’t see why we have to bring them,’ growled Ahriman, dangling Brass over the ground. ‘There’re three of us. We can take care of any group of scurvy Shire rats.’

Assiram pulled Brass onto the saddle in front of him and glared at Ahriman. ‘The rats have sharp teeth, you fool. Let their own kind take care of what they can, leaving us to finish up if necessary.’

The sun was just peeking over the small rise to the east. Assiram shaded his eyes and scanned the distance. Through the light fog wavering up from the damp ground a number of small dark figures could be seen silhouetted against the light morning sky. Seven squat figures about half a mile away – their back all humped up from the stuffed packs they carried. In their midst, looking like some grotesquely plump and lumpy caricature on short skinny legs, was a pony, loaded to the breaking point with bundles. One of the figures clinging on to another’s arm pointed toward them.

‘Who’s that?’ hissed Assiram to Brass. Helios came trotting up alongside him to see what the delay was, and Assiram nodded toward the figures on the hill. Olo, narrowing his eyes as he strained to pick out the features of the group, murmured to himself as he counted them. ‘Seven . . . that’s right . . .’

‘Seven, who? Is that who we’ve been looking for?’ Ahriman rode up to the other two men, drawing his sword.

‘Falco, Tim, Niluial, Dury, Josh, and that traitor Hob,’ the Hobbits said, taking up where the other left off. ‘Thos’re the names we heard. That female – that’s the one that turned Hob from his duty. Can’t say as we caught her name.’ Brass looked appraisingly at the packs on the figures in the distance and on the pony. ‘And there’s your pipeweed! Looks to me they were successful in their hunt for it.’

The men and Shiriffs drew their weapons, galloping through the bracken on the plain and then upward toward the line of Hobbits on the hill’s crest. They halted their horses only a few yards from the resistors.

‘Oy! Throw down your weapons, you vermin!’ came the menacing command of Assiram . . .

[ October 23, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Josh gulped. Well, this was it. Time for that adventure after all! A part of him wished he'd stayed at home in bed, but it was too late for regrets now. They were coming closer.
'Oy! Throw down your weapons, you vermin!’ one of the men called in a fierce voice.

"Don't listen" Josh said quietly. "There are more of us, and we certainly have the advantage of being more intelligent."
"I wouldn't count on Brass to do any fighting anyway" Hob added in the same undertone.

Quietly all the Hobbits began to take off their bags and packs, and prepare to fight.
"We can beat them" Josh said determinedly.

Without warning the men charged towards them yelling. The fight had begun.

[Imladris]

Olo sighed in irritation. He had heard it all before. They would be ordered to drop their weapons, and with that order they just might comply. Then they would be commanded to give up the Leaf, which assuredly they would deny that they had or they would refuse point blank. Then after that it would be a show of arms and then the hobbits would be put their mangy tails between their legs and go howling off somewhere -- probably to the old Took's place.

He could scarcely believe it when he saw them unshoulder their packs and make for their weapons: it was like a rabbit threatening some trolls. He frowned at Josias, but the young hobbit wasn't looking at Olo. He looked at Brass, and saw that his round hobbit face was blanching until it was a pale as paper.

Screaming, the man behind him drove his heals into the horse and charged the hobbit group. Terrified, a shrill shriek issued from Olo's mouth as he managed to roll from the horse's back. He landed solidly on the ground, gasping for breath. He saw the men, the orkish men, whirling at the hobbits, their swords flashing in the pleasant sun and the hobbits scurrying away like rats.

Peering into the mele, he looked for Brass but didn't see him. He decided whether he should join in the fight, but decided against it. In the fight, he could be killed by either one party or another. If he staid put he would win either way: if the hobbits proved victorious (doubtful), he would beg on bended knee for their forgiveness (which they would surely, if grudgingly grant) and plead that he had had a change of heart. Hob, of course, would be smart enough to see through the charade, probably, but he didn't matter. If the men would, they'd continue to treat him like a sack of potatoes which, though far from comfortable, was much better than feeling steel within your gut.

