[Child of the 7th Age]

Nurumaiel's post:

Bowman looked around uncertainly at everyone having fun. A sorrowful expression came to his face when he saw Sam and Elanor dancing. All those children were such friends! I'm just a rude and nasty boy who could never make any friends, Bowman thought, and he turned. He had no business at the party, anyway.
He went to the front hall and grabbed his coat, slipping it on. He tried to shut out the laughter and singing. It was a great struggle he had with the front door, trying to open it. But not because the front door was stubborn… because he was reluctant. At last his hand fell on the knob and swiftly twisted it and pulled. A gust of fresh air hit his face. The sky was beginning to grow dark. He stepped out of Bag End.

"Bowman Proudfoot, where do you think you're going?" a voice said behind him. "The party's not over yet."

He turned, startled, and found himself looking up into the face of Mr. Bilbo. Tears threatened to come to his eyes, but he fought off and scowled upwards. "I decided this party is no fun," he said. "There are too many girls dancing and singing and acting like ninnies."

Bilbo looked amused. "Well, if you don't want to be in there with those 'ninnies,' why don't you come outside with me? I need some fresh air."

"Well… all right," said Bowman, pretending to be very reluctant. But it had been a struggle to keep from shouting with joy.

"Let me get my coat," said Bilbo. "It's rather chilly out there."

A minute later, Bowman Proudfoot and Bilbo Baggins were sitting on the doorstep, gazing up at the stars in silence. Bowman never once glanced back at the door to wonder what everyone was doing out there. He was too happy.

Bilbo was the first to break the silence by saying, "I want to thank you, Bowman, for all the help you've given us."

Bowman looked up, stunned. "I don't deserve any thanks, Mr. Bilbo," he said, and could hardly believe what he was saying. "I've only been mean this whole time."

"Bowman, everyone learns sometimes. And though I don't agree with everything you did, I think it was good for Cami and Marigold to learn that there are people who can act like that, and that sometimes you have to go a little deeper to find what people are thinking and feeling. Bowman, I know you didn't want to act the way you did. You didn't want to appear 'girly.' You wanted to look like a man. But I know that you knew you weren't acting like one."

"That's right," said Bowman hoarsely. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bilbo."

"And you're forgiven. I suppose I won't spoil your fun of being a man so soon, and so suddenly," he added after a pause.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I'll tell Cami and Marigold that you're sorry, and we can all meet here say… next week, and you can apologize to them in person."

Bowman opened his mouth to protest, then bowed his head and nodded. "Yes, Mr. Bilbo."

"Now, Bowman. What did you think of Cami?"

"She was wonderful, Mr. Bilbo!" said Bowman, thinking of how great any girl was that would stand up to a tough man like himself like that. "Well, that is… for a girl. You know girls."

Bilbo thought with a grimace of Lobelia. "Yes, my lad, I do. Now, shall we go back and join the party? No doubt you want to do some dancing?"

Bowman sighed. "No one would want to dance with me," he said.

Bilbo led him into the house once more, and they hung up their coats on the coat rack. "Well, Bowman, we'll just have to see about that. We'll just have to see."

And the first thing that happened to Bowman when he stepped into the room was Primrose asking him if he'd like to dance.
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Child's post:

It was the morning after the party. All the fun was over, and the clean-up was done. Bilbo had gone to Cami's family, and arranged for her to return to Bag-end that next morning with a small rucksack packed for a journey of several days.

"Where are we going?" Cami asked.

"To Woody End, just north of Woodhall."

"Why are we going there?"

"Cami Goodchild, I said I wanted to give you a treat for sticking to your promise, and putting up with Bowman. But don't ask too many questions, or I'll send you home. I will say that the autumn is a particularly good time to visit Woody End." Cami decided to be very quiet, since she was curious what she might see at Woody End, and had no desire to go back home, at least just yet.

Bilbo had rented ponies from the livery at the Green Dragon Inn for the thirty mile trip to the East Farthing where Woody End was situated. The journey was generally pleasant, since a good deal of it lay over the Stock Road, a well maintained thoroughfare extending from Tuckborough to Woodhall. They reached their general destination by the late afternoon and then left the road to cut into the pleasant shaded groves.

Cami's eyes widened with surprise as they headed into the woods. They found a small grove to set up camp, and soon had a fire going with plenty of good things to eat. The tangled boughs of the oaks hung overhead, but there was still enough moonlight filtering down between the leaves to see everything very clearly. After a good dinner, and much talk, the campfire burned low, and the three of them settled in for the night.

Cami had little experience on the back of a pony, so that her bones ached horribly fom riding all day. Altough she fought to keep her eyes open, she soon found herself yawning, her head drooping onto the ground. Cami wasn't sure how long she'd actually slept, but the next thing she could remember was Bilbo shaking her gently and whispering into her ear. "Get up now, or you'll miss everything."

Cami rubbed her eyes and looked into the woods. There was a small band of folk heading east. Sweet songs were rising from their lips, ballads of journeys and the beauty of the land. Cami had never heard such singing in all her life, but she could understand very little of it, since it seemed to be in a tongue different than her own. As the singers came closer, the hobbits could see their tall, graceful forms, and the light that glimmered from their eyes.

"Will they stop?" Cami whispered urgently to Frodo, hoping beyond hope that this would happen.

Frodo shook his head and whispered back, "I'm not sure. Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. But if they speak to anyone it will be Bilbo. Some of them know him."

As if in response to Cami's wish, the group suddenly halted and the Elf in front looked over towards the hobbits. "Master Bilbo, all hail to you." The Elf spoke in Westron so Cami could understand.

Bilbo doffed his cap and bowed, "The same to you."

"You have brought two friends with you today. I recognize the one but not the other."

"Yes, that is my dear nephew, whom you've seen many a time. But the other is one of my students. And in all my days I've never seen a child who so likes tales of Elves, and the days of Beleriand."

The Elf laughed. The noise sounded like a tinkling bell to Cami. "Then she is indeed a child wise beyond her years."

Cami felt her breath come short, and bowed her head to acknowledge the kind words of the Elf. Then Bilbo and the Elf talked of a number of things. Cami even thought she heard something about Bilbo being more than welcome to come to Rivendell someday.

In a minute or two, it was over. The Elves continued on. The hobbits returned to their camp, and lay down for the night. Cami snuggled down in her bedroll dreaming of Elves and Elvish cities, and how she would visit one someday. She said thank you to Bilbo for bringing her to see such a wondrous sight. Then just before she fell asleep, Cami whispered to Frodo, "Someday I'm going to have an Elvish friend."

"That's not too likely," he responded, "although it would be a nice thing to happen."

"I will Frodo. Wait and see. I'll make friends with an Elf lady, and she and I will tell each other secrets."

Frodo's only response was a kindly chuckle just before he fell asleep. Cami lay awake several more minutes, staring up at the stars. I mean it, Frodo Baggins. I really do. Then she too rolled over and slept.

[ March 18, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]