[piosenniel]

‘Ah! You cannot know what a relief it is that I can leave the Green Dragon in such capable hands.’ Pio grinned at Prim, thinking of how some of Prim’s young male admirers would react to her new status. It was one thing to flirt with the server when you were a little tipsy and were needing to go home, and another to face the Innkeeper. She had no doubt in her mind, though, that Prim would handle it well – a firm hand and a good sense of humor would see her through.

Prim had been a server at the Inn long before Pio had gotten there and the job of Innkeeper fallen into her lap. It was Prim who had taken Mistress Piosenniel in hand and shown her the ropes for the Green Dragon. Pio, other than enjoying the hospitality and drinks of many inns, had never had a hand in the running of one. It was a time consuming business, she had found, and it was fully to Prim’s credit that the Inn was running as well as it did now.

Pio stood up from the carton she was sitting on. ‘I’m going in, to tell Cami that you will be taking over my duties. I am sure she has a long list of necessary “things to be done” for you.’ Pio smiled inwardly, glad not to have to be working her way through such a list today.

She found Cami, busy directing one gang of workers on where the tables should be set for the food and drinks, and another, of the kitchen workers, on how the tables should be set, the food presented, the drinks made available, the bouquets and candles placed . . . and a host of other detailed instructions. Waiting until the instructions had been given and gone over, and the workers had gone back to their assigned tasks, Pio approached the Hobbit, who stood in the middle of the room surveying her handiwork. There seemed a wistful look in her eye, soon displaced, though, with a calculating one as she called out to one of the kitchen staff to drape the tablecloths just a little lower to the floor.

Cami was not surpised that Pio had chosen Prim. ‘A hard worker, and smart. I like how she jumps right in to tackle any situation that comes up. The Inn will be in good hands when we have to leave.’ Pio placed her arm round her friend’s shoulders. ‘I wish that would not ever happen, Cami. I would steal you away and take you with me to Minas Anor and the Star if I could.’

The two women looked at one another, and burst out in laughter. ‘And what would Mithadan say about that, Pio?’ said Cami, wiping the tears of mirth from her eyes. Pio grinned at her, an impish gleam in her eye, and intoned in a serious and solemn voice, ‘Cami’s appointed task does not lie with us, Piosenniel. You should not hinder her.’ She bent down and gave her friend a quick hug. ‘Still I would, if I could figure out some way to do it without bending the rules too much.’

She stepped back, a look of resignation on her face. ‘But I do not see how that is possible. So, instead, let me enjoy my time with you.’ She looked about the Inn, at the near completion of the party preparations. ‘What can I do for you, to ease your burden today?’ she asked, sincerely hoping it included something in the kitchen, to be done sitting comfortably at the table there, a cool glass of sweet spice tea in her hand.

[ February 27, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]