[piosenniel]

Loëndë

Anar climbed into the sky as she made her slow way back to the Inn. The pains heralding the approach of the birth were becoming more insistent. ‘Send Cook to me,’ she said to a surprised Ruby, who opened the kitchen door to her knock. ‘And Prim, too, if she’s about.’

Hob rose from his seat at the table and let her lean on him as she made her way back to her quarters. ‘Best get the cart and pony ready, Hob,’ she said to him, ‘you will need to fetch Angelica and Peony.’

She threw her cape onto the back of the sofa, and sat down carefully in the rocking chair, pushing the small of her back against cushions there. Her hands gripped the chair arms lightly, and she took deep breaths, blowing them out slowly.

Her countenance was serious and her concentration intense as she felt her children wonder at the pressures pushing at them. Do not worry, little ones. she assured them. Soon you will be in your ammë’s arms.

Cook and Prim had come in, and stood nodding their heads at her. ‘So, it’s begun,’ said Cook, ‘and just when she said it would!’ she slapped Prim lightly on the back. ‘I told you it would happen.’ Prim grinned and rolled her eyes, remembering that Cook had snorted at Pio’s announcement of the exact birth date.

‘Yes, well, I suppose it doesn’t matter who was right or not,’ returned Prim, ‘we’d best get things in order. Stack some blankets in the warming oven for the babies, Cook, and get some water heated up in case we need it.’ She turned to Ruby and Buttercup who had come scurrying up behind her and stood in the doorway. ‘Quit gawking you two! Ruby run and fetch Miz Pio a cool glass of water to wet her mouth. And you, Buttercup, come with me, we’ll stack the pillows against the headboard of the bed so she can lean back against them when the time comes.’

The bed was readied and the room put in order for the arrival of the midwives, Angelica and Peony. Hob had gone on his way to get them.

Cook cruised through the Common Room, asking all to please keep their voices down. Many raised their eyebrows when they heard what was going on, and one asked where the father was. ‘None of your business, Hamfast Burrows,’ she said fixing him with a baleful glare. ‘If Mister Mithadan could have been here, he would have. He had important business to take care of.’

‘Big Folk business . . . hmmmph!’ said Hamfast to his tablemates. ‘Can’t be nothing good about that!’ They laughed nervously at his statement, as Cook now drew very near their table, arms folded across her ample chest.

‘Well, now, that’ll be enough talk like that today,’ said Cook in a low voice. ‘You finish up your drinks right quick, and get back to your own families. I won’t have Miz Pio hearing anything bad today.’ Under her watchful eye, the wide-eyed Hobbits drank up and then hastily departed. ‘Anyone else have something to say?’ She looked round the Common Room in a decidedly challenging manner. But the only replies were a few, ‘No, ma’ams’. And the wisest of the lot simply kept their mouths firmly shut.

[ April 29, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]