[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami Goodchilde pushed her way into the Green Dragon, looking for a bite to eat. The hobbit was shocked when she looked through the door of the Inn. The place was crawling with an assortment of dwarves and Elves. They seemed to be eying each other suspiciously. Cami wondered if, before the evening was over, they'd actually come to blows.

Cami slunk lower in her seat. The last thing she wanted to do was to get between two brigades of Elves and dwarves who intended to have it out with each other. She did have a bow with her, but she'd have to stand up on the table to aim at her opponents' heads. She was rather short, even for a hobbit, and they would otherwise tower over her.

Cami saw Violet and Holly waiting on tables, but other than that, there was not a single hobbit in sight. They had been here earlier, and left en masse. How strange that this should happen in the Shire! She had heard the news about Bullroarer leading a whole contingent through to Rivendell to get some food for the hungry hobbits who were sufferering with the blizzard. That's where they must be, she thought.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, in the very back of the room, she caught a glimpse of Elfred and Nop, both of whom had managed to fall asleep over their pints. She went over and tried to shake them awake, but to no avail. The duo slept on, snoring in harmony. So Cami, being thirsty, put her hand out to borrow their drinks, which was a good hobbit tradition.

She took the ale over by the hearth and settled in close to the fire, hoping the two wouldn't mind too much when they awoke. She was chilled to the bone. She was a messenger of the Shire, and had been out delivering letters from early dawn. Cami set down her mailbags, and finished both the pints. Before she knew what was happening, she managed to fall fast asleep.

[ November 30, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]