[Amanaduial the archer]

It came as a pleasant relief to be able to sit down, relax, and have a cup of tea with Cook - she was usually so busy. Accepting the cup, she sat down and took a spoonful of runny honey from the jar, winding the viscous amber substance slowly around the spoon a few times thoughtfully before replying.

Stirring the tea gently, Aman looked up at Cook thoughtfully. Finally, just as Vinca seemed about to burst with waiting (she had been positively quivering for the last few moments, and Aman tried to pretend she wasn't amused), she spoke.

"We're going to have to send out invitations to the whole Shire."

Cook snorted. "Oh, Aman, Pio arrived about an hour ago, news'll have got all the way to the centre of Hobbiton by now!"

Aman smiled. "This is the Shire, Cook - I know how much you like to be properly invited. I mean, you would turn up anyway," she grinned "but lets get up some posters anyway - you know, make it even bigger and wider reaching."

Cook beamed, and Aman went on. "Also, we'll need people to know for other reasons. This will be no small party, not with the amount of people who've passed through the Shire during Pio's reign, so to speak - we'll need a fair few helpers to sort things."

"You'll find plenty who'll be glad to help."

Aman nodded. "I know. Excellent. Drinks are all labelled, but I'll need to check the amounts. Food - gods, there will need to be alot of food, this party could easily spread across two or three meals. Could you...?"

"That's what I'm here for, Aman," Cook beamed again. "Leave that to me. Although...although I may need to consult you every so often, you know."

"Food, drinks, posters, decorations, games for the children, somewhere set up nicely for the ceremony..." Aman stirred her tea again, before looking up and smiling ruefully at Cook. "When I said a few helpers, I may have been underestimating."