[littlemanpoet]

The twins stared at the girl, Ayeth, in surprise.

Just then, the hobbit at the next table said, "Why there she is now!" All eyes turned to the door, and the taller of the two Rohirric men got up and went to the girl standing in doorway. She seemed to be quite scared, but the man reassured her and brought her to the table he shared with the others.

Garreth, as usual, found his tongue first.

"You're full grown then." She nodded pleasantly while she chewed her food with obvious relish. The two men looked meaningfully at each other, which did not go unnoticed by Bethberry.

"See there now? The two of you are sizing up this lass for marriage. Admit it, now!"

"Let's not be hasty, innkeeper," Garreth said. "There''s no harm in asking questions, so long as it's done proper like-"

"-and the answerer doesn't mind being asked," finished Harreld.

"You don't mind being asked, do you, miss?" Garreth said, leaning his head out so that Bethberry could have chopped him a good one like splitting wood if she wanted to. Apparently she was not of a mind to.

Ayeth swallowed a bite of food. "Oh, I don't mind. You two are nice."

Garreth sat back in his chair, grinning at Bethberry in triumph. "There, you see? We're nice."

"She likes us," Harreld added for good measure.

Garreth leaned over the table again. "You could use a little flesh on those wee bones of yours, miss, if you don't mind my saying so."

"Now that is quite enough," Bethberry announced. "Any more talk like that and I'll have you thrown out and your bills due."

The twins looked at Bethberry in sudden trepidation; those who overheard her dire warning could not be sure whether the two were more fearful of being thrown out or their bills due.

"We mean no harm, Missuz Bethberry, ma'am," Harreld said. "It's just that, well-"

"Harreld!" said Garreth. "Not another word."

Harreld waved Garreth off. "Ma'am," he said to Bethberry, "our home and smithy gets only darker with the passing years, you see, and our ma and pa are aging and we've not found ourselves any fair lassies willing to be taken home, if you take my meaning. So really, we're only asking."

"Aye, ma'am," chimed in Garreth. "There's no harm in asking. What does the lassie think?"

"Aye, miss Ayeth, what think you?" asked Harreld. The two men, one hobbit, and two young ladies at the next table couldn't help leaning over, harking to what the girl might say.