[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami looked about the room and smiled. Things seemed to be going smoothly. She would have liked to sit down beside Bilbo and talked, but there always seemed to be so much for her to do. This was a bit different than the family dinner party which the Bilbo had originally suggested she attend.

Here, she had to think of herself as a hostess. She needed to make sure everyone was properly introduced, and that platters of food on the buffet table were regulary replenished. With so many hobbits loading up their plates, that would not be easy. Thank goodness they had prepared dish after dish that were sitting back in the kitchen waiting to be brought out whenever they were required.

Plus, there were a great number of folk crowding in around their famous guests. She couldn't just elbow everyone aside in her desire to speak alone with her teacher. In any case, Bilbo had promised that, before he left, the two of them would talk.

Amid all this happiness, she couldn't help remembering the words that Don had said. It shocked her to think that anyone could treat a child like that. Especially, the part about the lying. If it was up to her, folk like that would be given a taste of their own medicine. Let them see how they liked it!

But she was not in charge of things, at least here in the Shire. For a moment, a wave of sadness swept over her at the thought of home. Her children were back in Greenwood, plus the whole community of hobbits she'd left behind. She knew the children were well care for. There was no doubt about that. Her new friends, Merimac and Mirabella Brandybuck, had taken the boys and Rose into their home on a temporary basis. And none of the Elders had questioned when Gandalf had asked her to come with him so soon after her arrival in the north. He had assured everyone that it was quite important. Then, he had brought Cami here, telling her she would stay till just a bit after the birth of the twins. He had not explained anything, only smiling cyptically and saying she might enjoy seeing some 'old friends' for a while.

Cami jerked herself back from her reverie. A space had been cleared to one side of the floor, as the tables were shoved back along the wall. The music was starting to play. Cami grinned as she heard one or two glass goblets hit the floor, and hoped that Piosenniel had been too busy chatting to pay attention. Soon, no one could hear the sound of goblets breaking as the dancing would be starting.