[Kransha]

Heavy eyelids fluttered open very suddenly and focused pupils darted from side to side, seeing only a vision blurred by stunning morning light and the haze of sleep still lifting. Toby Hornblower’s scraggly fingers shot towards his face, eagerly clawing the sand from his eyes as he thrust himself forward excitedly with a swift springing motion from his legs, which had been tucked neatly beneath him as he slept against the wall of the Green Dragon stable. As his vision stabilized, he saw the glinting beams of sun piercing those subtle slits between the wooden planks of the stable foundation and door. He felt the warmth of a new day as he exercised his legs, still tired from sleep.

It had been ten days since the final undesirable incident with Snaveling, Roa, and Galadel. After that final stirring conversation with the seemingly converted man, Snaveling, Toby had also been altered. He felt so much warmer now, both inside and out. He was more eager to be friendly, to be jovial, and to be simply happy with life, not asking for more when he could have wholesome, uncomplicated merriment to elevate his weary spirit. He had felt so much more swelling emotion in the pit of his cold heart as his three new compatriots treated him more as a friend than a counterpart. He’d spent time with Snaveling, telling the man countless stories about life in the Southfarthing to relieve his own nostalgic hopes and customs of the Little Folk. He’d regaled Roa with his semi-preposterous anecdotes that he’d heard from his long gone brethren in Longbottom. He’d imbibed more pipe-weed then aver before in his long life after taking a great liking to the leaf known as “Gondorian Pride” which hailed from Whitwell and given his entire lifestyle a decent amount of stern contemplation.

Tobias thrust the door open, trotting vigorously out onto the grounds; he looked out at the rebuilt inn, bathed in gentle sunlight that coruscated like gleaming honey over the structure. The heavens were cloudless and as blue as a calm sea, with the luminous golden circlet hovering just over the horizon and slowly moving higher into the red-tinged morning sky. Toby breathed in the air and smiled comfortably, closing his eyes and taking in the fabricated smell of success and tranquility. He walked briskly towards the inn, passing by the early risers who had begun to tie up all the loose ends around the now nearly finished inn, working hard to get everything done so a celebration of the reconstruction's completion could begin without delay.

Toby Hornblower knew that he had done many foul things in his day (many that his relatives in Longbottom were still oblivious of) and he was completely aware that he was not the best of hobbits, but the past week and days had given him the time to contemplate his illicit hobbies and redemption. He had figured out a way to redeem himself in what way he could. The elder gentlehobbit knew that he could not make amends for all his shrouded behavior, but he could indeed try to make some reparations for the hardships he’d caused. It could be his general apology to those he had wronged and a gift to the hardworking folk…and, he suspected it would be a good one.

He headed over to the area where breakfast was being served and sat down hastily, eager to eat.