[elf-girl-63]

The young hobbit eagerly helped himself to the food but Aranel didn't mind at all. He had given her hobbit-sized portions which were a contradiction in terms. To a new traveller, it was amazing to watch. She had thought that she was eating a lot and very greedily, as her family would've happily pointed out but compared to this Ferdy... Well, she was simply glad they weren't there.

Aranel listened as he talked easily and confidently about his life. When he mentioned the wedding the few days before, his eyes lit up. Ferdy clearly remembering the enjoyment he'd had.

"Oh, well I'm sure you don't really wish to know. Afterall, you hardly know me."

"But you don't me either Miz Aranel. And besides, I long to hear of far off places. Someday I hope... I hope to travel," Ferdy blushed at the admittance of such a secret longing. The young lady simply nodded but behind her bright eyes, he saw something darker. As Pa always said "the eyes are the window to the soul".

"Well, if you insist," she put the spoon of soup down and stared into the fire, recalling the memories that she had tried to forget. "I was born in Minas Tirith, in Gondor, 23 years ago. The first half of my life was mixed. My family was wealthy, we enjoyed company with Denethor and his sons, but we (well I) knew that this life could soon disappear. I suppose we lived in fear, but my father ignored that aspect of our life and continued to have us believe that Sauron was legend, a distant fear, nothign to worry about. Then Gandalf came to the city.

I saw him arrive, in secret, and watch him being lead to the libraries of all our writings. When he had gone, I slipped down (for our family had great power and influence) and read what he had. Somehow I knew that the end was coming, whether for Middle-Earth or Sauron. Anyway, time passed. Sauron grew stronger, Osgiliath was taken and then came the end. Denethor died, King Elessar was crowned and we lived in peace once again. My family remained prosperous, in good humour with the royality but I was not satisfied.

I am the middle child of my family. The lost one as they say. I was expected to marry but I didn't wish to. As you, yourself have admitted, I wished to travel, to see the world. My fmaily often criticised me. I do not know why, but perhaps it was inevitable. My older brother is a strong fighter and very loyal, my younger sister a great beauty and sociable, pleasant, open. I preferred knowledge, to open my mind, but in my parents' views that isn't the right path for a young lady of respectable class.

Eventually, I was ignored. Left to myself. I became bored with the city, wonderful though it is. One day I told my parents I was leaving. Honestly, they weren't surprised... but neither supportive. They gave my some money, a horse and off I set. I have been travelling many months since that day. Stopping in villages to work and increase my funds. I have travelled over fields and mountians and met many folk along the way. And now, I have arrived here. But I feel i have said too much."

She looked up and saw understanding, not judgement. Blinking back several tears, Aranel continued eating.