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"Maercwen, whatever are you doing?" Frodides put her hands on her hips and gazed firmly at the young lassie, who had been sitting by the window and staring out dreamily. "There's a poor man out there who ordered some eggs, quite a few minutes ago. No doubt he's wondering where they've got to."
Maercwen stood, and hastened to the eggs, casting repentant glances towards her mother. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, her tone telling that she was also humiliated. "I was just thinking... what do you think Hearpwine is doing now? And Uncle Liornung? The recent commotion made me recall the days when the Common Room resounded with their music."
"Well, my dear," said Frodides, with a little teasing, tender smile, "I hope when they come again you don't leave their eggs to grow cool, and their stomachs to grow empty. Off with you now."
With the plate of eggs in one hand and the cup of tea in the other, Maercwen took herself out to the Common Room, and drew in a long breath, as if she had just stepped out into the fresh air. She did not mind working in the kitchen with her mother, but she missed the days when, as a little girl, she could sit in the Common Room all the day, if she pleased, and listen to the songs and tales of far-off lands. Now she was only briefly out of the kitchen, to pass a plate to some traveller, or pursue the baby laddie.
She spotted the man sitting in a quieter part of the room. She paused for the briefest moment to survey him, and try to guess what she could from his appearance. She could not hear what tales he might have to tell, but she would be able to see him. He was clearly not from Rohan, and his dark hair led her to guess that he was from Gondor. His clothes were worn and ragged. Perhaps it was from travelling, or perhaps he...
But the poor man's eggs!
Maercwen abruptly broke off her thoughts and hastened to him, hoping that her cheeks were not blushing to testify to her forgetfulness, and fearing that it was otherwise. Yet she had spent many years in the Inn, and did not lose her calm because a plate of eggs had taken some time.
Setting the eggs and tea before him, she spoke in her most courteous, official manner, saying: "Your eggs and tea, sir, and my apologies for the delay."
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