[Eressië Ailin]

Luin took her seat back at the bar. 'Oh! Mae! I almost forgot!' The bartender handed Luin her drink. 'Here's that wine you ordered.' Luin drank deeply. 'Are you going to pay for that?' she asked impatiently.

'Oh! Right!' Luin spread out a few gold coins.

'Thank you,' she said, counting the change. 'Did I mention that Pio left? I don't know when she's coming back, but she's been gone for quite some time.'

'And it would have saved quite a bit of time if you would have told me this earlier!' 'I do believe you forgot to mention that Pio was gone,' said Luin, grinding her teeth. 'Could you tell me when she gets back? I'll be over...' Luin paused. '...there.' She pointed at a nearby group of three women and a small boy. I do hope some one over there can tell a good tale or two. As long as it's not me. Luin wasn't sure whether or not she was ready to reveal her true identity yet.

Of course, it wasn't likely that anyone had followed her from Mirkwood or Rivendell. But if they had... It wouldn't be the hardest thing in Middle-Earth to do. Thalion, indeed, was a swift beast, but his hooves certainly did not fall as lightly as Shadowfax's. Luin didn't want to think about it.

Instead, she stood up, took her drink, and went over to the group she had pointed to. Luin smiled at the boy, his name was Elhor, and asked one of the women (her name was Morwyn, or something similar) if she might join. 'May I sit with you? I don't know if I would be able to contribute much to a conversation, for my study is of the birds, beasts, and trees.'