Looking around, Olo saw a grove of trees which offered convenient shelter. Edging closer to the fight, he crept towards it, trying to tune out the shouts of agony and fear. Hob was putting up a stout fight he saw, the two hobbit lasses were back to back, but he couldn't see if they were fighting per se, Josias and another were tackling a man. Olo felt a hand close upon his the collar of his jacket, heaving him off the ground like a kitten. "You'll help, you scurvy vermin," Assiram hissed.

Out of the courner of his eye, Olo saw that Helios had become unhorsed. The beast reared violently and neighed shrilly. It whirled around, charging for the same grove of trees Olo had been nearing. As the horse neared them, a last effort thought flashed through Olo's brain: twisting out of the man's grasp who was leaping away from the mad beast, Olo managed to hit the ground and struggled to roll away from the horse. But, as fate would have it, he lay prone, his head knocked upon the stone, and his life's spirit was trampled beneath the hooves of the horse.

[piosenniel]

‘Damnable Hobbit!’ Assiram shouted after the escaping Shirriff. ‘Get back here and show a little backbone!’ Assiram leaned down to try and catch Olo, but it was no use. He watched as the Shirriff met his death beneath the hooves of the panicked horse.

‘No use fightin’ from our horses,’ yelled Assiram to Ahriman. ‘All the vermin due is scurry away like bugs!’ The two men drew near where Helios had gone down and dismounted. Their sword in one hand, knife in another, they advanced on the rag-tag group of Hobbits.

‘Give ‘em no quarter,’ growled Assiram low to his companions. ‘I’m sick to death of dealing with Hobbits. Get ‘em boys!’

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami stood frozen on the hill as she watched Olo slip under the hooves of the rearing beast. One minute here and the next minute gone.... Life was too precarious.

Hob's reaction was far more direct. He had known Olo as a travel companion and, however irritating the hobbit had been, he did not deserve this fate, "Damnable thugs!" he muttered between gritted teeth. He ran over to Josh and spoke hastily, the two hobbits coming to a quick decision on how they wanted to mount an attack.

Josh summoned the band over, first sending Cami off with instructions, "Leave the weed here. Mount up on Dandelion. Take him behind the Men and stay at the base of the hill. Don't let them get by. We'll entice them to follow us. If they try to head back down, scare them with a volley of arrows."

"The rest of you," he said, addressing the others, "we want to surround them like a pack of dogs and draw the noose tight."

"What about Brass?" a voice piped up.

"Live 'im alone. Unless he comes out sword in hand. I've no quarrel with another hobbit."

"What happens after?" Dury asked.

Hob and Josh looked at each other warily and grinned in spite of themselves. It was Hob who responded first, "Try to take the Men down good and clean. We've got somethin' in mind."

With that Hob scurried down the hill raising up his arms and "hallooing" to the bandits. "Hey you beslubbering, beef-witted barnacles! I'm the one! The traitor who stuck you in the ribs. Come and git me...!" He raced up the hill with the Men thundering close behind.

[ October 24, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Arvedui III]

Things were happening too quickly. Sitting astride a frightened horse, Brass felt deaf dumb and blind all at once. The battle was hard enough to comprehend. Hob...that Josh fellow...a fight. The thought was so alien it went beyond horrifying him. Brass had just about worked up the nerve to accept what he was seeing, then Olo made his escape. Or tried to. It did not take any extra thinking on his part to realize Olo was dead. That thought struck him numb, and he forgot entirely where he was, or more importantly, the spooked horse he was ridding on.

In the beginning, Brass had throughly believed that the chief and all the sheriffs were out to only help the Shire. If that meant having big men do deeds in the night, then that was right. But, with the death of Olo, and at the hands, or hooves, of the big folk and their beasts, everything he had been told to think seemed so wrong he could scream. Olo was no the kindest of folk but he was still a hobbit, and in Brass's mind, that fact gave him an immutable right to die only when it was his time to go. Brass Stonetoe had never dreamed there was any other way things were done.

Before the young hobbit could ponder life and death further, Ahirman dismounted, leaving him to fare on a fully grown horse as he could. He lasted about five seconds. Tumbling onto grass that he thought was entirely too hard, Brass's senses awoke. He was lying in the middle of a field, the men were rushing the resistance hobbits, horses were running wild upon the grass, and Olo's mangled body lay not ten yards from him. In one deft motion, Brass sprang to his feet with his club in hand. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with it yet, but it felt better to have the cool wooden handle in his palms nonetheless.

