[piosenniel]

Hob had rushed over from the stables and Prim, with Cook in her wake had flown out the door at the sound of the fracas. Thinking that a troop of brigands were attacking the guests at the Inn, Hob carried a pitchfork, Prim her stout oaken stick kept behind the bar for the more argumentative of patrons, and Cook held aloft her heavy iron, long handled stirring spoon. The three of them gathered round Piosenniel thinking to defend her from what now appeared to be a large group of young Hobbits.

Prim and Hob stood directly in front of her, glaring at the young, rude lad who had spewed out such hateful words to her. Pio would have laughed at this scene except for the fact that the venomous words from Gamba had upset her. She rubbed her forehead and sighed. Many years must have passed for him, and still he hated her.

‘I can do nothing to change what has occurred between us,’ she thought to herself, ‘but I can remove myself as a source of irritation. This is Cami’s time for happiness, let her enjoy this reunion.’

Cook, by this time, had grasped her firmly by the arm and dragged her back into the kitchen, with Prim and Hob as rear guard. The door was firmly shut and locked. ‘Who was that?’ asked Prim, watching Pio pace back and forth on the stone floor. ‘Cami’s friends. Come from far off.’ returned the Elf. ‘Well. I don’t like them one bit!’ added in Cook, shaking her spoon at the closed door. ‘Where have they been living, to be so . . . so rude . . . and uncivilized?’

Pio stopped, and laughed at this assessment of the newly arrived Hobbit group. ‘They have been living outside the Shire Bounds for a long, long time.’ ‘Well, I suppose that counts for something in the matter of their behavior,’ mused Hob. ‘Not much in my book!’ returned Cook. ‘You can’t tell me all sense of Hobbit politeness has been bred out of them.’

‘This is exactly what I do not want happening.’ Pio gave her three defenders the briefest of histories concerning the newly arrived Hobbits. ‘Please try to be as kind and accommodating as you can. These are Cami’s family and that of her soon to be husband, if I am not mistaken in reading that situation.’ ‘As you wish Mistress Piosenniel,’ said Prim in a tight voice, but if that one attacks you again in any way, I’m afraid I’ll have to accommodate him with my oak stick.’

‘That will not be a problem any longer, Prim.’ Pio turned to Hob. ‘Bring ‘Falmar round to the side door.’

She ran to her room, and threw some necessary things into her old pack, slipping the purse with the gold coins Mithadan had sent her into the front pocket of it. . Picking up her cloak, she hurried to the side door just as Hob arrived with ‘Falmar. ‘And what shall we say when they ask where you’ve gone?’ asked Prim, as she watched Pio clamber up onto the horse.
‘Tell them I have a sudden taste for a glass of outland ale.’

She leaned down and spoke softly to Prim, telling her where she was bound. ‘Send word to me, if you will when the Inn has quieted down.’ Across the yard, quickly she sped on ‘Falmar, heading east once she reached the main road.

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