[piosenniel]

Cook speaks to Camille

Not wanting to be left behind, Cook stood up and followed along behind the giant of a man. His long strides carried him quickly to the kitchen doors, while she bustled along at a dead run. Breathless, she entered behind him, to find a young, dirty, ragamuffin of a child the center of the crowd’s attention.

‘What’s all this?’ she asked, drawing Buttercup aside. She listened carefully, nodding her head, as Buttercup filled her in on the ‘facts’. The urchin was a girl; Camille Hedgeburrow, to be exact. The dog it seemed had come into the kitchen looking for Ginger and ferreted out the lass who was hiding in the pantry. The child had stolen a dress meant for another Hobbit lass, along with a loaf of bread and the remnants of two apples from the apple crisp.

‘A generous offer,’ said Cook hearing Mr. Headstrong’s proposal. ‘I do think a meal is better than a visit from the Shiriff. But if it were me, I would not be giving the lass Mistress Marigold’s dress so easily.’ She stepped up to where Camille stood and put the fingers of her right hand beneath the girl’s chin, drawing it up to look her in the eye. ‘You’re a wee one, but you look able-bodied enough, despite the meals you’ve missed. And you look sorry enough you took the dress and proud enough not to want a hand-out if you were given the chance to earn it for yourself. Isn’t that so? Or I have I read you wrong?’