[Child of the 7th Age]

As the day wore on, Cami found to her embarassment that she was doing more talking than working. Loremaster insisted she speak with as many hobbits as possible so he took on most of the chores. Only when guards unexpectedly appeared did Cami get down to the serious business of mucking out the caves.

All the hobbits had been warned about her visit. Wherever she went, they swarmed about, shyly asking her to kiss their children or tugging gently at her skirts to make sure she was real. Many asked where Azra was. Once or twice, guards gave her a curious stare. She tried not to draw attention, but it was difficult.

In the afternoon, Loremaster and Cami walked back to the place where they'd left Rose. The trench was coming along nicely. It had grown deeper and longer by a considerable amount. Cami shuddered at the thought of the large mounds of garbage which would soon be piled up in such an unlikely location. She shook her head to see the folly of it all.

Loremaster spoke with the guard who'd been there since the morning. He had placed himself in charge of the project. Now that the trench was finshed to his satisfaction, he agreed to let Rose return with them.

By late afternoon, Cami and Rose were finally on their way to the Locks, armed with shovels and cloth sacks. Arriving at the enclosure, Gamba barely tipped his head to them, enough to acknowledge their presence but not to alert the guards.

Rose went into the large communal cell. Anee stood by and held the sack open while she completed her tasks. None of these prisoners had been told of the rescue, but Anee whispered that she would do this the next afternoon. With guards so close, and no place to hide conversations, it was too risky to let the hobbits know earlier than that.

Cami had cleaned out Pansy's cell, and now waited impatiently for the guard to bring the key for the door to Daisy. He addresed her in a gruff tone, telling her to hurry about her business. Cami knew she would only have a moment or two, not enough for real conversation. But at least Daisy would know that she was here, and they would do their best to get all of them out.

Slowly, the door swung back and Cami stepped inside the dark enclosure. How very grim! When Daisy saw her friend, her jaw dropped open in surprise. Fearing that she might cry out, Cami ran up and placed a hand over her mouth.

"No, little one, sha, sha. We don't want anyone to hear." Few words passed between them. Daisy stood close, and lay her head on Cami's shoulder. The older woman hugged the girl tight, said how much she missed her, and told her not to give up hope. It seemed like only a few seconds before the key began turning in the lock. They quickly separated. Daisy looked at Cami with tears in her eyes.

There was little more that could be done to help until the rescue. But, before she left, Cami whispered under her breath, "Only a little longer. Just hold on!"

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]