A riderless horse galloped by Falowik. Moments later, a second horse cantered by, this one bearing a rider. Derufin the stablemaster. He would need no assistance. Falowik was glad to own no horse. He had never ridden, and did not wish to. Beautiful creatures they were, and less troublesome than people, but he had never learned their ways. Better to keep the days simple as may be, old man.
Two hobbits made their way to the inn, one of them screaming for all she was worth. These Hobbits were nothing if not trouble! It would be the last time he paid a visit to the Shire, set compass by it. Why not find a place away from the road? Now that it was night, it would be better not to be a shadow seen skulking from here to there, raising suspicions. Best stay put.
Someone else had come from the stables, not on a horse. A woman walking alone at night. The folly. Unless it's the Elf woman. She's as safe at night as in the day. She stopped not far from the stable and looked up at the stars. She was no business of his. He pulled his eyes away and closed them. Maybe he would get some sleep, at least catch a few winks before Derufin came cantering by with two horses.
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