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The table they were sitting at was near on of the Inn’s windows. The old gaffer was talking, embroidering his stories about wolves in the vicinity. It had gone from one lone wolf to packs of the yellow-fanged beasts roaming the countryside at will. The gaffer’s eyes twinkled as he talked, but the majority of the Hobbits gathered round him sat wide-eyed taking in every word.
Madoc noted that Tom had come back downstairs and nodded at him, sliding a chair out for him with his foot. He was there only a few moments when Melody came and sat next to him. ‘An interesting couple,’ he thought to himself. Madoc leaned back in his chair and watched the interactions between the two. There seemed to be a lot of tension and friction between the two at times. He wondered what was the cause of it.
His gaze drifted to the small table next to him. Some of the Hobbits from Tookland had gathered there. They wanted to be near enough to hear the gaffer’s stories. Gorby was there he noted – being very solicitous of Daisy Waggot. He had fetched her a drink and a little something to eat, and now sat near her, glancing shyly toward her when she made some comment to him. ‘Poor Gorby!’ Madoc chuckled as he saw his cousin’s face turn almost as bright a red as his hair when Daisy offered him a ‘thank-you’ for getting her a little extra jam for her bread. ‘Oh my! The poor lad has it bad for her!’
The curtains at the little window near his seat were open, and a movement outside the Inn caught his eye. He peered cautiously through the glass and spied another couple – Melody and Tom. They had left the table earlier, and now here they were. Outside . . . talking. Madoc’s eyes went wide. Not just talking . . . Melody had kissed Tom!
A few moments later, the still blushing Hobbit lass had come back into the common room and gone upstairs after saying goodnight to the others, while Tom remained outdoors, his breath misting in the frigid air. Madoc rapped on the window, drawing his attention. He held up his pint and motioned to Tom to come in and have another ale.
The gaffer by this time had run out of steam and stories and was yawning widely. He said good night to the group and waved at them as he went to his room. The group broke up into little groups of two’s and three’s and talked quietly among themselves. Tomorrow morning they would be on their way down the road toward Bree. Tonight they would be safe at the Green Dragon.
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