[Child of the 7th Age]

Mithadan's post

7 Cermië

After his conversation with Stoatie, Mithadan was again locked in his hut. His hands shook. Only with the greatest of efforts had he managed to remain impassive as Stoat had outlined Ferny's plan to steal the twins and kidnap Piosenniel. Even so, his face or demeanor had communicated something to Stoat that had led the bandit to strike Mithadan. His fingers twitched as if Stoatie's throat were in reach, but he forced himself to become calm.

He had spent the day in a fog with his head throbbing from the ill-fated effort to contact Bird the night before. Now, he must use Osanwe again to contact his wife and warn her of the impending plot. He slumped to the floor and rested with his back to the cold brick wall and attempted to clear his mind with difficulty. He struggled to breath evenly. They would steal my children! He took a long and ragged breath. They will attack my wife!

At length, he calmed himself and reached out towards The Shire. But try as he might, his every effort to contact Piosenniel failed. It was as if he was reaching towards a fortress but each time stumbled against its walls. He could just detect a warm murmuring from within; that of a mother whispering to her children. But he could not breach the walls that encircled the three. Piosenniel!

He hammered at the dirt floor with his fists in frustration and tried again... and again...without success. He had heard of the special bond that an Elven mother had with her infant but had not realized the strength of the bond. Perhaps if he had been an Elf himself, he could have penetrated the blanket which enclosed mother and children. But he was a mere Man. He slept little that night.

~*~*~*~*~

8 Cermië - Party Day


Child's post

Shortly after midnight, Ferny led the band out the front gate and told the men they'd make for the Pony first. He slowed his mount and rode up beside Stoatie to explain what was actually happening.

"We should get there by sunrise. There's some extra help signing on. Gotta look 'em over and send 'em straight to the quarries to train as guards. Can't be too careful. Once these hobbits find out we've nabbed the brats, no telling what they'll try to do."

"And then?" prodded Stoatie.

"Then we'll rest and eat, and swop out our horses for fresh ones. We'll head straight down the Eastern Road, and veer north at the Brandywine so there ain't so many nosey people gapin' at us. A friend'll meet us in a quiet spot with fresh horses and git us across the river.

Stoatie looked over and grinned, "You shure got things planned out!"

"I ain't gonna have nothin' go wrong" the Boss glowered in reply, "All we gotta do is hightail it back to the quarry. Once we git there, with all those extra guards, no way those hobbit brats can do anything 'cept jest what I tell 'em."

"That's about it. We'll stick north of the Water once we cross into the Shire. In the woods where it's easy to hide. The trip'll take a little longer, but we don't want to pull the job down anyways till it's after dark."

Ferny nodded his head in agreement as the two men urged their horses forward, with the rest of the band following close behind.


Pio's post:

Despite the fears of her afternoon dreamings , and the fact that she had slept with her sword at the head of the bed and a knife beneath her pillow, Pio had dropped into a deep sleep for the night and awoke refreshed just as morning’s first pale light crept in through the curtains. Her only dreams that night were pleasant ones, safe ones, and the only times she roused was to nurse the twins and tuck them back safe against her.

Hearing her stir, Gilly came in to take the babies once they had their hunger satisfied. ‘I’ll get them washed up and changed and prettied up. We’ll be going to Sam’s in a few hours – I’ve told Miz Rose I would help with last minute things, and Amaranthas wants to bring some flowers from her garden over for the decorations.’

Pio sat up and leaned back against the headboard, groaning. ‘Are you hurting?’ asked Gilly, a look of concern on her face. Pio shook her head no and sighed. ‘I just remembered. Cami said this was to be a potluck celebration, and I will be expected to bring something.’ She thought back with chagrin to her defeat at the hands of the pie dough in the Inn’s kitchen, and the despairing look Cook had given her.

The Hobbit grinned widely at the Elf, wondering how one so capable could be so inept in the kitchen. ‘There’s no need for concern there, Mistress Piosenniel. Cook has already taken care of that, since you’ve been ill and all, and will be supplying enough food to cover your contribution.’ Gilly’s eyes glinted mischievously. ‘That and the fact she mentioned Amaranthas could probably not stand the assault you would make on her kitchen!’ Gilly scurried out the door, the babies in her arms. Her retreating figure was caught lightly in the back by a pillow tossed from the bed.

*********************************************

Child's post

As the golden rays of dawn filtered through the lacey curtains, Cami arose to check on Holly, placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, and then slipped out of the burrow to scurry down by the edge of the pond. She sought out a smooth, flat stone from the many that lay scattered along the bank, and, with a practiced grip, hurled it deftly across the surface of the water. Three, four, and five times the shiny grey pebble skipped, skimming quickly forward, going further and further from shore until it hesitated and sank beneath the waters, disappearing from her sight.

The hint of a smile played on Cami's lips, for Hobbits considered such a skilled throw to be a sure sign of luck. And Cami knew she was going to need all the luck she could get to make it through this day and the week that lay ahead. She didn't even know whether to laugh or cry because this moment in time had finally come. Although the twins had been born, she still had no idea what would happen to herself or Maura after they intertwined their arms and the cord was tied about their wrist. Perhaps, their time together would end as abruptly as it had started, with no warning or explanation so that, once more, she would be stranded in another age. She tried to think of Bilbo's words of encouragement and hope, but it was difficult when so much was so uncertain.

When she'd arrived in the Shire, and found out why she was here, all her thoughts had initially been focused on the ceremony where she and Maura would pledge their troth in front of family and friends. Somehow events had passed them by, and that public ceremony seemed less important than before. She had already given her private promise, both to Maura and Eru, speaking the time honored words of the hobbits of Beleriand while standing beside this pond. They had joined their lives together, and now she carried his unborn child. What need was there for anything more? Especially when the shadow had cast its ugly form over the Shire, and so many good hobbit parents grieved for the loss of their children. And when she herself had no idea what the coming weeks would bring.

Except for not wanting to disappoint Bilbo, Cami could see little reason for going forward with a public handfasting. She had a wavering feeling in the pit of her stomach that it might be better to forget about any exchange of vows or party at Bag-end, and just ask people to stay at home.

It was at this point that she saw Lorien sitting near the shoreline no more than thirty paces distant. He beckoned to her with his hand, and she walked obediently over to him, wondering why he wanted to see her. He was a Vala. His ways were not like those of her own people. For some reason Cami could not comprehend, he had done nothing to try and help the residents of the Shire to defend themselves against the thieves and kidnappers.

She approached Lorien with some hesitency, and sat down on the rocky bank with her legs drawn up close to her body and her arms clasped tightly around them, while she waited to hear what the Vala had to say.

[ June 30, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]