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Uien
As Uien came toward the Inn she saw out of the corner of her eye Eswen and Falowik sitting with their backs to the Inn, deep in discussion. They would have to wait. She passed them without a glance, and ignored Falowik's belated call.
There was Cook hurrying back to the kitchen from a little enclosure of trees and well tended brush. Cook turned one last time and waved briefly to someone who was within. Then it could not be the burned elf, for he could not possibly be on friendly terms with anyone, though Cook was not an ordinary hobbit. Out of curiosity Uien turned toward the enclosure and glanced inside....
...and almost walked headlong into the burned elf. She stopped, recoiling at the suddenness of meeting her new bane. What was not burned of the elf's expression, changed from thoughtfulness to sudden ire. They stared at each other wordlessly for a long moment. The burned elf opened his mouth as if to speak harsh words, but he closed his mouth into a bitter line.
Uien's hands met in tight fists over her abdomen, her arms straight and tense. She found her voice.
"You-" Her voice trembled. "You have-" She faltered, suddenly unable to finish her accusation. This burned elf looked as if her words could rend him to ashes. She drew breath. "What new darkness is this, in my mind, elf?"
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