[piosenniel]

Cami had somehow finagled the Elf, in her usual way, into doing a chore for her. And now Pio found herself sitting at the kitchen table of the Inn after the Hobbit had left, with a stack of invitations that needed delivering this afternoon at the very latest. She could not recall having actually agreed to do this for her friend, but it was best just to get it done and let Cami get on with the preparations for the party.

She changed clothes, putting on a pair of tights that would accommodate her girth, and a large, loose shirt with long sleeves. A bright, tapestry vest brought some color to the outfit, though she bemoaned the fact the vest must hang open, since it would not close over the swell of her belly. Her soft leather knee boots were on her feet, a knife hidden in each top, And beneath the voluminous sleeves of her shirt were strapped her two daggers, one to each forearm. Her hair hung long, cascading in thick waves to her mid back, the occasional curl straying down the front of her shoulders.

All of the invitations, but one, she delegated to one of the servers at the Inn to deliver. She gave him a silver penny and sent him off in haste, saying that as soon as he returned he would have the twin to the first coin in his hand. She watched with some amusement as he pocketed the penny in his vest, and tucking the invitations into a satchel hung from his shoulder, he ran down the path as fast as his short Hobbit strides would take him.

Pio turned from watching him, and went to the stable for the second time that day. Hearing the familiar footsteps, ‘Falmar whinnied at her and looking over the stall door, eyed her with something akin to equine amusement. ‘I know. I promised that I had ridden you for the last time until after the babies are born.’

‘Falmar stomped her hoof hard on the ground and shook her mane vigorously as Pio opened the stall door and waved her out. ‘And again, I know! Amaranthas has lectured me thoroughly on the dangers of riding at this late date. Not to mention what Cami would say if she saw me mount you.’ She led the horse to a stack of small wooden crates and climbing to the top of them, pulled herself onto the back of the patient steed.

‘Quietly and quickly now.’ she urged her mount in a soft voice. Pio had not taken time to bridle ‘Falmar, but simply twisted her hands in the thick mane and tapped her lightly with her heels. She passed quickly through the Inn’s yard, to the small road that led west to Hobbiton, then turned north onto Hill Lane and crossing The Water went up the small rise to Bag End.


The invitation was secured in the inner pocket of her vest, and she patted it occasionally to make sure it was still there. ‘Master Samwise Gamgee and Family’ was written in Cami’s lovely hand on the front of it, and Pio wondered if the venerable Hobbit, Sam, would be surprised to hear from an old friend. At any rate, she thought, this would be a good opportunity to introduce herself to his missus, Miz Rose.

The round, green door of Bag End came into view. ‘I wonder if Amaranthas had the chance to see her today as she said she would.’ she thought, as she drew nearer to the house. She dismounted at the entrance to the steps leading up to Bag End. ‘Falmar she left to wander on the greensward.

Pio climbed the steps to the front porch of the house, taking in the welcoming sight of lovely flowers growing to each side of the pathway. She reached down, delighting in the petalled beauty, and plucked a small sprig of fragrant rock daphne to ornament her hair.

She straightened her clothes as she stood there, and brushed the dust of the road from them as best she could. Then taking the invitation from her vest pocket, she held it carefully in one hand and rapped loudly on the door with the other.

[ February 27, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]