Chapter 22. How Brightly Shines the Morning Star

The first day's journey would be by necessity the longest, as there were no inns between Greenholm and Michel Delving. Quite early, Healer Verbena was watching over the preparation of the coach; Leotred, Hollyberry and Raspberry placed a litter across the gap between two of the facing seats and heaped the resulting "bed" with pillows and padding, tucking flannel-wrapped hot bricks in here and there. The foot-warmers were filled with hot coals, baskets of provisions were handed in as other luggage was strapped onto the top of the coach, the ponies were hitched in, and all was made ready for the travellers.

It seemed as if all of Greenholm escorted the travellers to the coach and waiting ponies, a very slow processional to accommodate Reginard's slow pace. When he reached the coach, Verbena said sharply, 'O no you don't!'

'What is it?' Reginard asked. 'Did you change your mind about letting me go?'

'His wife is going to start getting suspicious,' Ferdibrand said behind one hand, and at Regi's look of annoyance he added, 'and babe or no babe, she'll be on her way to Greenholm to find out what's happened to her husband! Probably have the babe along the road between Michel Delving and...'

'Enough!' Verbena said, exasperated. To Pippin, she said, 'How do you ever put up with him?'

'He grows on you, with time,' the Thain replied equably.

'Wears on you, more like,' Verbena grumbled. 'Now, Master Steward, you are not going to step up into that coach, you are going to allow yourself to be lifted in and settled, for all you walked here on your own legs...'

Though Regi would have protested, a look from the Thain silenced him, and he suffered himself to be lifted and settled comfortably. After hugs all around, Rosie-lass and Elanor were next to step in, then their mother, and Verbena made sure all were well muffled against the chill in the air. Then she turned to her sons.

'Take good care of them,' she said to Leotred. 'I expect you to bring back much of healing that I've not learned, and teach it to me!'

'I will, Mum,' he answered with a hug, then climbed into the coach, settling in the vacant seat between Mistress Rose and the steward.

Fastred was taking his leave of Hollyberry, Raspberry, and his younger brothers and sisters. After hugging them all, he came to the next-oldest lad. 'Halfred,' he said solemnly. 'You're to be the Hobbit of the family, now that Leot and I are away on business.'

Halfred stood a little taller. 'Yes, sir,' he said. 'You know you can count on me, Fas.'

'I know that I can,' Fastred replied. 'I expect to find all the harness mended, the ponies tended, and the plough sharp and ready when I return next spring; we've crops to put in, you know.'

'We'll see to it, Fas,' the little brothers chorused.

'How about a hug for your mum?' Verbena said at his elbow, and he turned to gather her in a firm hug. 'Don't go forgetting where your home is, now,' she added.

He laughed in surprise, putting her away to look into her face. 'Why, how ever could I do that? Home is where you are, Mum.'

'Until you're married,' she answered. 'Then home is where your wife is.'

He made a great show of lifting his arms into the air and peering about himself. 'No wife in sight,' he said. 'I think we're safe, for now.'

'Go on with you,' she said. 'Learn much, be of aid to the Thain, but don't go growing roots in Tookland.'

He hugged her again. 'I won't, Mum. I'll be back in time for spring planting.'

'Don't be late,' she said, for all the world as if he were going off to polish harness, and intending to be back in time for tea. Her arms tightened about him, this great, grown son of hers, so much like his father... and she released him and stepped back.

Pippin gravely shook hands with the leaders of the community of Greenholm. 'The guardsmen will keep a sharp watch for ruffians,' he said, 'and I have requested that they ride out with your farmers onto the plain.' He looked at the sky. 'I know it's a bit late in the season, but perhaps you can get some winter wheat and barley in yet, and do some breaking in preparation for the spring.'

'Many thanks,' said a grizzled hobbit, Fastred's uncle, his mother's older brother.

