[littlemanpoet]

When Eodwine approached the smithy he heard no smithying sounds coming from within. He opened the door and three heads turned to him: Harreld and Garreth, whom he had expected, and Falco Boffin, whom he had not - and whose presence explained, in part, the inactivity of the others.

"Greetings, Harreld and Garreth!" he said. "How are you both? Is Falco keeping you from your work?"

"No," said Garreth grinned broadly.

"Yes," said Harreld with a guilty grin.

"Well I never!" said Falco. "Eodwine, you have nerve! Do you really think the inactivity of these canny smiths must be all my fault?"

"Why of course! They are too hard working to cease for any other reason than to hear every last word you speak!" Eodwine had walked over to where Falco was sitting and clapped him on the back. Falco coughed.

"So what news is there?"

With that, the four regaled each other with all there was to be said and heard by each of them. As usual, Harreld spoke least and Falco most; but Garreth held his own. Good natured jibes flew in the midst of it all; the only thing missing was a pint over which to jab each other with the jibes. After a few minutes of this, they were interrupted for a few minutes by Thornden, about which business we must read elsewhere in due time. When Thornden took his leave, Eodwine coughed in his hand and then rubbed his aching cheek muscles to get the laughter out of them. He eyed each of them seriously.

"I do have somewhat about which to speak to Harreld. Should we go elsewhere?"

"Nay," said Harreld. "Anything you have to say to me can be heard by my brother and Falco here."

"Are you sure, seeing it has to do with a woman?"

"Oh ho!" said Falco, his interest piqued.

"Now then," said Garreth gruffly, his brow furrowing, "if it's about women, all the more need that I should stay and hear, for someone had better be here to speak the hard truth about 'em."

"What hard truths do you mean?" Eodwine asked.

"That they're all the same danger. Grabbers! Twisters! You can't trust 'em any farther than you can throw 'em."

Eodwine winced. "I hope you have not practiced the art of throwing women, Garreth?"

"What? No! I've throwed no women, though there's one I'd like to if I ever saw her again, the blackheart."

"Ah. You have had some experience lately?" asked Eodwine.

"That I have! Can't trust 'em. Why do you think I was so quick to come here? All I needed was an invitation once Edreda ruined my business and standing in Edoras! I could -" he lapsed into mutterings too hard to make out, apparently unwilling to describe aloud what degree of torture he was ready to inflict upon the woman.

"Well, Harreld," said Eodwine, "are you sure you want to talk here?"

"Aye, here is fine, and I would guess 'tis Ginna you would talk about, is that it?"

"No doubt another blackheart," Garreth grated.

"Now now!" cried Falco. "Let's give the thing a fair hearing before deciding the heart of anyone!"

"Good words, Falco," said Eodwine. "As a matter of fact, it is Ginna I came to talk about."