[Nurumaiel]

At the same time as the Shirriff was hearing of the man with the bundle over his shoulder, Merimac had taken Madoc and Prisca into the dining room. He had sent Angelica to bed, hoping that she'd get some rest and forget about Fosco's disappearance for awhile.

Prisca's mouth was watering and her eyes hungry, for she had been about to get into the cookie jar, so Merimac spoke quickly. "Fosco has disappeared," he said with a deep sigh. "And we think he's been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Madoc looked shocked. "Surely nobody would do anything… bad to him?"

"I don't know why he was kidnapped, so I can't say if it was for ransom, for some other reason, or just an evil man wanting to cause trouble. It was one of the Big Folk who's suspected of taking Fosco." He turned to his daughter. "Prisca, you can go now." The lass dashed out of the room as fast as she could.

Merimac spoke a little longer with Madoc, telling him all that the Shirriff and other hobbits who had seen suspicious things had said. Madoc listened wide-eyed and worried, fearing for the safety and well-being of his little brother.

Meanwhile Angelica lay on her bed, trying to fall asleep, but she kept seeing Fosco in her mind, being taken East by one of the Big Folk. She had tried to open her mouth many times and tell Merimac her worries, but he would interrupt her and tell her not to think about it.

"If only I could find someone who would let me worry about my child," she groaned. "Cami… or Peony… or someone. Merimac doesn't seem to understand. I just want to cry and cry and…" Tears rose her eyes, but she fought them, knowing Merimac wouldn't want to come find her crying. She was supposed to be sleeping.

The door creaked open a bit and Prisca came in, cookie in hand. "Oh, there you are, Mummy," she said, backing out again. "I was supposed to find out where you went. You know Peony Muddyfoot? She came."

Relief surged through Angelica. It was like a miracle, Peony arriving right when she most needed someone. The door was pushed open and Peony came in. She strode forward calmly and sat down next to Angelica, saying, "I just heard the news. I'm so sorry, Angelica. Poor Fosco. I do hope he's all right."

Angelica was still struggling with her tears. Peony looked gently at her. "Don't mind me, dear," she said, putting her arms around the hobbit. "Don't mind me."

~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*~~^*

Bill Ferny sat impatiently, waiting for Stoatie. They had moved their hideout from Stoat's cottage to a place a little ways out of the village of Scary.

Stoatie'll most likely be wasting his time, Ferny thought. I told him to get here right away so I could tell him the plan for snatching Fosco Muddyfoot. Where could he be?

Ferny leaned back. I guess I'll just have to wait for him, he thought. But he's going to get some trouble from me. He's already late.

Ferny must have dozed off, for he was awoken by the sound of a child's voice screaming, "You let go of me, you big oaf! Hey, you're that big old troll that talked to me at the party. Want me to kick you again?"

Ferny jumped up in shock and saw Stoatie grinning as he set down a young hobbit boy. He backed up a few steps after he had done so. "Good job, Stoatie," said Ferny. "No wonder you took so long."

"Look at all you fools, grinning like that," Fosco said. "You know I'm a lot tougher than both of you put together? I'm going to go home now."

"No you're not," said Ferny. "You're going to stay right here."

"I will not!" Fosco screamed, and ran at Ferny. Kick after kick landed on the man's knees until he had collapsed to a kneeling position. Fosco then leaped at his head and knocked him flat on his back, jumping up and down on him and attack him ferociously.

"Don't… just… stand… there!" Ferny shouted in between punches and kicks from Fosco. "Get… him and… tie… him… up!"

Stoatie rushed forward and grabbed the lad, quickly wrapping some rope around him in tight knots. Then he tossed him into a corner, and stood back as Ferny advanced. "You little brat!" he snarled. "I should just kill you right now!"

"If you kill me I'll blast lightning at you," Fosco threatened.

"I'd like to see you try," Ferny sneered.

"I'll try… and do it."

Ferny retreated to the opposite end of the room to tend to his bruises, leaving Stoatie to guard the hobbit boy.

[ April 14, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]