<b>As Pegawen cooked, she listened to Lotharn fill in the blanks of what happened to the fellowship, especially to the four hobbits that had taken part in the war. It brought a smile to her face, both his telling of it and the sound of his voice. The hobbits leaned forward, also hanging off of his every word. She took a moment to glance over at Timberlane, gauging the wizard's reaction to their combined accounting and noted the new consideration in his eyes for their unexpected traveling companions. Flagdon seemed to have accepted them easier, though she imagined that being not particularly tall himself, the dwarf had an easier time seeing where the hobbits fit into things. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>It was more than just courage, or bravery,” she added as Lotharn paused speaking. Five pairs of eyes turned on her, baffled. “Men are oft brave, dwarves and elves are courageous. The hobbits, though, showed a rare loyalty and innocence I've not seen in even the strongest of warriors. That Samwise stuck by his friend Frodo to the end is testament to the their spirit.” Satisfied that the pot needed no further tending, she set the spoon aside and joined Lotharn. “I think every race learned something from those hobbits, and we were all the better for having known them.”</b><br/><br/><br/><b>Allassiel's hair shone like silk by the time Thorgan was done brushing it, and when he finally set the brush down she was smiling. “There is not so much to know about hobbits. Gandalf once said <i>'you can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you.'</i></b><br/><br/><b>She paused, then nodded, motioning him to sit so she could begin braiding her hair back. “I think this is good words to describe the hobbits. They taught us much in their short times with them. Even the most elder of us did not go untouched by their actions.” She paused, running her hand along her hair. “I thank you. It's been longer than I remember that someone has done this for me.”</b>