Cami was relieved to see Laurie's horse come galloping back towards the Inn. It had been a goodly number of hours since she had left, and the hobbit was beginning to worry that she might have experienced some mishap on the road.
She knew Laurie was a newcomer to the Shire. Perhaps, she'd managed to go the wrong direction or get lost on one of the many shortcuts, backlanes and pathways that sliced across the fields and even through some of the farms.
But when Laurie stopped her horse at the front of the Dragon, she looked quite healthy, and appeared none the worse for her trip. The girl threw down her reins and bolted off the horse, giving him a gentle pat on the nose.
"A letter, Miss Cami, a letter from Bag-end. From Bilbo." She shouted triumphantly, waving the note in the air.
Cami quickly snatched the message out of the girl's hand, and went over to look at it privately. She hurriedly read it, then smiled back at Laurie. "Good news! Bilbo wishes to bring everyone here for dinner. And thank goodness, that will be tomorrow night." So, all she had to do was to plan and cook a dinner for 17 hungry hobbits! That would be Bilbo and Frodo, Samwise and his wife Rose, along with all 13 of their young brood.
Cami searched her mind to find some credible explanation for Pio as to this little change of plans..... She decided to keep a close eye on the Elf for the next few hours and see when she appeared to be in a charitable mood. Before Laurie left, she tugged the girl over and whispered in her ear.
"Wait an hour or so. Then let folk know we'll be having a little party tomorrow night with Frodo and Bilbo and Samwise as guests of honor."
[ January 13, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]
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