In the Shadow of the Star: Part 1

[piosenniel]

Late evening 29 Nárië

The journey back to Bywater seemed longer than the road to where the two Hobbits had found Mithadan and Bird. Gilly’s pony plodded along the Stock Road, then turned north at the great oak tree, heading across the open country between the pathway and the Great East Road.

At a tiny inn, set back in a small dell to the west of her route, she took her late evening meal, trading her skill at washing dishes and mucking out stalls for a hot supper and a place to sleep in the small barn.

‘Best we rest up well, Nettle,’ she said to her companion. ‘It will be a long walk back to the inn tomorrow.’ Nettle, it seemed, had picked up a stone along the way and was now limping from the bruise on her hoof’s tender quarter section. Gilly combed and curried her, treating her to a small carrot and an apple she had wheedled from the cook.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

30 Nárië

Early morning found her up and ready to go as soon as the sun peeked above the eastern horizon. Gilly took a cold breakfast from the food Mithadan had shared with her, and set out north from the inn, leading the slow gaited pony along behind her. With luck and fair weather, she would reach the Inn late in the evening . . .

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]