[Nerindel]

Æoelhild now listened expectantly her chin in her hands and her elbows resting on the table a habit her father had despaired from teaching out of her, her gleaming eyes glanced around the table as she wondered excitedly who next would take up the tale, Gurdyn, the inn keeper or perhaps one of the twins but even as her eye caught the mischievous grin of the one named Garreth her name being spoken startling her out of her silent musings.

“What about you miz…” Falco was saying pausing as he realised he did not know the girls name. “Æoel” Bethberry helped him out and it was this that drew her attention. “Miz Æoel is it,” he smiled “Well would you like to take up our little anecdote?”

Surprised Æoelhild did not know what to say at first, she knew little of this Shire and did not wish through her lack of knowledge to inadvertently offend Falco or his homeland, but then remembering the feather she had an idea and she nodded acquiescently with a mirthful smile that lit her dark eyes.

“Well at the halflings sudden appearance," She began smiling at Falco "Gob looked at Twid and Twid at Gob," She went on suddenly turning to the person to her left then to her right. "neither knowing the significance of the feather the stout little fellow was casually making sure they both noticed" she went on drewing her audiance in. " ‘Perhaps he wants us to tell him how pretty it is Gob?’ Twid whispered out of the corner of his mouth. Nodding Gob then suddenly bowed deep startling the sherriff that he was force to step back a pace as not to be knocked over by the strange fellows over emphasized hand gestures.

“Good day to you sir my name be Gob and this young fellow here be my good friend Twiddle, he said gesturing to Twid who accordingly tipped his hat so it slipped further over his eyes coming to rest on his hooked nose. “That be a very fine feather there in your Hat, Gob grinned hopefully. But the Sheriff frowned starting to doubt his initial assessment of the pair and now wondering if these fellows where not just as mad as march hares and as if to confirm his new assessment Twid suddenly burst into song prancing about him.

At this Æoel suddenly bounced out of her seat laughing and skipped round the table singing…

Handy Dandy’s (at this line she winked at the others as her hands grazing both Garreth and Harreths Shoulders as she passed behind them, causing the others to laugh)
Came to town
A riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in their cap’s
And called them macaroni!

And at the last line she fained placing a feather in an imaginary hat upon Falco’s head.

With the mirth and laughed about her and the memories of her Grandfather singing her that same little ditty she momentarily forgot herself and still laughing she wrapped her arms playfully about Falco’s neck and gently kissed his cheek as she would her grandfather when they finished playing this same game.

Then coming back to herself she smiled awkwardly and moved back to her own seat. Sitting again she coughed gently trying to clear the sudden tightness in her throat, “perhaps someone who knows master Falco better than myself can capture his reaction to Twiddles strange display,better than I” She said in a quiet voice, her eyes lowered staring at the grooves in the table as her cheeks turned a deep pink against the pale of her skin. Feeling deeply foolish she hoped someone would save her further embarrassment and quickly take up the tale.