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Birdland · 03-05-2003, 01:31 AM

Bird sat, surrounded by Hobbits, a smile frozen on her face as a pudding missile sailed past her ear and splatted on the bar front. The bench she sat on was Halfling sized, a comfortable seat for Farmer Maggot and the tiny gammer seated across from her, but Birdie's knees were folded up practically under her chin, and she had to bend around them to reach her plate or goblet. She had not asked for a higher chair, feeling that to do so would in some way draw attention to her (relative) height, and make her stand out.

But it was not the size of the bench that made Bird's shoulders tense. She was acutely aware that she was breaking the very laws of the Shire by being here, and from the covert looks that were being shot at her from the round, middle-aged Halfling to her left, others were aware of it as well.

Bird knew it was only by the grace of Cami and Pio that she was sitting here, and that the Halflings - though small and known for their light-heartedness - could be formidable when it came to protecting their borders from "outsiders". Bird had not forgotten Lindo and Maura at the seige of Gondolin, and her usually sharp tongue was held in firm check as the children's arsenal expanded into the cider and frumenty.

She studiously ignored the hissed whispers being flung back and forth across the table, and was trying to concentrate on her plate, but the sharp, black eye of the tiny halfing in front of her, (Amarante? Emeranta?), caught her attention. The skinchanger raised her wine glass and nodded across the table to the matriarch. "Your children are quite charming, and seem to be enjoying the party throughly. Are any of these your grandchildren?"

Amaranthas gave a loud snort "Hah! These brats? I'd not claim a one of them. You'd never see children of my generation, those who lived through the Fell Winter, wasting food in such a manner."

Then quick as lightening, Amaranthas stood up and lobbed a grape swiftly across the room, clipping Frodo-Lad soundly on the ear. Then she sat down again and whispered across to Bird; "Of course, the Fell Winter was quite a few years back."

Birdie threw back her head and laughed out loud, drawing another disgruntled look from Fatty Bolger.

[ March 05, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]

03-05-2003, 01:31 AM	#112
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Bird sat, surrounded by Hobbits, a smile frozen on her face as a pudding missile sailed past her ear and splatted on the bar front. The bench she sat on was Halfling sized, a comfortable seat for Farmer Maggot and the tiny gammer seated across from her, but Birdie's knees were folded up practically under her chin, and she had to bend around them to reach her plate or goblet. She had not asked for a higher chair, feeling that to do so would in some way draw attention to her (relative) height, and make her stand out. But it was not the size of the bench that made Bird's shoulders tense. She was acutely aware that she was breaking the very laws of the Shire by being here, and from the covert looks that were being shot at her from the round, middle-aged Halfling to her left, others were aware of it as well. Bird knew it was only by the grace of Cami and Pio that she was sitting here, and that the Halflings - though small and known for their light-heartedness - could be formidable when it came to protecting their borders from "outsiders". Bird had not forgotten Lindo and Maura at the seige of Gondolin, and her usually sharp tongue was held in firm check as the children's arsenal expanded into the cider and frumenty. She studiously ignored the hissed whispers being flung back and forth across the table, and was trying to concentrate on her plate, but the sharp, black eye of the tiny halfing in front of her, (Amarante? Emeranta?), caught her attention. The skinchanger raised her wine glass and nodded across the table to the matriarch. "Your children are quite charming, and seem to be enjoying the party throughly. Are any of these your grandchildren?" Amaranthas gave a loud snort "Hah! These brats? I'd not claim a one of them. You'd never see children of my generation, those who lived through the Fell Winter, wasting food in such a manner." Then quick as lightening, Amaranthas stood up and lobbed a grape swiftly across the room, clipping Frodo-Lad soundly on the ear. Then she sat down again and whispered across to Bird; "Of course, the Fell Winter was quite a few years back." Birdie threw back her head and laughed out loud, drawing another disgruntled look from Fatty Bolger. [ March 05, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]