[Child of the 7th Age]

Bilbo awoke with a start and padded over to the window to gaze outside. He had deliberately avoided the meeting and gone to bed before Frodo had come back. From the look of the stars he could now glimpse in the heavens, he judged it to be shortly after midnight.

Frodo had evidently not returned to his bed, since it looked the same as when Ruby had come that morning to turn down the sheets and tidy up the room. A quick glance down the hall confirmed that his nephew was nowhere to be seen. Bilbo threw a jacket over his shoulders, pulled on a pair of breeches, and went downstairs. There was no sign of Frodo in the common room or kitchen. Pushing open the back door, he continued his search into the courtyard.

There, he finally spotted his nephew. Frodo was quietly sitting on the ground under a large tree, with his head tossed back and his eyes sweeping across the skies. He was alone, with an intent look on his face.

"Frodo, are you alright?" Bilbo queried as he hurried over to his nephew.

For a long time, neither hobbit spoke. Then Frodo broke the silence with an observation. "You know, wherever they are, those kidnapped children can look out and see these stars. That is, if the bandits let them look outside...."

Frodo sighed, shook his head, and stared back at his uncle. "Bilbo, what am I going to do? I have a feeling something is going to happen, and I'll have to make a choice. Maura Took got an extra sword from Hob. He gave it to me for when I go out on patrol to guard the roads. I didn't have the heart to tell him no, but I can scarcely bear to have the thing in my hand."

Bilbo's eyes looked down to where Frodo had let the sword slip loose from his fingers. It lay there beside him in the grass.

"You know, I even thought about walking away. But I can't walk away from children. Not after the time I spent with Sam and his family. How would I feel if the bandits took one of them?"

"You will use it then?" Bilbo's voice was gentle and compassionate.

Frodo shook his head, "You know how I hate fighting after what happened at ...." He let his words go unfinished. "But I can't sit still while a child is kidnapped or murdered. I hope it won't come to that. But, if it does, yes, I'll fight."

He looked up one last time at Bilbo, "You still feel it's time to go, don't you?"

Bilbo smiled gently and nodded, "I'm sure of it. Being here and seeing all this has made me certain. I'm ready to move on, Frodo."

"But no one knows what's out there." Frodo objected softly. "I wouldn't feel so badly if I knew you'd be alright."

"Well, lad, this is one open road where I'll never know what lies at the other end until I actually set my foot on it. I've come all these years trusting that things would work out. Old habits die hard. I'll keep trusting and going forward. And if there's any feeling or knowing beyond, I'll miss you and wait for you."

"You're ready, too, Frodo. You're ready to go forward on your own. You've always needed someone to give you a nudge out the door. Once Gandalf did that. Now, it looks as if it's my turn."

He softly embraced the lad and the two went back upstairs and settled in for the night.

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


As the morning sun peered over the horizon, Bilbo quietly slipped out of bed. All his life, he'd given generously to those around him, although he often took pains to hide that fact. The time for generous gifts had passed, but he still could not shake loose his long accustomed habit of trying to set things right.

With a quick glance at his nephew who still lay asleep, Bilbo left the Inn, walking purposefully towards the pond. Back in Tol Eressea, he did not generally rise this early, preferring to stay up later at night and enjoy the multitude of sparkling stars. Since his return to the Shire, however, he seemed to need less sleep, so that it mattered little what hour he awoke or chose to go to bed.

Just the day before, he and Cami had been talking. Both agreed they had seen too little of each other, and should try to make up for that in the short time they both had left. Maura suggested Bilbo visit them at the burrow so they could eat breakfast together, not just today but any morning when he had a yen to come.

Cami set out a fine spread of hot tea and berries, thick slices of ham, a small crock of hard-boiled eggs, and newly baked bread, with pots of honey and jam alongside.

"You seem to have settled in nicely," Bilbo approvingly noted.

"Indeed, we have," Cami glanced quickly over to the far side of the pond where the toddler and Maura were playing. Maura was giving Holly a ride in the rope swing, pushing her animatedly back and forth while she giggled and urged him to go even faster.

