[Envinyatar]

‘You have not had those babies yet?’

He grabbed her up in his great arms and swung her once around. Face flushed, her eyes laughing, she pushed him away to arms’ length as he sat her down gently on the worn wooden floor of the Common Room. Her eyes swept his figure from dusty boots to the dark locks held back from his face with a leather thong. Derufin laughed, a bright fresh sound against the clatter and noise of the Inn.

He had been gone a long time, some business to the West that had taken him far from the homey comforts of the Green Dragon. He had visited some old friends and found comfort in their words to him. He had made peace with some old ghosts and now his eyes looked less haunted as he watched the Elf move toward the bar to fetch him something to drink.

Derufin studied her closely, and a frown crept over his face. She looked tired, and her movements were slower than he remembered, though just as graceful in their own way. He strode quickly to the bar, reaching it before her. His hands pulled out a small bottle of chilled wine from its still familiar shelf and two glasses. Taking her elbow, he maneuvered both of them to a small table near the western window and sat her down. Pouring her a half glass of wine, cut with cold water from the Inn’s well, he held his own wine up to her in salute.

‘M'lady,’ he began, ‘here’s to the meeting of old friends once again!’ He drank deeply, then leaned in close, his voice dropping lower. ‘I’m here to stay for a while, now. What can I do to ease your burden until the wee ones come?’