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Thus far young Ćoelhild had satisfactorily gone unnoticed, her once much practiced quiet reserve to her credit . Her silent curiosity regarding the hafling and his heritage quite adequately distracted from by the arrival of others. Not once but twice did the company thus grow in numbers adding to the young ladies unspoken discomfort. At one time such company would not only please but be welcomed and her tongue would be hard pressed to be silenced. Nevertheless times had changed and lack of attention was now to her advantage, especially if any of the gathered company had contact or heard news of going’s on and events of the white city or it’s nobility.
As jovial pleasantries passed between the new comers and the present company Ćoelhild gave thought to her appearance, even with the notable paling of her skin (from much travel by night) and the loss of much weight over the long weeks since her departure she still felt she was recognisable as the Granddaughter of the late Master Halsten, sword master of Gondor, daughter of the late Captain Einar and Niece to Lord Regin, her fathers only brother, (A loathsome and rude, short fat balding man with an unhealthy appetite and thirst for wealth and power). Her dark eyes fell on the long dark tresses that tumbled freshly combed about her frail shoulders, she thought to cutting it as soon as she was able and wondered if it was at all possible to mask it’s distinctive raven colouring.
Coming out of her silent musings and lifting again the warm golden liquid to her pale lips. She then again become aware of the many voices around her. A tale was being requested of the one named Eodwine by her new friend, Searyn and once again a little bit of the old Ćoelhild awoke as a small glimmer of excitement and anticipation reached her dark hazel eyes. She listened intently as Eodwine began, smiling with shy amusement as first the stout hobbit fellow objected to the first choice of tale and then another man, twin to Garreth, Whom she had briefly glimpsed and been warned about earlier in the day, audibly displaying his own dismay at the second choice.
She lifted her tankard as Eodwine mused over which tale to deliver only to almost choke on it’s contents as the Storyteller announce to the surprise of all that he would tell them a tale of Gob And Twiddle, Two words that when put together was one which her grandfather had used oft to refer to the rantings and long winded speeches of tired officials and self obsessed bureaucrats. Taking a napkin she quickly recomposed herself thankful that her mishap had gone unnoticed, thanks largely to the friendly bantering taking place amongst the company.
Her gaze shifted to Searyn as the young woman suggested an amusing game that they might try after Eodwine’s tale, but Eodwine had other idea’s it seemed as he entreated his daughter to the idea of tying his tale to the young woman’s interesting game. A warmth of excitement ran through Ćoelhild as she envisioned the joviality of the idea, with the varying personalities gathered it should make for an interesting tale she mused, for the moment forgetting that that might included her own.
Helping herself to a chunk of the cheese before them, she listened with renewed interest as Eodwine then went on to describe the character of both gob and twiddle, before offering the tale to the table but like her the others where interested to learn more before daring to take the tale up, so after some encouragement from his daughter Eodwine continued.
Sharky? Ćoehild mused silently as the storyteller again reached for his mead, Who…. But even before she could think it out further the question was answered for her but the hobbit across from her, as the well weathered new comer, Brokhelm she thought she heard him named asked aloud the very question she herself harboured.
She had never before heard the name Sharky but of the traitor Saruman she had heard and she was shocked and dismayed to learn that his evils had touch the homes of the halflings that her people held in much esteem, she had not before heard this tale, infact not much of happenings after the destruction of the ring of power had been allowed to reach her ears. In accordance to her uncles wish that she slip out of the minds of others, by keeping her locked away.
“Excuse me master Falco, was it,” she whispered trying not much to disturb the continuance of the tale, “would it be too bold of me to ask, that after master Eodwine’s tale I could entreat you to speak more of this Sharky and his removal from your lands.”
“He was removed wasn’t he?” she added as an after thought, blushing slightly at her own ignorance.
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