[Mithadan]

Lorien tarried by the keg for some time. He was unfamiliar with beer and found it to be quite tasty once one got used to it. When he had finished his third pint, he drew a fourth from the keg and wandered off towards the fire where he discovered Cami sitting near Miz Rose. He stood, watching the two chat for a moment before interrupting. "Your pardon, ladies," he said. "But I would like a moment with Cami, please."

Cami looked up at the Vala in surprise, then nodded quickly and excused herself and walked off into a corner to stand by Lorien who knelt beside her. "Cami," he began after taking a sip at his pint. "Do you know why I'm here?"

"Well," replied the Hobbit. "I suppose that you are here to accompany and assist Frodo and Bilbo in their travels." Lorien nodded, then, after a moment's thought resumed. "Well, yes," he said. "There is that. But why do you think that we are all here?"

"So that Frodo and Bilbo may have a last opportunity to see their friends and loved ones, I would suppose. Though I'm not sure why I was brought here," answered Cami, beginning to become a bit confused at the riddle game.

Lorien shook his head distractedly and took another long draught from his cup, which was now nearly empty. "Well, yes, there is that, but it is about you that I wish to speak...to you I mean, if you understand..."

Cami's brows were furrowed. "Actually, I don't," she replied. "I don't understand at all. Why I am here, I mean."

Lorien swayed a bit as he listened to Cami's words. Then he shook his head again and opened his mouth to speak. But before any words could come, he was interrupted by a loud crash as the door to the Inn swung open a bit too quickly. If many heads turned in surprise, they were all even more surprised at what they saw there.

Bright blue was his jacket, and his boots were yellow. Green was his girdle and his breeches of leather. He wore a tall hat with a swan's wing feather. He shouted out in a loud, yet lyrical voice, "Hey dol! Derry dol! Ring-a-ding-dillo! Here's Tom, old Tom, here's Tom Bombadillo!"

He swept in quickly and made straight for Frodo who was standing stock still by the bar. Behind Tom came a second figure, with hair golden like honey and a dress of shimmering silver and blue. About her brows, she wore a garland of buttercups. Tom and Goldberry came to stand before Frodo who smiled in delight. Tom swept off his hat and bowed deeply until his beard swept the floor. Then he rose with a twinkle in his eye. "You called for old Tom, master Frodo, but for a happy occasion I see. All your friends are here to greet you and now Goldberry and me!"

Pio’s post

Then another clear voice, as fresh and as old as Spring, like the song of glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills, came falling like silver on Frodo’s ears:

Now let the song begin! Let us sing together
Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,
Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,
Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,
Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:
Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!

And with those words, she smiled and greeted Frodo warmly, and a golden light was all about them as they spoke.

[ March 01, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]