[Beruthiel]

Walking up the path Marigold posted another invitation. The road was covered in puddles of brown water, it had probably been raining the night before but Marigold didn’t mind that much. She felt very important delivering these special invitations, they had been handwritten by Bilbo, and on the envelope he had written the guests name in black ink. I wonder if I deliver all of mine first if Mr. Bilbo will tell me a story!

At the thought of this she hurried along much faster up the path. Looking at the invitations she only had five left. That’s not much, come on, faster! She practically ran up the path which was on a slope but then, being rather distracted, she slipped and fell splat on her face in the mud. ‘No!’ She shouted. There was mud all down her dress but worst of all, the invitations were covered in it as well. ‘Marigold, you idiot! You clumsy idiot! Look what you’ve done!’ She said, furious with herself. She tried to wipe the mud of the invitations but the once white paper was now a chocolate brown colour. ‘Now what am I going to do! Mr. Bilbo’s going to be so angry and disappointed…’ She’d been so anxious to impress Bilbo but now, feeling so ashamed she picked herself up and ran, sobbing back to Bag end.

She burst into the round green door, dripping with mud and ran for Bilbo. ‘Mr. Bilbo! I’m so sorry! I, I didn’t mean for it to happen, I was just trying to deliver them faster so I would be first to finish. It, it’s all my fault!’ She stammered and then she dropped the envelopes on the floor and looked up at Bilbo, not knowing what else to say.

[ January 17, 2003: Message edited by: Beruthiel ]