[littlemanpoet]

Uien and Falowik had gone to the hills for the night, as was their way. He got his human sleep under a warm cloak, beneath the stars, while Uien walked slowly nearby, or stood staring at her beloved stars, or sat against an old wizened tree, dreaming with eyes wide open.

As usual, Falowik wondered if the moments when he slept were not the loneliest of Uien's life; but she had said him nay before once when he had asked, for it was when she lived within her memories, and communed with her loved ones and others who had left the shores of Middle Earth forever. Though she gainsaid him, reliving such memories seemed more lonely to him than anything else, let alone human sleep!

They woke with the sun and walked hand in hand back into Bywater. The Green Dragon Inn was much less busy. Such a difference one day made! Dark clouds rode the brisk wind out of the west. It would soon storm. They hurried into town and made their way to the Inn and through its welcoming front door. Sweet smells of a hobbitish breakfast wafted on the air in the Common Room. Falowik's mouth spread wide in a grin and he licked his lips.

"Do we still have some of that King's coin?" he asked.

"Aye, that we do." She looked in the purse at her hip. "Enough to last a fortnight."

"Good. We must pay for our horse's room and board as well as our own."

"I wish to speak with an Elven lady I saw here yesterday. I hope she has not left." Uien quieted and raised her head, sensing as only Elves can. Falowik waited. "No. I do not sense her. Maybe she is no longer here."

"Come let's sit down and be served. Take a little food, Fair One, and maybe later she will appear."

Uien nodded. "I would speak to her of a settling down place."

"I know. In good time."