Susan made the trip from Gondor in near-record time, but she waas still late. By all rights, she should have been at the White Horse weeks ago. Well, she was here now, and Bethberry would have to be satisfied with it. She wouldn't be surprised to find herself mucking out stalls for a while, though. She probably derseved it, anyway.
The Inn was full of the usual rabble, some telling tales, some drinking or eating, some just sitting not doing anything. She glanced toward the bar, but Bethberry was speaking to some young Elves and hadn't noticed Susan's entrance. She approached the bar, not drawing attention to herself. The Innkeeper was busy and Susan was perfectly willing to postpone the anticipated explosion. After time, Bethberry noticed Susan standing near the bar, wearing a sheepish grin.
"Well, there you are at last. What took you so long?"
Susan consiidered for a few moments, thinking of all the things that had happened to her in Gondor. "I...was delayed."
"Delayed, uh-huh. Why don't you look around, get acquainted with the Inn, and I'll find you when I need you."
"All right." She went upstairs and deposited her pack in an empty room and came back downstairs to mingle, always keeping an eye on the Innkeeper.
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"Man as a whole, Man pitted against the universe, have we seen him at all 'til we see that he is like a hero in a fairy tale?"
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