SUMMARY: A premature celebration…(a drabble)
DISCLAIMER: Middle-earth and all its peoples belong to the Tolkien Estate. I own none of them. Some of them, however, seem to own me.

A PREMATURE CELEBRATION

MIDSUMMER, S.R. 1419

The Men threw the small tables and chairs into the pile, and stood back, laughing.

"Krag!" called one, "that's the last of the rat-sized stuff!"

Krag grinned. "We'll give'em a Bonfire to remember!" He eyed the hobbits herded up, forced to watch. The Men had looted what remained of the inn, dragging out the furniture, and stealing what was left of the ale and spirits for themselves.

As the bonfire blazed, Krag lifted the bottle in his hand: "To good days, lads, and better days coming!"

Better days for them, thought old Tom Cotton, watching, means worse days for us.