[Folwren]

They climbed the ladder to the loft, tall, as Cook had said, but sturdy, where Hanson was already waiting with one of the kittens in his hands and Wren hurried forward with sudden excitement. She dropped to her knees beside Hanson and for a minute just looked with positive ecstasy at the tiny bundles of fur curled beside their mother. A smile flickered around her face and her eyes shone as she reached out and gently took up one of the kittens. Tim came more slowly up behind and with a silent sigh sat down beside her. For a few minutes, he had forgotten his trouble. Cook’s offer had almost put them completely out of mind. But Wren’s questions had more often than once reminded him that in the future days something would have to be done.

‘Forget them for now. She’s happy and you can be, too. You have dinner right in front of you and a breakfast has been offered.’ He didn’t have to convince himself any further. He was a child, and though he was growing up faster than most children did, he still had the ability to forget his problems for a short time when things were agreeable. He pulled the basket Woody had put down towards himself and opened it, took out the knife, and began to cut the cheese.

He handed the others starters and then took a bit of bread and cheese in either hand and ate himself. He watched his sister share her attention between the food and the kitten. When he had satisfied himself for the time being, he turned his attention to the kittens Wren showed him and finally picked one up for himself.

About an hour passed of merry, childish talk, eating, and holding and petting the kittens and cat before someone called for Hanson and Woody from the inn. Hanson looked up and put the kitten he had in his hand back down.

“It’s Uncle Gil,” he said, looking at Tim and Wren. “I think it’s time for us to be heading home.” The other three stood up and after rather familiar goodbyes, the two hobbits left the barn and headed in.

“Come over this way from the cats, Wren,” Tim said, drawing his sister away softly. “We don’t want to hurt them while we’re sleeping.”

They curled down in the hay a few feet from the cat’s nest and many feet from the edge of the loft. Wren dropped off to sleep almost at once and Tim lay looking fondly at her in the dim light. He finally shut his eyes and put a protective arm over her and he quickly dropped into a deep and dreamless sleep.