Day had dawned bright and promising. Sunlight peeked through the crack in the curtains of Olo's room, finding him up, washed, and dressed already. He hummed a little to himself as he drew on his vest and went down for breakfast.
Once in the common room, he looked about for Holly, who had said she would see him at breakfast. His search was short-lived - the room was sparsely populated and there was no sign of her.
Determined to find her, he went into the kitchen to ask the cook if she'd seen Holly. 'No, I can't say as I have this morning. It's passing strange, though. Late last night she rushed down here and woke me up. She was rather flustered, saying something about a friend being hurt and needing to borrow a timer and a cup of hot water. Last I heard was her running back up the stairs.'
Olo blanched at this revelation. Someone was hurt? Holly must have been up all night tending her friend. He recovered his good hobbit sense quickly, and asked the cook for a small plate of bread, spread thick with honey, some fruit slices, and two strong cups of sweetspice tea.
'Thank you, Goodmistress!' he said as he maneuvered his way out the kitchen door, tray in hand.
'Olo!' cried the cook, 'Remind her to bring back the timer, if you please!' Directing this request to his quickly retreating back, she laughed out loud. 'My goodness!' she said to herself. 'I haven't seen one of the Gardener lads so worked up since his older brother, Odo courted Ms. Eglantine.' She laughed again, shaking her head, and thought 'Well, I'll be!'
[ July 25, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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