"Worthiness and honour... Is that truly what you see?"
"That and much more!" Her reply came quickly.
Falowik knew better. He did not think that Uien deluded herself. How was it that he was showing himself to her in such a different light? Light! It was her doing. As long as she was his lodestone and Light, something that he had not known to be within him came forth readily.
Uien grew quiet and looked down at her cider; a shadow seemed to pass over her face as unknown thoughts took her inward. In that moment Falowik saw the quiet Elfmaiden of the night before, and something melted within him the more. She looked up at him; her face was fervent and stricken with fear and seeming grief.
"I do not mean to offend and twice now this day I have wronged you!"
Is that all her fear? Maybe it was what floated on the surface of her gravity, but there was much more to her than that. There must be! Falowik looked into her eyes, wishing with all his might that he could find some way to gladden and reassure her. Her eyes flitted to his untouched drink and she laced her fingers, and drew inward again. Falowik reached out and took her two hands in his.
"You have not offended me even once this day, fair Uien!" He gave only passing heed to the urgency in his own voice, for he cared not how he seemed to others, only to her. "You are the one who makes me honourable, and you give me all the worth I own!"
Her eyes glistened and a smile played about her lips.
"Nay, Laurëatan, I see what others do not, to their loss."
"Fair Uien." He raised her hands in his and brushed her fingers with his lips. An exquisite shiver passed through him at the feel and the scent and the restfulness of her hands in his. His eyes did not leave hers, and the smile did not leave her face.
Two loud thuds broke their revery. "Two lunches!" Ruby announced. Falowik let Uien's hands slip from his.
They ate and drank in silence, happy to be in the moment, knowing the lightness that passed between them, calm in the sureness of the regard each had for the other. Falowik broke the silence after a while.
"I would know more of you, Uien. Tell me what pleases you, and then I'll take a turn if you like."
She tipped her head to one side, her eyes inching upward to the ceiling as she took inventory of her memory, choosing what thing first to tell. A wry smile came to her face and she opened her mouth to speak when she was interrupted.
"I know you!" It was Halfred, licking his lips after finishing a meal and a drink or two. "Cleaned yourself up a mite, I almost didn't reckanize you. The wanderer, is it?"
"The name is Falowik."
"Looky here, Falco gives me to unnerstand that you an this Elf Lady, pardon I don't know your name, ma'am-"
"Uien."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance. Falco tells me that Uien and you are a-goin' on this man hunt with us."
"That's right, and we leave before nightfall, I believe."
"I'll not have it so," Halfred replied. "I need time to gather the best Hobbits for searching, and that'll take a few days. Four at the most, I figure. So you sit tight here while Falco and me go pickin' and choosin' the right sorts for this here manhunt."
"Very well, Master Halfred."
"And you might take the op - por- tun-ity -" Halfred relished the big word "-to recruit a good soul or two."
Falowik gave his assent to try, and Uien as well. Halfred bid them good day and left. Falowik turned back to Uien.
"You were about to say..."
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