Much had happened since his arrival in the Shire a few weeks earlier. One evening Tahitoa was approached by a strange hobbit in a dark corner of The Bird and Baby Inn in Michel Delving. It was most likely because of the ale he had that night, but he could just remember the tale this hobbit had shared with him in whispers. A precious pendant, a secret in need of protection and a small piece of parchment with a drawing was placed in his hand, A crest with a white rose in it , and a name. A few days later he had almost completely forgotten about the whole episode when he received a letter from Overhill asking him to visit a house there. Once again he did blame his love for one too many drinks for having himself involved with strangers in a pub.
Tahitoa the hunter walked slowly pass the big round door , just to find himself into the entrance of a big burrow. The house had a somehow familiar smell...pipe-weed and pies . A young hobbit led Tahitoa inside and then down a corridor. It was really quite warm and dry, no sign of any dump , this was a sound hobbit hall. There was a large, well-furnished room on the right-hand side. The floor was carpeted with soft beautiful rugs, there were drapes on the round windows, and a fair amount of ornate furniture, A large bed, with white fur blankets and pillows, a table covered with books, maps and papers in a corner of the room. A cheery fire in the large fireplace, and next to it, a large bathtub. Tahitoa had been invited to stay as a guest, it was all new to him, and he could not sleep. Tahitoa finally gave up trying to sleep in the lovely but unfamiliar room. He threw off the fur blanket and went into the corridor, there he stood next to a window looking out onto the garden pond and the night. It was then that he heard a soft sound coming from behind him and a voice...
"Welcome to Shire Rose, Tahitoa Tuk ! "
