A familiar, ringing voice broke through Laurie's confused and slightly embarrased musings, causing her to turn and then raise her hands in joy.
"Cook!" she exclaimed in delighted surprise. Half running over to where the hobbit stood, she stooped and enveloped her in a soft hug. "It's wonderful to see you again! Why, how are you? How have things been? How is the inn? I have no doubt you've been kept busy."
Instead of answering her questions - in truth, she had quite lost track - Cook replied with one of her own. "Miss Laurie, what's brought you back to the Green Dragon? I rather thought you had left for good!"
"I've been learning more of the Shire and its delightful inhabitants," Laurie replied smiling. "It is peaceful here, and the people are so happy; there seems to be much that can be learned from your simple ways. But of late, I've began to fancy going farther north. Not much is heard about that land and I've returned to find out what I can about it and why it is so deserted."
"Well, I don't know how much I can tell you about that, but there has been quite a few changes since you last left." And Cook took the young lady by the arm and, while she finished feeding her chickens, began to relate all the latest doings and describe the various characters that had entered and departed the Inn.
She talked for a solid ten minutes and Laurie listened politely and indeed, with much interest, noting especially the news that there was a new innkeeper. Just as the last breadcrust was devoured by an extremely plump hen, the young lady who had presently been speaking by the water pump, approached Laurie. "Thank you, ma'am! Her name is Nell," Laurie replied and gave the mare an affectionate pat. "I'm sure she would appreciate a bit of a lunch as well, if you aren't too busy."
"Cook," the young lady turned back to the hobbit with a wink, "I do believe it's near lunchtime, you wouldn't have something warm and delicious for a weary traveler to feast upon, would you?"
[ August 01, 2003: Message edited by: theWhiteLady ]
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