[Noinkling]

‘Come, Cullen,’ called Benat as he stepped outside the stable’s doors. Cullen drew himself up from the straw in the empty stall and stretched, yawning widely. Several of the equine residents, looked over the side of the stall at him and nickered a bit, then turned away when they realized his presence did not mean that the breakfast bag of oats was near. With a snort at the dust from the hay, Cullen trotted toward the doors and took his place at Benat’s side.

Benat had spent his night on a pallet of soft, sweet smelling hay in the loft. The small window beneath the eaves had been left open and he woke up as soon as the first light of morning poked through it. He had lain for a short while propped on his right side as he stared out the window. There were a couple of things he wanted to accomplish this morning. He’d promised Derufin he would help finish the task of splitting the wood they’d sawn into workable rounds yesterday. And then Cook had promised him in return she would see to it that he got to see Master Samwise about Bilbo’s old book.

But first, something substantial to break his fast.

From the Inn’s kitchen came the savory scent of toasting bread and frying bacon. As he came closer he could pick out the potatoes and onions and the eggs. Cullen ran round about Benat’s legs and yipped at the savoury smells.

‘Ah!’ smiled Benat as he sat at one of the tables. ‘Tea, yes and a sweet roll or two to start out with,’ he told the sleepy eyed server who’d come up to take his order. ‘And if it’s all ready, a plate full of everything I can smell cooking behind those doors. No bacon though, if you please.'

Cullen leaned against his master’s knees and whined just a bit. ‘And a plate for my companion here. But no onions . . . they make his presence quite unbearable.’

Across the room, just coming down the stairs, Benat spied the man who’d come to listen to his story last night. He nodded at him, catching his attention, and pointed to an empty chair. ‘You’re welcome to join us,’ he mouthed to Anyopâ.