[Child of the 7th Age]

theWhiteLady's post

Rose’s hazel eyes shone with excitement, the tears of last night long forgotten. “That’s a terribly wicked idea, Gilly! I’m surprised that you would come up with something like that!”

Gilly dropped her eyes and began to mutter a reply, but Rose cut her off with a soft giggle.

“We’d better start packing! There isn’t much time to get ready.” Gilly’s face broke into a huge grin and the two young women began to eagerly plot their adventure. Packs were brought out and Rose wished furiously she had thought to sharpen her sword just one more time. She was just about to mention this aloud when a loud knock upon their bedroom door interrupted her thoughts. A wave of panic washed over her small body, leaving her first hot then horribly clammy.

“Quick!” she cried in a desperate whisper, her curly hair nodding nervously. “Hide the packs under here,” and thrusting her sword under the closest bed, she motioned to Gilly who had frozen guiltily next to her dresser. Gilly moved quickly but, in her haste, spilled the contents of her bag onto the floor. Rose groaned to herself and by the time the mess was cleaned and hidden, Rose was sure Cami would know something was up. Still, she tried her best to look perfectly innocent and moved to the door with what she hoped was a winsome smile

Child's post

Cami had gotten absolutely nowhere with Cook and Prim and Hob. It was not that they were hiding anything from her. They simply didn't seem to know about any wild plans hatched by Pio or Mithadan for the rescue of hobbit children. Cami had hinted here and there without actually divulging anything of importance, but she had sensed complete and unfeigned ignorance on their part.

"Gilly, where is she?" Cami queried after scrutinizing the recesses of the kitchen.

Cook responded with a casual toss of her hand. "Gilly was up late, taking care of Inn guests. She was supposed to clean the kitchen before she left, but that didn't quite get finished." At this point, Cook wriggled her nose and pointed distastefully towards a sinkful of dirty tankards and mugs that had been left for the morning crew to wash.

Prim piped in with an explanation, "I've given the girl the day off. She was working yesterday from dawn till midnight, so she's not expected here any time soon."

Armed with that piece of news, Cami hastily thanked the hobbits and scurried over to the chamber that her daughter shared with Gilly. Cami knocked insistently on the door. Inside she could hear two voices earnestly whispering to one another. Then, there was an inordinately long wait before either of the girls answered the door.

When Rose finally came to say hello, she had a sheepish grin on her face, as if she'd been doing something she'd rather not let her mother see. Cami walked in and sat down on the bed, casting a quick glance around the room, then continuing on to recite the tale of her dream. The two girls snuck a furtive, nervous look at one another as Cami spilled out her entire story.

Gilly shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "It probably means nothing. I'm always dreaming of this and that, and nothing ever comes of it. Anyways, you're not an Elf, or even a Took or Baggins. Harfoot folk don't have true dreams like that."

Cami snapped back. "For your information, my mother was a Brockhouse. In any case, that's not important. What's important is that Mithadan stay here and be near his wife's side when she has her babes instead of gallavanting off into the woods somewhere."

Rose sat on the bed saying nothing. Unlike Gilly, she realized that Cami's dreams were a serious matter, and not to be shrugged off with a jest. Yet, Rose also sensed that, if she opened her mouth and confided their secret, she was likely to encounter stiff resistence from her mother. It was certain that Cami would insist that her daughter stay here and do nothing rather than slip off on a dangerous errand. Rose stared furiously at the floor and clamped her mouth shut, uncertain what to say.

As Cami's eyes searched the room for a second time, she caught side of Rose's travel pack stuffed hastily under her bed, with just one strap spilling out. Right next to the bag was Rose's sword, with its tip barely showing from under the coverlet that was draped off the bed. Cami's heart sank as she instinctively guessed what her daughter was proposing to do. Her instincts told her that, whatever danger Mithadan was facing, Rose and her young friend would not be far behind.

But what was the sense of saying anything or arguing with her? The girl had a mind of her own, and was sure to object. She was too old to discipline in the manner of a child. Cami knew that nothing she could say would dissuade Rose from her chosen task.

It was Gilly who finally broke the silence that had fallen between Cami and Rose....

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]