[Envinyatar]

Gil, Tomlin, and the trunk . . .

‘Please, allow me the pleasure, wife.’ Derufin took Zimzi’s shawl from the hook by the door and placed it securely about her shoulders. He grinned at her as he walked to the door and held it open. A slight bow and a wink ushered her out onto the little porch ahead of him.

The morning had gone all grey and cold, and Derufin was glad he’d pulled on a thick undershirt beneath his tunic as he followed Zimzi down the steps. She stopped to pick him a yellow primrose, and threaded it into one of the top buttonholes on his vest. ‘This garden was a wonderful present,’ she said, tucking her arm through his as they made for the Inn. ‘If we see Jinniver, let’s make sure to invite her over. I’d like to walk through it with her and have her tell me what she’s done and when the various plantings will blossom.’

It was only a short walk from the groundskeeper’s cottage to the Inn proper. The couple passed by the stable, where Meriadoc was just making fast the shutters and closing the great doors in preparation for the rain that was sure to come. The Hobbit leaned out one of the upper windows and waved wildly at the two. Derufin fished in his pocket and pulled out his pouch of pipe tobacco, holding it up so Meri could see it, With his other hand, he mimed a drinking gesture and pointed toward the Inn. Meri nodded, then waved them on, indicating he would be in soon.

They were just about to enter the door to the kitchen, when the two doors that covered the outside opening to the cellar flew open and Gil appeared, He was bent over, backing up the stairs from the cellar, and as they came nearer they could see he had a rather large trunk he was pulling up the stairs. On the other end was Tomlin, who was pushing. The bottom of the trunk scraped and bumped over the edges of the wooden stairs. Derufin leant a hand to pull it up all the quicker, and soon it stood on the dirt just outside the cellar entrance.

‘What’s this?’ asked Zimzi, circling about the chest, as the three men shut the doors to the cellar and secured them. ‘It’s lovely, covered in dark leather, and with the brass bands and studs for decoration. Where are you going with it?’