"Strange folk at the Green Dragon, now-a-days." Halfred Hamfast set his heavy mug impatiently upon the wooden table as he glared disapprovingly in the direction of the rowdy men. Asphodel, who had placed her arm protectivly around Hanna when the yelling had started, began slowly to relax.
"What's the world comming to?" grumbled Halfred to himself. "Can't even take my daughters to the Inn anymore without there being some kind of disturbance!" He lifted his mug and put it to his lips, driking deeply of the ale. Asphodel, who sat across the table from her father, lowered her head and stared into her lap. Her nerves where in a state of aggitation. She felt guilty for having begged her father to let her and her sister accompany him on his nightly visit to the Inn. It was usually a rare treat, where they would meet her father's friends, and they would eat, smoke, and laugh into the wee hours of the morning. She turned to look at her sister, Hanna. Hanna's curly auburn hair, which had been pulled back into a braid by their mother earlier in the day, was now a mess from Asphodel's embrace. Strands of hair had been pulled free of the braid, and now hung loosely around her large ears. Whatever had occured, Asphodel was glad of one thing: that her youngest sister, Marigold, had not been allowed to come.
"Fools!" grumbled her father again. He slammed his ale down so hard that it slopped all over the table. Asphodel and Hanna jumped. "I'm sorry, my dears," said Halfred quickly. "I'm not in the best of moods."
Asphodel nodded. She greatly wished she could say something to make her father less angry, and her sister less nervous, but knew not what. She picked up her mug and swallowed her water in silence.
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:01 PM January 25, 2004: Message edited by: Linnahiril Tinnufinwen ]
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