Fin sighed deeply. He was no longer in the Woodland Realm of his birth and people did not know him. Elizabeth had every right to question his motives. He wondered why he had offered her his companionship? It was another spur of the moment decision that he was prone to making.
After taking some time to form his response, he began, "so many of my friends have left these shores in the last few years, and I did not have the chance to persuade them otherwise or to even say goodbye." His face showed the smallest signs of the sorrow buried within. "I had no right to persuade you to stay, but perhaps you may still let me accompany you. No one should take this journey alone, not their last in Middle Earth." His voice had lost its bravado and he was speaking truthfully now. "You look in need of a friend."
He dipped his eyes and returned to eating his stew with the small wooden spoon. Elizabeth was silent and also continued to eat. Fin worried his extraverted front had scared Elizabeth away and scolded himself. Not every elf he met would be a swooning maiden taking in my sweet words.
After scrapping the last of the gravy from the bottom of the bowl, he finished his wine and looked up at her. "I am sorry Elizabeth. Please forgive me."
The bustle in the inn was loud but Fin concentrated and blocked out the sounds about him; laughing hobbits, quiet elvish whispers and the talk of men. What would Elizabeth say?
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