By the time the Ranger had pried himself from beneath his warm quilts and limped his way into the common room, the place was abuzz with wild rumor. Clusters of small folk whispered with fierce intensity within their own little knots and exclaimed aloud to others as bits and pieces of other tales claimed their attention.
Hithadan’s eyes widened as his ears caught the excited gabble from a group near him. ‘Kidnapped! So’s I heard,’ one of the young bucks said in a rushed voice, his head bobbing up and down for emphasis. ‘Or maybe worse,’ he went on, his voice pitched lower to underscore the gravity of the happening. ‘Murdered, even, the poor old gal.’
‘’What about them wolves?’ one of the gaffers at the table near the fireplace asked, his voice rising to the fore. ‘Didn’t drag her off, did they?’ He pointed his pipe stem at one of his confederates. ‘You know she always was out in her garden first thing of a morning – picking the veg and herbs for the day.’ His friend nodded his head at the truth of the gaffer’s words. ‘Likely she was caught up in squashing those snails as had attacked her cabbage plants’ leaves. Didn’t hear ‘em ‘til they’d come right up on her.’ The elder Hobbits nodded knowingly as if this indeed had been what happened.
‘Who?’ quizzed the now uneasy Ranger. ‘Who’s gone missing?’
Before one of the old fellows could answer, the door to the Perch flew open. Backed by the bright morning light, a stout looking figure stood black in the entryway, his shadow thrown long across the wood floor.
‘Now what’s all this about Mistress Cela and her disappearance?’ the dark figure barked. ‘Not your pipe dreams and such,’ he went on, giving a meaningful look about the room. ‘Who’s really seen something, or heard such. He stepped further into the room, where the light from the morning fire picked out his features.
Shiriff Rusty Smallburrow motioned for Will to come in alongside him. ‘Let’s all calm down and get this sorted, shall we. Will here’ll help me get this organized.’ He clapped his companion on the shoulder and smiled reassuringly. ‘I’m sure it’s all just a misunderstanding of some sort.’ He hooked his thumbs authoritatively in his braces. ‘Be cleared up soon and we’ll all be back to enjoying one of Mistress Cela’s fine feeds.’