[littlemanpoet]

Rowenna

This whole conversation had started personal, and kept getting more so. Rowenna was getting uncomfortable. At the same time, both Saeryn and Eodwine rose in her esteem. She felt a lump forming in her own throat. She felt like throwing herself on both of them and sobbing. It was time to get out of there. She swallowed hard and refused to let her eyes get wet. She glanced at Falco who glanced back. She motioned for the two of them to leave. He scrunched up his nose and nodded in a way that said silently to her, 'yes, that's a good idea, let's go'. They left the room. When they had closed the door, she let out stressed out sigh.

"I don't need that every day."

"No, let 'em work it out by themselves. You and me, I think we both could use a pint or two. Shall we?"

Rowenna laughed. It was funny to think of sharing a pint - or two - in the morning with a Hobbit, but right now she felt game for at least one and said so. He grinned back at her as he lit his pipe.

Eodwine

Eodwine looked up at Saeryn and listened to her. A lump came into his own throat as he watched the tears slide down her face. His heart went out to her, yet again. Then words failed her. He noticed that Falco and Rowenna made themselves scarce, and was grateful. He took Saeryn by the waist and drew her down beside him; she did not resist.

"I'm back. I'm here. Only death itself will ever take me from you again, and not for a long time if I can help it. I know, I understand that this has been hard on you, that you have been demeaned and worse while I've been gone, that you have borne much that you should not have had to. I wish I could take it all away, but it is in the past. Let me husband you now."

Falco

Falco liked Rowenna. She was a little different than most Big People, and most women too, for that matter. There was more going on behind her eyes than with most Big People, even more than Eodwine, maybe. He liked that. They sat down at a table and he ordered a pint for each of them, which Ginna brought with a mild look of surprise on her face, not in regard to Falco, but that Rowenna would join him.

"Do you want some food to go with that?" she asked them both, but was looking at Rowenna.

"Some bread and meat would be good," Falco answered. Ginna waited for Rowenna to gainsay him and finding that she did not, she went off to the kitchen.

"What think you of their disagreement?" Rowenna broached.

Falco grinned. It was just what he had wanted to talk about. He took a swallow at his pint and then puffed at his pipe before answering. "Believe it or not, I agree with Saeryn. Eodwine should be eorl, and of more than those two oafs in the smithy."

Rowenna laughed. "If you hope to agree with me, you don't. I've changed my mind. I think Eodwine is right."

"Oh do you now!" Falco licked the stem of his pipe with relish. A spirited debate ensued, both opponents thoroughly enjoying it under the watchful eyes of Ginna, Frodides, and the others; not that they seemed to fear a fight breaking out between this odd pair. Maybe it was that these women in the kitchen wondered at this young woman with the fetching looks who seemed to have a man's brain in her head, not to mention a man's aggressiveness in the way she leaned into the debate. One just never knew about these things.