Well, what's to be done? Olo would've sided with the men, so, maybe I sho...No. You stick by your own folk, Brass Stonetoe. Olo's dead. Stick by your own folk. Only decent hobbit thing to do.

Rushing from behind with astonishing speed, Brass sped up to met the men. "Least one of ‘em's not yellow." One of them muttered, eying Brass. Giving his club one slow test swing, Brass yelled and raised his club toward Helios, making to take out his knees. It almost worked. It might have worked if Assirim chose that moment to look his way and cry a warning. Brass swing went wide, and he toppled forward onto the ground. Without think he rolled to the right, just as a blade punched into the spot he had just been in.

Scrambling to his feet, Brass started running as fast as his little leg could carry him toward the hobbits ahead of him. "Damn Vermin!" One of the men called, chasing after him. Brass knew it was futile, knew that they would catch him and end his life like Olo's, but he kept running. Suddenly on an impulse, he pivoted and turned to make a last fight, but the men outran him as he did so. Two of the men staggered and cursed, but kept running toward the hobbits. Helios, however, tripped then turn to face him, sword in hand.

Brass gulped and swung blindly before the big man could strike. This time, his aim was true. The man howled in pain as he tottered and fell, clutching the knee Brass had probably just broken. Feeling surprisingly satisfied, Brass began to pant and looked up ahead at the hobbits and men, now nearing each other, before he ran to join them.

[Child of the 7th Age]

The Resistence band had scampered halfway up the hill and then glanced around to survey the scene that was slowly being played out just underneath them. Hob's jaw dropped open in shock and amazement.....Brass! It couldn't be! Of all the sturdy lads he could think of, roly poly Brass was the the one he'd least suspect would have the courage to bring down a ruffian and thug.

Spontaneously, the companions cheered as they watched Brass rise triumphant over the prone body. Josh sprang forward beckoning the others to do the same, "Come on, mates. Can't let Brass do all the work."

Dury and Brass dragged the squalling, kicking form up the hill to where the bags of weed had been set and then tied him securely with a long stretch of rope, setting a guard to make sure he would not escape. Dazed by the pain in his leg, the man sprawled helplessly on the ground, cursing and bemoaning his embarassing fate.

The rest of the hobbits charged again, aiming at the two bandits still on their feet, with their staves and short blades boldly extended. "Surround 'em. Pull 'em off their mounts," Josh encouraged the others.

At the last instant Hob saw Assiram wallop his horse veering sideways and charging directly down the hill. Cami let loose a barrage of arrows and, although the Man and his horse did not turn back, the last thing she saw was the bandit tearing out across the countryside, with his behind several inches off the saddle and the shaft of an arrow protruding from the rear of his breeches, presumably from having grazed him in the side. He was in too much of a hurry to stop and remove it. With Josh in the lead, the hobbits turned and drew their circle tighter around the one remaining Man.

[ October 25, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Seeing Assiram turn tail and disappear over the horizon, Helios jerked the reins to one side and whirled around, intending to run straight through the circle of hobbits, head down the hill, and make a run for it on his own. But his horse had different ideas. Faced with a phalanx of small but threatening figures who were each brandishing a stave or short blade in an agitated fashion, the animal lashed out kicking and squealing, rearing up on his hind legs and refusing to go forward.

It was Hob who slipped in underneath and sliding his dagger under the girth managed to cut half way through it before leaping over to the side. A minute more of bucking, and the saddle gave way, causing Helios to lose his seat and pitching him forward over the horse's head. The Man landed with a thud in the middle of a circle of angry hobbits.

Within a very short time, Helios had been trussed up like a turkey and dumped beside the other bandit, with one rib cracked and a lump on his head. He was barely half conscious.

[ October 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Josh stood beside Brass, his arm looped around the Shirriff's shoulders as they watched Niluial and Dury pull the ropes tighter and tie several sturdy knots to be sure the last of the captured men would not escape.

Several times, the Man muttered a string of curses under his breath, ruing the day that he had ever made his way into the Shire, and vowing to find a way to get revenge. Hob glared back at him impatiently, "Close your mouth. Just be glad you're alive. We could slit your throat ear-to-ear."

