[piosenniel]

Child's post

All the name cards were set in front of the plates on the tables, even those belonging to the children. The only one left was Lorien's which Cami tucked into her pocket in the unlikely event he awoke and rejoined them during dinner. Once Lorien had been hauled away to sleep off his excesses, Cami vowed to forget her worries and enjoy the evening to its fullest.

The sight of the buffet table did much to assuage her spirits. She was one of the first to bound up to it and get a close look at everything that had been set out for the guests. Cami had helped prepare many of the dishes, but even she was surprised to see the great variety of items. There were platters and bowls and baskets so loaded with food that it was spilling over onto the linen cloth.

Snap beans, field peas, fried turnips, crisp apples and pears, and an astounding array of berries shared one end of the buffet along with several meat dishes and some fresh-water fish. Among Cami's favorites were the little beef pasties and a fine haunch of venison, which sat next to a tasty suckling pig and a fat salmon stuffed with a savory dressing of herbs and onions and bread crumbs. At Cami's request, Prim had made a special tray of buttered scones with clotted cream. Sitting beside it were loaves of soda bread, pickled onions, bacon rashers, and two eel pies that boasted lovely chunks of eel and onions layered with carrots and finely chopped herbs, laid out in a golden pastry crust.

Finally came a whole array of mushroom dishes occupying almost a third of the board. There were mushrooms added to soups and stews, and others that had been stuffed and baked. And for those who preferred their fare straight and unadulterated, there were fresh, raw mushrooms from Farmer Maggot's garden.

Cami loaded up her plate with a sample of this and a bit of that and went to sit at the table. Bilbo was already seated next to her and starting in on his dinner. Frodo's name card was also nearby, but he was still in the buffet line, and likely to be there some time, as folk kept stopping by to chat.

Cami setled in her chair, then turned a beaming face towards her teacher, leaning over to share a hug and thanking him for the gown and note. Then she added, "I'll probably never wear such a fancy dress again. But it's so beautiful....I've never owned anything like this, never."

Bilbo's eyes sparkled back, and he whispered that she should only be careful not to wear the gown when Fatty was near.

"Uncle Bilbo!" she exclaimed. "I've straightened that out. Don't worry."

Bilbo glanced halfway down the table. He wasn't so sure from the look in Fatty's eye, but there was no reason to worry Cami at this point in the evening. Then he casually asked if Lorien had spoken with her. When Cami shook her head no, he politely steered their talk towards other topics. But, except for that one glitch, which she could not help but notice, Cami was thoroughly enjoying the dinner with its fine food and friendly conversation.

[ March 04, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]