[Mithadan]

The second handful of mud struck Mithadan square on the forehead, sending streams of muck into his eyes and through his hair. He gasped, then calmly wiped the filth from his face. With measured motions, he laid his sword on the ground, then undid his belt and dropped it as well, along with an additional sheath that was tucked into his boot. "Mith..." said Bird with concern, but the Man ignored her and stepped forward.

Rose had scooped up another handful of mud, and as her target approached, let it fly. Mithadan stepped aside adroitly and the missile flew by. A curse from behind him suggested that it had nonetheless found a mark, but even as Bird cried out, Mithadan leapt forward into the water with a roar, seized the two Hobbits, one under each arm, and pulled them to the banks of the stream. He set them down none too gently and scowled at the lasses. Gilly cringed, but Rose stood her ground with chin held high.

"What do you think you're doing?" he spluttered. "Why are you following us?"

"I might ask the same of you," answered Rose. "What are you doing, leaving your wife behind when she is about to go into labor? You will come back with us or we will tag along with you, scolding you for your poor judgment."

Mithadan's face turned red and Bird was concerned that the veins which stood out on his neck would pop. "It is you who will be returning to the Inn," he cried. "You know nothing of my errand or its gravity."

"We do know," Gilly blurted out. "I heard your conversation with Pio in the common room. You're going to Bree to look for the kidnappers, but you should be with Piosenniel!"

"Don't you think I want to be?" shouted Mithadan in anguish. "Don't you think that I want to be with Pio as our children are born? But to do so is to consign the victims of the kidnappers to captivity or worse! Shall I allow your precious Shirriff to do this task? Halfred the half-wit? He cannot. Only a Man might gain the confidence of these rogues and Bird and I are the only ones of our race about who care enough about you and your people to do this!"

Bird cleared her throat. "Actually, technically speaking, I am not..." Mithadan interrupted her , his voice taking on a hard edge. "All you are doing, by following us is placing us at risk. If the kidnappers were to see us together they would never trust us. If you arrived in Bree and asked for us it might mean our deaths. Go back! You, Gilly, are supposed to be caring for Pio and the babes. How will you do so from miles away? You also have abandoned Pio. Get on your ponies and return to the Inn!"