The other man, the first one captured, stared back belligerently, "So what are you gonna do to us if you're not gonna slit our throats?"

Josh turned casually back to the Men and grinned, "Well, this for a start..." signalling with his hand.

Within an instant, Hob had sprinted over from behind and deftly clubbed each of them on the back of the head with just enough force to knock them cold.

"That should keep 'em out for a good while and give 'em a nice headache when they awake. With their other wounds, I can't see them doing too much damage to any hobbits they meet."

"My thoughts exactly!" Josh responded. "Now, where'd those horses go?"

Cami came up leading one of the tall mounts. "This is the only one we could find. The other hightailed it out of here towards the northeast before we could put a rope on him."

Hob nodded approvingly, "One horse should do very nicely."

With that the hobbits worked diligently to hoist both the Men onto the horse. They heaved their bodies up so that they sprawled sideways across the animal's midsection and rump. Then they carefully checked them for weapons and removed anything that looked suspicious. Niluial had found a handful of feathers and soft down left over from a bird's nest; these were stuffed loosely into their mouths. Then Josh plopped bags over the Men's heads, and bound these at the neck so that neither of them would be able to wriggle free. More ropes were added to secure the two bodies to each other and finally to lash them onto the horse.

Meanwhile, Cami was tying a small pouch conspicuously on to the front pommel of the saddle. Inside was a note:

To any hobbits who should chance upon this,

These be evil men working for Ferny who tried to murder the Tooks! Fortunately, they did not succeed. They are unarmed and wounded, and should not pose a threat. Just give their mount a whack on the rear to send them on to the east, out of the Shire.

And if any of the Chief's men read this.....next time, we won't be so gentle. Stay out of the Shire and leave us alone.

Josh and the Resistence Band


Soft-hearted Cami looked over at Hob. "Are you sure it's alright to do this?"

Hob turned back to Cami and grinned, "It'll be fine. They can't hurt anyone."

Cami shook her head, "That's not what I meant. Are they going to be alright, the Men, I mean?"

Hob shook his head and laughed, a laugh that had a hard edge to it. "Cami, I've seen these and the other Men do horrible things to folk. They deserve every bad thing that's coming to them. If times were settled, we'd turn them over to the Shirriffs for an inquiry and a punishment. But we don't have that luxury. And we certainly can't spare any of the hobbits. Short of killing them outright, this is the best we can do."

"Anyways," he continued, "the horses will naturally head east, where they come from. I imagine they'll end up on the other side of the Brandywine far to the north and outside the Shire. That's where they belong."

With that, Josh gave the horse a good hard thump on the rear. The beast and his ungainly burden went trundling off across the meadow towards the Shirebourne River as the hobbits stood and watched. Once the distant figure had dwindled to a mere speck, Josh turned and spoke to the rest of the crew. "Let's get going. Load up the weed again. Our job is done. All I want to do is get home as fast as we can." With that, the band once again headed out in a northwesterly direction.

[Niluial]

Niluial’s heart stopped beating so fast, for a second she panicked and wished she had never come. Once they caught the evil men they tied them up with a thick rope. Niluial smiled a evil grin, she enjoyed capturing them. Niluial bent over to one of them and whispered in his ear “you deserve this you ugly orc-like being” and with that he spat in her face. Niluial flared up “Dury! Help me put these ropes tighter!” she hissed. Niluial and Dury tied the ropes tighter, so tight that the men found it hard to breath. Niluial smiled again and glared at the Shirriff's that spat in her face.

Once the Shirriffs had been harmed and sent off into the distance they all started packing again. They headed in a northwesterly direction. Niluial rode fast to catch up with Josh “Well done, I guess” Niluial said smiling at Josh.
“Ha, you should have seen yourself, I knew you had a temper but wow I never saw you so angry, what flared that up?” Josh asked while giggling.
Niluial leaned towards Josh and whispered “He spat in my face, it was so gross!”
“Hahaha, I am not asking anymore” He said trying to get breath in between the laughing and the talking.

