[Noinkling]

Benat nodded as the new Hobbit settled in. Anyopâ had asked his question again and the full attention of the table was now focused on how he might answer. Benat, himself, was wondering how to answer the man’s question without causing too much alarm. It had become quite evident to him that few, if any, had heard of the Beornings here in the Shire. And good folk as they were, still he wondered how they would view something so familiar to him and yet so unordinary if not unthinkable to them. He decided to begin with the story of how Gandalf had brought Mister Bilbo and the Dwarfs to the land about the Carrock.

He was well into the story, pleased with himself, since they had some knowledge of it and seemed to be enjoying it. They’d asked where the Carrock was and he’d explained about the northern parts of The Great River, the Anduin. Bigger and rougher than the Brandywine he’s told them . . . and deep enough for small ships to pass up it for a ways. They’d shivered as he spoke to them of the nearness of the old forest, called Mirkwood, then, he’d said. ‘Just to the east of us, and filled with shadow and all manner of dark things.’ They’d nodded at this, being familiar with the Old Forest near Buckland.

‘And to the west were The Misty Mountains . . . a warren of tunnels and caves all used for many long years by the great hordes of goblins and Orcs and other foul and dangerous creatures,’ he told them.

‘Have mercy,’ murmured Maddy, shaking his head at the grim picture. ‘Seems like you were caught in the grips of a vise – bad ‘uns to the left and right of you! How ever did you and your folk survive?’

‘We had the advantage of being bigger and stronger and more ferocious as need be than our foe,’ Benat went on. He took a good sized swig of his ale, then continued. ‘We’re Skinchangers, my folk . . . and I.’

There were looks of confusion on the faces of his tablemates. ‘Let me explain . . .’ They were only a small number living in that dangerous place, but they had the ability to change at will into great Bears with keen eyes and noses, and very sharp teeth and claws. They patrolled the borders of their little land and for many lives of their folks they had kept their holdings and families safe from the marauding evil. And even now, though the King’s Peace, was spreading slowly through the lands, still beneath the mountains, in the darkness, dwelt little pockets of Orcs and goblins and trolls. And the wolves of the north still hunted in the mountains and would make forays into the fields and pastures when the winters were particularly bad.

The Hobbits asked a number of questions, as did Anyopâ. They all held a look of wary fascination in their faces, though from what they asked they seemed to be trying to slide their minds around what he had told them. Benat called for another pitcher or two of ale. They would be needing it when he got into the tale of the battle he thought.