[Child of the 7th Age]

The sun was dipping behind the horizon when Ban woke up from his nap. Zira and Azra had also fallen asleep and were still curled up close against his side. "Papa, papa, I'm hungry." Abar grabbed onto his father's wrist and was trying to get him to rise. "Do you have any food?"

Ban sat up, his head still groggy and eyes full of sleep. He pushed his hands into his pockets, and came upon a small scrap of bread that he'd stuffed there earlier in the day from a picnic they'd been having. Abar tore greedily at the crust, then looked over at his father, "I'm still hungry. Is there anything more?"

Ban gently shook Zira, so that she awoke. The two hobbits glanced around at the deepening twilight, discussing what to do next. "I don't think we're meant to be here. Something must have happened," Zira objected.

"Papa, there's a path. I saw it when you slept." The small boy grabbed his father by the arm and led him to a dirt path. Since they were on the extreme eastern edge of the pond, which was thickly shaded with trees, it was impossible for them to see the houses or the lights of the Inn that stood further west.

"Zira, I think the lad's right. We've no food or blankets for the children. We can't stay here all night. That path seems to lead down to some kind of roadway to the east. Perhaps, we'll come to an Inn or house, and can make inquiries about Maura."

"I agree. We don't seem to have much choice."

The family headed east on the road leading away from Bywater towards Frogmorton, a small village some ten miles distant.

*********************************************

Back in the Inn, Maura and Cami had eaten their dinner in near silence, sitting and worrying, as they still had no news of Rose or Zira.

Cami had tried to enlist Gamba's aid, but he had merely shrugged his shoulders and run off with his brothers. "Mom, she probably just stayed with Annee. Maybe she didn't want to come." Cami didn't think that was likely. Rose had every reason to return to the Shire, at least for a visit. It was familiar turf to her, and she would probably see friends she knew.

Cami watched as Gamba and the boys melted into the twilight without even bothering to say good night. She knew she should talk with Gamba about Maura, but she didn't have the heart to do it tonight. She wanted to speak with Maura about the serious problems she'd been having with the children. But that, too, should probably wait.

Maura paced restlessly around the Common Room, and finally spoke to Mithadan. "Maybe I should go looking for them?"

The Man shook her head. "Bird is still out searching. She's good at this kind of thing. She may well find them. And you might ask Lorien again."

"I've done that, but he swears they'll be fine."

"Then they probably will. Let's wait and see what happens. You know Maura. The Shire is a sleepy place. Not too much goes on here. The worst that can happen is that they'll go hungry, and have a stony bed for one night. If we need to, we'll look tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll wait. I know you didn't let Cami down before."

Then Cami and Maura went off on their own, and gave each other such comfort as they could manage.

[ March 16, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]