Aoefa had prepared the horses shrouded by the dark night and muffled by the howling wind that tried to steal the heavy cape she was encompassed within. The sky was clear, the half moon was weak but permitting her enough light to see without lighting a torch to alert anyone. She tacked up Brodie and readied Cherry's panniers stuffing them with food she had smuggled from the pantry, water and blankets, "be like a Hobbit, always be prepared" her father would tell her and Breen with a smile as he checked they had enough cheese, ham, bread and water whenever he took them on a horse trading journey. She pondered this memory, a delicate smile crossed her now dirty, tear-stained face. she had never met a Hobbit she disliked, they always seemed kind, friendly and always, always had food about them. She particularly liked that they were prepared to stop whatever they were doing, lay out their spread and engage in a hugely enjoyable and social affair wherever they may be. They never seemed to anger at any fussing child either, another much admired trait for her. To her, the merest hunk of bread and crumb of cheese and a tomato washed down with tea and followed by a smoke of pipe weed, smoked slowly and with considered measure which made the meal take on a whole new ethos, indeed it became a Hobbit feast.
Now, having taken a huge gulp of the cold night air and exhaling deliberately slowly to calm her nerve she mounted up Brodie and led Cherry on, out of the stables and into the cold dark night. She thought comforting thoughts about what it would be like to be of a Hobbit household, snuggled in their round homes around a warm hearth and within a happy household.
As she urged Brodie on she considered that, once she had traveled to the North Bree Fields and settled down maybe a trip to The Shire would be a good thing. She wasn't sure about this though as her father had told the children that Hobbits were a private people at home though they were welcoming of mankind out on their travels. She had never actually seen a Hobbit home for herself and permitted herself to indulge her daydream of a visit one day as she rode into the night alone.
