[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Aleia's head whirled with Madea's predicament. Marry before she went home? How...how...(to put it childishly)unfair! Aleia thought it quite unbelievable that Madea should be forced to marry a man that she barely knew, just to maintain her freedom. Before she knew it, she was lost in her thoughts deeply, and when Madea touched her on the arm she jumped and said, "Oh, yes! The people in the inn!"

Waving her arm toward a group of elegantly-dressed individuals, she said, "Here you have your Elves. Wood-elves, mostly. Immortal, beautiful, they have everything that you want. I don't know why they are here exactly, but my guess is travellers passing through. Maybe they wanted a mug of sweet tea, a goblet of mead? A room? Perhaps."

Now she swiveled her body and pointed at another more rugged, ragged group. "Here are your Men. They are rugged and tattered, some Rangers and some just horsemen or peddlers going through the area. Again, I don't know exactly why they are here, but I think that their reasons are like the Elves."

"Lastly, here are the Hobbits," she said, waving at a large group of seated Halflings. They waved back enthusiastically. "Cheery, charming, short little folk. Everyone likes to pass through the Shire to see this place, so untouched by war, hunger, poverty...such a beautiful place. Full of peace and quiet...the Hobbits are a lovely folk to be with. Go to one of their lavish parties and you will be enthralled with their folk forever."

Aleia turned to face Madea again, and now her eyes were fixed upon Madea's. "Now tell me, miss," she began, "do you like mathoms?"