[piosenniel]

Even now Bullroarer could hear the firm voice of the Missus. ‘Bandobras Took! I told you, you needed to think about taking some older Hobbit woman along to chaperone the girls!’ He winced at the thought of her, one hand on her ample hip and the other shaking a finger at him, just below his nose. Of course, in her opinion, any Hobbit under the age of fifty was still a youngster.

He had urged Daisy and Gaddy to leave her room and take a walk (‘And out in the open, if you don’t mind!’ he thundered at them.) ‘No more canoodling! Simple hand holding will do until we get back to the Shire.’ He shouted this out as a general proclamation to all the assembled Hobbits, and strode out of the room after them.

Red faced and talking to himself was how Olo and Carl found him. He looked very much the image of a roaring bull and they approached him warily. He turned on them, when he heard Carl clear his throat. ‘Please don’t tell me that you two have found the loves of your lives, too!’ They glanced at each other, brows furrowed, then stared at him blankly. Bullroarer sighed, and shook his head, then filled them in on the events that had transpired earlier.

‘Seems a natural course of events, don’t you think?’ commented Carl. He offered no further words on the matter seeing the thunderous look on the Took’s face. ‘We do have some news we think you’ll like.’ chimed in Olo. He detailed their conversation with Elrond and the generous offer of the Elf Lord to provide sleighs and drivers for the trip back to the Shire. ‘It will dramatically cut the time traveling back for you. And with the addition of the Elves, there should be no longer any danger to your party.’

Bullroarer took this information in with delight. Then he turned a quizzical look on his face to Olo. ‘You’re not traveling back with us, then?’

‘No, my task is done. I’ve seen you to Rivendell and the keeping of Lord Elrond. Tomorrow, I’ll travel south to meet with Volondil.’ He laughed, and clapped Bullroarer on the back. ‘I think my path will be easier than yours. I have no “couples” to worry about, only the shadow’s foul creatures. And those can easily be dispatched with a sword!’

They stood talking for a while, then Bullroarer took his leave of them and went to find Elrond.

************************************************

Elrond had been pleased to accept the box of recovered Elven craftsmanship. His hands cradled gently the necklace bearing the Lily and the leaf brooch. Made by craftsmen long ages ago, they brought a soft smile to his face recalling those days long gone. Dafodyl’s find of the dagger with the Elven runes also pleased him, reminding him of gifts given to the Men of Old as tokens of their alliance.

He turned his mind to business and spoke with Bullroarer, saying that the elves did indeed have ample stores of foodstuffs to share with their neighbors to the west. Even now, Elves were loading up five sleighs and the wagon for the Hobbits. He arched his brows at Bullroarer, who seemed to have something else on his mind. ‘Was there something else you needed?’

‘I was wondering if we could move the welcoming party to this evening, if that wouldn’t be too much trouble. I have some issues which have recently drawn my attention to the fact that I need to get the group back quickly to the Shire.’ Bullroarer paused for a moment to let the Elf take in what he had asked, then plunged on. ‘It’s not that we don’t appreciate the generosity of Rivendell, it’s just that the air here is a little too . . .’ He searched for the right word. ‘. . . magical, I suppose, for us more down to earth creatures. I need to get them back to the Shire and let it breathe some common sense back into them.’

Elrond smiled, knowing full well what occurred in his realm. ‘That will be no problem, Bandobras. Tonight then, late, for that is our custom we will entertain you valiant travelers. Then, tomorrow, we will see you off.’ He called to a close by Elf to attend on him, giving him a list of instructions, then turned back to the Hobbit. ‘We will ring the bells for you so that you will know it is time to get ready. I will send Elves to escort you to the hall.’ He laughed a sparkling, joyous sound. ‘Until then, good luck to you and your “issues”!’

Lord Elrond watched as Bullroarer went to inform the Hobbits of the plans. He thought of his own daughter, Arwen. Thank Iluvatar there would be no problem there. She was an Elf. They were bound by their doom and by custom. A thought, unbidden, came to his mind. but he brushed it away as unimportant.

'No one can see all ends . . .'

[ February 12, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]