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Strangely enough Posco felt slightly comforted when Iadarion approached their table. Perhaps it was because he had already made the faint acquaintance of the strange man, or perhaps it was because Iadarion was so frightening he was almost not so. It did not matter, for Posco did feel comforted and he could not deny it. A small smile came to his face, and a few words to speak to Mira came to his head, though he dared not speak them, or at least not to her. He did not know who she was at all. He wanted to look to Lily for encouragement but he knew her eyes were on him and he could not meet those eyes... not now.
Marcho raised an eyebrow slightly as Marin finished his story. Surely this amiable man could not be the childhood friend of Twylight, who loathed him (that is, Marcho)? It was too absurd to be true, but apparently it was true. He realized it was his own fault that Twylight hated him; he had been terribly impolite to all members of their company, but still he regretted it. He regretted it more because it had been his fault. Pride kept him from flashing a truly friendly smile in Twylight's direction to show he was not the monster she thought, and so he merely smiled at Marin and continued to scowl at everyone else. "What is it like in Rohan?" he questioned Marin. "Are they all Big Folk there? No Hobbits?"
"Not one that I've seen, except in the days of the War," replied Marin. Marcho immediately felt suspicious of the land of Rohan. If it had no Hobbits it must be a truly terrible place. But of course he had known of the lack already; he merely couldn't believe anyone could live in a place without Hobbits without being sooner or later wholly abolished by the lack of them.
Supper was being served then, and Blanco had turned away from the table of Falco Boffin to sit once again with his friends and twin brother. The way Ruby had made such eyes at Falco had thoroughly aggravated him; it reminded him of a sweet lass by the name of Marigold Hilldweller who lived just down the road from him and he felt a sudden desire to go back to Buckland and see her again. And he had to wait two more days... at least he remembered her fair golden-brown hair and eyes near the same color, her rosy cheeks, her red, full lips, and her gentle little hands. But he wanted to see her again. How odd that just because Ruby was making eyes at Falco he should remember that little flower back home. He had taken a notion into his head awhile ago to marry her, and now he took one into his head to actually ask her as soon as he was home.
Posco was farther away from the company than he had been before, sitting with Iadarion and two others. Blanco came a little closer, angling himself a bit so he could see the faces of the strange two. How ridiculous it was that Posco avoided meeting their eyes so. There, he could see them now, and... Blanco stopped and suddenly felt himself reeling. The hobbit lass sitting across from Posco, the one he seemed so determined not to look at... Blanco stared it stupefied awe and then stumbled over to Bingo. "Bingo, Bingo," he said in an urgent whisper. "Who is that lass over there?" He gestured towards her.
Bingo followed his hand and then, with his smile, said promptly, "Her name is Lily, Blanco."
"Lily..." said Blanco, and he stared at her more. She was the most beautiful Hobbit girl he had ever seen. Why, why didn't Posco look at her? How could he keep from it? She was so beautiful. Marigold Hilldweller flitted out of his mind and heart like a passing dream and this lass, this Lily, filled him as he gazed at her. He suddenly realized he would give anything if she would just speak to him once, nay, even if she would only give him a brief glance. But she was not looking at him. She was looking at Posco. Why was she looking at Posco? Why didn't Posco look back?
Posco was looking at him and gesturing for him to come. He wanted assistance in dealing with all his companions for his shyness was overcoming it, but Blanco forgot to be annoyed at it. Posco was giving him the opportunity to come and sit there and perhaps even meet this Lily. He walked as though he were in a dream and stood before them. Now she was looking at him as Posco introduced him to the others in a burst of desperate boldness. Now she was smiling at him as he swept a low bow without taking his eyes off her, saying, "Miss Lily, I am more than honored to meet you."
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