[Merri]

As Elanor watched the dancing, she began to wish that she wasn't so scared of it.

She sat down at a nearby table, watching, trying to build up her courage. At last she threw down her apron and went up to Tom, the hobbit lad she had been talking to earlier that night.

"You've been working much too hard for a hobbit," She said, startling him. "You're dancing with me."

"But I thought you were scared of dancing, isn't that what you told Miss Pio?" Tom reminded her.

"I never said any such thing," Elanor protested.

"I can't, I've got too much work to do." He shook his head, backing away from her.

"There's no such thing as work now, silly. Come on!" She dragged him out to the dancers and the two hobbits began a jaunty little Shire jig that was completely out of rythm with the music. But that was no matter, she had finally overcome her silly fear and was having the time of her life. The work could wait. For now, there was only fun and her new friend, Tom.