[Nurumaiel]

Donnamira had sat silently so far, much to Marcho's relief. At that table they had sat since the morning, waiting for the arrival of Blanco, his sister Peony, and Bingo. Luncheon was beginning now, and Don was beginning to hint that she was hungry again. Marcho fetched her a meal, and obtained a plate for himself as well when he realized with some surprise that he hadn't eaten breakfast, for he had been anxious to see his friends come.

'Hey dol!' a merry voice cried from the door, and Marcho breathed a sigh of relief that Posco was not there to be humiliated by his twin's boldness. 'Good day, good day, and goodbye,' Blanco said, his voice cheery as he tripped across the room to Marcho. 'I smell something marvellous; I wonder if I'd be allowed to have a bit? Hello, little Donnamira,' he added, patting the girl's curls. Then he turned his head and called across the room, 'Peony, dearie, honour us by sitting at our table, would you?'

'Of course I will, Blanco, but I do wish you would be a bit quieter,' said the young hobbit lass. Her features were very similiar to Blanco's, and she had his manner of staying clean and tidy, but the blush that spread over her face was much like Posco. 'Hello, Marcho,' she said, smiling at that one. 'It is good to see you again, though it hasn't been very long.'

'In fact,' he said in a gruff tone, 'it has been so short a time you needn't bother with even a simple hello.' She smiled again, for she was used to his manners.

Bingo crossed the room next with shining eyes, sitting next to Peony with the delight of a little boy. 'She arrived very soon after you left,' he said to Marcho, 'and I cannot express our delight in seeing her.' He turned his eyes and smiled at Don, and she smiled back with satisfaction before directing her attentions once again to her meal. Peony gazed at her in a bewildered manner and Blanco hastily made introductions. All doubts about the hobbit girl, if there had been any in the first place, were quickly dissolved in Peony's mind with the little thing stretched up and kissed her cheek in greeting.

Blanco looked approvingly at this, for he thought it only fitting that everyone should love his sister, and then he spoke to Marcho in a voice that struggled to be casual. 'Have you any idea as to when Posco and Lily will be back?' he questioned.

Marcho glanced up sharply and said, 'Who gave you permission to call her by her first name?'

'I think she did,' Blanco replied coolly, 'but even if she did not it would not matter for I cannot remember her surname.'

'Well, I don't know when they'll be back,' said Marcho, and the subject was temporarily closed.