[Kath]

Astilwen could see that Tilionwen had picked up on her little evasion and, after watching the war within for a few moments, had decided to question her on it.

"But you didn't answer me completely," Came the sly reply.

Sighing, Astilwen cast her mind back a few months, searching for a way to reply. She was still embarrassed about the whole incident, but after everything Tilionwen had told her that night, it was only fair to offer something in return.

"I met someone back in Hobbiton a while back and we, um, well we sort of got together."

Tilionwen's eyes lit up, and she leant forward. Astilwen followed suit, wanting to keep the conversation a little private, as it was quite possible that there were some people around her who knew her parents.

"We didn't really want anyone else to know you see, especially our parents, as they don't exactly get on, and we didn't want to be stuck in the middle of frosty silences on both sides. So we kept it quiet, and for a while it worked. We got on really well and had fun, but eventually his little brother found us out, and told his parents. We didn't know and kept on meeting up, and on one such occasion his parents and mine suddenly appeared. Well, we were in something of a compromising position and uh, they weren't exactly pleased. It wasn't long after that I decided to leave. My parents were really angry, but they did lecture me over finding someone more 'suitable'. I got fed up with it all and came out here."

Having finished a very shortened version of her tale Astilwen sat back again. Tilionwen's eyes spoke of her sympathy, but the upturned corners of her mouth let slip her amusement. Astilwen couldn't help but smile back. In retrospect the story was amusing, and had been told at quite a few family gatherings since, so she had learnt to laugh at it herself.

Night was so far on now that it was becoming light again. Tilionwen had told her that she would be leaving come morning, and Astilwen did not want to lose her new friend so soon. She knew though that the girl needed to go home, to find her father and sort out some issues, the least of which being learning her own name! Still, they had a couple more hours yet.

"So," she said turning to Tiliowen, "What would you like to do before you leave?"