[Bekah]

Morwennar cantered down the long, dusty road. The light was failing fast, and she had been instructed to stay in the Green Dragon Inn several miles away while she attended to her task in the Shire. Her father had honoured the inn with his presence some years ago when he had business there, and had returned with favourable impressions of it.

But that was twenty five years ago, and Morwennar did not believe the inn would have stayed the same. However, there was no shelter in sight, and she knew the way to no inn nearby save the Green Dragon in Bywater.

"Faster now, my darling. Come on now, Thunder," Morwennar urged her horse. The chestnut-coloured horse broke into a gallop.

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The light had gone, and the road was hard to see. Thunder slowed to a trot, as he and his mistress tried to keep to the track.

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A rosy glow in the distance was finally seen, and Morwennar again urged her horse to go faster along the pale track. There was hope now, and the chance of shelter. Warm though it was, it would likely turn colder as the night went on.

The light was nearer now. She could see the outline of the inn, which grew clearer every moment. Soon the sign swinging outside was readable, and Thunder slowed to a canter for a few strides and then started trotting, surprising Morwennar for a little and discomforting her until she found the rhythm again. The inn was a few yards away now, and Morwennar reined Thunder in, smoothly swinging out of the saddle.

There was no one around to take the horse to the stables.

"Hail! I am a stranger from afar, and my horse requires nourishing!" Morwennar shouted to the dark. "Could someone please help me?" She had opened her mouth to cry out again, when a dark figure emerged from the building and walked towards her.

"Hello. Shall I take your horse to the stables, then?" The man took the horse by the halter and started to lead him in the direction of the inn as he spoke.

"Yes. Thank you. His name is Thunder," Morwennar gasped, slightly surprised by the man's swift action.

"My name is Derufin, and I'm a jack-of-all-trades, so to speak." He twisted his head around to talk to her while his feet still strode on, quickly obscuring him from her view.

"Oh. I'm known as Morwennar." With that, she walked towards the inn; then she realized that her money was still in one of the saddlebags on Thunder, and ran after Derufin.

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Morwennar finally walked into the lighted inn with her money, reassured that her other belongings would be taken to her room when she was given one.

She asked for a meal from the bartender after her stomach grumbled at its neglection; the stew she was given smelled heavenly.

She stumbled over to a table occupied by some other persons of various heights and asked for permission to sit there. Having received it, she put her bowl of stew down, pulled out her dagger, and proceeded to eat.

A strange thing to do, she thought. Why did that man start to lead Thunder away before I'd answered his question? A more alert part of her answered her own question immediately. Because it was a rhetorical question, you nitwit, and you'd already asked for assistance. Another troublesome query emerged out of the turmoil of her thoughts. Why did he not ask me to retrieve my money first? The answer popped up quickly; he let you have the money when you remembered. If you'd remembered earlier he would have given it to you earlier; he didn't know it was there. Don't be such a suspicious fool.

Fancies. Cobwebs in your head, that's all, Morwennar. These people are fine. Look at you; you're sitting at a table full of people, and you've barely said hello. Socialize. And get yourself a room.

Morwennar knew she had to get a room soon and that it was rude to sit sullenly among others, so she smiled politely at the people surrounding her and excused herself from their company. So noisy and bright...I need to sleep.

She waded through the sea of people to the bar. "Excuse me!" The sound of her own voice roused Morwennar from her state of drowsiness. "I need a room!"

A young woman walked over to Morwennar. "We have no spare rooms, I'm afraid."

"I am tired. I am cold. I have ridden far today. I need a room. A stable will do. But I need somewhere."

"The stable is already being occupied. But perhaps I can find you some place..."

[ June 08, 2003: Message edited by: Bekah ]