[Regin Hardhammer]

Harold could not help but grin when his father called the Baranduin River by the name ‘Brandywine.’ Just yesterday, Marcho had told him that ‘Baranduin’ was an Elvish word that had something to do with the golden brown color of the river. But the muddy waters did look a lot like his favorite mug of foaming ale: what Hobbits call ‘Bralda-hîm’, or loosely ‘Brandywine’ in the common tongue. He’d have to remember that name and pass it along to his friends.

But except for that lone humorous and clever comment, Grandpa Fordo seemed to be even more grumpy and irritated than before. He had snapped at Harold curtly about how “crack-brained Marcho” had made such a fuss about reaching the river when days still remained in their trip. Although Harold had been angry at Marcho for tearing him away from Bree, he was slowly revising his opinion of the Fallohide leader. If it hadn’t been for their rescue by this so-called “crack-brained Marcho”, Harold would not be alive, and neither would his father.

It almost seemed as if Granda was purposely trying to pick a fight with him. For a minute, Harold thought of responding sharply to his father’s whining and teaching him a lesson. He wanted to tell him that Marcho was not a ‘crack-brained leader’, but the one who had enough sense not to race into the forest along with the two of them. Instead, he had carefully rounded up the rest of the Hobbits and formed a rescue team that had made the difference in driving away the wolves.

Maybe, Harold reasoned, it was time for him to start thinking ahead too. Even though Harold was irritated with his father, he bit his tongue and stopped himself from taking up Fordo’s bait and throwing it back at him. Instead, he grinned broadly and said, “Dad, you’re never going to change. The Chubb family will get through this just fine if we can only manage to stay together. We’re tougher than any of those Fallohides.”

Harold reached over and affectionately wrapped his arms around his irascible father. Just maybe, Harold had learned something from this journey after all.

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Witch-Queen's post for Sarah:

Sarah sat there watching Harold and Fordo. It seemed like they were getting along now and Sarah was not as happy as before. It was because of Fordo that she and Harold wasn't as close. Sarah was not going to set back and watch Grandpa Chubb tear her family apart. She knew that it wouldn't be wise to talk to Grandpa about it now so Sarah decided to wait until Harold had left.

Minutes went by and Harold finally walked away from his father. Sarah thought it would be the perfect time to talk to the old hobbit. The tension between them had to be broken. After all Sarah didn't want the tension to go into her new home when it was made. "Father Chubb is it alright if we speak for a moment." Sarah had a look of concern on her face. Fordo nodded and Sarah proceeded. "Fordo, it seems as if there is some tension between the two of us. Perhaps it is best if we settle our differences. After all it will make the journey more interesting if we did." She didn't want another family fued on her hand. She couldn't stand to have Fordo mad at her since it only seemed to make everyone hate her.

Since the fight between us and the Whitfoots is over for now perhaps Grandpa and I can come to some agreement. If something was to happen, who knows what Grandpa would do to the rest of the family. It is wise that I get everything settled before we end this journey.