[Primrose Bolger]

Now this was very interesting! Prim watched as the Elf slid her hand near that of the golden-haired man. She was pretty, Prim thought, but there was something in the man’s expression that signaled this was not the time for softness, though his own fingers wrapped about hers. He smiled at her, Prim saw, but the curve of his lips did not push the smile to his eyes.

Instead, the man turned to one of the Hobbits sitting near and listened with his full attention. Prim crept closer, her plate of food in her hands and sat down at a nearby table. Hungry as she was, she pushed her food about her plate with her spoon, one ear cocked toward the conversation.

One of the Hobbits raised a hand. "I'm all for moving as quickly as we may, but one night in Bywater will not make a great enough difference, I deem. So let it be one breakfast here at dawn for Master Falowik, Gorby and me, and you also, Master Boffin, if you like, and then we're off to Bree."

A few more words were spoken in a lower tone, and Prim was unable to catch them. She watched as the Elf and man walked from the Common Room.

‘Curious,’ she thought to herself, spooning up a bite of vegetables. She chewed them thoughtfully, looking closely at the Hobbit whom she had heard. ‘Now what might Hobbits be doing with an Elf and a one of the Big Folk in the Shire. And why were they in such haste to make for Bree?’