[Mithalwen]

After parting from Uien and Falowik, Mithalwen returned to the inn and overheard much of Snaveling's conversation with Marigold. They did not notice her, for the elf moved silently and she was out of their sight lines.

A wry smile passed over her face when she heard Snaveling say that elves were a folk who live in dreams more than they do in the waking world - if anyone lived in a dream, she thought it was Snaveling who let the guilt of his ancestors become a burden that seemed to cripple him, preventing him from doing something constructive with his life. She had wondered if she had done right to clear his slate at the inn, since he seemed to have profited little from previous chances, but she accounted her gesture repaid when she heard his kindness to the orphaned hobbit girl.

The latter she recognised as the child whose cake had caused so much damage to Snaveling's tunic the day before and she wondered at the reconciliation. Strange were the twists of fortune, she mused. She noticed something glisten at the child's throat and a cry rose in her throat that she barely managed to stifle. It was the single pearl necklace that she had given the bride yesterday. She could not mistake her own workmanship. Had it been lost and found in the kerfuffle that had surrounded it's giving? She resisted immediate instinct to question the girl ... it was no longer hers to claim and perhaps the pearl would be of more use to it's current wearer.

Another thought rose in her mind and much as she wished to she could not dismiss it. The necklace was humble as elven jewellery goes but it would raise a useful sum for a penniless man. She recalled Snaveling's confession of the previous day ... he had done wrong in his time she knew but surely he would not stoop to robbing a child who had no family to defend her interests? It was time to declare her presence she decided and started to move closer .. singing softly under her breath as if she had just wandered in.

"Good morning Tar Corondir, ... good morning my lady " she said making a swift curtsy. I trust you are well rested?"