[Child of the 7th Age]

It took Cami several more hours to complete her preparations and leave the Inn. She searched through the kitchen and supply closets, coming up with a number of things Lorien might fine useful. By the time she was ready to go, she had a large sack filled with practical household tools and equipment as well as foods that could be stored in a larder. Then she grabbed two brooms and a bucket, rags for cleaning, and a bar of household soap, and went barrelling out the door.

The Bywater Pool was not far away, but Cami could not easily carry this many goods on foot so she hitched up a pony cart from the stables. The burrows lay on the northern edge of the pool. They were not in ideal shape as they had been deserted some fourteen years before, when Sharkey and his men came to the Shire and turned everything upside down. Unlike Bagshot Row, this area had never been rebuilt, since the new homes were constructed closer to the Dragon. Cami did not care for the newer fashion of living in snug farmhouses rather than snug holes, but she reasoned that folk should be able to chose whichever they liked best.

As Cami approached the northeastern side of the Pools, she could see Lorien in front of the largest burrow. He looked dirty and tired and scruffy. He was kneeling on the bank of the stream that fed into the pool, attempting to wash out his jacket, but not doing a very good job at all.

Cami put a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. It almost seemed to her as if Lorien had never had to do any practical things before, and was totally lost when it came to even the simplest matter.

"Here, let me do that." She interrupted and took the jacket away, scrubbing it against the rocks and using the bar of soap she'd brought with her from the Inn.

As she worked, she attempted to coax him to talk. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better than last night, I suppose. But my head is still splitting, and the burrow is dank and dusty, and far too small."

Cami nodded, "I can't help about the "small" part. It's all we have in Bywater. I don't think Pio is going to let you back into the Inn, so I brought some things for cleaning the hole. These should take care of the dank and dusty." She pulled out her assortment of brooms and buckets and rags.

"You've eaten, I expect." Cami motioned towards the food that she carried in her bag.

"Eaten? No, I guess I forgot to do that."

Forgot to do that? Who would forget to eat? Cami looked up startled.

"Well, let's take care of that first then." She dipped into her bag and spread out a small feast in front of Lorien in typical hobbit fashion, but he seemed reluctant to eat anything. He finally picked up a few crackers and started to nibble on them.

There was little talk during their meal. Cami helped herself to generous portions while Lorien ate a cracker or two. Cami also gave him the small bottles of blackish liquid, and suggested he drink them now, explaining "They're supposed to be very good for headaches and such."

Lorien looked doubtful, but his head was pounding so, that he was willing to try anything that might help. He poured the content of the bottles together into a cup and wolfed it down with a single gulp, making a terrible face and almost wretching.

"What's wrong? Cami demanded. "You've never had herbal remedies before? Most of them taste like that, except for the ones the Elves make."

Lorien did not answer, but merely rolled his eyes.

When they were finally finished, and Cami had cleaned up the remains of their meal, she decided to broach some serious questions with him.

"I've been thinking about what you said. I'm trying to decide what to do, but I've got a few questions."

As Lorien stared back at her with a blank face, Cami responded with some irritation, "You do remember last night, don't you?"

"Last night? How could I forget? It was one of the most miserable nights of my life."

"No, I mean the part about the message. The things you told me about Bilbo and Maura."

Lorien sighed and glared back sternly at her, "Yes, I remember. Despite what you think, I am very much in control of things."

"Good," said Cami, "because that's just what I was going to ask about. Since you're in control of things, can't we make this arrangement permanent rather then temporary? If you can do one thing, you can surely do the other."

Lorien gazed over at the hobbit sitting on the grass. She seemed so small and hopeful, so very expectent. It was the first time he'd actually looked at her.

"No, I'm sorry. I can't do that."

"But why not?" Cami pleaded. "You're a Vala. You can do anything you want."

"No. I'm sorry." His voice was uncharacteristically soft and gentle.

"But you must be able to. Pio says you control things." She did not add the other part about making people's lives miserable, but her yearnings were so intense that Lorien had little trouble reading the unspoken words.

"Whatever Pio says, it doesn't work like that. I'm not even sure I could do the thing you ask. But even if I could....I have rules, just as you have rules. If I tried to do something like that, I'd get us in terrible trouble."

"Anyways, the part about controlling things." he added. "You're a hobbit. To be truthful, I don't have a great deal of control over your life at all, since, for the most part, you stand outside the music."

"You know, Cami, if it hadn't been for your involvement with Bilbo and the voyage on the Star, you would never have crossed paths with any of the Valar. Hobbits generally don't, and aren't supposed to.

"Why not?" Cami pressed.

"What happened last night should give you an idea. It never seems to work out well. There are misunderstandings. Folk get hurt. It's better we go our separate paths."

"None of this seems fair. The 'staying apart' or the 'temporary.'"

"Perhaps not, but this is the best I can do. Even if you were to plead on bended knee in front of Manwe, he could do no better than I am offering. You will need to think about it, and tell me what you decide, and how you prefer to set things up, if you do go ahead."

"Wait, I've one other question. Maura? Did you speak with him?"

"No, Gandalf took the message to him."

"Then what did Maura say," Cami pushed for an answer.

"I do not know. Gandalf did not tell me."

Cami sat back on her heels and looked upset. Then, how will I ever decide since I don't even know how Maura feels about this.

"Wait, just a minute," Lorien pressed his fingers against his brow as if he was trying to push down the throbbing and remember something important. He reached inside his belt and fished around a bit, retrieving a much-battered envelope.

"Here, I forgot this. Gandalf gave it to me for you."

Cami reached out her hand and hastily looked down at the packet. She did not even have to open it. Her name was written in a bold clear script that Cami would have recognized anywhere. She picked up the envelope and pressed her lips softly against the inscription.

"Thank you. This should help. I will come back and give you my answer tomorrow."

She slipped the letter into her bag, restraining herself from ripping it open. It would be better to read in the privacy of her room where she could carefully think on it.

"You're going then?"

"Going, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to clean that dirty burrow." She took a look inside and scratched her head. This place would need a whole army of hobbits to get it clean! She rolled up her sleeves and began working, wondering if there was anyone she could call on for help.

[ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]