******The Shire******
Orlo awoke, thoroughly refreshed. As he walked to the window, his stomach rumbled persistently. He had a hankering for a real breakfast. He thought at once if Butterbur could bring some up: but the sun told him it was much too early for the innkeeper to be making breakfast, and besides, his stomach wanted breakfast now.
He pondered for a while, and padded over to grab his cloak. Throwing it over his shoulders, he quietly exited the room and trotted out of the inn.
Sleepy though the inn was, Bree market-place definetly wasn't. Tradesmen (and women), Man and Hobbit alike, traversed the market place greeting each other cheerily and setting out their goods. Orlo spotted a burly hobbit selling tomatoes. Ah-ha, he thought.
He approached the hobbit. "'Ello there," he said, smiling brightly. The other grunted a reply in return and scratched his head. There was a long silence as the burly hobbit regarded Orlo, wondering whether he looked familiar or not.
"Ere," said the hobbit, at long last. "Ain't you one of those Shire-folk?"
"That I am."
"Ain't you staying at the Prancing Pony?"
"Well. Yes. But I came to see if I could purchase some breakfast items here."
The other hobbit's face brightened up visibly.
"Well then," he said. "We've got fresh tomatoes, bacon, and eggs- all fresh, mind, that should do nicely for ya. What do you say, sir?"
Orlo considered his offer and held out a handful of coins.
The other looked at the money, considering the amount deeply. Without a word, he packed up several eggs, tomatoes and a large, delicious looking side of bacon in a basket. Beaming, he took the money and bid Orlo goodbye.
Orlo nodded his thanks, and made his way back to the inn, where the first signs of activity were appearing. However, all was quiet in the hobbits' rooms, apart from the occasional snore from Hardo.
He unpacked the cooking gear and began a luscious breakfast. The aroma of freshly cooked bacon and eggs drifted around the room. Orlo looked longingly at the breakfast, but decided to wake the others.
He prodded Odo in the shoulder. Odo looked slightly green, and reeked of ale. "Ah," Orlo said knowledgeably. "Drinking contest, eh?" He moved on, and woke Hardo and Brando, and waited impatiently for them to realise that a wonderful breakfast was waiting.
[ October 06, 2002: Message edited by: Ringwraith Number Two ]
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