[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Brokhelm was pleased by Eodwine’s genteel manner, but couldn’t help wondering that type of man he was, hemmed in by ladies on all sides, and some of those quite young and fragile. Only a strange little fellow, perhaps a hobbit, shared the boards as well, chewing on the end of his pipe as he peered at them. It was plain that neither was the innkeeper, but just as he was walking up to introduce Linnéa and himself, with a mind to enquire into the owner’s whereabouts, the door burst open.

A bracing draft as well as a booming voice caused Brokhelm to stop, and turning his head toward the door he saw two burly men, one of whom, to his dismay, had his eyes resting on Linnéa, boldly declaring her a new eligible maiden. Brokhelm shot a meaningful look at his sister, and his eyes flashed upward again in time to see the other new comer shake his head as he distanced himself quickly from this Garreth’s brazen antics, as if he had some disease.

A laugh came from the table, and the hobbit made comment, handing the other man, Harreld, very little in the way of consolation. But Eodwine seemed as unruffled as the others by Garreth’s arrival, and so when he suggested another table to be placed beside the one now over-full, Brokhelm pushed the stay flaxen hair out of his face and joined Harreld and Garreth, introducing himself as he helped them carry both table and seats, keeping a close watch on them.

“We come to Edoras to attend to business. We won’t tarry here long,” he explained looking at directly at Garreth, hoping to quickly quench such a man’s interest in his sister. But finding out the two brothers were smithies and gainfully employed in honest work, he relaxed a notch, asking if they knew of anyone needing horses, for they were looking to sell off sound breeding stock here in town.

Harreld set down the last of the seats, and righted himself, thinking a moment, before suggesting a man with whom they might start. “He has proved fair enough to us in his dealings, and I see no reason why he should not treat you as well, though this is not the hour to find him.”

“In the morning then,” Brokhelm replied seating himself at Linnea’s side. His sister had wisely taken her place next to an attractive young woman with auburn locks, who appeared to be recuperating from some misfortune, and was, at the moment, quite prettily requesting a tale of Eodwine. Linnéa’s back was to her brother, and as he sat down she turned and smiled to see him beside her. He smiled back, before returning his attention to the two brothers. “If all goes well tomorrow, I will be indebted to you, but for now my friends, shall we settle for a draught of ale and a bite to eat, if they are still to be had?”