[Elora]

Vanwe trailed along behind Derufin, with a backward glance to Silvanis.

"Please, later... the notes," she whispered as she passed and hurried off after the Stablemaster before he thought she had reconsidered. She smiled shyly up at Aman as they arrived.

"I did leave, in a fashion," she offered to the innkeeper but was soon ushered indoors and towards the kitchen before she could explain further. The warmth of the busy kitchen enveloped her, the scent of hearty food redolent on the air as they entered. Vanwe sighed appreciatively. Derufin had mentioned something about the shelves in the kitchen, and so she turned her attention to the pantry amidst the traffic of the room.

He seated himself at the end of a long table, out of the way of the cook and Vanwe darted from the doorway when she realised she was blocking traffic. In the better light she could make out still more of his face. He was not like the men of her village, and that cheered her considerably. His laughter was infectious and soon even she was smiling as she examined the room in unveiled curiousity. He had mentioned another Elf, and Vanwe could not help but watch for her. What she would say should the other Elf speak to her, she had no earthly idea. The only Elf she had ever spoken to before was herself.

Soon enough, a hearty breakfast started to accrue before them and Vanwe gave off her inspection of the kitchen and stared in amazement at the wealth of food.

"Are there other people," she asked Derufin who was reaching for a plate of eggs. He smiled and shook his head.

"No, just us, and we have a lot to do today so no sense letting this go cold," he replied. Vanwe smiled and reached for another plate. No sense at all, she concurred. After scant meals on the road, if indeed any could be gotten, the breakfast was to her a feast. Eggs, she recognised. Bacon was new to her, as were the mushrooms. It was a morning of discoveries for her and her eyes held her smile.

As they ate, Vanwe's mind whirled with thoughts on the morning's events. At some point she needed to find a way to get her notes back without drawing attention to them. She also needed to prove to Derufin that his offer was not one he would regret. As she explored something that was called a tomato, she looked across to where he sat. Without her layer of dust, straw and thread from the blanket, he looked to be the carpenter he named himself. On the other hand, she was nothing other than an urchin even though she could hold a piece of lumber and sense the shapes it held within.

"Sir, have we wood for the pantry," she asked and then something else occured to her. He called her m'lady, and that was not right. It was far too nice. She set down her fork and sipped at her water. "And what shall I call you?"

Through the kitchen wafted the smell of freshly baked bread that had been set down on the other end of the long table to cool. She breathed it into her lungs deeply, eyes closing as she did so. She had many other things to say also, but now was not the time. She opened her eyes again and looked at Derufin in the bright morning light with clear eyes of startling blue colour, her only link to her father.

"Is Sir correct? I do not wish to offend you."