[Elora]

Vanwe shot out of her room and hurtled down the hallway on the second floor with considerable haste. She had lingered late the evening before, lulled by the warmth and ease of the common room which had been a comfort rare upon her road and indeed within her short life. When the soft bed and coverlets were added to that score, Vanwe had settled into a deep rest that had resulted in her squandering a goodly portion of the next day away. She descended the stairs into the common room on feet made fleet by her dwindling purse, having further loitered to brush the road out of her dress. In her experience, free lodgings generally only extended to one night at best and she had been surprised to have not been tipped out on her ear. As she glanced out the window she was also relieved.

A quick inspection of her pouch found she had only 3 coppers left. It was certainly not enough to cover meals or another night. The only other things she possess was a thin cloak, a nub of a pencil she accidentally purloined from it's rightful owner and a scrap of paper with potentially incriminating notes. As a result, Vanwe arrived in the common room with a healthy determination to avoid drawing attention to herself.

The elf maiden tucked strands of hair behind her ears that had been dislodged in her flight from over-sleeping and more calmly moved through the tables which were filling. Many preferred a dry roof and victuals to the weather that was closing in without. She certainly would to, if she had the means. Aman smiled at her brightly, which Vanwe returned as she wandered through the room. Some faces she recognised from the night before. Still more were new to her, yet noone had arrived in a uniform and relief skated across her senses at that small mercy. Vanwe was still expecting the owner of the pencil to catch up with her.

"Good day, Aman and my thanks for a night's rest in a warm and dry bed," Vanwe said as she approached. Her face was earnest and shone with gratitude that said more about her vagabond status than perhaps the maiden would have wished. Despite what she could see through the window, Vanwe kept her smile in place as she continued on. "I am sorry to leave, but my road carries me on and I cannot impose upon your hospitality any longer."

Aman blinked at her wording, a reaction that Vanwe had not expected. She had heard someone else say that, and it had sounded good and been well received at the time she observed it. She still had much to do if she was to learn the easy interaction of the wider world and not make herself conspicuous. "Perhaps next time, I can stay longer," Vanwe finished. She spread her cleaner and less dusty skirts in a curtsy which she executed with grace as Aman studied the young Elf. "May your road be safe and kind, Vanwe," she kindly responded. Vanwe fervently wished it would be so.

She collected her cloak from where it hung by the door and cracked it open a notch. It was just enough to catch a water logged gust of wind. Vanwe reluctantly shrugged her cloak around her shoulders, pulled it tight with one slender hand and pushed her way out the door proper. She shivered, for the drop in temprature was sudden. The rain was heavy, piercing through her cloak and dress effortlessly as she stepped off the covered porch of the inn. Aman's words circled in her head and the elf sighed.

Then with a determination that belied her tender years, she stepped away from the inn and into the storm proper. She managed to remain upright until she arrived at the stables, some 20 paces. The sanctuary of the partially opened door dragged into that and she stood just within the stable and peered at the heavy clouds. Vanwe felt a trickle of icy rain water course down her spine and sighed ruefully. Behind her the warmth of stabled horses glowed and she turned to breath them in. The straw looked soft.

She would not find a hedge thick enough to bunker down under in this weather. Surely noone would object if she waited out the storm in the stable. She would do no harm. Vanwe drifted further into the stable with each passing thought, the breathing and nickering of the horses surrounding her. She pushed her sodden cloak back from around her shoulders as she walked, curiosity pulling her from stall to stall as she examined the horses.

How wonderful it would be to own one of these to save your feet and give you warmth and company on the road. Her face was wistful as she surveyed each horse. Some tossed their heads imperiously as she passed them by. Others twitched ears and studied her in return. She extended a hand to stroke a velvety nose and a smile came unbidden to her face. She wouldn't hurt anything if she shared a stall.

Vanwe slipped through the stall gate and along side the horse she had stroked. Liquid eyes calmly inspected her young, rain soaked visage and nuzzled her for an trace of food. Her stomach made the absence of any such treasure audibly known and the horse abandoned its search. It heaved a sigh as her hands ran lightly over it's coat. Vanwe sank into a corner near a front fetlock, soft straw cushioning her. The horse bent to sniff her golden hair and it was the drumming of the rain on the roof that finally lulled her into a restive sleep once more. She ignored concerns of what would unfold if she was found near a horse that was not hers. There were no soldiers and noone knew her mother's name. She had establshed that last night. All she would do is wait out the storm. That's all. Vanwe sighed nearly as heavily as her equine stall companion had as her eyelids flitted down to veil sapphire eyes.