[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami had been surprised to learn from Cook that Pio and her family intended to visit the Inn in a space of about four weeks. Until that moment, Cami's own plans had been uncertain. Every day when she woke and went about her chores, she'd kept wondering if it wasn't time for her to leave. Her pregnancy was going well, with the baby's expected birth still several months away. Yet she missed her own family, especially Maura, who remained behind in the shady groves of western Greenwood, while she paid a visit to old friends in Hobbiton and Bywater. Her husband and her eldest daughter Rose had promised to keep things running smoothly at home, so she would not have to worry and could stay as long as she desired.

Unlike many of the other wanderers who related their tales in the common room, Cami was very careful to keep her story to herself and to say nothing about where she was from or exactly how she'd arrived. Since she looked like any other plump hobbit of middling years, few were inclined to ask many questions or to guess that she had anything to hide beneth her sweet, unassuming face. The hobbit was very happy with that arrangement and had no desire to alter it. Still, with the promise of Piosenniel's return, there was no question that she would remain for a few more weeks in order to see her friends and get a chance to play "Auntie" for the twins.

With this decision behind her, Cami turned her attention to the work at hand. The number of visitors dropping by the Inn was steadily increasing, requiring the staff to work harder and harder in a vain attempt to satisfy all their demands. It was already dinnertime, but Cami was still allocating and preparing the bedchambers for the travellers who'd come in that day.

She was toting a heavy load of sheets and pillowcases taken from the downstairs laundry, and carting them off through the hallway to the chambers where the newcomers would stay. It was one thing to make up the neat, compact hobbit beds, but the linens for the Elves and humans were so generously sized that it normally took two of the staff to wrestle the bedclothes firmly into place.

Before heading off down the corridor, Cami sighed as she glanced over the list of rooms which Aman had given to her. No matter how she rearranged the names, she always came out one room short. The name at the bottom of the list, the one who'd registered last, was that of her friend Eodwine. She shook her head in bewilderment, wondering what to do. It was true that guests were sometimes asked to sleep in the stables, but surely they had something better to offer than hay for someone who'd come from as far away as Rohan and was a representative of the King, to boot.

But, even if she managed to work some magic and find a bed for Eodwine, the fact remained that the Inn was becoming more and more crowded, with the Innkeeper having to ask guests to double up on rooms, or to sleep a night or two in the back courtyard. There were enough small chambers that space could generally be found to stash an extra hobbit or two. But the situation with Men and Elves had reached crisis proportions, with the number of unexpected visitors flooding through the Dragon straining things to the hilt.

Something would definitely need to be done, or the Dragon would get a bad reputation as a place which failed to live up to its promises. Cami mulled the problem over in her head, reviewing each inch of the Inn building and grounds. Then, she sprinted purposefully over to the kitchen in order to talk with Cook.

Cook quickly solved the problem of where to put Eodwine. She promised to speak with Derufin, since he had a cozy suite in the stables, and might appreciate a companion to share his sitting room, which had enough space for a small bed to be set up in the corner opposite the window.

"Now as to your other suggestion," Cook mulled over the idea, running her fingers through her towsled curls, "I'm not sure. That would take a heap of work. The top floor of the Inn hasn't been used for at least thirty years. No telling what you might find up there. But I know for certain there are a pile of cobwebs, and broken window panes, and warped floorboards that would need to be replaced. Still you're right. There's plenty of room and privacy. There's room for at least three or four large suites where an Elf or Man might bed down, even if they bring along a family."

Cook continued with a chuckle, "Wouldn't Pio be surprised if we told her we were putting her family up on the top floor, what with all the cobwebs and such. Well, she's given me a surprise or two in my time. I wouldn't mind turning the tables in a harmless way. And, once she got here, she'd certainly be amazed to see that part of the Inn all fixed up, tidy and clean."

Cami thanked Cook for her help and immediately left to speak with Aman about the possibility of renovating the attic as well as the little trick they could play on the Elf before her arrival in the Shire. Then the hobbit grinned slyly, thinking of the words she'd use in her pleading letter to her friend, begging her not to put off her trip and apologizing for the uncertain accomodations.

[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]