[Nurumaiel]

As they set off down the road towards Frogmorton, Robin saw that many hobbits were cheering as they passed. She suddenly realized just what their company was doing for the Shire, and she felt pleased that she was part of it.

Beside her Dinodas walked on silently, every so often glancing over his shoulder with a rather sad face. Robin noticed it. "What's wrong, Dinodas?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm just not to up to leaving my sister behind without a goodbye," Dinodas said, shrugging. "She's such a sweet thing, Ann is. She was too busy cooking what we had left for the hobbit children in Bywater that she had no time to say goodbye to me. But that's all right, because I know she'll be thinking of us."

Robin smiled at him. "I haven't got much at home but me mother and father," she said, "but I'll miss them, and I don't know how I'm leaving them. To keep myself from running back home into my mother's tender arms, I just think of what joy there will be at our return."

"You think we will return, then?" Dinodas asked.

"Bullroarer will take care of us," Robin said, not really answering. She had turned her face away so Dinodas would not see the tears rising to her eyes at the thought of leaving her home and perhaps never returning. "I wish there'd been time to say goodbye more proper," she said, her voice coming out in barely a whisper. "But with all the packing to do there just wasn't. I only got to give Mum and Dad a quick hug before we had to go."

Just then there was a shout. All the company turned and saw a young hobbit lass running towards them. Dinodas immediately recognized her as Ann.

The girl first flung her arms around her brother's neck, tears spilling from her eyes, and then she embraced Robin. She walked from hobbit to hobbit, telling them how brave they were to do this for the Shire and shaking their hands. When she came to Bullroarer she hesitated a little, for she wasn't as sure of herself in the presence of this great hobbit, but at last she found words.

"I've most to thank you, Mr. Took, sir, for if you hadn't spoken up that day saying it's Rivendell we should go to for food, none of them would be going to help all the hobbits in the Shire. While you're gone I'll do what I can for the children, but I hope you'll accept this." She held out a small bag. "Little cakes, sir, for you and your company. Not much, but I thought they might bring you cheer when the road is dark."

Bullroarer took the bag from the lass, and smiled down at her. "Thank you," he said, and then turned to the company. "We'd best continue going towards Frogmorton now!" he said, and all the hobbits turned from Ann and began trudging through the snow once more.

Ann went once more to her brother and hugged him tightly as if she'd never let him go. "Come back soon and safe, Dinodas," she sobbed. "Mum and I'll be waiting for you." Then she let go and walked slowly away, back towards her home.

As they continued on, Dinodas was not ashamed of the tears that fell freely down his face.

[ November 29, 2002: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]