'I'll let you know when there's word from the King,' the Thain added. He turned to mount his pony, and the rest of the party followed his lead. Mayor Sam, Frodo, Tolly, Hilly, and Ferdi mounted their own ponies; Fastred exchanged a few final words with his uncles, then mounted his own pony.

'We're off!' Mayor Sam shouted, and there was a cheer from the hobbits of Greenholm.

'...like a dirty shirt,' added the irrepressible Ferdibrand, and so, the journey began with laughter.

***

Bessime sat in the darkened garden courtyard, breathing the perfume of the night-blooming plants. The bench she'd sought was in a hidden corner. She wondered if Jessamin had found a place to wait through the night, or if she'd gone back to their quarters. Had their plot been discovered? Had the little ones been found in their baskets in the laundry? Had her sister already been seized, taken by guards to await death in the light of the dawning? She pulled her robes more closely about her and shivered, then jerked upright at a soft step.

She relaxed as Ha'anas stepped into a patch of moonlight. As the interpreter moved past her, she whispered his name, and he stiffened.

'It is I, Ha'anas; no need to fear,' she said.

'What are you doing here?' he hissed, dropping to sit beside her. She could feel him trembling.

'The same thing you are, I'm sure,' she answered. 'Hiding from the king's guards.' She dropped her voice even more, putting her lips close to his ear. 'Did you pass on the message?'

'I did,' he murmured. 'If the king or any of his cronies noticed, I'll be food and sport for the coursers in the morning.'

'Did anyone notice?' she demanded.

He shook his head. 'I'd be the last to know,' he whispered. 'The king likes his little games, you know. Let the mouse run a bit, think it's free, then snap it up just as it is about to escape.'

His head jerked up, and suddenly he seized her in his arms, was kissing her fiercely. She started to push him away, only to hear Ha'asad's amused voice.

'Nice night for lovers.'

She felt rather than saw the interpreter wave impatiently at the guard, and laughing, Ha'asad moved away. With relief, they heard his steps retreat from the garden. Some time after Ha'anas saw his shadow leave the doorway, he released Bessime.

'Did he see who we were?' she whispered, heart pounding.

'I do not think he did. We are in the shadows. He saw only a man and a woman, locked in a passionate embrace.' The interpreter dropped his face into his hands and shuddered. 'Forgive me for forcing my attentions upon you, my lady.'

'There was nothing to forgive,' Bessime said gently. 'I will not call the Law down upon your head for this night's work.' She reached out tentatively, finding his hand.

He enfolded her questing hand in in his own, and they sat together, waiting through the rest of the long and fearful night, finding comfort in each other's company.

When the sky began to pale, Ha'anas stirred. 'They will find us, no matter where we hide,' he said. 'We might as well watch from the wall as shiver here.'

Bessime nodded. With the dawn, the washers would be carrying the baskets out of the city gate to the riverbank, as part of the Lion's order that all appear as normal and peaceful as possible in the face of the so-called king of Gondor and his army. From the wall they would see if the little ones escaped... if guards did not arrest them at the wall before the washers reached the riverbank.

***

Legolas and Gimli strolled along the riverbank as the sun rose over the plain. The city was already bustling as the people of Haragost took advantage of the cool morning hours. Merchants were setting up their wares in the marketplace, farmers' carts were rolling in through the city gates, bored guards nodded at the drivers.

Muscular slaves hauled the great baskets of laundry to the riverbank, and the Elf and Dwarf stopped to see the colourful sight of the washers tucking their silken skirts into their sashes and wading into the river to begin their task.

'Quite the peaceful view,' Gimli rumbled to his companion. 'You rousted me out of a comfortable bed, for this?'

'It is good for the heart to greet the dawn,' the Wood Elf returned pleasantly. 'And we will work up a good appetite for our breakfast.'

'You sound like a hobbit,' the Dwarf accused. 'They're always looking forward to the next meal.'