[ October 26, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Durelin]

Dury fingered the paper in his shirt pocket, listening intently to the crinkling sound it made as he pressed against it. All the while his thoughts raced, contrasting severely with the slow rhythm of sounds from the paper. Should he keep it? Would he have any reason to need it? Would Niluial take it? Should he even give it to anyone? Should he even make a reason to need it? Dury was certain that was what he was doing, if he planned to continue on this path. It was a path of resisting the law of some very powerful people. That would create a need for his letter. But, was there some other way the letter could reach his Mirda?

Dury had believed Niluial to be an excellent choice to insure the safety of the letter. Even these Shirrifs wouldn't harm a young woman...would they? Dury shivered a moment, glancing at the man he had just helped tie up. Perhaps...but, it was still his best chance. He could hope, at least. O, but that had become a familiar thing: hoping when all reasoning failed. Still, it all failed to raise his spirits.

Dury shifted on his feet, making a crinkling noise with the paper one last time before shuffling toward where Niluial stood talking to Josh. But should I interrupt them... Dury yelled at his own thoughts. Making excuses! Now, after all of that thinking?

"Er...Ni...Niluial?" The young hobbit lass turned to him from Josh, and Dury hurriedly made an apology for interrupting. His mind still told him his shouldn't have done so. "Could I ask you something?" There, no more stuttering. "A favor?"

For a moment Niluial looked at him strangely, obviously wondering what Dury could be talking about, asking a favor. But after a moment she said, "Yes, of course, Dury."

Dury immediately pulled her away from Josh a ways, anxious to get this over with while he had the voice. And the strength. "I was just wondering..." He paused to glance around nervously. "I was wondering if you would...would take this to my wife," he said slowly, carefully, and taking out the paper. Niluial received it with a look of wonder on her face. "But..what could you...?" Niluial stopped, and he mouth formed the shape of an 'o.' "Dury!" she pratically screeched. "You couldn't possibly think...You aren't that...It's outrageous!"

It was Dury's turn to look surprised. Of all the things he had expected...Niluial looked so...concerned. "I just...It just...I...It really would make me feel better. More at ease." He paused, not sure what to say, and Niluial opened her mouth to speak once more. Quickly, Dury found words to say. "Please, Niluial, for my peace of mind, do it! I doubt it will be needed, but I need to calm myself and continue with our...work."

Niluial sighed. "I doubt that you doubt that, but...if you truly need this..." She paused to look him in sternly the eyes. "Dury, try to doubt, not just hope." She smiled suddenly, though it was twinged with sadness. "Because you had best not leave poor Mirda with three little 'uns!"

All Dury could do was mirror Niluial's smile. "Thank you, Niluial. Thank you dearly." And it seemed enough.

[piosenniel]

Durelin’s post

It felt as if several overweight cats were pouncing around in his stomach as Dury took a step forward. His legs wished to give way beneath him, but he locked his knees and tossed his head, shaking it clear of countless unwanted thoughts. So many eyes were on him, more than had been in quite a while. And one set belonged to a very certain hobbit: Peregrin Took. Dury had heard the stories of this hobbit, and knew he had been gone a year from the Shire, suddenly returning alive and well with Meriadoc Brandybuck, his cousin. And Dury had seen what Pippin wore, what he still wore: metal and fine clothes, with a sword at his hip. A sword! And here he was, rallying all these crazy relatives of his and Dury's to fight. It was just more proof of how the Tooks and Brandybucks had so few brains! All these crackpot ideas...the whole resistance had arose from them, and now...now it went so far as...

"I-I..." he stammered hoarsely. He paused a moment to swallow. His throat burned. "I'll need a...a sword or any...weapon. But I don't think I'd be read to manage a bow and arrows..." He glanced around, feeling strange standing there, and feeling strangely confident. When had he felt confident before? When had agreeing with his forgettable relatives felt right? That hobbit, in his shiny metal and his wonderful clothes of Men, smiled at Dury. Peregrin's face had always looked so cheery, but now it took a smile to make it look so. Dury was not the only one who had changed on his adventure. And surely the Took had experienced so much more. Dury wished he could sigh. Why did everything have to change?

"Dury Greenhand." The smile had faded, and Pippin had returned to solemnity. "You are a hobbit of honor, of valor, of a good, strong heart. You will save your Shire, resisting in a way never done before. For your bravery, all will be rewarded."

