[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami glared over at her stubborn friend, and grinned, "Not even born yet, and, like you, they already have strong opinions on life. Why am I not surprised?"

"But I am concerned. When is the last time you consulted with a healer Don't tell me you are an Elf, and need not bother with such things. Those children bear the blood of three races. Only one part of them is Elven."

"You are greatly concerned with running about and taking care of everyone else in this Inn! I fear you are forgetting that your little ones need some care too. Perhaps, the common sense hobbit part of their brains is squeeling for mercy, begging their mother to sit down and take a rest."

With some difficulty, Cami pushed another chair over and gently guided her friend into it. She knew she could get away with that for only a short while, and that, within a space of minutes, the Elf would likely find some pretense to be up and about again. Still, it was good to see her resting by the fire.

Cami barked out orders, "You there, Nuru, could you save one of the breakfast plates for Miss Pio. And make sure it is a big one. She has a hearty appetite as she is eating for herself and two others as well."

A few stared in their direction with raised eyebrows and strange looks. The Lonely Star was docked far away in Gondor and its tales were not known to most of the visitors at the Inn.

As the two women shared a moment near the blazing hearthfire, Cami laughed and reached over to poke her friend. "Look at us. We have sailed the Seas to great adventure, even consorting with Elves and Maia from the West, yet here we sit in an Inn of the Shire scratching our heads to figure out how best to run it, and to keep everyone both happy and content. I would almost swear this is the most difficult task we've had. Ah, the strange ways of life!"