[*Varda*]

***Shire/Rivendell/Blue Mountains***

The day passed uneventfully, with much scurrying to and fro between rooms, trying to decide who would pack what, what was unnecessary, and how much food to carry along with them.

Serin packed his belongings quickly, noticing Mikhelm talking to the elf Ciri. Well, at least he’s making some attempt to be polite, Serin thought optimistically. Perhaps the journey would be better than he had originally thought. Tense silences and strained conversation would not make for a good journey to Minas Anor.

Brando popped his head round the door a moment later.

“Serin, would you mind coming down the kitchen to help Orlo and I? Only we have a lot of people to provide for, and well, we’re not entirely sure about how much dwarves eat…” Serin laughed, and walked down to the kitchens with Brando. Outside he saw Theron and Hardo smoking thoughtfully, with their smoke rings floating up into the cloudy sky. The weather didn’t look altogether pleasing for the start of their journey, but they had to start the next day to make it to Minas Anor in time.

Now down in the kitchens, Serin helped the hobbits to judge how much food to take, and pack it. By the time this job was over, the sky was growing dark, as the hobbits had had much argument over the amount of food they could take. Serin had had to persuade them to take a little less food than they had originally decided, and the hobbits were crestfallen to hear that they could not possibly have six meals a day while on the road south.

So once this lengthy job was completed, the hobbits and Serin retired to their beds for the night, and the next morning dawned bright and clear…

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: *Varda* ]