[piosenniel]

Holly grabbed some bread and fruit from the kitchen when she'd got up and raced down to the stable. She wanted to see to Peri and then take him out for a little excercise. She fed and watered him, along with Midnight, who had come nosing over for a piece of apple.

'You boys want to come with me for a little walk?' she asked after mucking out their stalls.

Taking the waggle of their ears at the tone of her voice as an assent, she lead them out the stable door and down the path toward the river. 'Just what we need!' she said to them over her shoulder - a nice ramble down along the river's edge and then we'll come home for lunch.'

They were well on their way to the water's edge, when a familiar voice hailed her.

'Wait up!' came the voice of Vorondil, stepping out from the shadow of some trees.

Holly shook her head in exasperation.'Please don't tell me you've come to drag my poor defenseless hobbit self back to the Inn! It's broad daylight and I have two mighty steeds to defend my honor!' Peri and Midnight stamped their front hooves and neighed at the approaching man.

A large grin creased the young Ranger's face. He held his bare hands out to the two horses and bowed his head. 'I surrender!' he laughed. 'And no, I've not come to take you back. I saw you walking and thought to keep you company for a while. That is, if you don't mind.'

'Don't mind at all!' she said. 'I'm going down to walk along the river's edge for a while. I saw a pretty place along there yesterday, and I hope to be able to sketch it. You can walk along as you like. You're pleasant company enough when you're not bossing people about!' She laughed as he blushed.

'Come on, then' she said, striding off. 'I want to get to that place before I lose the light I want.'

The two walked along companionably, making small talk, in the early morning sun.