The Silver Birch Inn

[Dragoneyes]

Were Gaddy and Daisy married? Hal could hardly imagine them not being married.

"They got married as soon as was possible. Did Gaddy some good too. He finally got himself some work! He's a Shirriff around the Hobbiton area, quite a good one I've been told, knows what it's like to break the rules most likely." Hal and Robin both smiled, remembering how Gaddy had been mostly anything but serious and the huge yell he had gained from Bullroarer, who certainly lived up to his name. "Anyhow, Daisy's near five months pregnant." Robin let a squeal loose.

"They're going to have a baby?" Hal beamed and nodded. Robin hopped down from the counter and practically bounced on the spot. She squealed a little again.

"Robin!" said Silver, "I don't believe I've ever seen you quite so excited!" Robin quietened down and smiled sheepishly at Silver.

"Oh no, that's positively calm compared to Gaddy's sisters miss... Silver? Was it?" Said Hal. Silver nodded and smiled to herself, if you're around Hobbits, you have to get used to having a title.

"What of you Hal? Anything happened to you?" asked Robin, "Anyone?" she added slyly.

"Nothing of what you're thinking if I get your meaning. Been mostly the same, just working for me dad. My arm's never been quite the same though." Hal shook his arm a little, as though that would get it working properly again and pulled up the sleeve to inspect it more closely. Scars ran all over his lower arm that were quite plainly teeth marks. A few others in the group grimaced. Hal knew Robin to have a similar injury, but said nothing of it. Hal didn't like to think back to their outing too much, he was still not at ease with having killed in battle and losing or nearly losing so many around him. Hal shook himself from his reverie.

"Daisy still has that dress you made her." He said quietly and grinned broadly.

[Nurumaiel]

Robin was absolutely thrilled to hear the news Hal gave her. She and Daisy had become quite close during their adventure, or so Robin liked to think, and it was very exciting to hear that there was going to be a little Boffin. Leaning back against the counter and looking smugly at Hal, she said, "Babies are what Gaddy and Daisy need. When Dinodas and I get married, I want to have at least seven children."

"That's a lot of children," said Hal, trying to hide the surprise on his face. Robin seemed busy enough as she was, and with seven children?.....

"Could you handle that many?" Silver put in.

Robin nodded decisively. "I wouldn't be happy if I didn't have many children. I didn't have any brothers or sisters, you know, and it was a disappointment because I love children." He began to tell her a little bit about himself and how he was doing, and she frowned when she saw the scars on his arm. He saw that and caught her eye. "Oh," she said, realizing what he was thinking. "Oh, I don't mind a bit." She rolled up herself and showed everyone her own scar with a little grin. "Battle scars are rather enjoyable to show off sometimes." Both Silver and Hal smiled at her.

"Now," said Robin, "that you're here in the kitchen, is there anything I make you, even if only a drink? I'm afraid I don't cook as well as those at the Green Dragon, where we first agreed to go on that little adventure, but I'm fair enough. You have to taste my cooking, Hal, so I can prove that I'm not as terrible as you think."

[Ophelia]

Ophelia heard Robin (as she had understood from the conversation) asking the other hobbit if he would like something to eat and that she is the cook here so she walked to the hobbit lass and asked "Excuse me , but may I ask for more of those tasty chockolate muffins , if that wouldn`t be too much of a burden ? And you must tell me the secret what makes them so delicious ."
Robins eyes were glistening as she turned to Hal and said "See , I`m not a bad cook afterall !"

[Dragoneyes]

"We shall see! My mother's cooking is hard to beat you know! I'm going to have to give you a little challenge I think." Hal went through a mental list of all his favourite foods (it was a very long list). "It's a right old mix, but it shouldn't be too hard. Sausages, Roast potatoes, some asparagus and to finish it all off, some batter pudding." Hal savoured the imagined tastes and smells for a while before snapping back to the real world and smiling at Robin, "Well, get to it!" he said playfully.

[Nurumaiel]

Robin grinned at the challenge and went flying into the pantry to fetch everything she needed. Silver smiled to see the hobbit lass so much happier and so busy. Soon the pots and pans were on the stove and Robin was able to relax and talk with Hal again.

"Gaddy and Daisy are having a baby," she mused. "Tell me, Hal... what names are they considering?"