A walk on the Inn grounds
‘Have you ever been to the northern woodlands, Farael?’ Telu took his offered hand lightly as she stepped down from the Inn’s verandah. ‘It’s where I was raised. Eryn Lasgalen they call it now, but not so long ago it was named Mirkwood. There were dreadful things that hid among the trees. And the trees themselves seemed to turn dark and menacing.’ She took his arm, as they walked about the front expanse of lawn, saying, ‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘I never really saw the Orcs that passed through there, on their way to some evil doings or another. But I knew them from the smell they left in their wake. And once or twice I caught a glimpse of those beasts they ride, the wargs.’ They had wandered into the shade thrown by a trio of beeches near the pathway from the road to the Inn. She shivered beneath her cloak at the remembrance of those savage faces and directed their steps once again into the sun.
They walked in companionable silence to the western boundaries of the Green Dragon’s property. Along its edges were great oaks and ash trees among them. And scattered here and there were patches of flowers and bunch grasses. She bent down for a moment as they passed a grouping of bright blue flowers and picked
one, leaving a finger’s length of stem on it. ‘Here’s a pretty one for you! she laughed, securing it in the lacings of his tunic. ‘You don’t mind, do you? It makes you look less . . . grim.’ She plucked another, a white
star-flower, and tucked its stem behind her left ear. ‘I’ll wear one, too,’ she said, her cheek dimpling as she grinned at him. ‘We’ll leave off thinking about Orcs and such and talk of fairer things.’
Telu spied a nice patch of grass not too far from where they now stood. Pointing to it, she led him there, and sat down, her back against an oak stump. She patted the ground next to her. ‘Come, sit down and enjoy the sun and view.’ She nodded toward the Inn, where Hobbits and others were coming and going.
‘Tell me a little about yourself, Farael. What adventures have you been on? I love to hear such stories.’ She frowned for a moment then her brow smoothed out again. ‘My life has been quite tame. Under the thumb of my parents for a long while, and now the watchful eye of my brother. No real adventures, I fear.'