Was he a friend or a foe? Benia asked herself, still watching the door where the mysterious man had been standing. Probably neither, she reassured herself. Probably just someone whose eye had been caught by her facial jewelry, nothing more and nothing less. After all, she did look quite different from folks in these parts. She shouldn't be bothered by the occasional casual stare.
She pulled her gaze away from the busy door and looked to see where Gilly had gotten off to. Just as she did, Gilly reappeared toting a variety of crockery, cutlery, and food, not to mention a hot cup of tea. Benia got up to assist her.
"Oh! That cup is hot!" exclaimed Gilly. She carried on for a moment with some similar -- obviously nervous -- prattle about the food before finally settling down in her chair. She cupped her hot mug between her hands, looking at Benia with an expression that told her as plain as words that she was fairly bursting with questions, but just wasn't sure where to start. Or whether or not etiquette would allow her to bombard a guest and a foreigner, no less, with so much conversation before they had even had dinner.
Benia gave her a warm smile. "Remember," she said merrily. "I may have been born in the desert, but my father was a Bree-man. Under the surface, I am as fond of friends and a good tale as the average hobbit! So, tell me, Miss Gilly, how has the world been to you since we last met?"
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