[Child of the 7th Age]

Night was just settling over the camp. So much had happened in the day, and yet there were still so many unanswered questions. After they had come back to the Workhouse, Nitir had spoken with Bird for a long time. She had learned that the Star had sailed on a special recon mission just as her friend had left the ship. They were visiting one of the ports where they had reason to believe the hobbits would be taken at some point in the future, searching for information or even possible allies to aid them.

Nitir asked in a broken voice why the jackdaw had not stayed with the ship, and helped make that mission a success. She had shaken her head and laughed, "Because I missed you and Rose, you blockheads, and I wanted to make certain you were all in one piece."

For a long time, they had discussed the problems Rose was getting into. Nitir was an experienced mother and could see signs that, whatever she suggested, Rose was determined to say and do the opposite. In normal circumstances, this would not have been a serious problem. Hobbit households didn't generally have a lot of complicated rules. Young people clearly understood there were some things that could and couldn't be done. But, within those guidelines, there was considerable freedom, especially for those who had reached their teens or tweens.

But a prison camp was not a normal situation. And young Rose was looking more and more as if she might say or do something that could bring sorrow down on their heads. Child did not want that. She knew Rose well enough that the girl might jump first and ask questions later. She also feared that, once Rose had done something, she would never forgive herself if some innocent hobbit child ended up slaugtered as part of that bargain.

Child asked Bird to please try to think of some way that Rose could be given a task that involved the rescue of the hobbits. It should be something meaningful, perhaps even a bit risky, but something that fit into the overall plan which was carefully thought out.

At first, Child wasn't certain what that task might be But, as they talked, Maura had unexpectedly barged into her small room, as he had done so many times before. Only this time, Child was having a full blown, serious conversation with a small bird.

Child had turned around to explain, when Maura shrugged his shoulders and laughed, "A shapechanger? Nitir, you're full of surprises. I've never seen one, but my grandfather told me about them when he passed down the lore."

Then, he turned to Bird, and politely welcomed her to the hobbit community. Within a moment, he remembered the dinner scene in Gondolin which now seemed so very long ago. He could recall the jackdaw sitting on the chairback with Abar feeding her scraps of food. He also had a more comic memory of Lindo's complaints about Azra's "attack bird".

The three immediately fell together in talk. "The council has some indication that there's something afoot among the Orcs. We have no idea what it is, but it almost seems that some of the guards are beginning to pack up their gear. We'd love to have a better idea what's going on. If you could get your friend Rose assigned as a servant in Orc headquarters, she could bring us information. I've noticed that the girl has real skill in slinking about undetected and hearing things that shouldn't be heard."

Maura laughed, but wouldn't say anything further. Child had the definite feeling that Rose may have been tending the flowers at Maura's house as a neighborly good deed, while she was careuly listening to the deliberations of the hobbit council.

Child thought having Rose as a spy would be an excellent idea. She asked Bird to speak with her about it.

Maura looked at Nitir and asked, "Why don't you just do it yourself?"

But Nitir shook her head in exasperation, "If you tell her it was my idea, she'll run a hundred miles away."

"Hobbit families! Maua laughed. "Remind me to tell you some stories about when Zira was in her teens." Then he turned towards Bird. "Well, I guess you've been nominated for the job. Please make sure she understands there's real danger here. She must be careful. And Bird, make sure she carries no weapon. We don't want any more children execurted because she does something foolish. Azra has enough wits and stealth as a burglar, she should be able to get a look at their maps and plans, and let us know what is happening."

Bird had nodded in agreement, and promised to speak with Rose. Then Maura had asked Nitir if she wanted to join him and Zira on a short nightime walk.

[ August 17, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]