[Child of the 7th Age]

As Rose mounted the familiar steps of the Green Dragon Inn, she turned and waved goodbye to Merry who was planning on heading over to Bag-end to help with the party preparations. It was Cami who looked out the window and first spotted Rose. She scurried to the door of the Inn, her heart pounding with happiness to see her daughter's much loved face.

Taking Rose's two hands in her own, Cami twirled about, until both women broke out laughing and fell into a heap.

Rose picked herself up, dusting off her skirts and immedately confronted her mother, "Can you believe this? That we're back in the Shire? What are we doing here?"

"That's a long story, Rose. I hardly know where to begin. Perhaps the easiest thing is to show you."

She prodded her gently over to a table at the rear of the Inn where a group of hobbits were sitting. Seated at the table were a mother and father with two young children, and a slightly older hobbit with silver hair and grey eyes. Rose stared, then stared again.

"You do recognize them, don't you?" Cami's eyes were laughing as she turned and pulled Rose towards Maura. The latter embraced Rose with a gentle hug and added, "Azra, lovely lady. It is so good to see you again." Zira and Ban quickly took Rose's hand and said how much she'd grown and how fine she looked. Finally, Abar came over and climbed up on her knee demanding that Auntie Azra should tell him another story.

"You remember my stories, Abar?"

When the young boy nodded yes, Rose sat back and grinned for, along with the sorrow and heartache of the camps, there had been other memories of closeness and caring. Then Abar made Rose come over to see his new baby sister.

"Guess what her name is!" the boy insisted.

"I have no idea. You'd better tell me."

"Her name is Azra. We named her after you."

Rose's eyes softened to hear this news, and she smiled gently as she took the small babe in her arms, "How pretty you are! If you're named after me, you'll have to be a great fighter. Your Auntie Rose is practically the only lass in the Shire who can wield a sword as well as the boys, maybe even better."

Zira looked over at Rose with a grin, "Well, you may have grown a little, but you're still the same Rose."

Then Cami sat Rose down at the table and explained as much as she knew about why they were there, and how she and Maura planned to wed. When her mother explained how this was only temporary, Rose pounded a fist on the table saying that it was so unfair and, if she had any say in the matter, it would certainly be permanent.

"Are my brothers her?" Rose continued.

Cami nodded yes. "They're staying out in the barn. You know how they are. And Lindo too, and several of the Snowhobbits."

"Lindo? Lindo's here?"

Cami nodded in response.

Rose smiled. "I'd like to see him again."

[ March 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]