[Child of the 7th Age]

Hawthorne stretched and yawned over breakfast. The tables set up outside were half empty. Most of the others had already finished eating, heading out to whatever job they'd picked to help rebuild the Inn. She was indeed late getting up, but then she'd been up half the night roaming the woods and hills to work on something special. This time, she was very careful to pick a project that didn't involve the kitchen, or anything that could possibly lead to disaster. She stretched and yawned again, staring down intently at her hands. The palms were calloused from the heavy work of hauling stones; dirt lay underneath her nails. She wrinkled her nose and sniffed. She'd best wash her hands and arms again, since there was a definite smell of horse manure left over from the night before.

Hawthorne had begun her special project in the very back of the Inn's courtyard, in a secluded niche under the trees just behind some bushes. Few of the Inn guests normally ventured here, and she had fenced off the area with a series of stakes and ropes. She rushed through breakfast and hurried outside to get a second look. Things were progressing nicely. Setting her project immediately outside the kitchen window might have made more sense but Hawthorne could not bear to be anywhere near the kitchen. And she wanted it to be a surprise so she had chosen a more secluded location. She hoped Cook wouldn't mind the extra walk.

Ruby and Buttercup still weren't speaking to her. Whenever she walked past them, they put their heads together and scowled or giggled, pointing a finger in her direction. Hawthorne tried to avoid them, but it was hard when their bedrolls lay so close. If Aman had thought that putting the three of them together would soften their relations, she had definitely guessed wrong.

The news about Cook's return to the Inn had spread like wildfire among the Inn staff. Hawthorne inwardly groaned at the thought of that meeting. Everything she'd heard about Cook had led her to believe that it would not be a pleasant one. Cook was a formidable woman indeed, and would not take the news of Hawthorne's transgression lightly. Still she was trying to do her best now, and hoped that would count for something.

Glancing up, Hawthorne noticed a truckload of logs come rolling onto the Inn grounds. It was the second such wagon in as many days. She bounded over to meet the driver and shouted out a greeting.

"Grimbold Goodchild! It's so good to see someone from home. Daffordil's gone off on a sightseeing tour of the Shire, and left me all alone. And the folk here aren't exactly friendly, at least some of them." She gestured with her hand over to the makeshift kitchen where Ruby and Buttercup were cleaning up the last of the breakfast.

Grimbold grinned back, "I heard what happened. Look it's going to take a while. And these folk just aren't used to Brandybucks! But I have some news. When the Inn reopens and they have a party, your uncle plans to come down and visit." Then he lowered his voice, "Master Meriadoc wanted me to tell you that he did what you asked. About the timber, that is. He'll take the receipts out of the farmstead when it's gifted to you next year."

Hawthorne smiled, "I'm glad to hear that. I'd love to stay and catch up on gossip, but duty calls." Master Regin was calling to Hawthorne from across the courtyard, urging her to hurry and catch up with the crew that was going out to look for stones for the fireplace in the Common Room. She picked up her skirts and ran over to the group of workmen that was just setting out towards The Water.