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The Road to Edoras  by Dreamflower

CHAPTER 31

Danulf and Adrahil introduced Beorhstan, and gave him and the supplies into the hands of the hobbits, and the two of them went aside with their captains to report on their mission.

Beorhstan stared about him, amazed at these small people, who were most interested in him and in the foodstuffs he had brought.

It was not his first sight of holbytlan, for he had seen them from a distance on a few occasions. Once, when he had come back to the Houses of Healing to visit with Mardil, and, incidentally, Merewen, one of them had come to visit the wounded, along with a bard. The halfling had seemed most concerned about them all, and when the bard had finished his song, the small one had planted both feet firmly, with his hands behind his back, and had recited a humorous poem about a cat that had most of the patients laughing. He had later been told that this had been the Companion of the Ringbearer, and that he had been in the Black Land himself, and assisted in throwing down the Enemy.

He looked at these now, as they clamored for his attention.

“Yes, there is some bread, baked by my mother, and some smoked pork. And a good many vegetables, Master-- ” he stopped, embarrassed. Although Danulf had given him their names, he could not for the life of him remember them all.

“Bolger, Fredegar Bolger. I am in charge, more or less, of this unruly bunch.”

“I thank you, then, Master Bolger. I am afraid I cannot remember all these names--”

The hobbit grinned at him, such a friendly and open smile that Beorhstan felt joy at the sight of it. “We are rather a lot to take in at once, I am afraid.” Freddy shook his head. He repeated the introductions once more, this time a bit more slowly than Danulf had done. All of them grinned up at Beorhstan, and offered him their service. The young Man was grateful, for now he had their names.

Just then everyone’s attention was drawn by the approach of three more figures, on foot.

Beorhstan’s eyes widened. This was his first good look at an Elf. He gulped. There was no mistaking one of the Fair Folk for anything else. He stared for a moment at the beautiful face, and then his attention was drawn to the two holbytlan behind him, hands bound, and one end of the rope being held by the Elf. Those must be two of the prisoners Danulf and Adrahil had told him about.

He looked at them from lowered brows. The two were rather unprepossessing in appearance. The older one had grey sprinkled through his hair, which was a muddy brown, as were his eyes. He had a pinched and sour expression on his face. The other younger one was not ill-looking, but he too had a dissatisfied countenance. They were quite a contrast to the open and friendly faces of the other little folk.

He stared after them as Legolas led them to the Captain’s tent, and then turned his attention back to the other “hobbits” as Danulf had said they preferred to be called. Hobbits. It sounded much like holbytlan. He noticed that all of them were studiously *not* looking at the prisoners.

He watched them as they sorted through the foodstuffs, exclaiming over this or that, as though they were looking at a great treasure. He found himself smiling at their enthusiasm.

Master Bolger was a handsome enough fellow. His brown hair just a little darker than those of some of the others, and with a touch of chestnut to it. His eyes were hazel, and he seemed a bit thinner than most of the other hobbits. Master Brandybuck bore a distinct resemblance to Sir Meriadoc, whom Beorhstan had seen riding next to É omer King on more than one occasion. He certainly had the same sandy hair and grey eyes. Master Burrows was a bit shorter than the other two, and a bit rounder as well. He had light brown hair and light blue eyes, and seemed somewhat shy.

He studied the other three. Their clothing was not quite so fine as that of the others. Two of them were clearly brothers and looked a good deal alike. The older one, introduced as “Denny”, was slightly taller and his ears seemed to be more pointed than the other hobbits. The younger, “Rolly”, had a mischievous glint in his eye, that made Beorhstan think he might be fond of jokes. The third, called “Jolly” seemed to live up to his name--his broad face was good natured and sprinkled with freckles, and he had a dimple in his left cheek when he grinned, which was often. He had sandy hair and his brown eyes were so dark as to be nearly black. He seemed to have more and thicker hair on his feet than the others.

And then he looked at the hobbit--women? Did hobbits call their females “women” or something else? he wondered. The older one was stout. She had grey sprinkled through her curls, and there were pleasant laugh lines etched next to her eyes, which were hazel. She was a bit stout, and he noticed her air of authority--Mistress Poppy, the healer, as she had been introduced. The younger one, her apprentice Miss Viola, was very attractive. In fact, if she had been twice as tall, and her feet smaller and not so hairy, she might have been very nearly as pretty as his Merewen. Her light brown curls had streaks of gold from the sun running through them, and she had a pert little nose and large brown eyes, which he noticed with some amusement, were often turned to Master Brandybuck.

The two brothers had taken charge of the foodstuffs once they had all been sorted, and began talking rapidly of the meal they would prepare.

“Beorhstan?”

He turned to see Adrahil standing behind him. “The captains wondered if you would stay with us tonight? Or if you feel the need to return today, if you would at least take luncheon with us?”

Beorhstan’s gaze flicked once more in fascination to the little folk, before he answered. “I do not think my father will take it amiss if I stay until morning.”

“I see you are much taken with our hobbits,” the Gondorian grinned.

“Well, they are interesting…” Beorhstan blushed.

“Interesting indeed!” He smiled. “Come, let me introduce you to the rest of the company.”

He led them to the captains who stood outside their tent with Legolas, and introduced each of them. Beorhstan found himself blushing when the Elf acknowledged the introduction--not only and Elf, but a Prince! And even more amazing, one of the Nine Walkers!

Then Adrahil took him into the tent, where he saw a child, a boy of about ten or eleven years, laying in a cot and laughing. Another Man and a Dwarf sat by him.

“Beorhstan, this is our page, Bergil son of Beregond, and with him are Anwynd Anfrith’s son, and Lord Gimli, son of Gloí n, who was also one of the Ringbearer’s Companions when they set out on their journey.”

The three acknowledged the introductions, and once more Beorhstan found himself in the presence of a legend. That he should have the privilege of meeting not one, but two, of the Nine Walkers was almost more than he could comprehend.

They exited the tent, and Adrahil led him over to meet another Man, one who resembled him greatly, and who stood at the perimeter of the camp, conversing with Danulf. This Man was introduced as Artamir, Adrahil’s brother.

Finally, he led him to another tent, where two Men, one in Gondorian livery, and one a Rider of the Mark sat with four holbytlan or rather, hobbits, all of them bound. Adrahil introduced them as Borondir and Leodwald.

Just then, they heard a call from the hobbits outside.

“Luncheon is ready!”

And indeed, there were some most appetizing smells issuing from the cookfire. Beorhstan found his mouth watering at the thought.

 





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