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Camille stood in the kitchen of the Inn energetically scrubbing a stack of dishes in a large tub of soapy water that Ruby had provided for her. When Camille had returned to the Dragon late that afternoon, Cook had given her a list of chores for the evening and said that she could ask Ruby or Buttercup for help if she encountered any special difficulties.
So far there had been no difficulties. Camille sang softly to herself as she did her chores, all the while reflecting on the events that had happened earlier that day. She had thanked Mithalwen for her offer of help and said that she would be most grateful if the Elf could assist in bringing her brother Rory up to the Dragon later that evening. Camille was actually delighted with this idea. If Mithalwen carried Rory, not only would this make it easier for Falco, but it would give her mother and Falco additional time to talk by themselves, which is just what Camille had hoped would happen. Perhaps Falco would even take her mother gently by the arm and guide her down the muddy path to be certain that she did not slip.
With everything settled so nicely, Camille had scurried off to her mother's burrow and explained what was happening, leaving out the parts about the dress in the bag or how she hoped that her Ma would get along nicely with Mister Falco. Hearing what was to happen, her mother had done some quick stitching and cutting so that her own spare dress would fit Camille. "Can't have you starting work at the Inn looking like a hooligan, can we now?" Her mother had listened with interest when Camille told her what was to happen later that evening and had laughed with approval, "Such a resourceful young lass! Doing a bit of laundry for a guest at the Inn is a good idea. Yes, if one of your friends can help Rory, we'll wait for them to come here and then walk together to the Inn for a little dinner. An evening out would be a rare treat." With the assurance that Rory and her mother would be joining her at the Dragon, Camille had trotted back to the Inn and reported to Cook for work.
Just as she finished scrubbing and rinsing the last of the dishes and platters, Buttercup hurried in and handed Camille a large sack of carrots and onions and another of mushrooms with instructions to clean and pare them. "Cook already has a stew simmering," Buttercup explained, "but it looks as if we're in for a big crowd tonight. We'll need an extra mushroom pie or two, and a pot of carrots cooked in butter. Just work on these vegetables and give them to Cook as soon as you finish." Camille immediately set to work with the cleaning and chopping, while keeping one eye on the Common Room to see when her mother and brother would arrive.
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