Adventure

Rosa couldn't sleep, and the late watches found her kicking pebbles into the Brockenborings pond.

Where would Fred have gone?

She stared into the water, which reflected only dim starlight. Fred quite liked ponds, and even rivers. He was curious about boats (though to her knowledge, he'd never been on anything bigger than a fishing raft). Grandma Esme had a book about the waterways of the Shire, with lots of pictures, and when he was little Fred always used to turn straight to--

Bucklebury Ferry!

Rosa slipped out of the Green Dragon early that Friday, collecting her pack from underneath the bench by the door. 

It was time to go home.

While she walked, she thought about her mother's letter.

Rosa sat at the kitchen table for several minutes before she realized one hand was over her mouth and had been for quite some time. The other hand still held the letter.

...is in quite a State, naturally. Your Uncle Will has made Inquiries with the local Bounders, but they are stumped, which, all respect to Cousin Fred, is not a terrible Surprise.

The rest of that morning in Bree, Rastellion is hopelessly distracted, unable to keep his mind from straying back to Imma's last words: "Go. Just go."

Rast wakes early the next morning, his jaw setting in determination before he even rises from his bed. Imma’s property is on the docket today, but it’s not going to stay there. “I’d just buy it myself, if I could,” he mutters, splashing cold water on his face and reaching for his razor, but he expects that the bidding will drive the price beyond what he can pay or borrow, even with the proceeds from his father’s farm and the money he’s made for himself over the last few months in Bree. “Maybe if I had another few years…”

Day XXX: The Spire of Durin
‘So the Axe is for real?’ asked Hroskold, amazed.
‘As real as I’m sitting here!’
‘It’s all written down, as plain as can be.’
Said the Gaffer, to the dwarf’s cheers.
So, fired up again with the thought of the Axe,
The lads and I planned our attack.
I’d scout up ahead; the lads, they would follow
We’d be sure to bring the Axe back!