"Your boys, Cami, how are they faring?"

"That's never easy, as I'm sure you've guessed. They still sleep on their own in the stables. But Maura has somehow convinced Gamba to drop by most evenings for supper so I can give the little ones a cuddle and a bedtime story. Rose pops in and out whenever she pleases and helps me with bits of work. But then, she's always stuck close, and I'm grateful for that. Now, if we could just get rid of those prowlers."

Cami's voice trailed off. Then, she stopped for a moment and sighed. "You know, Bilbo. Even with the bandits, it seems easier somehow. With Maura here, I mean. Things don't seem quite so overwhelming as they did before. I'm a better mother. I have more patience. I only wish it could stay like this."

Bilbo eyes widened. He was about to raise a question, when Maura came over and sat down with them. Bilbo couldn't help but notice how the couple's fingers intertwined beneath the table, and how they sat so comfortably close to one another, clearly happy just to be together.

After finishing breakfast and catching up on local doings, Cami hugged Bilbo and said goodbye, after he'd readily agreed to return for breakfast in a day or two and perhaps bring Frodo with him. Heading back towards the Inn, Bilbo reflected on Cami's wistful words and wondered whether any effort to make one last plea on their behalf could possibly make a difference.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Pio's post

It wasn’t songbirds that awakened Pio. That early hour before sunrise had barely crested the edge of the mountains far to the east when she was already up and dressed, sitting at the window of the front room, in her overstuffed chair. Mug of tea in hand, she shifted uncomfortably, one way and then the other, trying to find enough room in her frame for her to sit comfortably and the twins to play. At least that is how she termed their kicks, pokes, and trammeling at this hour of the day. She was beginning to bless the foresight of Amaranthas and Angelica in suggesting she should have a nursemaid once they were born. Perhaps then she could get some rest.

Her daughter stretched out her arms and legs, pushing hard against Pio’s ribs and chest. Her brother protested and pushed outward to find his own share of the little room left to him. Pio gasped, taking what shallow breath she could and stood up clumsily.

‘Alright, I surrender!’ she laughed, pushing back gently with her own hands. ‘We will all go for a walk, and you two can jump about to your hearts’ content.’

Mithadan was still sleeping, turned on his side, head lying on the crook of one arm, the other arm tucked securely round her pillow that he had drawn near him. She leaned over him, kissing him at the corner of his eye and cheek. We are going out for a walk. To Cami’s I think. I shall be back in time to second breakfast with you.

Her cloak rustled softly as she drew it from the end of the bed and settled it round her shoulders. Through the kitchen, with a nod and smile to Cook, then out the door and down the path to the Road.

She walked along slowly, gathering her thoughts. Cami was an early riser, but not this early. It would not do to intrude upon the newlyweds’ time together. Pio smiled to herself. ‘This time I must make sure I tell her.’

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

A long walk from the Pool, following the Water eastward, ate up the time, and it was long after breakfast at the burrow by the Pool when she returned. From a distance she saw Bilbo take leave of both Cami and Maura and head in the direction of the Inn. Standing in shadow, she watched him walk down the path leading round the western end of the Pool.

She stepped forward, then stopped, seeing Maura as he stepped out the door, bound on some errand. He paused just at the end of the small dirt path of the doorway and turned, grinning like some great fool back at Cami with the little one in her arms, as they stood waving to him. Pio tucked that image away in her memory, to recall later when Cami was no longer here, and she wished to remember her in happy times.

Cami and the little one had gone back inside by the time she reached the burrow. She rapped gently at the door, and seconds later it was flung open by Cami, laughing and saying, ‘Was it another good-by kiss you needed, Maura!’ Her cheeks turned pink when she saw that it was Pio, and she stammered as she invited her in.

‘I think you should save the kisses for your husband, but I will take a hug and a mug of tea.’ Pio looked hopefully round the little kitchen area. ‘And food! I am famished.’

