[Nurumaiel]

A little shiver passed through Mae as Osric spoke of the black serpent and she shook her head. "I would hear no more, Master Osric," she said. "Not now. I am not a man, nor as brave a woman as the Lady of Rohan was to slay the fell creature. If men trembled in fear at the sight of it, I tremble in fear at the thought. Speak no more for the moment, not of that." She paused a moment before continuing. "And yet the rest of your story was most interesting, though it would be a lie to say pleasant. You, it seems, Master Osric, would know more than any of us that war is not a pleasant thing." Turning to her uncle, a little smile came to her face and she said, "Uncle, would you sing a song for us? I would not pester Hearpwine further; he must sing well to be Bard of the King on the morrow. Yet you...?"

"Nay, little Mae, not at the moment," Liornung laughed. "It is true I will not sing for the King tomorrow, but even so I cannot sing when my voice is weary. Give me a moment to rest, and I will continue. However..." He picked up his fiddle and looked at her with twinkling eyes. "However, I will play a tune for you so you might dance again. My voice may weary but I will never find weariness while playing my fiddle until trees grow with their heads in the ground. So, my girl, find yourself one to dance with and we can begin. And of course all others in the Inn might dance to their heart's content, Dwarf and Man alike." He flashed a smile about the room before returning his gaze to Maercwen. "Mae, you haven't found a partner yet. I am disappointed in you. What makes you hesitate?"

"Well, uncle, I had always thought it more proper that the lad ask the lassie, not the lassie the lad. And so I will dance with whoever might ask, but I shall not ask myself."

"Yes, I believe those are true words you speak," Liornung said. "Well, I will begin to play and you may begin to dance whenever some man deems it convenient." And, taking up his fiddle, he began to play a most cheery tune, though it was not over-fast. No one moved at first, perhaps because they were shy, but Liornung drew his countence into a most awful expression and cried, "I shall scowl and leer at all of you, and especially you men who should be asking fair lassies right now, until I have at least one pair of dancers. Would you insult my music thus? It will not be the first time, I admit, but I am accustomed to people dancing to my music." There were some stirrings among the guests though it could not be said for certain whether they were moving to dance or not. Liornung chuckled softly and continued his tune.