[Maeggaladiel]

The tall human walked down the road, whistling brightly. The wolfy-looking dog at her feet trotted along beside her, his tail wagging hard enough to stir flurries of dust from the road into miniature tornadoes.

"Here we are," Eleniel said brightly, swinging her chesnut colored braid over her shoulder. "The Green Dragon. Good to be back, isn't it Arrow?" The dog, hearing his name, looked up and wagged his tail even harder.

"Haven't been here for at least a year," Eleniel continued conversationally. "There's always something interesting going on here. It's my favorite stop on our journey. And if you promise to behave yourself this time, I'll let you come in with me." She cast the dog a pointed stare. He avoided her gaze and pretended to study a cricket that hopped into his path. Arrow remembered this place. A certain experience that happened last year at the Green Dragon had taught him to stay out of roads, especially when carraiges were nearby.

Eleniel looked behind her. Her faithful horse, Armellon, plodded along in their footsteps. He was a good packhorse; he carried Eleniel's purchased goods and followed her without need of being guided. Eleniel made a clicking sound with her tongue and the horse raised his head, his ears perked.

"Ready for a rest, friend?" she asked. The horse plodded up to her and nudged her towards the stable. In other words, Yes, he was ready for a rest.

Eleniel led him into an empty stall and removed his saddlebags. They were brown leather printed with the emblem of a perched raven. It was the symbol for her Laketown-based shop, The Raven's Nest. She fished around inside for a moment and pulled out a small purse.

"C'mon, Arrow, let's get something to eat." The dog approved, and together they walked inside the inn.

The inn was about to serve second breakfast, a meal that was in her mind purely and distinctly hobbitish. Sometimes she wished that humans shared similar customs.

She looked around. The inn was full of people, as per usual. Just how she remembered it. She settled down with a mug of ale, Arrow at her feet with a saucer of water. Just how she remembered it.