Peppy walked into the Bird and Baby Inn, eyes gazing straight ahead. Contrary to his habit he did not greet the regular customers but walked straight to the bar. Throwing a handful of silver coins on the wooden surface he said to Carlo Blagrove: "a glass of your strongest, and keep them coming". Carlo shrugged, quickly collected the coins and prepared a mug of Blagrove's Brown which he served to the freckle-faced hobbit. Peppy took a big gulp, slammed the mug down and made a face of disliking. So bitter! "Not to your liking, Master?", inquired Carlo with a smirk on his face, "it's an aquired taste I've been told. Just hang in there and take another swig and you'll soon get used to it!". Peppy took up the mug for another look at it's contents. He had come here to drink and forget, but now it did not seem such an alluring thought. He did not want to forget her, he just did not want to feel the pain of being alone. He tried another sip, then decided getting drunk would get him nowhere but in possible trouble. He put the drink down and without looking back, walked towards the exit of the inn. "No refunds, you know!", shouted Carlo, but Peppy was already outside.
He started walking aimlessly through the streets of Michel Delving feeling more and more sorry for himself. You have left now, but you still remain here! He knocked his fist on his heart. Why, why, why? He kept asking himself without an inkling of the answer. A little more then an hour ago, he was in Bramblebury attending the kinmeeting of Shire Rose. Chief yule announced she was going on a long trip East and as he feared Amorey would go with her as well as several others. All other members were to remain and look after the Halls until the day they would return. And that day would not be soon! As she went home next door to pack, Peppy quickly followed Amorey after a word of goodbye to the members of the travelling fellowship.
The parting of the two brought tears to their eyes. Peppy played the song he played for Amorey when they first met and which still remained her favorite. Amorey sang "Memory of Shire Fair". Then one final hug, a kiss on her brow.. Alone he was. Again.
Peppy wandered further, purposeless, until he came to the square were lute music sounded and several hobbits were dancing. He did not desire company nor to be cheerful. But there was this promise he made to Amorey: to tell her friends about her departure. And it so happened that several friends were gathered in the square. But Peppy's heart weighed heavily, and did not want to spoil their cheerful gathering with bad news. But they had noticed him already, no opportunity to sneak away silently anymore. Their warm words of welcome did what Carlo's brew could not: to temporarily forget his sorrow. Lina's song about Friendhip brought tears in his eyes, but he bravely tried to hide them. And afterwards in her burrow he informed her of what happened. The others would have to wait another day before he gathered enough courage to tell the news.
Peppy felt a little better with all the comforting words, but the thought of his best-friend-ever not being there anymore, would haunt him for quite some time to come. Back in his burrow, he pulled from his waistcoat pocket the portrait he had always carried with him: of Amorey and Peppy, Hobbit Heart forever, no matter what.
