[piosenniel]

‘Now what does that wizard want?’ Bird perched on the pile of packs that had been stacked hastily against a nearby maple tree, watching Holly sort through her drawing supplies. She flew to the Hobbit’s shoulder peering in the small back pack open in front of her. A sheaf of drawing paper, of no special quality had been, secured within a stiff leather notebook, and a number of charcoal drawing sticks of differing hardness had been placed in the front pocket of the pack, along with a small pen knife to sharpen them to points as needed.

Holly was busy, preparing to go on the mapping expedition with Gandalf. She glanced at the westering sun, and wished the wizard had elected to take Andreth on this fool’s errand of his. Map the cursed castle! She had seen the condition of the Man who had stumbled from it, and here she was heading toward it. And how was she to know that Gandalf would get them back before it got truly dark.

‘The wizard wants to stroll around the castle and map the perimeter.’ Holly stuffed her pockets with round stones from the pouch at the side of the big pack, and secured her sling to her belt. A skin of water and some dried fruit she put in the side pocket of her back pack, along with several tapers and a flint set to light them. Olo had lent her his thick walking stick, and she placed it near the small pack in readiness.

She spied Gandalf coming toward her, his staff in hand, looking ready for their trek. Holly put on her cloak and fastened it at the neck. She flung it back at the shoulders, easing her arms through the straps of her small pack, and picked up the walking stick. She paused as she strode forward to meet him, and turned back to wave to Bird. ‘Now where has she gone off to?’ she wondered, looking up toward the branches of the surrounding trees.

By then Gandalf had met up with her, and they turned their course in the direction of the castle . . .

[ January 22, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]