What do I say then? Me life has turned upside down, and some in a good way and some less so. Of course I miss the kindly folk I knew, and I still miss Ma and Pa, having not seen em for over six months now. But it’s good ter see Sarno again, even under such sad circumstances. He and I go back a way. The other folk here in Tighfield I know a bit. I met Tolbold a few times, and Sarno’s younger brother, Gaisarix I know from way back when. (Always into trouble he was, but a kindly lad anyways.) I had heard a bit about Henepa, and what a good Tavern keep she is and about her being generous with both breakfasts ter set a Hobbit up fer the day, at least until elevenses. I also knew she had quite a temper at times. I had heard of Hazil, the lass that helped at the Bent Elbow with cooking and cleaning, and a quietly competent lass she be.
I like them…I like those I met. But it seems I may have ter wait a while ter meet Gaisarix again, and ter meet Henepa. Seems them have been kidnapped!
What a state fer me ter arrive in. Of course I wanted ter help. But firstly I just said ‘Hullos’ and settled in a room, and helped Hazil a bit in the kitchen, and kept out of folks' way. Then I find me friend Sarno has been told ter keep a record of what’s happened. Now Sarno was always a lad with a pitchfork happy ter help. He was never a lad with a pen. He tries of course, but I asked him, carefully so as not ter upset him, if I could help him keep a record? He blushed with embarrassment, but let me help. It’s not something ter feel shame over. Many Hobbits can’t read or write well, if at all. Me Ma taught me, because her Pa was quite a learned Lad. But me own Pa can’t write for potatoes.
Anyways….I heard a lot about comings and goings in me first week there. I could see the state Tolbold was in, worrying over his friends (I was beginning ter suspect he was more than a bit fond of Henepa), but he was also an Assistant Chief Shirriff, and that be some responsibility ter all of Tighfield, and all the Yondershire. Ter give em credit, all the Bounders had been searching, even those who report to Lotho Sackville-Baggins. Messages have been sent all over the place to ask if anyone had seen ‘em.
And folk wondered who had taken ‘em? The main suggestion seemed ter be rough men, some of the brigands who used local ruins as their base, while trying ter terrorise Hobbits and travellers alike. Seems there was some backstory I got out of Sarno about Elves helping out. And I was on that in an instant. Me dream of course was about an Elf.
So I said ter Sarno, yer tell me more about these Elves and I tell yer about me dream. And I make us a nice cup of tea and some roast lamb sandwiches with pickles an lettuce.
“Forget the lettuce and we have a deal,” he replied.
We be friends yer see. He knows he can trust me. So he told me more about what a good lad Tolbold was, an how he always do his very best ter help folk, an how he held a candle fer Henepa these past years (but so it seemed did Gaisarix) and how one evening, he had encountered Elves near the village. He told me how he had hidden in bushes and tried ter pretend he was a whole unit of Hobbit Archers, but the Elves hadn’t been fooled. We both laughed a little, but it was a serious matter.
“Then, one of them Elves, A. Starfin, who we first thought, a terrible demon in black on a big black horse, made us all elven knives. Well, truth be told, he gave Gaisarix one when he rescued him from brigands in the south, then left four more with Tolbold fer us Bounders, when him and the High Lord and the Lady rode East.”
And didn't me heart start a racing! So much adventure. But I knew it had come to an ill end.
So folks think yer been aiding them Elves?” I asked.
Sarno shrugged. “Well, we tried, but I think them help us most. Scary, aye…but good. Them be good folk.”
I nodded, I patted Sarno on the shoulder and went and made tea.
“Roast lamb sandwiches fer supper?” he asked.
“Of course. And I have some fresh mint sauce as well.”
That brought a temporary smile ter his face.
“They got Guy. He be a pain ter be sure, especially now he wants ter be like the dark Elf…a Starfin, ter give him his right title. He be Guy’s hero, fearing nothing and the like.”
I nodded encouragingly and set down the freshly made plates of sandwiches.”So yer like those Elves? Them don’t usually bother with our kind.”
“True enough. I don’t think they are overly bothered, but I sort of think them don’t like bullies. At least, bullying Men.” He thought for a moment.
“Elves usually keep ter themselves. That’s what I heard.”
“Aye. But….”
“But what?” I asked.
“I be wondering if we could ride ter their land and ask them fer help with finding our friends?”
I rocked back in me chair a moment. Maybe this was what I was here for, ter speak with the Elves? Oh, me heart was in me throat.
“What does Tolbold say?” I asked
“Tolbold thinks we shouldn’t involve ‘em. He says something about ‘Go not ter Elves fer advice, fer they say this an that.’”
I sipped at me tea. It was quite hot and needed a little more milk.
“Maybe I can talk with him?”
Sarno shrugged, but smiled plaintively. “Any help would be good. But come on now. Tell me yer dream? Was it about me?” He laughed, and blushed again, his eyes twinkling fer the first time since I arrived.
I slapped him on the shoulder. “Yer should be so lucky.” I chuckled at him fondly. “No, it be about an Elf needin help. I had it back in Glenwood…so some years past. And I was in me Ma and Pa’s shop, and I walked down the back stairs ter their cellar, remember?”
Sarno nodded, now sipping at his own tea and relishing the flavour of the sandwich he had just devoured.
“Well I went down them, and then I was in a dark land with rocks and ash and all. Like down a mine I thought, though I couldn’t see a roof.”
“And…”
“And there was these Elves seeming in trouble, one in particular. He have his sword raised ter the sky. And I sort of knew he needed some help. Not that he looked as if he needed help, or even wanted it. I just knew I had ter help him.”
“Dangerous stuff,” Sarno commented. “I would keep clear of things like that.”
“But I can’t yer see. I had the same dream a few days before I left Michal Delving. I was happy enough there, but now I feel..ohh…scared…but I have ter do something.”
Sarno chuckled. “From the little I know, them don’t need our help, and the Lady has a bright sword and such a look of determination in her eyes that I would run if she be angry. And the High Lord Parnard is, well, I guess he's High fer a good reason.
As fer Lord a Starfin, he be the tallest person I ever saw, and is broad and strong, with all that wild black hair blowing everywhere, and a great big sword and shield he carried, and was dressed all in crimson and black. And his eyes, grey as storm-clouds. Offft, you wouldn’t want ter be on the wrong side of him, an no mistake.”
I said nothing. I just knew. I knew these were the Elves I had ter help.
(Followed by Screen Shot stories: A Continuing Concern )
