[Elora]

The laundry remained undisturbed other than by Vanwe's songs and her movements as she scrubbed her face and hands clean. The water was cool upon her skin, and swiftly she had bound her hair in a manner she had learnt in her childhood. The one larger braid was formed by the smaller braids she had separated her hair into, tying the thick mass off with her own hair in a quick knot at the end of the tail. She let it rest over her shoulder, a comforting and familiar weight.

Silvanis was still in the common room as she re-emerged, making the most of the pipe-weed he had obtained. Through a haze of smoke their eyes met and Vanwe actually managed a small smile as he nodded at her. Perhaps her fear of being carried off to Harad like a motley piece of luggage was unfounded, but until she could know rather than surmise she would keep her wits about her yet.

Her desire to prove Derufin right to trust her with work pushed her past Silvanis and Bernia and out into the daylight outside the inn. The storm was all but passed, and the sunlight was warm on her head and shoulders as she went in search of Derufin. She followed her keen hearing to where he had said he would await her, passing ducks and hens as she went. Their chatter was a familiar sound to her, at least the hens were. Ducks were altogether a mysterious creature that she had not seen until she reached the better watered coast and temperate climes in the north. They reminded her of geese, in a way.

Rather than further explore that, she continued on her path and found Derufin on the easterly side of the stable surrounded by lumber with chalk in hand. He was bent over the trestle and rather than interrupt him, Vanwe instead placed her hand against a piece of oak leaning against the stable wall.

It was still rough and warmed by the sun. Her eyes drifted shut as she felt for the shapes that raw length held within it. A shadow moved before her face as Derufin straightened and turned to find Vanwe standing with her eyes closed and hand held against the lumber in a manner most would describe as peculiar. Yet the dreamy smile on her face suggested something else was afoot.

Her eyes flew open as Derufin cleared his throat.

"I trust you'll be able to offer at least a little assistance before you retire for the evening," came his question. Vanwe nodded her assent.

"Yes... I was just getting a feel for the wood," she explained in a less than satisfactory manner. She sidestepped quickly away from the oak and dropped her hand back to her side.

"Are these the tools," she inquired, guesturing to a small gathering of equipment near the trestle. She crouched by them, taking up the hammer and testing its grip in her hand. It would be good to work again, she thought as she glanced up to Derufin. The shadows were there, faintly, she thought. Only faintly, but they were there. She blinked to break her study and stood again.

"I can help you mark out the width, or cut and smooth them... I would make the fences and repair the buildings of the village," she added. "I can make other things too, but I don't think you'll be wanting those," she finished humbly.

She picked up the saw in demonstration of her readiness and looked back at the wood Derufin had been marking out.