[ElentariGreenleaf]

Merimac, having packed earlier than the others, passed the day pacing back and forth in his not-as-snug-as-he-had-thought hobbit hole. He'd spent some time talking with his friend Gorbadic, but he had gone off to pack for the journey ahead. Meri decided that he may as well check his things, and so unpacked then repacked his over-sized travelling bag. He put the remaining food from his larder into his bag, leaving some for the time remaining before they set out for Bree.

Rivendell, thought Meri. I suppose I shall never step foot in that fair place, or ever see an elf. But at least I'm doing my part to help the Shire! He smiled slightly and chuckled. Him, going on an adventure! A real adventure! He was quite worried about the dangers of the journey though. He'd never actually fought properly before. What if he turned out to be a really bad fighter? How would he help protect the others? What if anyone was killed?

Meri put these morbid thoughts out of his mind by packing, then re-packing his supplies. He nibbled on one of his few remaining mushrooms, then stood up suddenly. How could he have forgotten? He ran to a small room at the back of his hobbit hole, nearly falling over in his haste, and lifted one of the floorboards carefully. There, in a beautifully carved wooden box, was a secret supply of pipe weed he had been hiding since before the snows began. He had completely forgotten about it. He reached for his pipe but stopped. There was not much left true, but it could be shared. He placed the box carefully in a pocket in his waistcoat next to his pipe. Perhaps he would share it with Tom and Gorbadic, and the others too if there was enough, before they left.