[Child of the 7th Age]

Trudging on foot down the road, Andreth stayed close behind Whinny, keeping an eye on her pony who was carrying Poppy on his back. The hobbit clutched the sack of gold tightly in her hand, while those about kept staring back and wondering just how many coins were in that heavy bag.

Despite the brightness of the day, Andreth found her spirits sinking lower as she listened to conversations sprouting up around her. No one had bothered to answer her earlier question as to why they'd chosen to come on this adventure. Nor had any bothered to say they agreed with her that the fate of the Castle should take precedence over all this bickering and discord.

With the exception of Gandalf and Bethberry, she did not see a single person who cared in the slightest what was actually going on inside those walls to the folk who were trapped there. It seemed that most were more concerned about that heavy satchel Poppy carried.

Nor was the Elf any better. Nardol had finally agreed to Gandalf's plea to come along, but his only real interest seemed to lie in making a name for himself. She'd even heard Bird and Holly complaining they might not receive sufficient payment for the services they rendered. What a pair! And how could Gandalf have chosen a poor, injured hobbit to guard that bag of gold and carry out such an important task?

None of it made sense. Surely, Gandalf could have come up with a better crew than this ragtag bag of adventurers and profiteers. They certainly didn't care the way she cared. For them it was some grand lark or madcap adventure that might turn up a hidden treasure chest.

But worst of all, had been the remark she'd overheard from Bird's mouth just a moment ago, when the woman complained that the poor lass Andreth might make some claim on the Castle and all that lay inside. Her blood boiled as she thought about it. In all her years, listening to her father's tales at his knee and grieving over the fate of those trapped inside, she'd never heard any in her family make such an outrageous claim.

Legally, there might be some truth in it. She really didn't know. But her father was not a man for legalities. He was a good man with a soft heart and great family pride. He had never spoken to Andreth of bricks and stones and mortar, but only of those who needed to pass on and strange curses which must be lifted lest they fall on those unsuspecting kin who still remained in the world of Men.

Perhaps she should just leave the group, pack up her belongings and go her separate way. But she was no expert at fighting or surviving in the wilderness. Lying dead on some forsaken trail was not going to accomplish what she wanted. She sighed and reluctantly agreed that, at least for now, she'd best stay with the others, until she figured out a better plan. And she'd better start talking to some of these folk to find out why they were really here and what they hoped to accomplish.

To that end, she turned a wary eye on Holly. Andreth watched and waited, saying nothing, until Bird sprang up and took flight. With the coast finally clear, Andreth turned once again to Holly and asked point blank, "I couldn't help overhearing your little talk. Why does your friend dislike me so? I've never made any claim to the Castle. In fact, as far as I can see, I'm practically the only one here who actually cares about what happens to the folk within those hard stone walls."

[ December 22, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]