[piosenniel]

Having made sure that Peri was well taken care of, Holly turned back to Olo. The two hobbits went out the stable door and toward a path leading to the river.

Holly glanced at the corner of the building where she had seen the Ranger, but he was no longer there. She shrugged her shoulders and gave it no further thought.

Once at the river's embankment, Olo led her down to a sandy bar where they could sit on a large flat rock. The perimeter around them was free of any vegetation or rocky outcroppings where anyone might hide.Sitting with the water burbling over their toes, they felt free to talk quietly without being heard.

Pulling out her pipe, Holly filled it with 'Old Toby' and then offered the bag of leaf to Olo, who had retrieved his pipe from his vest pocket.

They sat smoking in companionable silence for awhile, gazing at the clear night sky, and pointing out the occasional shooting star as it arced its way across the dark dome.

'So, Olo,' said Holly, cleaning out the bowl of her pipe and knocking out the residue on the rock beside her,'tell me, what of those two men who knocked you down in the tavern?'

Olo drew closer to her and dropped his voice lower. 'It's not only the Rangers that we've been seeing more of around here. They're not a bad lot, just a bit stand-offish. It's the other traffic that we've been getting that has me worried. Men coming from the south and east, a nasty lot by the look and feel of them. A dark feeling, sort of twisted - like a once healthy plant, its heart all gone rotten with hidden weevils, if you get my meaning.'

She nodded at him, frowning, and urged him to go on.

'Why just a day or so ago,' he began, 'those two fellows had . . .'He was cut short by the sound of footsteps on the sand behind them.

Holly stood quickly, drawing her knife to throw it, and whirled to face the intruder. Olo brandished his walking stick.

'Put away your knife and rest easy, my little friends. I've come to escort you back to the safety of the tavern. Night is well upon us and there are creatures in the dark who would just as soon see two hobbits dead as to let you go on talking - especially the subject you were on.'

'What subject was that?' challenged Holly, who did not care to eavesdropped upon.

'The one we will no longer discuss here, in the open.' said the intruder stepping close to them.

It was the Ranger, the one from the stable. He lead them back to the tavern, discouraging their questions with his silence. Standing in the courtyard there, he watched them until they entered the door.

[ July 18, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]