[Linnahiril Tinnufinwen]

Asphodel got up slowly from her chair and stretched her legs. Then, after informing her father that she would be not long absent, she boldly made her way through the hoards of Hobbits, Dwarves, Men, and occasionally Elves (though they were so tall, she took them for wooden posts). She tried hard not to concentrate on any one person or thing, lest by her small height she should be overwhelmed by everyone else. Instead, she kept her gaze stright forward and focused only on weaving through the maze of wooden chairs and tables, and kept a keen eye out for the Hobbit maids balancing trays above the crowd.

Finally, Asphodel broke out of the throng and found herself at the door of the Story Room. The Story Room - she wasn't sure that this was the correct name for the comfortable Inn parlour with a huge fire place and cheerfully roaring fire, but that was what Hanna and Marigold had first called it, so she had gotten into the habit of speaking of it by that name.

Listening closely, Asphodel could hear someone speaking softly from the front of the fire place, no doubt whispering some fantastic tale to the hobbit-boys and girls as they gathered all around. The grown Hobbits sat farther back, so try as she would, even balancing on her toes, Asphodel could not see the person who was telling the story.

Taking a deep breath, for she hated to interupt such a cheerful party, she plunged into the herd of adults, in search of her aunt.

Belladonna was among those grown Hobbits that were forward most towards the storyteller. After a few minutes, Asphodel found her and, sitting down next to her on a dark wooden chair with a snow-white pillow upon it, was about to say something, when her aunt spoke first.

"I saved this chair for you," she whispered, "for I thought you might like to hear some stories after you grew weary of your male company."

"I have not come to hear stories, nor because I am tired of Tolman and father," said Asphodel, speaking quietly so as not to disturb the story telling. "It is after eleven-o-clock, and I think Hanna should be taken home."

"After this last tale," said Belladonna. Asphodel was about to protest, but her aunt motioned for her to be quiet. Asphodel had no choice but to listen to the rest of the tale.