A thorough hug and the admonishment to sit down and be comfortable followed the awkward scene at the door. Cami reintroduced Holly to Pio, the Elf grinning as she learned the little one’s name. ‘A lovely name for a lovely little girl,’ she said, reaching out her hand to tuck a stray curl behind Holly’s ear. ‘And how is that ear now? Better?’

As Cami bustled about fixing her visitor tea and a plate of toast spread thick with apple butter, Holly leaned on Pio’s legs, soft blanket in hand, her thumb popped into her mouth. They spoke softly together for a few moments, the little one indicating she wished to sit on the Elf’s lap. Pio pulled one of the chairs near hers and scooted the little girl onto it, tucking her up against her side, her arm wrapped around her. ‘I would put you on my lap, Holly, but I have no lap left for you.’

She placed the little girl’s free hand on her belly, just where her daughter was tapping with her foot. ‘That is my little baby girl. And just here is her brother.’ Holly’s eyes grew wide as a solid thump smacked against her palm. Holly giggled and tapped back gently to each one, screeching with further delight as her tapping met with tapping in kind.

Cami, grinning at hearing her daughter’s delighted giggles, had just piled the toast on a plate, alongside some sweet apple wedges, when she caught the conclusion of Holly’s and Pio’s conversation. Her faced turned white and she staggered for a moment as she sat the plate on the table near Pio.

‘What . . . what did you just say to her?’

Holly reached out her hand to her mother’s belly and patted it softly. ‘Lolly’s baby!’

‘Your son, Cami. Holly’s brother. I was just telling her about him . . .’

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

Child's post

"Excuse me, Pio," Cami stammered. "What did you say?" She had actually heard the words, but was finding them hard to comprehend. For the past few months, Cami had paraded a whole string of possible complications through her head, trying to predict her reactions. Yet, strangely enough, the possibility she might bear a child had never crossed her mind.

"You can't mean it. How do you know? Are you certain?" Frantic words tumbled out in rapid succession. Then Cami stopped and thought for a moment, shaking her head and sighing, "But, of course, you know. You can sense these things better than I."

For a moment, a ghost of a smile played on Cami's face as she thought about bearing and rearing a child who would not only be her son, but also part of Maura. The last thought struck her with terrible force. Her smile quickly faded, as she turned to face Pio with urgency in her voice.

"Please, Pio, please. Don't say anything to Maura."

Pio looked at Cami with genuine concern. "Why do you say that? From everything I've seen, I can't believe he wouldn't welcome this child into the world."

"That's not it." Cami rummaged through her mind, searching for the right words. "Pio, I don't know how to put this. When I was alone in Greenwood, I used to dream of Maura, and I always thought of us as a couple, just two people together. But after coming here, we both realized there's more to it than that. We're a family, even if we're physically separated--Gamba and the boys, and Rose, and Holly. Maura doesn't talk about it, but he's spent as much time with them as he has with me."

"When we gave our word to Gandalf, we did that as a couple. We knew there would be sadness, but we thought it would only affect the two of us. We never thought there would be children."

"I've seen Maura sitting by the fire, just staring at it. I don't need osanwe to read his mind. I already know what's there.
He feels he is failing my children, our children. They've become victims of a bargain they never even agreed to. Pio, I wouldn't give up my childrn for all the treasures in Arda, but it's not easy being on my own. Think how Mithadan would feel if something were to happen that prevented him from fulfilling his responsibilities as a father."

"That feeling is only going to get worse if Maura learns he's responsible for bringing a child into the world, a child he will never see or hold or help raise and support. And he'd constantly think of me in Greenwood, alone and struggling to do my best. I don't know if he could accept that."

"Maybe you need to talk. Maybe Maura is right. The old bargain you made did not cover any of this."

"Talk? No. This must stay locked inside. We gave our pledge, our solemn promise. That doesn't change with the winds of convenience."

"I will cover the babe's mind with my own so Maura will never suspect anything. And if Holly blurts out something, I'll explain how she felt Pio's twins with her hand and wanted a little brother so badly that she invented one in her head."

Before Piosenniel could respond, there was a sudden flurry of wings just outside the door.

[ April 09, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]