[Alcarillo]

"No, thank you, this is plenty; a meal fit for a king," Alcarillo told Ginger. She had brought his dinner, and asked if he might want anything else.

Alcarillo immediately took a look at the bottle of wine, turning it slowly in his hands. It was white wine, with an image of the Two Trees on its label. Its name was in the Tengwar, and Alcarillo noted that it must be Elvish wine. Alcarillo uncorked it with the corkscrew and poured about a glassful it into an elegant blue goblet. It tasted sweet, cool, and refreshing, and reminded Alcarillo of Harlindon. The bread was a bit too crusty, maybe a little stale, but the butter helped its taste and texture. The cheese and the mustard were delicious together. Alcarillo was surprised by being served ham, and he decided that the halflings must be a rather generous people.

While dining, Alcarillo had decided upon his travel plans: he would rest here for the night and travel to Rivendell in the morning. He knew that he had kin there, family who had escaped from the destruction of Ost-in-Edhil. He had only met his family there once before, thousands of years ago at the end of the Second Age, when he joined the Last Alliance and visited Rivendell on the way to Dagorlad. He remembered finding his cousin again in the midst of battle, and fighting orcs together.

Alcarillo finished his dinner and reminiscing with a satisfied sigh. He was the fullest he had ever been in many, many years. He needed a room for the night. He tucked his red book into his cloak and abandoned his finished dinner and half-empty bottle of wine on the table. Alcarillo wandered out of the warm common room and into the hallway in search of the innkeeper. He hoped that he or she accepted Elvish coins, for those were all he had. He found the counter of the innkeeper near the inn's entrance, and leaned against the wall to patiently wait for another weary traveler to finish booking his room.