[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami had curtsied and greeted the Mayor of Hobbiton courteously at the door, along with his wife and bevy of children. She had spent a moment or two with the hobbit couple, sharing their reminiscences about childhood days, before the two of them excused themselves and went off to find Frodo.

A short while later, Sam's wife came walking back. Despite Miz Rose's habitually courteous manner, Cami could see signs of weariness and hurting in both her face and gait. "Miz Rose, let me help you." Cami proferred her arm, and led her friend towards a bench along the wall.

Miz Rose looked up with tired eyes, and whispered. "I have a great favor to ask you, Cami, and I hope it will not be a burden. I expect Sam will be busy with Frodo for some time. Could you find me a quiet cot near the back of the Inn, where I could lay down and rest for a little? Please wake me in a short while, as I've a piece of business to attend to, and I don't want to miss the dinner. Plus, the children shouldn't fret because I'm not here."

"Don't worry, Miz Rose. Come and use my bed. I'll keep half an eye on your brood, and make sure they're fine." Cami escorted Miz Rose to the back of the Inn, and was very happy to set little Hamfast near her with some pots and pans from the kitchen. She remained at the table, keeping one eye on the assortment of Gamgees, most of whom seemed to be doing just fine as they scampered in and out of the Inn.

Cami looked about the circle of guests, compiling a short list in her head of exactly who was talking with whom. Frodo's companions were crowded about him noisily discussing old times and new. As for Bilbo, he'd made his way up to Amaranthas and her Bolger kin and was listening to an upate on Shire news, a topic which never ceased to amuse him

But all this social chatter still left one question unanswered..... Why was she here? Perhaps to talk with her teacher, or to be an aunt to Piosenniel's little ones, or even to have her friend remind her of some very basic things.

Pio had been right. The hobbit had little rational hope that the veil of time would suddenly split in two for her personal convenience. But there was still 'estel' or 'trust,' that feeling which lies deeper. Cami believed no one could live without such a little winged bird dwelling in the heart. So she vowed to keep that piece of love and trust alive, for whatever reason she'd been returned to the Shire.

'Amdir' and 'estel.' These concepts were not new. Her mind reached back to when she'd first heard them. And then, with a jolt, she remembered. It was the night in Beleriand when she and Maura had found Andreth's journal, and began to share their feelings for each other. Cami had to laugh. No matter how much she tried to put those things out of her head, it was as if she was continually running in circles. Wherever she started out, her thoughts ended up in the same place again.

Thinking about Maura reminded Cami that she needed to speak with Fatty to clear up their problem. But she quickly realized that this might not be a good time. Hamfast would not make such a discussion easy, either from the practical vantage of managing a noisy baby, or the fact that having Sam's son staring him in the face would bring little consolation to Fatty. Any thought of the conversation was dropped as Hamfast began crying out shrilly for his mother. Cami scooped up the baby and went off to awaken Miz Rose, recalling that her friend had mentioned something before about a piece of unfinished business.

[ March 04, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]