[piosenniel]

Cami's post

There was a hubbub near the front of the crowd as a small, bent woman with bare feet and a mop of white curls pushed forward to speak. Andreth had gone over to stand beside Kira and her father and now craned her neck to try and get a better glimpse of what was going on. She could see Lilac Greenbur hobbling to the front with her cane, a look of intense concentration reflected on the older woman's face.

The impassioned rhetoric of the Rangers on the need to unite and defend the town had had its desired effect. For the first time that evening, the Big Folk in the crowd, and even most of the hobbits, all seemed to agree on one basic thing: the need to do something immediately to whip the city into shape and begin working on a plan that would allow them to crush any armed assault that was sent against them by the outlaws.

Lilac walked up to the table and pounded her cane against it, making a series of loud thumps in an attempt to get everyone's attention. When those around her failed to quiet down, Minastan stepped up and roared out a warning, telling folk to stop talking for a minute so they could hear old Lilac speak.

Lilac turned to face her fellow Breelanders, most of whom she'd know from the time they were babies. She knew their good points and their bad, their generous hearts and their impulsive nature, how they had trouble seeing more than one side of a question, but would work like the dickens if they thought there was a wrong to be righted or a child to be defended. First, she glanced towards the Rangers, and snapped out her questions, "Minastan and Berilac, are you two so very sure these are dangerous outlaws who are only intent on mounting an attack on our city? I thought I heard you say they were turned out from their own villages by the troubles to our east, the same troubles that brought the Little Folk here. My guess is that these are hungry folk who've lost their homes and kin. Maybe what they're really searching for is a place to settle down. Maybe, if someone went to talk with them, and offered them some help, we'd be welcoming them as neighbors instead of having to fight them."

Before either of the Rangers could respond, Big Tom Farroweed shouted out his defiance, "Hold yer tongue, Lilac Greenbur. What do women know about outlaws? You heard what the Rangers said. These be dangerous folk. Do you want to git us killed? Because that's what will happen unless we let them know we're not afraid! In fact, in my book, we should go out and attack them in their own camp before they git a chance to come at us."

Andreth put her hands on her hips and stared at the man. She could truly not abide any of Will's family. "That's enough!" she retorted. "The Rangers have told us our defenses are in poor shape. So how can we talk of going out and attacking people in the open countryside, leaving the city unguarded and all of our children without protection!"

Tom scowled and glared back at Andreth, "So you agree with that weak-kneed Lilac? That we should go talk with these folk instead of fighting them?"

Andreth thought a minute and looked over at Lilac. She had known the older woman for a good many years, and had benefited from her good judgment many a time. But she could not bring herself to speak out on Lilac's behalf. Working with the Little Folk who came in peace was one thing. Working with folks whom the Rangers said were dangerous was quite another. And lurking at the back of her mind was the little voice reminding her that brigands had slain her husband Bergil and she owed it to him to take a strong stand. Her response came swiftly, "No, Tom. I don't agree with Lilac. Whoever goes to speak with men like these can only risk their own lives. Who could even trust them enough to dare approach their camp? I think the only way out of this situation is to be ready to fight and fight hard. Only I want us to have a sensible plan."

When Andreth stepped back into the crowd, Lilac hobbled over as fast as she could and feistily responded, "Andreth Woolthistle, maybe you be right, and maybe not. But I am afraid that, because of what we decide here tonight, folk on both sides will die. And maybe, just maybe, this could have been avoided. Remember that!"

Andreth shook her head as she watched Lilac leave the plaza and trudge back in the direction of her house. Perhaps, Lilac was right, and perhaps she wasn't. But Andreth had reached the point where taking a strong stand seemed the only right thing to do for her own son and for the other families who lived in Bree, both the Big and Little Folk.