[Novnarwen]

Brottle stood motionless, feeling akward. The sweat ran down his forhead, pale as he was, he started thinking about where the key would be. As a stiff stature he moved away from the staircases seeking the golden thing, given to him by the Innkeeper.

What would she say, when he couldn't return a key? he asked himelf. As he came to the common room, the scent of ale streamed into his nostrils, and he couldn't do anything but to place two silver coins at the desk, asking for a pint. Immediatly after his 'crime' he figured it too. The key, he thought. But the ale had the power over him, and Brottle couldn't obey his own thirst; finding the golden door opener.

The little hobbit settled himself down at the same place he had been sitting before. Marks of a tounge on the table, were still there, but Brottle cleaned it up with the arm of his shirt, gazing around in the room, watching if someone were looking. He drank in large gulps, only stopping to breathe. The liquid tasted better than the one home, he assured himself, whence taking the last drop. As he rised from the table, he noticed a man standing, talking to the gentle Innkeeper. Aman looked towards him, gazing at him from top to toe.

Brottle tried to hide himself, he walked in great speed towards the staircases, out of the common room, pretending he was going up to his room. It was his wife who had sent the man, Brottle thought. She wants to know how I can manage to live on my own. Brottle grew purple with anger, and his temper rising with two levels.

"You there!"

It was Aman, she had paced towards him with the stranger in her heels. Brottle tried to put on an innocent look, but not puppy eyes. If this was a man his wife had sent to watch over him, it would be stupid if she was to know about his eyes. She would just have a good laugh then, and Brottle would not have anything of that sort.

"This man," Aman started. "he found something that might be of interest." she added.

Brottle looked up, meeting the kind eyes of the woman, but he didn't dare look at the stranger. Aman opened her hand, and to Brottle's surprise, was the golden key, the one, he had been looking for.

[ July 30, 2003: Message edited by: Novnarwen ]