[Nerindel]

Lespheria shook her head and sighed sadly as Vanwe rushed from the room, again running from her problems she thought. For a minute she thought that the elven woman had genuinely misunderstood her question, but she had seen that she was avoiding everyone's gaze even her own, though it did not look like it to the others. A dissembling tactic she had seen used many times in the courts of both Rohan and Gondor, although not used nearly as well as Vanwe had just done, the woman had obviously had much practice.

Feeling the others watching her stare at the closed door, she turn to them, her warm inviting smile once again played on her lips. "I am afraid that I too must get back to work. now! Miss Benia you should not think to riding with that ankle, at least for a few days."

Benia nodded her understanding and thanked her again for her help. As she opened the door to leave she could smell the delightful smells of the kitchen wafting through the entire inn. She paused closing her eyes and inhaled deeply taking in the delectable smells. As she opened her eyes she saw the badly scared ranger watching her, no not her the door beyond her she thought. Seeing her gaze he casually averted his eyes, as he did she stepped back through the still open door and turning to Gilly she said " Miss If you would come with me I will arrange some lunch that you can bring up for yourself and Miss Benia."

Gilly hesitated clearly not wishing to leave her friend alone with Silvanis, who she barely knew. "Do not worry, I do not think that Silvanis holds any ill will towards your friend, in fact I believe that Silvanis trades pelts with the southern peoples." as she spoke Silvanis nodded his agreement. "I will be fine" Benia assured her over protective friend.

Nodding she followed Léspheria from the room. Léspheria escorted the hobbit woman to the kitchen paying the shifty looking ranger no heed. Once in the kitchen Vinca stopped stirring the soup and asked "How is the patient then?, did the tea help?" "yes it did and the patient is fine all be it a little hungry" she grinned replacing the box she had brought back with her to its place on the shelf. "Oh miz Gilly, don't tell me it was your friend that injured herself!" cook exclaimed seeing the hobbit woman sanding by the door.

Gilly did not seem surprised that cook knew of her and her friend, Lespheria puzzled over this for a second then pushed the thoughts aside, she had other things she wished to tell the hobbit woman.

She took a tray and three small bowls from the shelf, "No! No! the bigger ones" Vinca scolded pointing to the larger soup bowls that sat on a lower shelf. She grinned as she bent down and took the bowls. Placing them on the tray she handed them to Vinca, the hobbit woman then proceeded to fill the bowls to the very top with the thick warm soup, "Mushroom" she said proudly handing the tray to Gilly and without waiting for the younger hobbit woman to reply she went and lifted three crusty white rolls from the counter and placed them carefully on the tray.

As Lespheria brought the spoons she stopped before the hobbit woman and said in a calm voice "Did you notice the man with the badly scarred face?" Gilly nodded, Her hobbit features giving the clear indication that she too had not liked the look of him. "He has been watching Benia's room" she continued the hobbit woman's eyes widened with fear for her friend, but lespheria grabbed her gently by the shoulders and continued...

"Their are many men that fought in the war that have not forgotten some of the ill's that the people of the south dealt them and although I do not think that this man is one of them I do believe he is a ranger. I have many friends among the rangers to the north of this land and they have often told tales of rangers who hire out their skill to whom ever will pay the most for them and I feel that this man may be one of them, these things I speak are merely feelings and hold no real certainty. But I bade you to tell Benia to be careful and that when she decides she wishes to leave, I am sure we can arranged for her departure to go unnoticed, if she so wishes it."

The hobbit woman was stunned by Léspheria words but she nodded that she would do as she asked. As Gilly turned to leave Léspheria whispered to her, "Take a deep breath miz Gilly it would be most wise if you walk back to the room looking as though we have spoken of no more than the soup you are carrying. The hobbit woman nodded and taking a deep breath she pushed through the door to the common room.

Lespheria was about to follow when she felt a hand grasp her wrist, "And were do you think you are off to" Vinca scolded. Lespheria lifted a puzzled eyebrow, "Do not think I have not noticed that you have not eaten since breakfast!" Vinca continued waving her finger warningly. Léspheria bit back a chuckle and sat, she had totally forgotten that she had no yet had lunch herself. Not wishing to incur the wrath of the strong willed hobbit woman, she heartily ate the soup placed before her. "That was simply the best soup I have ever tasted" she complimented, as she washed up her dishes. Vinca beamed proudly but said nothing.

Léspheria then grabbed a damp cloth from beside the sink and went out into the common room to wipe down the tables. As she worked she kept a close eye on the battle scarred ranger, she also made a mental note to tell Aman of her concerns at the first opportunity.

It was late in the afternoon when she saw Vanwe enter the kitchen, she thought to go speak with the elven woman in private, but that would mean removing her watch of the ranger. No! she thought resolutely the elven woman would come to her when she was ready.

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]