[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami had returned to the party, cautiously peering about to make sure that Sam and Meriadoc and Peregrine and Fatty weren't waiting for her with a broom or, more likely, some very sharp comments. But as Cami walked in back of their chairs, none of them gave any indication that they were upset with her in the slightest. In fact, Fatty came over and patted her affectionately on the back, inquiring solicitously about her health. They were apparently taking her words as no more than an eccentric response from someone who'd been absent from the Shire too long.

Sitting down at the table, Cami found herself watching the children's food-fight with a mild sense of discomfort. Why should that be? Maybe because she was still upset about the encounter with Fatty and the whole question about prohibiting Men from the Shire? Even Frodo had extended his blessing of approval to the childrens' antics. Merry and Pippin were staring intently with grins of remembrance plastered on their faces, while Bilbo basically ignored the fracas, shutting out the sight and sound of the little ones by concentrating on his dinner plate.

And then it hit her. She was from a different place where wasting food was an unthinkable thing to do. She'd lived in camps, with hobbit prisoners reduced to eating whatever they could lay their hands on, especially with the snows of winter. Even now, in Greenwood, it was a challenge to gather the food she needed to fill her children's stomachs. No one starved, yet there were times when the soup in dinner pots looked thin and watery.

She wondered how her own children would have responded to the food-fight. Little Maura and Ban would probably wade into the fray and hurl pudding with abandon. But the new Gamba, flanked by his boys and perhaps even Rose, would not have participated or approved. They would have pulled their younger siblings over, or perhaps even tried to intercede and halt the mayhem.

Banana pudding? There were no bananas where she lived, and no dwarf caravans to bear such delicacies from the south. Party clothes? If a child was fortunate enough to own a fancy dress or breeches, they would have done everything possible to keep it clean, since it was basically irreplacable and would need to be passed on to younger siblings and cousins.

And Maura? Her Maura? How would he have felt? As a stranger in someone else's territory, he probably wouldn't have tried to stop things, but neither did Cami think he would have approved. Yet she was not absolutely certain. That thought burned her heart. The Maura in her head might have changed a good deal since she'd left him and she'd have no way of knowing that.

There was, however, one thing about which she was perfectly sure. With his love of the Edain, Maura would have pulled Fatty privately aside and attepted to talk sense into him. Nor would Maura have liked the new law prohibiting Men from entering the Shire.

Indeed, if Maura had ever met Mithadan, Cami thought he would have instinctively respected his quiet compassion and wry humor. Maura would probably have felt more comfortable with Mithadan than with a hobbit like Fatty who had few dealings with Men or Elves and instinctively distrusted them. Cami knew many hobbits in the Shire were still suspicious of anyone who was different, a fact which she was coming to regret.

[ March 05, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]