[Nurumaiel]

Child's post

Marigold had gone blithely tripping down the path, holding a basket of apples out in front of her, as well as a purse stuffed with coins that she made sure to jingle loudly. When she got to the place on the path where Belle had fallen, she threw herself to the ground, acting as if she had tripped and hit her head against a rock. Marigold remained sprawled and silent on the grass, apparently unconscious. It was at this point that Lotho chose to emerge.

Lotho looked cautiously from side to side. There was no sign of any other hobbit in sight. He knelt down by Marigold and wiggled the purse out from under her outstretched hand. He carefully opened the bag and was about to reach in and take out his prize, when something caused him to stop.

Bowman slipped out from behind the tree and came running as fast as his legs would carry him. He dove directly at Lotho, launching himself in the air like an arrow speeding from a bow. With a great 'splat,' the two bodies came together on the ground. Bowman on top, and Lotho underneath. Marigold suddenly revived, and wrenched a stick out from beneth her skirts, leaning over and holding it directly above Lotho's head.

Cami finally caught up with the rest, and stood looming above them, waving Lotho's coat with its missing button. "Alright," she growled. "You've got a simple choice here. You've hidden Bilbo's coins in your purse. Hand those over, and we'll conventiently forget all this."

"And, if not?" Lotho spluttered.

"If not," glared Cami, "I take this coat to the shirriff along with the missing button and explain how I found that button the day after Belle was hurt. And how your mother lied about it to Mister Bilbo. And maybe I'll tell them about this morning too."

Bowman stood up. Even though he was younger, he was only a few inches shorter than Lotho, and, being a hefty lad, Bowman actually weighed a pound or two more. Bowman had brought along a pitchfork which he now began pointing menacingly at the older hobbit. "Go on, you worthless piece of nothing. Picking on a stupid little girl who can't defend herself. You make me sick! If you want to fight, fight me."

Lotho looked from Marigold to Bowman to Cami, and back to Bowman again. He backed up a fewsteps and shook his head. "You give me that jacket back, and maybe you'll get your money." Then he yanked his change purse out and, full of anger, counted out the coins into Cami's hand, just as Maroigold threw the jacket over his head.

During all of this, Bowman kept the pitchfork aimed right for Lotho's middle and gave him one small jab in the behind before the older hobbit recovered and took off down the path, racing away as quickly as he could.

The three children stood jubilant facing each other. "I do believe we've done it, ladies." Bowman grinned and actually reached over and shook hands with Cami. Then he carefully pulled back his hand and wiped it off on his breeches, to make sure that it wasn't too corrupted from having touched a girl.

Later that afternoon, the children returned to Bag-end, and handed the coins over to Bilbo. Cami invented a wild story about Lotho having the money by mistake and not remembering. At the end of the story, Bilbo looked down at them, a slight smile on his face, and gave a decided wink in the direction of the children. "Let's keep this our secret." Cami and Marigold and Bowman all nodded solemnly and went back to their work making decorations.

[ March 14, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ March 15, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]