[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Watching with approval, Aylwen saw Aedre cheerfully greet and seat the little Hobbit. Aylwen was indeed lucky to have such a careful, polite hand to help around the Horse. Aylwen had gone back to her ledger and account books when a young man walked in to the Inn and then up to her desk. He asked Aylwen if she'd heard tell of a contest to determine the King's Bard. They conversed about this for a few minutes, until the man had revealed his intentions of attending and competing. Having an interest in music and song herself, Aylwen countered the man's answer with a question to his ability to sing...

So Hearpwine sang.

Aylwen listened to Hearpwine's song with a broad smile lighting her face. Seeing such young men and sometimes the occasional young lady come to Edoras to chase dreams always stuck a chord with Aylwen for some reason. Aylwen remembered her mother the bard, gone with the War of the Ring. She'd taught Aylwen all she knew, and Aylwen still had the set of panpipes her mother had given to Aylwen on a birthday. The contest had been announced months before, and the date to be set during all the other March festivities. Yes, Aylwen was impressed and hopeful for the young lad.

“My name is Hearpwine, and I come to Edoras to claim my place as Bard to the King! Might I ask your name, so that I can include you in the song that I shall write someday in celebration of my arrival in Edoras?”

At this comment Aylwen laughed cheerfully, closing her ledger books and stacking papers neatly before looking up again at Hearpwine. "Some just call me the Innkeeper, but my name is Aylwen. With such a voice, bold Hearpwine, I am sure that your place does indeed lie next to the King. In any case, I had heard about the contest, and I know it is to be held tomorrow at the Golden Hall. I wish you luck, dear Hearpwine, and perhaps I have been convinced to steal away from the Horse for a short time tomorrow and watch you compete for your place!"