[Pivli]

Miz Violet considers the Orc and comes to some Hobbitish conclusions

Violet Greengage grew tired of the small talk at her table. Her old bones did not enjoy sitting for any length of time on the hard wooden chairs of the Inn. She had left her little seat cushion on the cart seat and now she wished she had remembered to bring it in. She fidgeted for a few more moments on her seat, then stood up, leaning heavily on her blackthorn cane as she eased her old joints into a more proper alignment. None of those at her table paid the least bit of attention to the old Hobbit granny, so busy were they in talking among themselves.

Her back had been to the door when the Orc entered, and as she turned around, intending to go out to the stable for her cushion, she saw the newcomer to the Inn. ‘My, my!’ she thought to herself. ‘He’s got quite a sunburn, now hasn’t he. Fierce looking fellow. Nice hefty build, though,’ she murmured approvingly. ‘Stoutly built as a Hobbit. Well, an oversized Hobbit. But still he looks like one to appreciate his meals.’

She hobbled slowly toward him, her knees creaking in protest at their being used. He was dressed all in black, she noted, and the expression on his face seemed rather a sad one. Or so she thought. It was hard to tell. It looked, too, as if he might have been some sort of soldier, what with his beat up looking face and weapons and such. She considered his black clothing once again - perhaps someone in his family had died and he was in mourning.

‘Sorry for your loss, young man,’ she offered sympathetically as she was just beginning to pass his table and head for the door. ‘Hope you’re feeling better soon.’