[Envinyatar]

Ambushed & wounded by Halflings

‘Ouch!’ A cry of pain issued from the shadowy figure as it stepped through the back door and into the kitchen. The tips of both Buttercup’s and Ginger’s towels snapped soundly against the man’s lower breeches causing him to yelp in pain.

Derufin hobbled across the floor to a chair and sat down rubbing his knees, both of which he could feel stinging and welting up through his breeches. ‘By the One!’ he growled at the trio of armed women. ‘What are you trying to do? Bring me down like some hunted beast!’

The two younger Hobbits were mortified, their faces white as they looked on at the injured man. But leaning against the counter, holding herself up by its edge was Cook. And she was laughing! At him!

He heard the door creak open behind him and he turned about to warn Anyopâ to be wary of attack. Derufin began to chuckle then as he saw the man’s hand extend round the edge of the door, waving a white handkerchief.