As Poppy and Merry neared the wagon, they learned that it wasn't abandoned at all, but inhabited by a group of unlikely companions sitting around a makeshift fire. One was tall, taller than a man, with a long white beard and dressed completely in white. He was smoking a pipe and blowing magnificent smoke rings into the air that spiraled and flipped and turned through each other. This would've been enough to hold the attentions of the two hobbits for the night, but there was more. There was a hobbit with the group. He had dark brown curls and by the fire they could see he had huge blue eyes that Poppy was sure would see them. There was also an elf, something that neither had seen before but knew that is what it was from the stories they had heard. He had long blonde hair and was tall and slim like the young saplings that sprouted outside the Smials during the spring. There was also another companion that they only knew from stories, a dwarf with a long braided beard and hair that nearly covered his whole face. Merry wondered if these were his father's companions on his journey years ago, but knew that he must be dreaming. He knew that the elf and dwarf had stayed in Middle Earth, but the other two had left to the Undying Lands, and this elf and dwarf surely wouldn't come all this way to the Shire.
Suddenly the elf started talking, and his voice was softer and nicer than any the hobbits had ever heard. It sounded as sweet as honey, and the thought of honey made Poppy's stomach growl. Merry held his breath and softly hushed Poppy but none of the group of strange companions seemed to notice. The elf went on, and the dwarf talked too in his deep voice, telling their other companions what a miracle it was to see them again, and how it was so hard to tell them farewell in the first place, how many tears had been shed, and how those tears would all be shed again over their arrival.
Poppy felt as if she was dreaming, and leaned against Merry's shoulder and yawned. "Merry, I'm tired, can we sleep now?" Poppy said starting to let her eyes droop and all her weight rest on her older cousin. Merry worried that one of the group would notice they were sneaking into their wagon, but noticed how deep in discussion they were and muttered an "Alright Poppy, let's go," to his cousin. They quietly made their way to the wagon, climbed into it as quietly as possible, and snuggled down amidst the blankets and packs that they found pushed into the back. As he watched his cousin's eyes start to blink less often and finally close, her breathing turn into deep, even breaths, he wondered how they were going to get out of this, and hoped for the best. After a few minutes of worrying, he reassured himself that things would work out and let his own eyes close and fell asleep.
