[piosenniel]

It was mid afternoon when Prim came walking in to the kitchen, a fistful of letters for the guests and some for the staff in her hand. Pio, Mithadan, and Bird had just finished a late lunch and were considering what to do with themselves to pass the rest of the day. Pio had suggested they take the pony cart and head north for a pleasant afternoon along the Water, and perhaps in Bindbale Wood. But, folks in the Shire were uneasy about the presence of Big Folk, all of whom they viewed with suspicion, despite the letters from the King and from the Mayor, or the fact that they seemed to be under the watchful eye of the Elf.

‘I suppose we could bundle you up like Bird did with Levanto and Kali when she took them on a tour of the lower tier of Minas Anor.’ Pio wrapped a dish towel round Mithadan’s face. ‘Perhaps if we scrunched you way down in the wagon, with a blanket over your limbs we could make you a passable Hobbit. That is, if no one approached too closely. And of course, you, Bird, could simply go as your namesake.’

She was saved from their unenthusiastic remarks about this venture, when Prim fished out a letter from her bundle and handed it to her. ‘Looks as if Miz Amaranthas has sent you a note, Mistress Piosenniel.’

Using a clean butter knife, Pio slit open the envelope and took out the note, reading it carefully. ‘Seems as if we have been invited to a gathering at Amarantha’s house.’ She read the note once more, her brow furrowed. ‘The guest list is a little strange, though. Besides me, and you, Mithadan, and Bird, the rest of the guests seem to be Sam’s children and Miz Rose. How odd.’

She had just passed the note to Mithadan, when the door to the kitchen flew open - in came Cami with Maura in tow, much to their surprise . . .

[ March 13, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]