[Mithadan]

Mithadan lay on a cot in a cell in the Lockholes, wondering at the ignominious end to which his journey appeared to have come. "Well," he thought, "if they ever let me out, I could always take that Stoat character up on his offer..." His eye remained shut and his wrists ached from his bonds, though the Shirriff had at least released his legs from the makeshift shackles. There came a knock on the cell door, then a key turned in the lock. Halfred entered with a somewhat chastened look on his face.

"Get up...please...Mithadan," he said as if struggling to speak the words. Mithadan wriggled himself to a sitting position and rose, only to be rewarded by a solid wallop on the head from the low ceiling. His knees wavered and he nearly collapsed back down onto the cot. Then he steadied himself and stood hunched before Halfred. "Yes, Master Shirriff?" he asked. In answer, Halfred stepped forward, drew a knife and cut the ropes which had bound his wrists. "Come with me...please," said the Shirriff.

Rubbing his wrists and hands, Mithadan followed the Hobbit from the cell. In the guardroom outside, he was able to straighten to his full height. Halfred spoke to one of his deputies before leading Mithadan out to the office. "Gather his things, all of them, and return them to him." Mithadan's eyebrows arched. "Are you escorting me to the border, then?" he asked. The Shirriff looked back darkly at the Man. "No." It was clear that he wished the answer were otherwise.

As Mithadan entered the office, he saw a tall dark-haired figure wrapped in a blue cloak. "Pio!" He rushed forward and took her in his arms, in the process butting his stomach against her belly. He looked down with a smile, then turned slightly to the side before bringing his lips to hers...