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Child of the 7th Age · 10-08-2003, 07:29 PM

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 ]

10-08-2003, 07:29 PM	#61
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	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 ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.