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Birdland · 03-02-2003, 09:50 AM

Since the end of the War Against the Darkness, all knew about King Elessar's edict regarding the Shire, and the closing of its borders to any of the "Big Folk" of Middle Earth. Though there had been some grumbling in Bree regarding how trade was to be continued between them, most people left in Middle-earth had greeted this news with a shrug. After all, what could this small country in the far West possibly offer any of them, to make it worth the effort to even try to go there? (These attitudes would change within a few centuries, after the population of Men had grown and the countries of the East became more crowded - much to the dismay of the Halflings.)

Bird had not concerned herself too much about the edict. As she had flown West, she had convinced herself that it would be easy enough for her to visit the Shire. She need only morph to animal form when in the presence of Shire-Folk, and since she knew she intended no harm to them, felt no twinge of concience towards disobeying the king. (Well, perhaps a little, but he was so far away.)

And as for Pio? Improbable as it was that she should be spending her "time of waiting" in Suza, still; she was an Elf. No one actually believed that the edict would extend to the Elf-Folk. They would come and go through the Shire as they liked, and as they always had: secretly and quietly, taking the shortest route towards the West and the Havens. Mith, she assumed, would make arrangements for Pio to meet him outside the boundries.

So Bird was totally surprised when the first thing she saw as she arrived outside the Green Dragon was a Man. Definitely a man, old and grey-bearded, decidedly in his cups and singing a duet with a dog.

How could this be? Was this the right place? Who was this Big Folk, to sit here so blithe in the heart of the Shire, ignoring the command of good king Elessar? And where was Pio?

A sense of noble indignation came over Birdie. What kind of shady dealings were going on here? Bird had no intention of waltzing, (or flying) into this inn until she got to the bottom of this. Bird had always had what she considered to be a healthy mistrust of Men and their doings. This had only been increased since her time in the Southlands.

Choosing a sapling near the bench where the man sat, she quietly flitted over to a branch, and under cover of the surrounding dark, morphed into neeker-breeker form. Then she leapt onto the shoulder of the swaying, singing greybeard, Hiding herself under a fold of his cloak. Here she would listen unseen until such time as this man explained himself.

But outrage did not increase Birdie's stamina. She had spent many months flying cross country, and her late night in the Old Forest plus her day-long jaunt through the Shire had tired her. Once she nestled into the soft, warm folds of the man's robe, it wasn't more than five minutes before she was fast asleep.

She awoke abruptly as the man suddenly rose to his feet though, and peering out, she spied two hobbits, one on each side of the Big Folk, gently escorting him back into the Green Dragon. Bird yawned and tried to shake the grogginess from her as the smoke and lantern light of the inn partly blinded her. The party, for what occasion she knew not, was in full swing, with hobbits of all stripes and ages, male, female and children, dancing, singing, and, of course, eating. None seemed to give more than a passing glance at the Man sitting on the Bench, now tapping his feet and bounding his hand on the table.

Bird started awake as she suddenly saw Tom Bombadil and Goldberry dance across the floor! What were they doing here!? Of course, they would not technically be considered "Men", and were old friends of many of the Hobbits in Buckland, but still...

And then Bird saw her. Dressed in green and yellow, with a bright bow tying back her curls of grey and brown. Laughing and raising her cup, as if escaping from the care that she had carried with her as she marched north with her new family. It couldn't possibly be! But it was!

"CAMI!" shrieked Birdie, and as she cried the name she totally forgot to maintain her insect form. Lorien tilted to the left as a full-grown woman suddenly appeared on his shoulder and slid into his lap.

"BY THE ONE!" he cried in shock, as he leapt to his feet with the woman's arms clinging around his neck. "Whoaaaaa!" screamed Birdie as she tried to find her feet. Together the two forms crashed to the floor, and Lorien gave a great "wooof" as the weight of Bird came down square on his chest. Then he passed out.

[ March 02, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]

03-02-2003, 09:50 AM	#94
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Since the end of the War Against the Darkness, all knew about King Elessar's edict regarding the Shire, and the closing of its borders to any of the "Big Folk" of Middle Earth. Though there had been some grumbling in Bree regarding how trade was to be continued between them, most people left in Middle-earth had greeted this news with a shrug. After all, what could this small country in the far West possibly offer any of them, to make it worth the effort to even try to go there? (These attitudes would change within a few centuries, after the population of Men had grown and the countries of the East became more crowded - much to the dismay of the Halflings.) Bird had not concerned herself too much about the edict. As she had flown West, she had convinced herself that it would be easy enough for her to visit the Shire. She need only morph to animal form when in the presence of Shire-Folk, and since she knew she intended no harm to them, felt no twinge of concience towards disobeying the king. (Well, perhaps a little, but he was so far away.) And as for Pio? Improbable as it was that she should be spending her "time of waiting" in Suza, still; she was an Elf. No one actually believed that the edict would extend to the Elf-Folk. They would come and go through the Shire as they liked, and as they always had: secretly and quietly, taking the shortest route towards the West and the Havens. Mith, she assumed, would make arrangements for Pio to meet him outside the boundries. So Bird was totally surprised when the first thing she saw as she arrived outside the Green Dragon was a Man. Definitely a man, old and grey-bearded, decidedly in his cups and singing a duet with a dog. How could this be? Was this the right place? Who was this Big Folk, to sit here so blithe in the heart of the Shire, ignoring the command of good king Elessar? And where was Pio? A sense of noble indignation came over Birdie. What kind of shady dealings were going on here? Bird had no intention of waltzing, (or flying) into this inn until she got to the bottom of this. Bird had always had what she considered to be a healthy mistrust of Men and their doings. This had only been increased since her time in the Southlands. Choosing a sapling near the bench where the man sat, she quietly flitted over to a branch, and under cover of the surrounding dark, morphed into neeker-breeker form. Then she leapt onto the shoulder of the swaying, singing greybeard, Hiding herself under a fold of his cloak. Here she would listen unseen until such time as this man explained himself. But outrage did not increase Birdie's stamina. She had spent many months flying cross country, and her late night in the Old Forest plus her day-long jaunt through the Shire had tired her. Once she nestled into the soft, warm folds of the man's robe, it wasn't more than five minutes before she was fast asleep. She awoke abruptly as the man suddenly rose to his feet though, and peering out, she spied two hobbits, one on each side of the Big Folk, gently escorting him back into the Green Dragon. Bird yawned and tried to shake the grogginess from her as the smoke and lantern light of the inn partly blinded her. The party, for what occasion she knew not, was in full swing, with hobbits of all stripes and ages, male, female and children, dancing, singing, and, of course, eating. None seemed to give more than a passing glance at the Man sitting on the Bench, now tapping his feet and bounding his hand on the table. Bird started awake as she suddenly saw Tom Bombadil and Goldberry dance across the floor! What were they doing here!? Of course, they would not technically be considered "Men", and were old friends of many of the Hobbits in Buckland, but still... And then Bird saw her. Dressed in green and yellow, with a bright bow tying back her curls of grey and brown. Laughing and raising her cup, as if escaping from the care that she had carried with her as she marched north with her new family. It couldn't possibly be! But it was! "CAMI!" shrieked Birdie, and as she cried the name she totally forgot to maintain her insect form. Lorien tilted to the left as a full-grown woman suddenly appeared on his shoulder and slid into his lap. "BY THE ONE!" he cried in shock, as he leapt to his feet with the woman's arms clinging around his neck. "Whoaaaaa!" screamed Birdie as she tried to find her feet. Together the two forms crashed to the floor, and Lorien gave a great "wooof" as the weight of Bird came down square on his chest. Then he passed out. [ March 02, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]