[Susan Delgado]

******Shire******

Preoccupied with his brooding about the Dwarves' presence and what it might mean for his already unpleasant trip South, Hardo failed to hear Odo speaking to him. Finally, Odo had to practically shout in his ear to get his attention, with Orlo and Brando waving enthusiastically in the background.

When he realised they were addressing him, he snapped, "What!"
Odo sat back in on the bench, wary of Hardo's ire. "We just want to know where we're going and if we're really going with the Elves or not," Odo said in a small voice.
Oh. "You already heard my planned route to the Dwarves. I imagine whether we travel with the Elves or not depends on whether they've already left Rivendell or not. I imagine they probably have."
"Oooh," Brando exclaimed, "So you just lied to the Dwarves?"
Hardo snorted at the uppity boy. "I certainly did not! I was trying to prevent a scene that..Dwarf...wanted to cause. Now, it's time we all went to bed. We have a long road in the morning."

They rose, paid their bill (and the Dwarves' too, Hardo noted with irritation) and went off to their rooms. They passed the Dwarves' door on their way; by the snoring behind it, the were already fast asleep.