[Arien]

"Yes! That is it! And why is that? Or do I ask too many questions for a man?" The two Elves laughed., and this was followed by a short silence. Tiruviel’s grey eyes twinkled in the sun’s rays that shone through the window, and then they widened. She stared blankly across the bar and she seemed in some deep thought but Nuinyulma quickly took her from it by breaking the silence again.

“No, you do not. It is good to be at least a little curious…” at this remark Tiruviel smiled to herself and Caranel took another sip of ale from his tankard. His discarded soup bowl lay in front of him, as he had long finished with it and the small meal had filled him sufficiently; at least for the night. He excused himself from the table and walked to the bar, bowl and spoon in hand. As he neared the bar Aman turned to him.

“There was no need for you to brig that up, I would have had someone to fetch it for you,” she chuckled taking the bowl from his hands, he sat himself down on a stool at the bar, “ Are they boring you?” she asked jokingly while handing the bowl to Ruby who was behind the bar as well. She turned back to him and busied herself with cleaning glasses.

“No,” he sighed, “they are fine company, but do you often get Elves here often?”

“Often- here you will get allsorts, for it is an Inn…” she said placing the clean glasses under the counter. She back from under the counter and sighed, “ care for another drink?”

“If you would…” he replied, Aman nodded and poured him another drink. He took the ale in thanks and made his way back to the others.

“…..it is. But the rest of this world…….Ah! Caranel, how nice of you to join us again. ” Tiruviel said looking up to his face.

“Indeed, indeed….” He said seating himself down again. He looked up to the door where a new arrival had just entered the Inn.

Another Elf, he had certainly not seen this many since he left Ithilien. But now he was travelling to see Elen in the North again. She resided with her father still and they did not whish to come south but stay in their native home. He pictured her fair face in his mind, true they were on friends but her mind and her skill were things of great beauty and he could not contain himself to wait longer.

Although the meeting of new friends may delay him, he would soon tell them of his reason to leave and soon be on his way. But maybe not just now.

[ September 04, 2003: Message edited by: Arien ]