[Child of the 7th Age]

Hawthorne flashed a quick smile at Regin for graciously coming to her aid and for pushing the idea that she serve out her punishment by working at the Inn rather than sitting inside a prison cell. If she was ever in a position to do the Dwarf a similar favor, she vowed to make every effort to do so.

Shirriff Fredgar still did not look completely at ease with this arrangement, but that was to be expected. Aman had given her word, and that should be enough. Hawthorne vowed to try and do the best job she could, not to show off to anyone but just to prove to herself she could do it. In the meantime, she pulled her cap down low over her ears to block out the derisive sound of Buttercup's laughter. She promised to ignore the two hobbits' pointed barbs, but it was not easy or pleasant.

If Aman wanted her to lift heavy boulders, so be it. Hawthorne had never been one for any kind of housework or cooking. She hated being stuck inside a burrow and preferred to be outside where she could hunt, fish, and work with the soil. She didn't know much about boulders but she was determined to learn. Her parents had disapproved of such activities on the part of a lady, but they were not here to tell her what to do. If it had not been for the awful devastation of the Inn, Hawthorne might actually have been relieved at being kicked out of the kitchen. Helping with the rebuilding was far more to her taste.

Wandering off by herself to the back courtyard of the Inn, she took out the one bag she had managed to salvage and began to write a letter. Deep in her pocket, she still had one silver coin. It was just enough to pay the shire post to Buckland. After that there were unlikely to be any more coins unless she went and begged some money off her servant. She was determined not to do that.

Before she sealed it, Hawthorne read over the contents:

Dearest Uncle Merry,

I am so sorry, but I have made an awful mistake. I went down to the kitchen this morning to try and make some breakfast to show folk I could be useful. Instead of making breakfast, I managed to catch fire to some oil and burn down the entire Inn. I know this is hard to believe but it is the awful truth.

Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt! I was so sure of myself and so very wrong in what I did!

I think the Innkeeper will be calling on you for supplies and workers. Would you do a favor for me? Next year, Great Aunt Opal is making me a gift of Birch Manor, that sits in the East Farthing. I want to do something to help repair this mess now. Could you extend me credit for a wagonload of fine timber and send it over with the supplies you are bringing. I will credit the receipts from Birch Manor for the first six months back to you.

Please don't tell anyone I'm doing this. They will only be more upset at me, I'm sure. I can not tell you how much I miss you. Needless to say, my blunders have not made me any friends. Daffodil is staying with Master Samwise so she is well out of all this. I am lonely and keep wondering if I did the right thing in coming here. Tomorrow I will start on hard labor hauling stones to help rebuild the foundation and repay a tiny bit of my debt. At this point I am looking forward to the work, since I won't have to think about other things and or listen to the others' gibes.

One last plea.....please don't tell my mother about this. She will only say "I told you so."

Your silly, sad niece,

Hawthorne


Hawthorne ate her stew in stony silence and found a blanket from the pile. She dragged herself into the stables and found a deserted spot up high in the hayloft. Then she buried her head under the hay and cried herself to sleep.