Gandalf sat peacably smoking his pipe. Lassiël made her excuses and got up to meet the other party-goers. She still hadn't seen the person who had sent her Lady the kind invitation.
A small, petulant voice halted her in her tracks as she passed a frazzled hobbit chiding a tweenager who sat beneath a table.
"If only Piosenniel was here......she would get me out of this unpleasant jam!"
Lassiël crouched down and smiled at the young hobbit. She reached out her hand and drew him out. 'Piosenniel is busy with other matters today, young one.' she said,her eyes sparkling. 'Let me see what I can do for you.'
'Cami, isn't it?' She nodded to the hobbit. 'I'm hungry, are you? Let's load up our plates from these groaning tables, then sit down and get to know each other.' She ladled out a large cup of aromatic wine puch for the hobbit. 'Here, I think you can use this!' The appreciative hobbit took a large drink and shook her head 'yes'.
'Gamba! Come, help me get some food and we can sit together in the shade of that oak tree. We can listen to the music of the small band there and you can talk to me of how you know Piosenniel. And if you're up to it, we shall dance.'
She winked at him, then reached out gently and shut his dropped jaw with her finger.
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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