[mark12_30]

Lindo went straight from Maura's burrow to where Estel was digging in the snow for last year's grass. Estel nuzzled him, smearing half-chewed grass across his cheek and neck and down his shirt, and then returned absentmindedly to pawing. There wasn't much grass left, and he was working hard to live on what there was. He needed a new field.

"Tell me, old friend, " Lindo murmured. "Is my future far away, years away, or is it just around the corner, in tomorrow?" The pony dug, and dug for grass. "I have a choice to make, and it's one I don't like the sound of, " Lindo continued. "Nitir has become a good friend; friend! she's almost like a second mother. And Azra," Lindo recalled Azra's heartfelt apology of late last night, "Azra is fast becoming a treasure to me. Perhaps they are the closest friends I have among hobbits. But-- there are the children. There are all my little crawling, hungry, squealing mouths-to-feed, that want all their six hobbit-meals a day. And there are all my Valiant Snowhobbits, and their Assistant Junior Snowhobbits. And then there are all the ones that follow them, or that will follow them as soon as they are able. Hordes of little hobbits. " Lindo sighed again.

Estel wandered a few feet further, face buried in the snow up to his ears. Lindo tagged along. "Nitir and Azra are importnat to me, " he continued. "But they don't need me. The children do. But-- do they need me to go and help them, far in the future? That I build a future for them that I can't yet see, and don't understand? And don't know how to build?"

At that moment, he heard a tune. He turned, and saw four Valiant Snow-Hobbits standing in a line, at the edge of the clearing. They were waiting for him to finish with the pony, he thought with surprise. They were practically standing at attention, and they had a bucket of water for Estel. And to pass the time, they were singing their snowfight-song.

Tears filled his eyes, which he blinked away as best he could until they froze on his eyelashes, and then he waved the Snowhobbits over. They came. Retya led them. Tocca brought the bucket to Estel, who drank gladly. Tem looked up at Lindo with wide eyes.

"Mistress Nitir was crying, " he said. "We saw her."

"She was?"

"By the stream earlier, " said Retya. "With Maura. They talked and talked. I think they like each other."

"And then she was crying more today, " piped up Tocca.

"Now, listen, " Lindo said, suddenly very serious. "It's one thing to spy on orcs and... but... look, you leave Maura and Mistress Nitir in peace. Leave them alone."

"Why?" replied Rikko, with wide eyes.

"What a hobbit and a lady talk about in private is none of your business, " Lindo replied sternly. "For heavens' sake, show some respect. Don't ever do that again." The boys gave each other uneasy glances. "Good heavens, " Lindo continued, exhasperated. "Have I been this remiss in teaching you respect and manners? I guess I have. That will have to change. You are all going to learn to respect your elders."

"But, " said Retya. Lindo scowled at him. "But then, this morning she was crying again all by herself. Maura wasn't there. And then Azra came running and spoke to Mistress Nitir, and said that we would be marching tonight. Late. To the mountains."

Lindo glanced at the others, who nodded earnestly.

"Well, then, we've got packing to do. Let's head back to the workhouse, find out what's going on, and get busy. Whatever you do, remember the seeds you've saved from the garden last year. Now spread apart far enough to just keep each other in sight, and travel fast." The bucket was now empty, and Lindo handed it to Tocca. Then he turned to the pony. "You're free to come or not, as you choose, Estel, " Lindo told him. "But whatever you do, stay away from the orcs. All right?" And then he threw his arms around Estel's neck, and buried his face in his mane. Estel stopped digging long enough to nuzzle him again, and then snorted into the snow, back after the grass.

"Let's go, " Lindo said, and he and the boys spread out and headed for the woods, back towards the Workhouse.

Chewing meditatively, Estel watched them go, ears pricked forward and swishing his tail. Suddenly, Retya reappeared and ran back towards him. "Didn't you hear what he said? We're leaving tonight. Come on, or you'll break his heart!" And with that, Retya grabbed a handful of mane, expertly swung aboard Estel, and drumming with his heels, steered the pony towards the Workhouse so expertly that one might have thought Retya rode the pony like this every day.

As Lindo and the boys travelled back towards the Workhouse, they met the rest of the Valiant Snowhobbits headed out to the field. "We tracked you, " said Ponta to Lindo. "They say we are leaving tonight. What do you want us to do?" The Assistant Junior Snowhobbits brought up the rear, panting.

"I need to get my orders from Mistress Nitir, and then we will all know what to do, " Lindo said. "I suspect that we will be packing everything that we can carry for a long, cold, hard journey." And then for some reason he smiled, and added, "But don't worry. I'll be with you. I'm not leaving my Valiant Snowhobbits, nor the little ones either. Now let's go. Spread out, Juniors to the rear, and keep a sharp watch for orcs. Go."

The Snowhobbits didn't know why he promised them this, but they would figure it out eventually, Lindo thought. He would miss Nitir and Azra.

-------------

When they got to the camp, Lindo sought out Nitir, who toldhim there would be a council soon to decide things, but that it wouldn't hurt to start packing blankets, seeds, and food. Lindo set the Snowhobbits to work gathering up the seeds and the blankets, and told Nitir he would help with whatever was needed after he spoke with Ancalimon.

Ancalimon looked up expectantly when he saw Lindo coming. Lindo game and gazed up at him, and fought back tears. "I wish you, and Nitir, and Azra, all grace and strength, and that you accomplish all of your tasks, " he said. "But I choose to remain, and be a loremaster, and teach the children to hope for your return. Nitir tells me that your name means He Who Shines Brightest. You, and your pony too, represent hope to me. And so I will teach the young hobbits to hope, and to wait."

Ancalimon nodded; Lindo's answer did not surprise him. "And speaking of ponies, " Ancalimon said, "You haven't seen my little rascal lately, have you?"

"Whether you are speaking of Estel, or Retya, the answer is yes, " Lindo smiled, "but Retya left Estel just inside the woods, where the orcs don't go. That way. I can send Retya after him, or..."

Ancalimon waved, and giving Lindo a wry look, simply whistled. Estel trotted obediently out of the woods. "He's not out from under my authority just yet, " Ancalimon said wryly.

"Of course, sir."

"Now, if you'll assist me, " Ancalimon continued, with a general wave towards a large bulky bag, "You'll find his harness in there. A pair of traces, " he continued, "are leaning against the back of the building. And if I am not mistaken, I believe I saw some old cart somewhere... back... in... ah, here it is!"

Lindo helped Ancalimon wrestle the old logging cart out of where it was stored. "How did you get Estel's harness here?"

Ancalimon looked at Lindo with bright gleaming eyes, full of mischief, from under the brim of his hat. "That pony isn't the only creature in Middle Earth who understands me and aids me, " he replied. "Now mind your business, and harness that pony, unless you want me to have Retya do it."

Lindo shot him an indignant look, and Ancalimon responded with the smallest of smiles.

[ August 18, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]