[Envinyatar]

Ruby flew into the kitchen and grabbed Buttercup by the arm. ‘Guess who’s come to the Inn,’ she said. Buttercup shrugged her shoulders and went on cutting up the potatoes, onions and carrots for the coney stew that Cook had planned for supper.

‘Best you just go ahead and tell me,’ she returned, giving the big kettle with the disjointed coneys in it a stir. ‘Taste this,’ she said, offering a spoonful of broth to Ruby. ‘Needs more rosemary, and a couple of pinches of salt, I think. Don’t you?’ Ruby shook her head yes, then proceeded to tell her of the arrival of Tad Bushytop.

‘You mean Laureli’s uncle? The one who’s getting married this weekend.’ Buttercup plunked the wooden stirring spoon down on the spoon rest near the hearth. ‘It’s supposed to be a whopper of a party, and I understand that Laureli’s Aunt and her Gammer are making the wedding cake.’ Buttercup’s eyes shone at thoughts of her own wedding and the cake she would have. The only problem with that line of thinking was that she had no beau to imagine being wed to. Ruby commiserated with her, too. Working at the Inn did not leave much time for romance.

She and Ruby loaded up a plate for Mr. Tad. Thick cut slices of brown bread, a small crock of sweet cream butter, a wedge of Shire sharp cheddar, a bowl of vegetable soup filled with the bounty of the Inn garden, and a generous slice of apple tart. Ruby picked up the serving platter and was about to exit the kitchen, when Buttercup’s voice stopped her.

‘Ask him if he’ll bring us back a thin slice each of the wedding cake, Ruby. My Gran always told me if you slept with a slice under your pillow you’ld dream of your true love. Let’s give it a try!’

Ruby laughed and said she’d ask if the right opportunity came along. ‘And besides, if we don’t have that sort of dream, we’ll still have the piece of tasty cake to eat.’ She set the food in front of the hungry Hobbit, and laid his silverware on a napkin to the side. His mug was empty and she got him a refill, then hovered a bit, wondering how she was going to ask for such an odd favor.