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Posco and Blanco sat rather uneasily together in the quiet Common Room. Blanco was pacing restlessly back and forth, while Posco watched him miserably from their table. It was obvious that Blanco was waiting for something... watching for something, that is, for he kept pausing at the window and peering out.
And suddenly Blanco gave a start. He saw Posco look up at him sharply, and he put on a casual smile that was very unconvincing. "I don't know why we're hanging about here doing nothing," he said. "I do believe I'll go out and dance. There are plenty of lovely hobbit lassies out there, Posco." There was a slight hesitation before he spoke again. "Why don't you come along with me?"
Because Blanco didn't want him to. That was one reason, but Posco didn't consider it a good one. What exactly had Blanco seen out there? He stood up and made his way to the window, but Blanco make a quick leap for the door. "I'll be out there if you want to come," he said quickly, and scampered outdoors.
Posco, watching from the window, could see him working his way through the merry crowds towards a table in the shadows. He lost him to view then, but he had no doubt of why Blanco had so suddenly left. It was to dance with the lassies, for hadn't he just passed them all by? No doubt he'd seen Lily. The eager look in his face could not be mistaken, despite his attempts to hide it. Posco sat down heavily by the window. He didn't have the courage to go chasing after Blanco and stop him from speaking with Lily. So he simply felt miserable.
Blanco basked in the lights as he worked his way slowly towards the table where Lily sat, doing his best not to jostle anyone but pausing to excuse himself when he did. Once or twice he looked over his shoulder, and saw to his satisfaction that Posco was not following him. The poor fellow was so distracted thinking about Lily that he hadn't realised why Blanco had left. Ah well, all the better for him.
There was a slight break in the dancers, and he took advantage of it, twisting and turning until he stood in the shadows. Yet he felt that all the lights were still upon him, for he felt a warmth spread all over them. There was Lily, looking up at him with her sweet little face, just as lovely as she had been the first time he met her. Though, was he only imagining it, but was she rather pale? He wondered briefly whether it was on account of Posco, and some of the warmth left. But he resolutely shoved that thought aside and approached the table. He was here, not Posco. He'd been given the first chance.
Smiling, he took her hand and shook it heartily. "Lily, how wonderful to see you!" he said, sitting down at her gesture, and observing nervously as he did so that her smile to him was slightly strained. "You gave me quite a start, appearing in that window like some phantom of the past. And..." He paused a moment, wondering if it was wise to bring up her worries, when they could very well be about Posco. But if that was what she wanted, it would come sooner or later.
"And I rather got the impression you wanted to talk to me," he said.
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