[Dunwen]

"Excuse me, m’am . . . I’d like to introduce you, but I guess I forgot to ask your name."

Ginger had to repeat her request. Ebba shook herself out of her shock and finally answered the hobbit. "I'm Widow Rosebank. From Bree," she said faintly, looking at Wren all the while. Ginger wondered what was wrong with the lady. She looked like she'd seen a wraith.

Ignoring Ginger, Ebba spoke to Wren, who was herself very uncomfortable under the widow's scrutiny. In a gentle voice at odds with her normal brisk manner, she asked the girl, "Your name is Wren Woodlock ? And you have a brother?" At the child's frightened nod, Ebba said, "Bless me, dearie, but we thought you two were dead or carried off by wolves or some such thing. I didn't know your Ma and Da well at all, but I've done business with your landlord nearly fifteen years. Right worried he was when he couldn't find you after your folks died."

Tears filled the girl's eyes as she realized this rather alarming woman was from Bree and knew who she and Tim were. "Please don't take us away from here, ma'am," she begged. "We like it here."

"Why, who said any such thing," exclaimed the Widow, regaining some of her usual spirit. "It will be a load off your landlord's mind to know you're both safe and well, but you look like you're doing just fine right here." She looked at the tearful little girl, and added quietly, "You and your brother are welcome to come to me for a chat any time." Looking at the hobbit, she said, "And so are you, Miss Ginger."

Still shaking her head in amazement, she left the two of them alone in the hall and made her way downstairs. She still wanted to speak to Miz Bunce, but she'd give a great deal to know how those two youngsters had ended up at the Green Dragon.