<b>She leaned against Lotharn, listening to his heartbeat. Strong, steady, like the hir himself. And, despite the confusion she felt, she started to relax. The news still swirled in her mind, each thought begetting another and another, until she wasn't sure where any ended or began. Where should she start? His silence hung over the room; not heavy, but warm and patient. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>As long as I can remember, I've been drawn to the forest,” she began, her voice a bare whisper in the room. “My par .. my parents would let me go, but always cautioned me to return. I thought it odd, that they would say that. The vineyards were home, why would I not come back?” <br/>
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She paused and shifted, tucking her legs beneath her. “I'd go out, sometimes for days at a time. It was peaceful, calming. It was also a good place to practice the lessons of my tutor without the humiliation.” She let out a mirthless laugh before continuing. “I used to sit in the glade and study the plants, learning what each of them could do – when I wasn't burning them with some spell that went wrong. Often I'd look up from what I was doing to find something watching me. Squirrels, birds, deer … it didn't matter where I was, or what I was doing. At times, I could have sworn they were laughing at me. Now I think perhaps they were ...”</b><br/><br/><b>Again, she fell silent as she struggled to find the words to express how she felt. <br/>
</b><br/><br/><b>As Thorgan explained the tapestry, Allassiel's gaze moved over the woven fabric, taking in the scene before her. She almost felt as if she could step into the picture, hear the the calls of merchants hawking their wares, smell the sea breeze in the air. “It's magnificent, real or not. It makes me wonder who lived there, what they were like. The tales say they refused to send their warriors?” She pursed her lips, leaning in to study a corner of the tapestry. “Was it that they simply refused, or perhaps they simply did not have the warriors to send. I see little signs here of any troops or warriors at all. No regiments in the streets, no housing for such. I think the tale does not tell the whole story.”</b><br/><br/><b>Nodding, she straightened up and moved past him and the large bed in the center of the room to glance out the window. “Not all things are as we first think them. Sometimes there are reasons that no one knows. It's late, we should get some rest.” She headed back to the bed as she spoke. “The bed is large, there's enough room for both of us … if you don't mind sharing.”</b><br/><br/><br/><b>Giggles came from beyond the door and the servant carrying the tray of food stopped to listen, as smile on her face, before pushing it open. The sight that greeted hr almost made her drop her load and it was all she could do not to burst out into laughter herself. <br/>
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In the center of one of the beds stood Pippen, the sheet wrapped around him like a cloak. Upon his head was a wreath of twigs, some decoration from off the wall, and in his hand was his small sword. In front of him, Merry knelt, similarly adorned. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>I now pronounce you ...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>No, no, no. That's not how it's supposed to be said.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>How would you know how it's said? Never seen someone get knighted.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Neither have you. But I'm sure I read it somewhere. Give me a minute to think and … is that food?”</b><br/><br/><b>Two pairs of eyes were suddenly trained on the servant at the announcement. “It is,” she replied, biting the inside of her mouth to maintain her composure. “Mushroom stew, bread and cheese, and seasoned cider. The wizard said you'd likely wish something to eat before sleep.” She set the tray down on a small table near the window. “And, if I might?”</b><br/><br/><b>Pippen glanced up from the meal and nodded. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Might what?” Merry added, around a mouthful of bread.</b><br/><br/>“<b>I believe the term you were looking for was 'I dub thee ...'” Despite her attempts, a grin crept onto her face.</b>“<b>Have you seen someone get knighted?” The hobbits leaned in, their eyes bright with excitement, their food momentarily forgotten.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Well, no. But my da did, when I was a little girl. He got to see the king knight a man for his bravery.” <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Story!”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Yes,” Merry added. “You must tell us a story now!”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Well, I should really get back to my duties,” she started, but seeing the pleading expressions on their faces, she lowered herself into a chair. “Oh, alright. But just a quick one.”</b><br/><br/><b>One story led to another and, by the time she'd left again, the two hobbits were fast asleep in their beds, dinner long since finished. She gathered up their bowls and slipped out of the room as quietly as she could. “Marvelous creatures they are,” she muttered, heading back to the kitchens for what would surely be a round scolding by the head cook.</b>