[Durelin]

Even after finally getting out of his door, Dury had much trouble keeping himself moving. He usually loved walks, taking in the view, visiting friends, saying hello even to those who would have liked to chase him across the shire with a garden-hoe. Now he saw little of the things that passed him by, and it was dark besides, too early in the morning for the sun, and therefore too early for any hobbits. It was only several miles to the old trysting tree, to where his companions would be gathering. Well, more than several. He only wished he would not be the last to arrive. They would have to wait for him, though. He was, after all, one of the oldest hobbits of the group. A strange thing, as Dury had been all too used to there being someone older than him, at least outside his little family. There was always a grandfather before this. But, then, grandfathers were much to old to go on journeys, especially one such as theirs.

As the first fingers of light rose on the horizon, followed by a burning orange ball, Dury tried to decide just what kind of journey it was. 'Dangerous' was a word that popped into his head too often. It was a family journey -- his wife's family. It was rebellious. Dury winced. Now there was a harsh word. Rebellious against that Chief and his cronies? Any hundreds of hobbits would be hard pressed to be that. What was the point of this journey? What were they doing, going off to this farmer? Were they merely picking up some goods, quite a normal activity? Or…were they resisting the force of 'the Chief?' Well, if they were doing that, 'the Chief' happened to have a lot of force, and they certainly did not! Paladin may be a wise old hobbit, and a wild Took at that, but he wasn't even taking part in the actual journey. He was simply a force behind it. A small force, mind.

The clouds above shown in bright colors, and the light ran through the trees along the road to play between shadows in the grass, but Dury didn't notice its beauty, all wrapped up in his dreary thoughts. Or perhaps he did notice; though no natural painting could affect his mood. Drawing near Tookborough certainly did not. He was surprised to find himself in lands he associated with his wife's family; Dury did not remember walking all those miles. Where would he meet them? O yes, the Stone. He remembered how fascinated by the stone he had been as a child, it had been such a good play thing. It had been a fort, a great mountain, a wall, a bed, and any number of things. Those memories brought a smile for the first time that dreadful morning. Mirdy and Dora would be big enough to play on it soon!

The smile was wiped from his face, as the memories were from his mind, all at the sight of the source of the memories. His companions to be surrounded it, most spread out on the grass talking, and some even cooking second breakfast. He was the last one to arrive, though the others seemed in no hurry to leave. Dury counted the hobbits present. Five. That was their group, wasn't it? Were they not leaving? Adjusting the pack on his back, he gave himself the time to think. And to bring himself together! His mind had been in a thousand places at once since he had awoken that morning, and his dreams had not been much better. There was nothing worse than a bad dream, except waking to a bad day. Dury tried not to frown, but he had the feeling his attempts only made him look pained.

Dury dropped his pack and sat down heavily by Josh and Niluial. For some reason, young Josh looked no better than Dury felt, though Dury was sure Josh wasn't worried about the journey ahead. Perhaps nervous, but not worried. The boy was a Brandybuck-Took, after all. "Err…Shouldn't we be on our way?"

Dury waited a moment, but Josh didn't answer. He kept glancing at Niluial, though his mind seemed to be far away.

"Josh?"

"Oh! Hallo Dury! I-I hope your walk here was nice."

"It was…fine," Dury changed what he had wanted to say. Horrid. Ghastly. "Shouldn't we be leaving?"

"Well, we're going to, but Cami might join us, and we all wanted a rest before we start."

"Of course. I just thought… Well…," Dury eyed some sausages being cooked before him. "Do you mind…?"

For a moment Josh looked at him, a picture of perfect confusion. 'The strangest hobbit he is,' he must be thinking, Dury thought.

"Oh!" For the second time in moments, he had surprised Josh. "Of course, Dury, though you'll have to wait a bit, they can't be cooked yet. It's only been a minute."

Dury nodded and said his thanks. Good. A rest before they started off was most welcome, but they had best get moving soon. The quicker they got to that farm, the quicker they were home with their leaf, and the quicker the 'resisting' was over with.

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]