[Nurumaiel]

"I shall, good Ædegard!" Liornung cried. "I have worked out a most charming little song and have been waiting for the chance to sing it. When we return to Edoras my darling inn shall have a merry little dance with it. Fair Miss Blostma, dancing like a little Elf, and perhaps we can even bring Good Secgrof to twirl about a bit." Hold, then... Good Secgrof he had called that old man, though all others knew him as Old Secgrof. That name could never be fitting for the old man again, for he was far above all of it. Good? Better than good, but good would have to be enough.

The others were watching him. They were waiting for his song, and they should have it. He had written it out in his head, composed a tune for it, and changed the words until it was perfect. As he sang he could see the scene in his head. He felt quite sure that lad and lassie had not wanted him watching them, but it was his sorry luck that he had been passing at the same time.

It was a day early, early in the spring
when a lad stumbled over the grass so green
and he saw a lass milking a cow
and approaching her he gave a clumsy bow.
"Miss Freolic, there is a dance tonight
starting as soon as the stars are bright
and, miss, would you be so kind
as for the length of the dance be mine?"

And it's round we'll dance through the night
tripping and twirling in the firelight.
Take your partner, take your glass;
I'll dance with you, my pretty lass.
Step and heel and round our flight;
your dancing is so fairy-light.

Hearing the lad's weak stammering
the lassie felt her heart start hammering
and hiding her blushes from the daylight
she said that it would be her delight.
He went to get her when evening came
shy as could be, was he to blame?
They went together, the lad in a trance
to join in the sporting at the merry dance.

And it's round we'll dance through the night
tripping and twirling in the firelight.
Take your partner, take your glass;
I'll dance with you, my pretty lass.
Step and heel and round our flight;
your dancing is so fairy-light.

Twirling round and round the floor,
hold, they're slipping out the door;
through the starlight arm and arm
the moonlight holds a secret charm.
To them the music's sound lessened;
he makes a blushing, boyish confession
saying to her, "Would you marry me?"
They kissed each other under the trees.

Oh, it's round we'll dance through the night
tripping and twirling in the firelight.
Take your partner, take your glass;
I'll dance with you, my pretty lass.
Step and heel and round our flight;
your dancing is so fairy-light.

"They married," he said triumphantly, "and have two babies now... twins. When this journey is over I fancy I'll go visit them." He gazed at each member of the company with a certain amount of pride. "It was I that was the cause of their marriage. I daresay he would have gotten around to asking her but he was taking her time and there were other wealthy lads who were intending to take their chance and by the time he got up the courage it might have been too late. I convinced him to ask her to the dance and ask him that night. She was the kind of lassie, you know, that, while she loved him, would get awfully annoyed that he wasn't asking her and eventually marry another lad just to make him upset. It's a good thing I was about." He gave a satisfied laugh and winked at Bellyn.