For a moment Peregrin looked at Dury with that severe, but calm, face. Then all starkness was broken by another smile, and he continued, "Now that that little speech is over, we can see about that sword." He called to someone and that hobbit went running of. Then he turned back to Dury. "I truly meant all that, but..." he paused searching Dury's eyes. "...I believe you know that." Dury was taken aback, and his eyes widened a bit in surprise. That Took spoke of more than just his 'speech.' But what else did Dury know? His thoughts were interrupted by the return of Pippin's errant. Pippin took a sword from the hobbit, examining it. It looked much like the one belted around Pippin's waist, with a white tree embroidered onto the sheath and a black handle and pommel. Dury was handed the sword ceremoniously, and he pulled it from its sheath. Down the center of the blade ran a twisting vine, which sprouted into a star formed by eight separated points.

"It is a blade of Gondor. I believe you will be worthy of it."

Will be... This hobbit's words had been scrambling his brain, sending his thoughts into a maze of confusion, much too often. There were so many things that could be meant by what was said, and so many things that were brought to mind by them. Things that did not necessarily have anything to do with the original thought. Will be worthy of it? So, he was not now? Then why was he being given this blade?

"For now, you are borrowing. After you fight, you will be keeping a gift. That is why you have been given it. Soon you will have need of it."

Dury looked at Pippin, realizing he must have spoken his last thought aloud. "Yes, I'm afraid I will." He was not truly certain to which 'will' he spoke. Perhaps it was meant for both.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Pio’s post - at the Battle of Bywater

Assiram hoped never to see those damnable Shire rats again! His legs were sore from holding his injured cheek off the saddle as he rode north. The paths over the Green Hills were rough at best, and he could not avoid a frequent jolt to his behind that sent an arrow of pain coursing from seat to shoulder as he tensed up his muscles to stifle it.

He had nearly used up his entire, and extensive, vocabulary of epithets and choice curses when he caught sight of a band of Men on The Great East Road, just west of Bywater. Ruffians, Sharkey’s men as he learned, were tramping towards the center of the rebellion, Bywater and Hobbiton, to take care of mutinous Hobbits that had risen against them.

There were close to a hundred of them that had come up from Waymeet, and along the way others had joined up with them. Brazen in their disregard for the rightful owners of the area they passed through, they came along with great flaming torches, setting fire to the grasses and croplands as they passed, terrorizing the few Hobbits they found along the way.

Assiram was glad to join them. Here was his chance to get back at the yellow-bellied vermin that had shot him. He dismounted, as they neared the Bywater Road and turned up it. Drawing his blade, he joined those in the rear of the band as they made their way between the high banks topped with hedges through which the road passed . . .

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The rest, of course, is history.

Assiram did not, he would not, and in fact could not, follow Merry’s command to step back twenty paces . . . and sit down. He snorted as some of the ruffians did sit down, and he surged forward in an effort to lend his blade as others tried to assail the wagons which blocked their passage. The mass of Men held him back as they halted in surprise when six of their fellows were shot and the rest of that group broke rank and scattered in the direction of Woody End.

Assiram was in the fourscore that stormed the barrier, then, and the banks. With his brutish companions he pushed through the Hobbits that held the west side, killing one. The Hobbits wavered and were about to give way at this assault when two tall Hobbits came charging across from the east and rallied them. Assiram, desperate to escape the rabid Hobbits who brandished sword, knife, staves, and sharpened pitch forks, thought to slip through the shadows of the tall bushes while his fellows engaged the now fully roused and angered Little Folk.

He had just about made his escape, when he heard the thump of quick, running steps come at him from his left side and just behind. He turned, but not quickly enough as the hard blow of a blackthorn cudgel smashed against his knee, bringing him down. His eyes went wide as the figure who had assailed him stepped from the bushes, breathless from his exertions.

