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In the Golden Perch’s common room, Peri’s order had arrived. After taking a moment to inhale the assorted scents from the meal in front of her, Peri added some sugar to the warm tea. Lifting it to her lips, she sipped blissfully and savored the feel of the liquid heat flowing down her throat. After a few more mouthfuls, she turned her attention to her food.
She had seldom enjoyed a meal more. After a long day traveling from the Tookland, everything tasted delicious. First, she steadily devoured a small plate of fresh-baked biscuits slathered with butter and strawberry jam. She inhaled the accompanying portion of stew. Turning at last to the piquantly spiced slice of apple pie, she happily ate every crumb from tip to flaky crust.
Full for the first time all day, she pushed back from the table, and as Dick had instructed her, found him and paid her dinner and a room for the next few days. An unexpected wave of tiredness overcame her. The idea of curling up in a soft bed sounded extremely attractive, so she picked up her saddlebags and made her way out of the common room. Clutching the key she’d been given, she found her room and unlocked the door.
And found that pesky younger sister of Lily’s inside. Annoyed, Peri snapped, “And just what do you think you’re doing here, miss?” She fixed the younger hobbit with a glare that would have stopped an Orc in its tracks.
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