[Arry]

‘Don’t yawn so loudly,’ came the voice at Derufin’s elbow. Andwise pulled out a chair and sat down carefully in it. Derufin grinned at him and spoke softly. ‘Looks like the Dragon got hold of you, Andwise. You going to be able to do the finishing on the cottage today?’ The Hobbit nodded his head gently, wincing a bit as the headache flared for a moment. Motioning one of the servers over, he got himself a cup and poured it full of hot, strong tea. Two spoonsful of honey later and a few sips and he was ready to face the day . . . more or less . . .

‘You don’t look so good yourself,’ Andwise returned, filling the man’s cup. He sat back in his chair, fingers clasped around his cup for warmth, letting the fragrant steam clear his head. ‘But no matter how we feel, we’ve got to finish up today,’ he said, Derufin nodded his head and tucked into his meal. The man waved his fork at his tablemate, saying how Zimzi had reminded him quite firmly of the same thing, just last night.

Andwise laughed; then, sat his cup on the table and rubbed at his temples. ‘Best you get used to that, Derufin. The lasses can plant their fetching feet as solidly as any peevish pony and hold the line when they want something done.’ He raised his cup in salute to the man. ‘Oh, aye, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

Derufin raised his own cup and drained it down. Grabbing up several slices of toast from the basket on the table, the man tucked them into one of the pockets in his vest, motioning for the Hobbit to follow him out the door. Once outside, Andwise ambled alongside him, lighting his pipe as they walked along.