[piosenniel]

23 Lótessë - Day of the Party

‘Ah, an apology,’ she thought to herself, ‘and I suppose he means it to sound sincere.’

Pio rubbed the back of her neck, already irritated by the previous events of the morning. She had meant to go Angelica’s today, and Hob had let her know he had harnessed the pony to the cart for her and would bring it round. She had frowned at this, saying she meant to ride ‘Falmar. But, Hob had shrugged, and motioned toward Prim who stepped up and told her firmly there would be no more riding the horse. She had discussed it with other ladies who had been in Mistress Piosenniel’s condition and they had all agreed it was not a safe or healthy thing to be doing at this late stage.

No amount of explanation that the twins would not be born earlier would move the little tyrant, who had also squelched Pio’s plea that ‘Falmar would need exercise. ‘Your Mister said he could do that for you, and if he’s unavailable, I’m sure Miz Bird could see her way to do it.’ Prim nodded her head at Bird, who sat at the table innocently eating a slice of seedcake. Pio snorted at this image of Bird on a horse, a large horse. Prim, her hands on her hips, would not be moved from her stand on this issue.

And now she faced Gamba. She simply did not need another burr under her forbidden saddle. In the back of her mind, she could hear Mithadan’s last lecture on forgiveness – from her unfortunate incident with the Lorien. She schooled her face to some semblance of Elven serenity, and pitched her voice in a less hysterical range than her thoughts at the moment.

‘I will say this quickly, since I see you are still uncomfortable within walls. You say you are sorry. I accept it. It is Prim, the new Innkeeper with whom you will have to negotiate as to how you will replace the broken window, though I think Maura has already spoken some with her.’

She picked up the cloak she had draped over the kitchen chair and strode toward the door. Gamba reached it first, eager to be outside the confines of the Inn. Hob stood ready with the cart and held it steady as she climbed on board. ‘I should be back early in the afternoon,’ she told him. ‘I am just going to Angelica’s to see if I can entice her away from the family for a bit. I want to bring her back here to see what we need to do to get ready for the birth.’

Pio flicked the reins against Nettle’s back urging her onward. Nettle, true to her name, balked and twitched her ears in an irritated manner. ‘Falmar, standing out in the exercise area, leaned her head over the fence, and snorted at the Elf’s predicament. ‘Not a word, you great beast, or I shall harness you to this ridiculous cart!

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The Hobbit blinked in the direct sunlight, and shaded her eyes, wondering at the figure in the cart who had shown up at her doorstep. ‘I was going to write you a note, asking you to come to the Inn.’ Pio smiled broadly at Angelica who stood in the open doorway, wiping her wet hands on her apron. ‘But it was such a glorious morning, I could not spend one more minute cooped up there.’

Pio reached down a hand and helped Angelica up to the seat beside her. ‘Are you free for a while? Can you go on a little drive with me? I thought we might ride back to the Inn and you can see what needs to be gotten done before the birth day. I should also like you to meet Mithadan, the father.’ Angelica looked nervously toward the open door. The sound of children’s voices and the rhythm of small feet running on the wooden floor could be heard coming from inside the house. ‘Will Merimac watch the children for you?’ She pointed back toward the rear seat. ‘Or would you like to bring them along with us?’

Warring thoughts played briefly in the face of the Hobbit as she looked first at Pio and the promise of a pleasant ride on a sunny day and then back again toward her doorway . . .