Legolas didn't answer, for he was staring fixedly at the washers, and his arm rose to grasp the Dwarf's in excitement as he saw small figures tumbling out of the baskets. 'Look!' he hissed, and broke into a run towards the washers.

Gimli was close behind; he'd seen the small, bright figures, too, running desperately towards them, pursued by shouting slaves: a hobbit mum clutching her babe in its sling and carrying a toddler on one hip, and two tweens, each carrying a tiny hobbit-child in one arm and towing a slightly larger hobbit-child from the other hand.

With a roar, Gimli freed his axe and raised it high. They reached the hobbits just before the slaves did, and as Legolas gathered the hobbits to himself like a mother hen taking her chicks under her wings, Gimli stepped between hobbits and pursuers, axe at the ready.

The slaves stopped, confused, hands out to show that they were weaponless.

'All right,' the Dwarf growled, keeping his axe high. 'You may go about your business.' He jerked his chin at the overturned baskets by the riverbanks, moved the axe suggestively, and the slaves fell back, reluctant, but persuaded that, for the moment, they were safer to let the little ones go than to press the matter. Gimli waited until they had reached the baskets and resumed their tasks before he lowered the axe to look over their situation.

Legolas was surrounded by a clinging crowd of little hobbits, either squeaking in excitement or weeping with relief.

'You came for us! You came!' Celandine was sobbing, clutching at Blossom and Poppy and Legolas, looking about to reassure herself that, yes, her eight children were all here and accounted for.

'Of course we did,' Legolas said warmly, bending down to take the hobbit mum in a hug. 'I bring you greetings from the Master of Buckland. He sent word that I couldn't come back for a visit unless I brought you along with me.'

Celandine laughed through her tears. 'I can just hear Merry saying that,' she said.

'Let us not tarry here,' the Dwarf growled. 'They might notice that they outnumber us, and decide to argue after all.'

'Outnumber us?' Legolas laughed. 'A mere score, against Legolas and Gimli? Old friend, I do believe you are giving them too much credit!'

'Very well, then, let us take these strays back to the shepherd,' Gimli rumbled. 'I'm sure the King will be happy to greet his missing subjects. I know I will be happy to turn around and march out of this oven of a land.'

'Are you sure you are finished baking?' the Wood Elf asked, and laughed at the look the Dwarf gave him.

He looked down at the hobbits who clung so tightly around him. 'Come, chicks,' he said. ' 'Tis time to go home.'

***

Notes to Readers, from original posting:

Note to Readers:

I am just returning from vacation (hoorah! Vacation is fun, but not getting to write daily is very wearing on the nerves).

"The Law" as used in this story is not meant to resemble any modern system of belief. In other words, I made it up, after thinking about how a society of proud warriors not recognising the beliefs of Numenor might be ordered.

Thank you for the comments!

Yes, Dana, and how *did* your kitty manage to sneak into the story??? (Do you think it's too much, for Gimli to say "ambiance"? He *has* been hanging out with an elf, you know.)

Bookworm, the interpreter wasn't drunk. It was all part of the act, and the only way he could plausibly approach one of Elessar's folk without exciting suspicion. And even at that he was taking a terrible risk...

Aemilia Rose, yes, the cat was a bit of gravy, added to the mouse game.

Pansy, Aragorn's face, hearing of the stew, is coming up soon... the chapter is already written and will be posted this week sometime, if all goes well.

Xena, yes! Aragorn's Ranger qualities, I hadn't even thought of that! But of course, it would make him more observant. I liked the way Legolas was watching out for Gimli, myself, knowing he might not be the most observant person in the world (have a mental image from the movie, of him saying "ooo" as the elven arrow appears an inch from his nose...)

FantasyFan, it is going to start to get better now... hang in there. (Eeew. I find spiders seriously scary, myself)

Have written well ahead in this story, and "Flames" as well, so look forward to daily updates for the nonce, unless something happens to interrupt.

I have added a new chapter to "Flames" as well, in case you are following that story.