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Old 04-06-2004, 08:40 PM   #96
alaklondewen
Song of Seregon
 
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Join Date: Feb 2002
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Marcho Bolger

Once the realization that the four children were missing settled on the hobbits, panic broke out among the settlers. Marcho, having dealt with intense situations before, knew that if they did not form an organized party, the crisis would only get worse. It was too late for the fathers, and grandfather, of the lost children. To Marcho’s dismay, the three mounted their ponies and rode off into the forest despite the scout’s loud protests. The children’s safety was the most important goal, and the trio of riders were putting themselves in unnecessary danger. Their behavior was downright foolish. The Whitfoot and Chubb wives had nearly made the same mistake. Marcho caught them running after their husbands, and physically stopped their progression. These women would have been in even more trouble than their male counterparts. One of them had even armed herself with a broom. No, Marcho would not allow them to be apart of this.

“Elsa, Sarah, I know you’re worried sick, but there is nothing you can do.” The scout glanced at Elsa’s broom that she gripped tightly. “Go back to your wagons…no, better yet, go to my wagon. Estella is there and she will be armed.” Marcho knew his bow and quiver were nestled just behind the seat, and Estella was trained to use it at need.

Turning his back on them and assuming they would do as he commanded, Marcho, with help from his brother and Fredigar Headstrong, began gathering every eligible male to go into the forest. They would be stronger with a greater number, and since he was unsure how many wolves were near, he did not want to take any chances. He only hoped the beasts had not surrounded the camp.

Once the hobbit men were approximately seventy strong, Marcho gave the order and they moved toward the eaves of the woods. The hobbit band might have made the soldiers of Big Folk chuckle if they had seen the Halflings marching with their short knives. Some were fortunate to have long knives or short swords, but many carried sling shots and farming tools. They were not as trained as the Big Folk or the armies of old, but they were strong in their hearts. Moving forward with formidable determination, these hobbits were not coming returning without those children, even if they had to fight with all they had.
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