[alaklondewen]

Ferd sat at the kitchen table in his home in the Great Smials. The table was lavished with breads of various kinds, cream, jellies, cakes, and fruit…and it was all for him. His mouth watered with anticipation. A warm fire burned in the fireplace on his right, and he could hear a voice singing a rhyme his mother used to sing when he was lad. Reaching out he took hold of a large, warm roll with one hand and some cream with the other. The food moved slowly toward his mouth…”Ferd! Ferd! Wake up!” Instantly the food was gone and Ferd opened his heavy eyes to see Olo standing over him shaking. “Something’s out there…we’re being watched.”

Ferd jumped to his feet with his head reeling. “What?! What is it?” No one answered him, but the other hobbits were standing around the fire bracing themselves for some unknown attack.

Dropping to his knees, Ferd searched the dark ground groping for his walking stick. Finding it just three or four feet away from where he slept, he grasped it sternly with the large knot facing outward and stood back up.

His heart racing Ferd worked to gather all the courage he could muster. He turned his head back and forth not knowing which direction the danger lied.