As dawn was breaking Ammeline approached the outskirts of Oatbarton. The Bounder who kept watch on the road leading into Oatbarton from the Greenfields was just putting out the light in the lamp post that marked his watch post. He raised his slightly ill fitted tin helmet and Ammeline gave him a polite nod as she passed. She was on her way to the Appleby Farm as Ivy Appleby's youngest was ill with a fever. Ammeline had spent the previous evening gathering and preparing herbs.
Ivy Appleby answered the door and was most surprised to see Ammeline; she was going to ask how Ammeline knew that her son had been taken ill during the night but thought better of it and invited her in. Ammeline spent the next few hours beside the child’s bed and did not leave until the worst of the fever had receded.
Mrs Appleby was overjoyed at her son’s rapid recovery and offered Miss Ammeline a small pouch of coins. Ammeline refused to take a payment but did say that a cup of tea and a few slices of bacon would be nice. Three cups of tea and a second helping of bacon later Ammeline left the small farm and headed south back across the Greenfields.
Approximately half way across the Greenfields under the shade of an ancient Oak tree Ammeline came upon the wooden benches that had been placed there to allow travellers a chance to rest on their journey. Ammeline was just about to sit down when she noticed a pile of discarded books hidden in the tall grass. She mumbled something about ignorant folk throwing perfectly good books about and began to pick them up. There was a storybook containing fine pictures of Dragons and castles, a recipe book containing a dozen or more uses for pumpkins and a battered copy of “A History of the Shire”. They were too big and bulky for her to carry so she stacked them on the bench and decide to let the Brokenborings Bounders know where to find them.
She was about to leave when she spotted another book. Unlike the other rather tatty books this one was a smart book bound in red leather. The edges of the pages were covered in gold leaf and, much to the dismay of Miss Ammeline; it was securely fastened with a small metal clasp. She was about to place it on top of the pile when she stopped, being a Hobbit who loved books she could not help but wonder what was inside. Unlike the other books it had no title and she did not wish to think of such a fine book lying unclaimed and gathering dust in the Watch Office in Brokenborings. She decided to take the book and hopefully get it open back at her burrow. Maybe the owners name would be inside and she could then return it to them.
With a bit of rummaging Ammeline pushed the book into the depths of her bag and continued her journey.
