[Child of the 7th Age]

Hawthorne sat and watched as the dancers twirled across the floor, her right foot tapping rhythmically in response to the spritely beat. The evening had been joyous. Zimzi and Derufin were so clearly in love that it was impossible not to be happy for them. A few hours before, she had sprung atop a table and vigorously danced the Springel-ring with one of the local lads, but now she was content to watch quietly while reflecting on everything that had happened that day. At least she had not disgraced herself. She had assisted with the party preparations and the Inn was still standing, which was a great deal better than the last time she'd visited.

After the handfasting ceremony, she had chased away a few rascals from the wagon bed who were attempting to remove the canvas in order to pry inside where the toys were hidden. Later, she and Mayor Samwise had passed out these presents to all the children who had come. There had been a vast array of mathoms to distribute: little metal cows that "mooed" when you yanked on their tails, young hobbit dolls that looked so lifelike you half expected them to cry, tambourines with jingling bells and long winding ribbons, along with a number of hobbit-sized fiddles and horns, and an assortment of intricately carved wooden figures. The latter were mostly representations of Elves. Hawthorne wondered where these had come from, since they didn't seem to be the sort of thing a dwarf craftsman would attempt. One of these figures, a representation of an Elf maid with flowing skirts and gentle face, had looked so lovely that Hawthorne had tucked it into the pocket of her skirt.

The children had hooted and hollered and tussled a bit over who got what until Mayor Samwise had stepped in to control the situation with a kind but firm hand. Everyone had finally agreed to behave and shake hands. Now the children were off in clustered groups, playing with their toys on the floor of the Common Room and on the steps that led up to the Inn's front door.

Hawthorne knew that the large cuckoo clock was still in the back of the wagon. She had decided to wait until the next day to present it to the couple. There were so many well wishers crowding about Zimzi and Derufin, and so many presents to be handed to the couple that it seemed better to wait for a quieter time.

The party was still lively, but a few of the families with younger children had left. They had collected their capes and hats as well as their little ones, along with the now empty dishes that they'd brought with them for the supper, waving good night to the other guests. Hawthorne stood up, stretched and yawned, wondering if she should cut short her celebration and turn in upstairs. Her thoughts were interrupted by the approach of two young lads who tugged insistently on her sleeve.

"You must go with us. Now!," one lad urged her. "Come to the wagon. You have to see."

She shook her head and laughed, thinking the boys were hoping to get some additional mathoms that had been left behind in the wagon. "No luck, lads. Sorry, but all the toys have been given out. I know the clock is still there. But that is for our young couple."

"It's not toys," the older of the two insisted. "It's a lass. Not a young lass, but a missus, though a tiny sprig of a thing even for a hobbit. More like my mother, actually. And she seems addled."

Intrigued by this description and wondering what was going on, Hawthorne sprinted out to the stables where the wagon was parked. From across the yard, she could see that one corner of the canvas had been thrown back to reveal a shadowy figure, a hobbit on her knees who was grabbing onto the side of the wagon, and wobbily trying to pull herself up. Whoever the stranger was, she made one last mighty effort and then failed, sinking back into the straw, apparently unconscious, and narrowly missing hitting her head on the clock.

"Quick," yelled Hawthorne to the hobbit at her side. "Go inside, and have one of the big folk or the older hobbits come and help. Perhaps the stranger's hurt or sick. I need someone to help me get her inside the Inn."

With that the lads took off.