[Elora]

Vanwe visibly brightened as she noted Derufin approach, her gaze alighting on the honeyed bread he carried with him. Honey, how she adored it. It was of the first pleasant discoveries she had made in this place, and certainly was not the last.

With a wink, he grandly set a bowl of stew down with the honey. The napking fluttered into her lap and she wrapped her hands gratefully around the water. After his insistance on references to ladies, Vanwe gave up on correcting the matter. Instead she smiled up at him.

"Thank you m'Lord. I think I will indeed. The stars will be bright this night," she added, noting the quirk at her reference to lords. Derufin nodded and she watched him head back across the room. She turned back to the meal in front of her. Then she recalled something.

"I'm really not a lady," she confided in Beren. It was, perhaps, an unnecessary clarification. Realising that he was without food, and she was amply provided for, Vanwe came to another conclusion. It was not difficult. Where she hailed from, she did not eat until all others had. She pushed forward the bread.

"Would you like some bread? The honey is simply exquisite," she offered with a smile. "Or perhaps some stew. I can fetch another spoon if you wish." Just as she had resembled her mother in appearance, she now was vastly changed. Such a simple act of generosity would be unthought of. Beren glanced at the food.

"Really, I do not eat so very much," she reassured," But you will need to be careful the Cook doesn't see. She'll have my hide if she thinks I'm shirking my meals." Vanwe's voice had lowered to a mock conspiratorial level and she dared an impish wink. Realising that it would be just her luck for the formidible and redoubtable Mrs Bunce to be standing over her shoulder, arms crossed and foot tapping, Vanwe instinctively looked up to see if righteous disapproval was descending upon her head.

It was not. When she looked back, a piece of bread was missing and Beren wore a curious smile. Vanwe blinked and then shook her head as she laughed.

"One piece of bread can't be enough. It will not take me long to fetch another spoon." She pushed up from the table, ignoring the subtle lurch of the room with her sudden change in position. Before a word could be said, Vanwe was on the move. Derufin watched her move past the bar. SHe mouthed Beren's name at him and continued on to the kitchens.

Ruby looked up at her as she entered.

"What is it Vanwe, missed lunch again?" Ruby's smile faded Vanwe's protest of innocence. Mrs Bunce, though, looked sharply around. The mention of Vanwe and missed meals always earnt her attention.

"What can I help you with," Cook asked in a voice that said it had better not be with missed meals.

"I came for a spoon for Beren," Vanwe replied, relieved that she had another reason.

"He's the Man at your table," Ruby stated.
"Yes," Vanwe confirmed.
"What's he going to use the spoon for," Ruby asked. "He had no bowl. Will he bend it? I've seen magicians who can bend spoons just by thinking about it." Ruby's eyes were alight.

"There will be no damaging of my cutlery," Mrs Bunce interjected.
"He won't be bending it. He'll be eating with it," Vanwe amended quickly.
"Thin air?"

Vanwe paused, recognising possibly risky territory ahead. "Stew," she cautiously replied.

"Then you had best bring him some of that too," Cook sternly said
"Of course."

Vanwe received the additional bowl of stew and spoon and made a bid to leave the kitchen before she could lumber into any other difficult situations. Ruby got to the door before her.

"I think Beren is taken with Aman," Ruby whispered secretively. Vanwe smiled back at her as she followed Ruby through the kitchen door.

"I think so too, Ruby," Vanwe said. Both exchanged a grin and then hurried on their ways. Vanwe made it back to the table with the bowl of stew steaming in her hands.

"Here you go, with Cook's best wishes," Vanwe said as she passed it to him. Beren looked relieved that unwatered wine had not caused his meal to go flying out of Vanwe's hands as she negotiated the crowded commonroom.

"And Ruby's too," Vanwe added on a whim, "Aman's friend," she further elaborated. Beren's face acquired that glow again and he studied the bowl in front of him. Vanwe, pleased with herself in general, set about eating. The promise of a walk in the cooler evening was more than appealing. A fair night it would indeed be.