Fiesty Prepares for War, the War Room Scene

The morning found Fiesty trying out a new recipe for a corn cake that she and Tangles had collaborated on. It was really easy and did not need much to make it up, just corn meal, water, salt, sugar, and a little milk. You could even get by without the milk. That made it a good recipe for the hobbit scouts. She remembered how fun it was to experiment new recipes with Tangles and decided to call it Tanglecake.

Perhaps she would include it in the Tavern recipes. The Tavern cook Bertha was game for new foods and would probably improve on it a bit. Those new seeds Fae Talia had traded her for were really something. The tomatoes were good in season and were pretty good dried. The taters kept in storage a long time, and the corn was a real find. Fiesty couldn’t wait to try out Talia’s latest batch of seeds. She had said they were big green round things with red sweet insides. But those seeds had to wait for spring, so Fiesty put them away carefully.

Fiesty Making Her Rounds

Then it was time for a few errands and lunch with Copper and Juste. She left her cozy burrow and felt the cooling autumn breeze. Soon now she would have to bring her cloak, but the sun was shining enough to warm her. She looked out Southwest toward the Lighthouse and thought fleetingly of the task Tangles had taken on. He had left this morning with a few hobbit boys to keep lookout at the mouth of the Longflood River and the white cliffs. It was bound to be uncomfortable up there in the wind and the elements. She strengthened her resolve to see what she could do for them.

 Next stop the Millhouse. The winter was coming on and there was much to do. There was drying of all sorts of produce, and storage of grain and meat. Everything needed to be done quickly. As she entered the millhouse,  Fiesty smiled and looked around. The place was humming with activity. Some Hobbit girls were cutting off the corn kernels from the drying cobs to be milled, while other Hobbits shucked the cobs and laid out the silk on racks to be dried and used as a healing tea. The older hobbit men were at the grinder processing and hauling away flour and cornmeal to the storage burrows.
The Hobbit girl Maisie Boffin was hauling water for the mead and she smiled at Fiesty as she came in. Fiesty thought she was such a pretty Hobbit and was happy Copper was not around to gawk at her.

 "Oh yes" she mumbled, "Lunch…"
Fiesty then ambled off to the Tavern for her lunch with Copper and Juste.
She entered the Tavern and saw Copper there waiting for her.

Copper Lotus: "Hi Auntie. Where ya been? Lunch time be important!"

Fiesty Lotus nods "Yes. But I had a few errands to do. Well, I am here now so let’s eat."
They repasted on roast duck and tater fritters with a little salad. Copper gobbled his lunch with gusto. Then he began thinking of dessert but Fiesty addressed him before he could get up to ask Bertha about it.

Fiesty Lotus: "Ahh, Juste must have even more ter do. Tell you what Copper, Let's tell Bertha to make him up something and send him upstairs shortly."
Copper Lotus nods, choking back his last mouthful. "Alright Auntie, lead the way."
They proceed up the stairs and Copper notices Fiesty has taken out a long rolled up paper from her knapsack. He holds his tongue and watches while she unrolls a map of the Shire. She weights it down with various cups, and then looks up at him seriously.

Fiesty Lotus: "Copper, I know you be young, but yer do have experience in wartime. Back on the Island they said yer did well in battle."
Fiesty Lotus: "And I expect yer had some fighten when yer sailed them ships. So, I want you ter head up my scouts there in the North."

 Copper Lotus grows serious. "Yes, I see that the bridge and the river should be watched."
Fiesty Lotus nods, "Tangles has already left for the Lighthouse and the Cliffs in the Southwest. You will be in charge of our border."
Copper Lotus: "I kin do that. I will need ter round me up a few boys that kin shoot."
Copper Lotus stares at the map considering his options and who he should take.
Fiesty Lotus: "It is gettin chilly; remember to take warm clothes and provisions."
Copper Lotus grins at his doting aunt. "I will, and I will make sure me men do too.
Fiesty Lotus: "You know of the dangers- I have told you about them, Them Drow may not get this far South, but we is takin no chances. They be sneaky and mean as an adder."
Copper Lotus: "Yes Auntie. I do remember you talkin about them. We will take no chances."
Fiesty Lotus: "Yes- that is good."

Juste Rivers rushes up the steps to meet with his hobbit friends. He runs through the door huffing and puffing but manages to say, "Mees is 'ere. Mees was doing a chore for Missy Amethyst and forgot da time."
Fiesty Lotus: "That's all right Juste- did you get the food Bertha has for you downstairs?"
Copper Lotus nods to Juste.
Juste Rivers nods, "She done told me abouts it and mees told 'er mees would get it after a bits."
Fiesty Lotus nods- "Well- I won't take up much of your time. I am going over with Copper the plans for keeping watch on the Shire borders."
Juste Rivers: "You bees worried bout dem dowries?"
Fiesty Lotus: "He and Tangles are sharing out the most vulnerable area."

Juste Rivers: "Wells mees can 'elp too."
Fiesty Lotus: "Yes , indeed. What I need from you Juste is…  I need a supply sergeant. The boys will be strung out at the White Cliffs and the Northern border."
Juste Rivers puffs up his shoulders, "Mees can be da supply 'obbit?"
Fiesty Lotus: "They need a way to survive and keep warm."
Fiesty Lotus: "So I need someone to head up getting them the supplies they need."
Juste Rivers: "Mees will take very good care of all da men off pertecting us."

Copper, Juste and Fiesty

Fiesty Lotus points with a stick at the X on the map.
Juste Rivers walks closer and looks at the map.
Fiesty Lotus: "This will be your supply burrow."
Fiesty Lotus: "And anything else you can scare up will be good."
Juste Rivers nods, "Mees supply burrow is where da X is?"
Fiesty Lotus: "Yes."
 Fiesty Lotus: "You will get some boys and girls to shuttle the goods up to the Cliffs and the river."
Fiesty Lotus: "They will count on you."
Juste Rivers: "Okays and mees gots a good cart for da 'eavy stuffs."
Fiesty Lotus nods.
Fiesty Lotus: "That's good."
Juste Rivers: "So Mistah Tangles is already gone off to do da pertecting and Mistah Copper is on 'is way soon?"
Fiesty Lotus: "Yes, Tangles is already gone and Copper is going to round up some recruits immediately."
Juste Rivers nods, "Den mees will go spectate the supply burrow and sees whut mees 'ave and whut mees needs."
Fiesty Lotus: "I don't need to impress on you the importance of this. WE are in danger. Them Drow is nasty."
Fiesty Lotus: "Good. Then we are agreed."
Juste Rivers: "Yes Missy Druid Fiesty, mees will take dis 'ere job very serious."
Fiesty Lotus: "I know you will Juste."
Fiesty Lotus: "I am ajurnin this meetin. Thank you both for your help."
Juste Rivers nods and stands very proper, "Tanks you. Mees will get rights to work."
Juste Rivers turns and hurries out of the inn..