Grasping the tankard with a look of pleasant surprise on his face, Biffo let himself be bustled back the other way, into the common room. A merry dance was in progress as he appeared, that much he had sensed from the kitchen.
The Hobbit took a sip of his ale while he considered his options. His cousin second removed (or something) Belle waved to him, catching his eye. He smiled politely, and then rolled his eyes when he thought she wouldn't see. That made Biffo's mind up, and he wandered over to an empty table on the other side of the dancefloor.
Biffo remained at the side table, drinking his beer and taking in his surroundings. He watched the episode with the Man of Gondor with great interest, although detached interest. Much as he wanted to leave the Shire for a while on some kind of mission, he was not about to take up with an unstable maniac. Pio the innkeeper has things firmly in hand, he thought to himself. No need to be stuck like a pig for his morals, not today at any rate! Biffo knew that the long dagger he kept concealed whenever "out and about" would deter any normal pickpockets of the Shirefolk, but he had no illusions about his chances against a warrior of the Big People. And so, he sat, and drank, and bided his time.
__________________
But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.
|