The Golden Perch Inn

[Dunwen]

In the Golden Perch’s yard, Peri waited for several minutes, but no one appeared to take her pony. She thought she heard voices coming from somewhere, as if people were shouting somewhere outside the building. They were too faint for her to hear what was being said. It struck her as rather odd.

Absent-mindedly stroking the pony’s neck, she considered her choices. Although she was quite capable of caring for Brightheart herself, she wasn’t sure if she should do so here. She knew her Dad wouldn’t care for a stranger in his barn without permission. Still, she’d pushed Brightheart hard today and didn’t want him to stand indefinitely. She noticed a small pony-cart with two hobbits pull into the yard. They would need to find stabling for their animal, too.

Looking about once more, she saw the main door into the Golden Perch. Peri decided that Brightheart shouldn’t have to stand any longer. She tied the patient animal to a sturdy bush by one of the walls and entered the common room hoping to find someone who could help her. Looking about, she was amazed to find several people who were clearly not hobbits sitting at the tables. She even thought some might be elves.

Her heart leaped with excitement at the prospect of actually meeting someone of another race, but she remembered her poor pony and found a friendly hostler to take care of Brightheart. She also told him about the other pony pulling the newcomers’ cart so that he could see to that one as well.