The Green Dragon Inn - Part 4

[Elora]

The arrival of Derufin gave Vanwe the idea that perhaps she could be spared long enough to catch some of the morning. She missed the sky.

"Aman, I think we need more dust cloths. These have seen hard service already. I shall fetch them," she added as Aman made a move towards the door herself.

With a glance in the direction of the swarming hobbits, Vanwe added with a small smile, "I doubt I am any match for their enthusiasm should they espy what we have here."

The Elf gestured at the piles yet to be sorted, and with a wry grin excused herself. She paused to give a smile to Derufin, who seemed much improved. He was not green, for instance. The wooden crane was still tucked behind her belt, she discovered as she patted it to be sure. Perhaps, if he continued to feel better it would not be too dangerous to give it to him if she did not make too much of a nuisance of herself in other ways.

Anticipation of the summer blue sky carried her down stairs and into the crush of the commonroom. Vanwe darted through the crowd and emerged through the door rubbing her hands on her dirty skirts, oblivious for the most to those she passed in the popular inn and determinedly making her way to the door.

She gained that with a small sigh of relief that stopped on her lips as she saw Benia sitting on the outter steps, Silvanis with her and the two in close conversation. Vanwe froze where she was, unsure of whether to proceed or otherwise. Instinct made her scan the yard beyond the pair. No Haradian mercenaries stood with rope and chain in hand.

Vanwe reluctantly stepped forward, knowing that she would need space to escape should she need to. Such could not be found within the doorway or crowded commonroom. Silvanis looked up as she moved, and Vanwe heard Benia insist, "No doctor!"

Closer inspection revealed the Southern woman had lost her boot, and Silvanis's hands were occupied with her ankle. Vanwe had seen enough broken ankles to recognise the injury swiftly. This was either an elaborate ruse or genuine. Vanwe had not heard of any mercenary willing to break an ankle, or work with another for that matter.

On light feet, rubbing her hands free of dust on her skirts, Vanwe crossed and warily bowed. Not entirely sure what had prompted her to do this, Vanwe found herself offering assistance.

"It is broken," she observed to which both Silvais and Benia nodded in confirmation.

"Your ankle cannot be left like that... I may be able to help, though I am no doctor. We must act swiftly, before the shock of numbness wears off."

Vanwe spread her hands, stretching long fingers that seemed happiest when occupied. Ailments and injuries had been the one of the few ways Vanwe had managed to keep her hide in one piece, even if she was suspected of bringing such misfortunes upon the villagers she would tend to. She had not the skill of a doctor, but she had a light and firm touch, and an innate sense for the rightness of things, such as how a bone should be set, a poultice blended, a piece of wood worked.

Aware that she could very likely be aiding people who may yet undo her, Vanwe stood on the stairs at a loss as to why she was even there, and mind working as to where she could locate the necessary items to see to the broken ankle.

She breathed the scent of the morning in, watching the day unfold around her. Conscious of those who she had left waiting turned and headed back for the inn, detouring to wash face and hands free of smeared dust. Vanwe was still shaking small droplets of water free as she walked back through the door. Pre-occupied with the growing number of horses needing tending, she made for the bar. That was where the store of rags was kept.

Vanwe was good at being unnoticeable. She slipped through to the end, ducked beneath the counter and extracted a few more rags. It was not until she had stood, still folding a final cloth that she realised Benia and Silvanis were nearby, together.

Vanwe stilled for a moment, eyes going wide in an instant as speculation flashed through them. She hesitated an instant longer and took the two in. Benia appeared injured