Bird stared, open-mouthed at Mith and Pio for a few seconds after the Man had completed this explanation. Then suddenly she burst out with a wild laugh, slapping her knee and spilling the mug, where the tea flowed and blended with the streams of bath water on the stone floors.
" 'A small kindness'?" she finally wheezed. "A small kindness is old Barliman standing me a few pints when my pockets are bare! Perhaps all this conniving is a small matter for the Valar to accomplish, but it has no small effects."
"Let's look at this: Three halflings suddenly appear out of nowhere, who had long ago disappeared. Now perhaps Cami's return could be explained away easily enough. 'Got tired of dealing with all those outlandish Big folk, and decided to return where people are normal'. But Frodo? I saw him traipsing off to Bag End this morning, behaving as if he had just returned from a long stay at Buckland. What are the good folk of Hobbiton to think of this? He was gone, bag and baggage, and all he owned given over to the Gamgees - who have done very well out of the deal, I might add. The Gamgees have 'risen', and Sam has gained the respect and trust of all the Shire. But Mark my words: tongues are wagging right now, saying that 'Mad Baggins' had come to reclaim his own, and that the Gamgees will soon be back to rooting taters for their betters."
"And why shouldn't they say that? For a Man enters the boundries of the Shire, ignoring the command of King Elessar that no Man shall cross these borders. A command that the King himself has declared he will obey. Then comes a letter from Mayor Sam, overturning this edict. Why? It smacks of conspiracy, Mith! And it will take more than assurances of 'small kindnesses' to dissuade people of these thoughts. The Halfling folk are a suspicious, insular lot, and with good reason. A small folk in a land of giants have little reason to feel otherwise."
Bird raised her hand as Mith started to offer an angry retort. "One more thing: when I spent time with Tom in the Old Forest, he told me that wilderness outside the boundries of the Shire are still filled with disaffected Men, bandits, low-lifes and riff-raff of the worst persuasion. Most were cast out after the War and the Scouring from their homes in Bree and Sarn Ford. Many of these brigands have been captured and killed by the Bounders or the Dunedain, but not all."
"Mith, did you see any of these Men as you were crossing the boundries? And more important: did any of them see you?"
[ March 09, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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