[mark12_30]

Frodo and Lindo heard the commotion a little before Bilbo. They veered from the front door, and headed for the back gardens.

Meanwhile, peering out from the woods, three Snowhobbits watched. "Four kids and a guy our age, " Tocca pondered.

Retya nodded. "The kids have courage, attacking that man. And the guy is no slouch either. He almost got those kids out of there. I thought Dad said this place was safe. We should help them escape; let's figure out how."

"Big man, " Tem said. "I don't like this. "

Mithadan picked himself up, Piosenniel sheathed her knives, Bird landed on the grass, and Gamba turned to Little Maura to check him for broken bones. Miraculously, the child was unhurt. "You could have killed him!" Gamba accused Mithadan.

"Well, I didn't, thankfully, " Mithadan said grimly, brushing himself off. "And now would you mind--"

"Would you mind telling me why you were smashing my windows?" Pio erupted furiously.

"After you tell me why you trapped me in there!" Gamba raged. "I forgave you! I thought you had made a mistake tying up Mom and Kesha and I! And now you did it again! I hate you! Bird was right about you!"

"What?" Pio replied. "Now, just a minute--"

Gamba raged on until Mithadan took him by the shoulders and sternly hushed him. "Gamba. Piosenniel did nothing to you. No-one is trying to hurt you."

Gamba stared at him, slowly relaxing, as Mithadan continued to calm him. But then a hitherto unheard voice suddenly cut with strange clarity through the chaos; or was it osanwe?

"Bird?"

Everybody spun. Three more hobbits had come around the corner of the building. One of them with his hair in elvish braids bolted forward past all the commotion, and slowed in front of the jackdaw, pacing slowly towards her, and then in slow motion, kneeling gently in front of her.

"Bird? Oh, Bird, is it really you?"

[ March 13, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[ March 13, 2003: Message edited by:
mark12_30 ]

Mithadan's Post:

Mithadan looked over to the lads and lasses, recognizing them as Gamba's adoptees. Then he turned to face the group of older Hobbits that had advanced from the trees. These he did not recognize, but he noted that they were dressed very oddly. Then he glanced over to Frodo, who was approaching with..."Lindo?"

He sat heavily on the ground and clasped his hand on his forehead with a groan. A trickle of blood ran down his cheek from one of many scratches on his face and arms. Then his head shot up and he cried, "Would someone please tell me what is happening here?"

As if in answer, a shutter opened above them and Lorien leaned out and shouted. "Is everyone here then? Splendid! Someone find Cami and Maura and tell them their guests are here. I must meet each and every one of you. This is becoming such a jolly occaision! I'll be right down..."

Mithadan's eyes seemed to become unfocused. Then he turned to look at Piosenniel with his mouth open, but no words came...

Meanwhile, a Hobbit stood near the stables watching the fracas. Then he turned and dashed off down the lane and veered at a fork in the direction of Bywater...

[ March 13, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]