[Child of the 7th Age]

The hobbits lined up along the railing with wistful eyes to watch Mithadan descend the gangplank, Piosenniel flanking him on the left and Bird on the right. Bird turned to wave a final goodbye to Cami, then trotted forward to regain her place beside the Man. Cami wondered whether the Elf or shapechanger had the slightest idea what Mithadan intended to do, or whether he had left them as much in the dark as she was.

Both women were respectably dressed, quite different from the unconventional attire they usually wore aboard the Star. Cami tried unsuccessfully to stifle her laughter, and was given a brief, sharp glance by the Elf.

Her friend's dress and demeanor were definitely those of a good wife of Gondor, as she tried to walk demurely by her husband's side. Somehow, the image did not fit. Pio looked uncomfortable, as if she was wearing shoes that were too tight for her feet. Every now and then her strides would lengthen when she forgot the role she was expected to play. Then she'd slow down and pull back to stand just to the rear of her husband's shoulder with a strained look showing on her face. As the trio disappeared into the crowded streets, Cami could have sworn she'd seen Mithadan trying to hide a smile or two as he looked over towards his own dear wife.

Even after the landing party had departed, a number of hobbits clung to the rail, pointing fingers towards the city sights and asking why they couldn't disembark. Cami had told them several tales of the Green Dragon and Prancing Pony, and many were hankering to go see if there was a similar establishment in Minas Anor.

Andril and Phura helped Cami shoo most of the onlookers away from the railing and directed them down to the lower decks in case any residents of Minas Anor happened to be strolling too close to the ship. Several younger hobbits eluded Andril's grasp entirely and were clumped together in a knot at the top of the gangway, bitterly complaining about their fate. Andril shooed them away once more and, with Phura's assistance, began pulling the gangplank up onto the deck to prevent any possible escapees.

"This isn't fair!" Gamba retorted to Cami. "I feel like I'm in prison. I want to see the city. I want to buy something in the market and have a drink at an Inn. You told me to talk to you if I've got a problem. I'm talking now, and you're not listening."

"Gamba, be reasonable! We can't have dozens of hobbits turning up in the middle of Minas Anor with no explanation. Of course, people will gradually learn about us in Middle-earth, and we won't try and hide our faces. But now is not the time or place for that, epecially since we'll have a whole fleet of ships trying to get up the river. Do you want the entire population of the city ending up on our doorstep, wishing us well as we leave or, even worse, preventing us from sailing so they can see the miraculous little folk?"

"I have no intention of letting anyone off this ship. Just wait a day, and you'll have plenty of woods to explore. Anyways, we have no money. You can't go to an Inn or a market without money."

"Alright, I hear you, but I don't think it's fair." Then Gamba turned abruptly to go below deck with Kesha.

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Two small figures crept cautiously about in the hull of the Star where belongings and supplies for the hobbits had been stowed. These were the provisions Cami and the Elves had collected that would be distributed to the families once they left the ship. There was a large assortment of useful things for someone undertaking a journey, plus a few odds and ends to help furnish and decorate a hobbit hole.

"Why do we need this junk?" Kesha asked. He fished through a pile of clothing and pulled out a cloak with a hood that was spacious enough for two young hobbrim.

"Put it on. We need to cover up. That way, they'll think we're some of the big folks' children."

"But what about this stuff? It's really old. I bet it's from Tol Fuin or even before." Kesha pointed towards a pile Gamba had collected that contained several items, including a long sturdy rope, a painted picture, a small stone tablet, and a book.

"We'll use it to barter. To get things we want. Cami told me some people like real old things. This stuff is sure old, so it should go fast."

The boys stuffed their treasures into a large cloth sack, put on the cloaks, and wrenched open the square door that stood nearby, one of several that were intended to be used for offloading supplies and provisions from the ships's hold. As there was no gangplank in place, the two boys had no choice but to jump.

"Can you make it?" Kesha asked.

"Sure!" With that affirmation, Gamba lept through the air, and landed in a crumpled heap on the wooden dock.

"Come on Kesha." The smaller boy jumped and ended up in the water, which was no disaster for a hobbrim. Gamba leaned down and fished him out.

"Let's go. Fast." Gamba exhorted his friend. "I don't know how much time we'll have."

With that admonition, Kesha and Gamba pulled their hoods over their heads, and scampered off into the streets of Minas Anor. Cami and Andril were just sitting down to a pot of tea in their cabin, congratulating themselves on having settled everyone down.

[ December 11, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]