Nimue fairly wrapped herself around Maric as she greeted him with joy and then held out her hand to Faren.<br/><br/>“You are quite welcome here in Avalon, Sir Faren.” A frown crossed her face, “Is he a sir? Like you? Does he have a title?” she inquired as if Faren were not standing there. Before Maric could answer, her eyes lighted on the little mare tethered to a post in the yard<br/>.<br/>“Oh, this must be Susan!” she exclaimed in delight. “Maric told me much about your mare, describing her in great detail. You must be proud to have a horse all your own.” Nimue unpeeled herself from Maric to approach the horse with some of the carrots in her basket. Petting the white diamond on the broad forehead, Nimue looked into the creature’s intelligent brown eyes and smiled. When she turned back to Maric and his squire, the  young man was looking at Maric as if a talking ferret had just popped into his pocket.<br/><br/>Nimue flashed a brilliant smile his way and took Maric’s hand, pressing a kiss on his knuckles.<br/><br/>“Let me fix you two something hot to drink and some stew to fill your bellies.” She began, but stopped, noticing a figure alighting from Rupert’s ferry. The ferry dock was too far away to allow for overhearing conversations made there, but Nimue could hear voices raised and a stramash ensuing. Finally, the figure materialized into a horse and rider. Nimmie could see the battle standard fluttering in the wind as the horse galloped ever closer.<br/><br/>Maric shoved her behind him and had his hand on the hilt of his sword. Faren stepped up to beside him, doing the same. Nimue stood on tiptoe, looking over Maric’s shoulder. Suddenly, he relaxed his grip on the sword but stood at attention. Faren was looking from Maric to the rider and back with some concern and a small insolent smile. Nimue wasn’t sure what the joke was about, but she was sure that Maric wasn’t laughing.