‘You!’ sneered Assiram, seeing the hard face of the Hobbit who raised his cudgel once again to subdue the man. The ruffian thrust his blade at the Hobbit, piercing him deeply in the belly. He struggled to get up as the Hobbit fell, only to be laid low with a hard blow to his head and the feel of a blade slipping between his ribs, piercing his lung. With a gasp of surprise, Assiram was gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brass, stumbled and fell to his knees, as Dury, by his side, laid the ruffian low with his blade. ‘You’re wounded!’ cried Dury, as he knelt by the Shirriff. Brass nodded weakly, saying the skirmish before this one had seen one of the ruffians get in a lucky blow with a sword to his left arm. He pulled a smile from the grimace of pain that crossed his face, and motioned with his chin to the fallen Assiram. ‘Not too hurt to take care of that one, though . . .!’

Dury helped his companion to his feet and they walked to where Hob had fallen. He was beyond their aid now, and they bent their heads as they knelt beside him, tears tracing little runnels through the grime on their cheeks. Hob had passed quickly, bearing a soft smile on his face, they noted, as they laid his cudgel next to him. Standing, they bade him farewell and made their way down the hill to the triumphant Hobbits below.

In the hazy noon light, in the quick breeze that had sprung up to carry the stench of smoke and blood from the Shire, the little green and yellow hair ribbon that Hob had tied about his wrist, a parting gift from Cami, fluttered . . . a pennant of celebration and of victory . . . edged in sadness . . .

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Durelin’s post

Sitting in his favorite, cushioned chair by the fire, bouncing a happy little Mirdy who screeched with laughter, Dury puffed happily on his pipe, laughing with his two-year-old daughter. Waves of sweet smells floated from the kitchen. A loud clatter brought a pause in the little hobbit's laughter, but it quickly started up again after "Dora!" was heard.

Dury glanced around the room at surroundings he could see without his eyes. All was where it had been for years, where it should be. All, except for what now decorated the mantle. That had been there for just three days, as it had been three days since he had earned his sword of Gondor. He could no longer hear the laughter coming from what bounced upon his knee, as it blended into a peaceful silence. He was all too aware of the comfort of his cushioned chair. He felt so at peace, even as he looked upon what he had earned. It surprised him, but surprises such as that were always pleasant. Soon the laughter and the silence were separated.

Mirda, her face flushed red from the heat of the oven, bustled into the parlor. Perhaps she had a purpose to bustle, but Dury knew his wife had come to move quickly most anytime she moved. Dury was not disappointed. Mirda came over to he and Mirdy, smiling down at them, basking in the bright happiness of others. His Mirda was a beautiful person. Dury stopped bouncing Mirdy, and managed to quiet her. Removing the pipe from his mouth, he smiled back at her. For a moment they seemed to share thoughts, then Dury spoke, "There is something I'd like to read to you, Mirda." Niluial had kept Dury's note, doubting with all her heart that she would have to give it to Mirda. Her doubts had been true, and Dury's hopes had been fulfilled.

"My Dearest..."

[ October 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Cami's epilogue

Cami and her mother Honeysuckle stayed close beside the other relatives of the slain hobbits who had gathered in the common room of the Dragon. The Inn had just been reopened. The room was as dank and grey as their own flagging spirits; the old boards on the windows had hastily been removed and a few shingles hammered up over the holes in the roof to try and make the place presentable.

Still, it was better than being alone. In accord with custom, Cami and her mother wore stiff black dresses and bands of mourning, as they lined up with the others to receive visitors and condolences. Folk milled quietly about the Inn, talking and drinking cups of hot camomile tea.

Nineteen hobbits had been killed at the Battle of Bywater; another thirty had been wounded. Not a large number by any means, but for those who had the misfortune to fall, any number was too large. Samwise and Frodo had arranged for those grievously wounded to be taken in by local families where they could recuperate before returning home. All the hobbits in the original Resistence band who'd chosen to fight had survived unscathed and had already left for Tukborough to tell their stories to neighbors and kin.

The Shirriffs had not shared this same good fortune. Olo had died outside of Longbottom. Brass had been wounded at Bywater and was being nursed by a local family, although he was expected to recover and live to see the old ways return, for which he was not sorry. Prior to the battle, Cami and Hob had pledged their hearts, and made their final plans to wed. With help from Paladin, Hob had secured an intricately fashioned betrothal band for Cami to replace the one she had tossed away in a rage. Engraved on the silver ring were soft green leaves with tendrils gently intertwined. The two hobbits had shared this announcement with friends at the Smials just before Hob had ridden off to Bywater. But the fortunes of war had not been kind. Hob had stood up and done his duty. His body had been laid to rest with the others in a common grave on the side of the hill, with a promise that the community would soon set up a fitting memorial.

