"I'm not sure if I still know how to dance, but it sounds like a fantastic idea! However my stomach grumbles at the moment and is demanding to be fed. It's been a long time..."
Astilwen beamed at the prospect of more food and pulled Tilionwen over to the tables. She could see the woman hadn't yet entirely let go of her troubles, and was determined to get her dancing in the hope it would do her good. Twirling around to music always raised Astilwen's spirits, she just hoped it would do the same for Tilionwen.
For now though she was quite happy to settle for getting some food into the woman, who didn't look as though she'd had a decent meal for ages. Pushing Tilionwen towards a mostly empty table she bade her stay where she was. After receiving a somewhat bemused nod Astilwen ran off to the tables and filled two plates with as much food as she could get on them, including something of everything. She returned to Tilionwen and dropped the mounds of food on the table. The woman's eyes grew large as she saw the amount in font of her.
"Are you sure we can take this much?"
"Of course! This is barely an adult hobbit's evening meal! Eat as much as you want. If you leave anything I'm sure it'll be snapped up later by some hungry hobbit in passing."
Apparently reassured Tilionwen dug in and the two women communicated in a series of grunts or words spoken through mouthfuls of food for the next few minutes. As she ate Astilwen noted that the other woman was clearing her plate with the same gusto as she herself was, and nodded to herself, realising her guess had been right.
Once the plates were mostly cleared, and they were too full even to pick at what was left, Astilwen suggested going over to the dancing area.
"I think I might pop if I tried to do anything energetic right now"
Tilionwen groaned at the thought, eyeing the people bouncing around with wary eyes.
"Don't you know exercising is the best way to avoid indigestion?" Astilwen replied with a wink. "Come on, I promise I'll be just as bad as you, it's been years since I danced to a good band."
__________________
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
|