[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami's jaw dropped open in total amazement and frustration, the two emotions so mixed together they were impossible to separate. She was indeed one of the very few at the Inn who were not dancing about the floor.

For the moment at least, her feeling of amazement was the one that prevailed. To be seeing Tom Bombadil in all his raucous glory was really quite astounding! She had just been chatting with Merry how she had always wanted to meet him, and here he was turning up at her party in the middle of Hobbiton. I can't believe he's here, she reflected. The old tales say he never ventures far from the Old Forest, save for the Marish and the Barrow-downs itself. And not only that, but the lovely Goldberry, daughter of the river, stood there by his side.

Cami wondered how the two of them had heard about this event. She could not recall their names being on her invitation list. Perhaps, it was Maggott who had tipped off both of them. Then, again, given the presence of all these newcomers, Cami was beginning to wonder if there wasn't a little bird somewhere in the Shire, flitting about and dropping notes on select homes to inform them of the arrival of Frodo and Bilbo. She glanced warily towards the door, wondering if there would be more unexpected arrivals, and reviewed the menu items in her head to assure herself that there would be enough food to feed their additional guests.

Still, Cami didn't spend too much time worrying about that. There were mountains of food waiting in the kitchen, which would be brought out in short order. After Tom and Goldberry finished exchanging their greetings with Frodo, she promised to go up herself and try to meet them.

Cami was so entranced with Tom and Goldberry's arrival that, for an instant, she forgot the source of her frustration. She was just about to throw up her hands and join in the merry springle-ring.

Then, it abruptly returned to her. Lorien had been talking to her and alluding to something of more than casual interest. Ah, yes, the reason why she was here. Just the thing she'd been yearning for someone to confide in her. Cami reasoned that the fellow was a Vala so he should know a great deal more than she did. She glanced nervously about, intending to corral Lorien and coax an answer out of him as quickly and efficiently as possible.

But, when she turned around to find him, Lorien was no longer seated at the table. He had danced across the floor in the direction of Tom and Goldberry, and seemed to be pirouetting about in circles, with his flagon of ale held high in honor of their new guests. Cami looked on with increasing frustration, wondering how she could possibly interrupt and force the Vala's attention back to the critical issue at hand.

[ March 01, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]