[piosenniel]

She heard the insistent knocking on her door.

'By the One! Who could be waking her in the middle of the night! It must be about Bird. She must have taken a turn for the worse.'

She sat up in bed quickly and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes. Her bleary sight took in the fact the the bright sun was now pouring in her open window. The sound of a pony, whinnying, caught her attention.

She yawned mightily and said, 'Come in!', thinking it was Bethberry come to give her news of Bird.

It was the smiling face of Olo that met her eyes. 'You didn't come down for breakfast. So, I've brought some to you!. He placed the tray on the table by her bed,picked up a cup of the tea and handed it to her. Taking the second cup, he sat in the chair by the window and watched her savor the spicy aroma of the brew.

'Oh! I needed that!' she said, swallowing a large gulp of tea. 'You're a lifesaver, Olo!'
She took a bite of the fresh bread with honey and offered him the other slice.'But tell me, are the others already gathered downstairs? I think Gandalf had some plans for a meeting today and I really would like to go with them.'

'I saw none of your companions when I first went downstairs.' replied Olo, watching her efficiently deal with the bread and then move on to the fruit.

'Good! I still have time to get dressed and down there, then.' She licked the last drops of honey off her fingers and popped the last apple slice into her mouth. Looking down at the now empty plate, she blushed. 'I'm sorry! I've made a pig of myself, it seems. Here I've gone and eaten all of it and offered you hardly any!'

He laughed! 'Must have been a busy night for you to be so hungry, eh?' He took a small sip of tea. 'I heard something from the cook about hot water and an egg timer?!'

She told him that Bird had been hurt, editing out the skin-changing part, and that Bethberry and she had taken shifts to watch over her. 'I really must go and check on her again, and on Bethberry.'

Holly thanked him profusely once again for the food and drink, then shooed him from the room so that she could wash up and get dressed herself.

Cups and plate in hand, he exited, having first extracted a promise from her to meet with him later.