Within a few days, the families of all nineteen fallen hobbits had arrived at Bywater meeting withing the confines of the Inn to share a little of their grief and bid their relatives goodbye. There'd been stirring songs of bravery and sacrifice, and lilting poems that spoke of lives cut short and empty places at dinner tables. Flowers spontaneously appeared on the hillside, the beginnings of a garden. No cut arangements, but living bushes and blossoms planted with loving hands so that the empty, scarred earth would once again bloom with life.

Now everything was behind her. Cami had packed her few belongings for the long trek back to Buckland. Her heart was not in it, but she did not know where else to go. Although too ill from his imprisonment to assist in person, her old friend Fatty Bolger had arranged for a cart to transport the two women back to Brandybuck Hall. Honeysuckle did not look well, and Cami was worried about her mother's health.

Hitching Dandelion up to the traces, and making sure that her mother was as comfortable as she could be, Cami climbed into the front and took up the reins. She felt a tear slip down her cheek and hastily wiped it away, hoping that no one else had looked too closely. She felt as lonely as she'd ever felt in her entire life.

Everything was changed. Hob's death and the dreams that had died with him, the years of unrest, and the Scouring itself had swept away much that Cami had simply taken for granted. Even the people she'd known were different. Samwise, the young hobbit who'd been a childhood friend, had somehow turned old and wise, seeing and understanding much more than Cami. Merry, the gifted young lad from Buckland, still had laughter in his eyes, but spoke with authority of people and places she'd never even heard of. And Frodo.... Frodo, she couldn't even talk to. He had always been quiet, and she had struggled for words. Now, even when he'd offered his sympathies, he looked as if he barely even saw her. And worst of all, the one hobbit she most wanted to see was simply not there. Bilbo had vanished from Hobbiton and was not coming back. She'd best accept that.

Everywhere Cami gazed, people looked happy. They talked about starting life anew, and making things right. Cami did not feel like that, and, right now at least, she would rather avoid those who did.

Grimly flicking the reins over Dandelion's back, the pony trudged forward. But before they'd gotten more than a half dozen paces down the lane, she was halted by the sound of a raised voice, "Cami! Mistress Goodchilde! Wait a minute. I've a message for you."

She turned around surprised to find Frodo approaching the cart. She'd already heard rumors about strange happenings abroad and, unlike the other hobbits who'd returned to the Shire, he did not look happy. His face and eyes were shadowed even more darkly than her own. "A message?" she repeated.

"Yes, a message from Mister Bilbo."

Cami's heart lurched up and down at the mention of her elderly teacher's name. She had not seen him in over seventeen years.

"I spoke with him in Rivendell," Frodo whispered, "Not long ago. He was old and frail but still worred about you....he wondered what you were doing and how things had worked out..."

Cami kept silent, as she didn't think there was much of anything she could say that would be an acceptable answer. And her heart bled at Frodo's poignant description of his uncle.

The hobbit smiled gently, almost as if he could sense what was bothering Cami, and then went on to explain, "He says you're to keep reading and learning." She nodded blankly, then sighed and muttered a thank you before sitting down again. Dandelion shifted and tossed his head pawing the ground, impatient to be off. Just as Cami picked up the reins and the cart rolled forward, Frodo spoke a final word, "One more thing. Bilbo told me you are to 'keep chasing after Elves.' It's very important!"

Cami pulled back startled, as bitter words spilled out of her mouth, "All well and good, but there are no Elves in Buckland..."

Frodo looked at her and then spoke with deliberate emphasis, "Well, then, if I were you, I'd think about moving somewhere else...."

Her thoughts ran together in confusion. A tiny light beckoned her forward; she glimpsed the trail for only a second, and then it faded away. Still, she reasoned, it must be there somewhere. She impulsively leaned over planting a light kiss on Frodo's brown curls, before turning back to her task at hand and urging the pony onward. Somewhere else? But where? It would be a full two years before she began to suspect that the answer to that question might lay hidden in the pages of a book.

[ October 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[ October 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

~*~ To Elvenhome ~*~