[The Perky Ent]

"What's on your mind Samuel?" Arthur said, pulling up a chair and lighting another candle. Samuel took two deep breaths before he released his thoughts. "I saw Grimbrol while I was comming here. He seemed very upset" "Don't talk about that stealing maggot in front of me! I hope I never hear of him again" Arthur said, banging the hilt of his sword on a table. "He got what he deserved!" "What he deserved? His family starves and is poor? Is that what he deserves? He's only trying to make a living. We're all not as good gamblers are you are, you know. It's the only way he knows how to make money!"Samuel said, raising his voice ever so slightly. "Are you saying gambling is the only way to make money? There's many ways! Working at the pond! That's one way! But that wasn't good enough for him! He stole from me! Are you saying stealing should go un-punished?

"If it's just" Samuel whispered, pulling his candle back, to slightly dim the light of the room. For a while there was silence. Sam could tell that Arthur was building up with rage. The name kind of rage he had inherited from his father. "Look Sam! To me it's very simple! This isn't directly from King Eomer! It's my pond, on my land, on my family's estate! This isn't a public job. I hand pick the people who work for me. It's my business, and I can decide what to do with it. It's none of your business what happens. Forgot it. What's done is done, and I wash my hands of the matter. Now get over here and help me pack!" Sam sat stiffly, but dared not push Arthur any further. He smoked another bit of pipeweed, and got up to help Arthur.

After about an hour, Arthur was packed and ready to go. Just as he walked for the door, Samuel summoned him back. "What Sam?" Arthur said, putting his bags, which were mostly filled of pipeweed, down. "I'm having second thoughts about this trip! What if we don't come back! I think it's foolish alltogether!" Once again, a awkward silence filled the room. "Don't worry brother! If something happens, I'll take care of you" And with that, they left the house, mounted their horses, and rode to Harold's house.