(A/N:  Sorry it's been so long, faithful readers.  Busy, busy, you know.  Love the chance to catch up, though.  So exhilerating.)

Calen took a deep breath of the clear, clean air. It had been a little too stuffy for her inside the Dragon.

"I'll walk with you two, since I live just down the road," Sam told Calen.

"Good," said Frodo. "Hey Merry, Pip! Which way are you guys going?"

"We'll go with you too," replied Pippin without hesitation. "Bag End is on our way."

When they reached the gate and were turning to say goodbye, Pippin jumped.

"What's that?!" he gasped, pointing to the field below them that was home to a giant oak tree.

Calen looked and burst out laughing. Frodo smiled and rolled his eyes.

"That would be a horse, Pip," chuckled Merry.

"That's Fe. She's mine," explained Calen.

"Well she doesn't exactly look like a horse when she's doing that!" Pippin accused.

Calen had to agree. In the field, Fe was leaning her right side against the tree, rubbing her neck up and down against the trunk.

"Here, come down with me," Calen suggested as she laughed.

They went up to the fence and Calen swung over. The horse was so busy scratching she hadn't noticed them yet, so Calen whistled. Fe pricked up her ears and turned her neck, looking back at them over her rump. When she recognized Calen, she trumpeted and cantered over.

"Fe, meet my friends," she said, reaching up to pat the horse.

Ignoring everyone else, Fe turned her head and rubbed her neck up and down on the girl's shoulder. Calen laughed and scratched the spot-the horse sighed. Now that her problem had been taken care of, she started exploring Calen's clothes for treats. Calen dug into a pocket and produced a sugar cube, then held it in her open palm while Fe lipped it up.

"She's pretty," commented Pippin. He had never been this close to a horse before, and wasn't quite sure what of to say or do.

"And she likes you a lot," added Merry.

Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out an apple.

"May I?" he asked politely.

"Absolutely," Calen watched as he held out the apple. Fe crunched it happily, then butt her head against his shoulder.

"She has a unique personality," Frodo laughed.

"It reminds me of someone else I know," a new voice called.

Gandalf came walking down the path. He smiled warmly at Calen, who blushed.

"It's a good match," he continued. "I thought I heard you all out here. It's getting late, though. Or early, depending on how you look at it."

"All right," Frodo laughed. "We'll go to sleep."

They said goodbye and Gandalf, Frodo and Calen went back up the hill to Bag End. The wizard immediately said goodnight and disappeared into his room. The two hesitated, then split and went to their own doors. Just before Calen had closed hers, Frodo popped his head back into the hallway.

"Good night, Calen."