Her response was cut short as the door creaked open, revealing a young, wide-eyed hobbit lass. Many of the guests, disinterested, returned to their discussions. The young hobbit crept up to the inkeeper, who was chatting with a guest near the fire. She stood silently, nervously, for several minutes.
When he saw her, the inkeeper crouched down to look her in the eye. In response to his gentle query, she whispered her name, Hannah. She handed him a small brown envelope with her mother's name penned in blue ink on the front. Hannah tailed along as the innkeeper crossed to the bar. She thanked him shyly when he handed her a mug of warm milk. Moving back to the hearth, the young hobbit crouched in a corner, sipping at her drink.
Hannah watched the other guests from her look out by the fire. She, naturally skittish, flinched whenever one of the "big folk" sauntered past. She could see all sorts of people at this inn, obviously a very popular one. She stared, awed, at each person. Listening to their stories, she soaked up the words. She loved the travelers' tales of adventure, but shy, remained alone.
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