Savina groaned as the figure smacked her hard across the face. Her drink dropped from her hand and clattered to the floor, sending Mootsi in all directions.
She stumbled back, slipping in her spilled drink and knocking into Tasselhoff, who was howling loudly. Savina drew her sword and turned to face her attacker, the human man with the blue cloak.
He smirked at her, looking amused that she thought she could use a sword. Then he swayed on his feet and belched…he was drunk. He swayed again and pointed at Tas, who was cowering, "that little thief took my…" he seemed to forget for a moment what he was talking about, then he finished, "my dagger!"
Tas glared at him angrily, "I'm not a thief, I'm a Kender!"
The man in the blue cloak shrugged, "same thing, you slimy little bastard, give me back my dagger."
Suddenly, the anger left Tas' face, he coolly reached into his pack and pulled the dagger out, "you want it?" He unsheathed it and threw it, with deadly precision, straight into the man's stomach.
As the dagger plunged into his stomach, he doubled over and screamed in pain.
At the same moment, Aragorn and Tika came running around the corner. Aragorn had his sword in his hand and Tika was carrying an empty tray.
Savina gaped at the man in blue, then looked at Tas, who was once again looking like a mischievous, innocent child, "Tas," she choked, "you killed that man."
Tas sneered, "I did not!" He pointed to the man, "he's wearing chain mail, all the dagger did was knock the wind out of him, he'll have a hell of a bruise, but not a single drop of blood." The childlike smile returned to his face, "hello, Tika."
Tika smiled weakly and helped the man in the blue cloak, who was considerably more sober, to his feet. She pointed to the door, and the man nodded and left, leaving his dagger on the floor. Tika shook her head and disappeared around the corner.
Tas slid up to Aragorn, chattering excitedly, "wow, you're a ranger aren't you? My name is Tasselhoff Burrfoot, from Kendermore. You can call me Tas, Savina does. You remind me of my friend, Caramon, he's a warrior. His twin brother is Raistlin Majere, do you know him? He's a black robe mage. Do you know him? That's a neat sword, can I hold it?"
Aragorn put his hand on the Kender's forehead and held him at arm's length, "I don't want to drop anything, Master Burrfoot, I'm sure you know what I mean."
Tas coughed and stepped back, then brightened, "did you see that man smack Savina, it was horrible!" Despite it being so horrible, he looked absolutely delighted.
Aragorn frowned and turned Savina's cheek toward the light, "are you ok?"
She rubbed her cheek, "yeah, it didn't hurt that much."
Legolas came around the corner, looking concerned; he took one look at the red hand mark on Savina's face and stopped, "who did this?"
Tas bounced up to him, "another elf!"
Legolas frowned at the Kender, "you're a Kender, aren't you?"
From the look on his face, you'd have thought he'd just received the nicest compliment on the planet, "yes, my name is Tasselhoff-"
"Are you ok?" Legolas pushed past the Kender and examined Savina's cheek.
"I'm fine," she rubbed her cheek again, and realizing she was still holding her sword, she slipped it back into it's sheath.
Tika returned with a rag and put it over the spilled Mootsi, "would you like another?"
Savina hesitated, "I'm really sorry about the mess, I'll clean it up."
"Don't worry about it," Tika said, waving her hand.
Suddenly a movement behind Legolas caught her eye, "Tasselhoff," she called warningly.
Tas looked at her from under Legolas' elbow, "yeah?"
Legolas moved away, looking annoyed.
"What did he drop?" Savina asked.
Tas produced five arrows, a ring, and a dagger from various pockets, packs, and up his sleeves, "just thought I'd pick those up for you," he said to Legolas as he handed them back.
Legolas took them with a wry smile, "thank you."
Tika crossed her arms and looked at them, "would you like rooms for the night?"
Savina and Legolas looked at Aragorn, who kept his gaze on Tika.
Gimli clomped around the corner, "we better be getting rooms for the night."
Aragorn shrugged, "I guess so."
Tika showed them to their rooms, Savina and Aragorn each had a small room of their own and Legolas and Gimli shared a room.
Savina stood in the hall and watched her companions disappearing into their rooms; she opened the door of her own room and went in, sighing and closing the door behind her. She sat down on the bed and looked around, it seemed like so long ago that she had slept in a bed, even though it had only been two days.
She took off her boots and sat back against the pillow.
There was knocking at the door and she heard Tika's voice, "I brought food for you."
Savina opened the door and studied the red head thoughtfully, "thank you so much for everything, Tika, I will remember your kindness."
Tika blushed and shoved the tray into her hands, "you're more than welcome, my room is at the end of the hall if you need anything."
Smiling, Savina closed the door and set the tray down. The tray contained a bowl of steaming stew, a cup of blackberries, a basket with strawberries, a half-loaf of bread, and another Mootsi.
Savina was about to pick up a piece of bread when she heard a sound at her door, then soft knocking.
Thinking it was Tika again, she opened the door.
Legolas stood in the hallway, looking annoyed, but he smiled when he saw her, "can I come in?"
"Uh sure," she stood back to let him in.
He took a seat at the foot of her bed and looked at her.
Savina crossed her arms and leaned against the door, staring back at him.
Silence.
"How is your shoulder-"
"Is your cheek ok-"
They had begun to speak at the same time.
Both of them stopped and looked away, awkward.
Savina spoke again, "is your shoulder mending?"
Legolas moved his arm experimentally, "yes, it's fine. Just aches a little."
"Oh…"
He nodded, "yeah…"
She laughed and sat down on the foot of the bed next to him, "well, isn't this awkward?"
Legolas laughed, "a bit."
Nothing Savina had ever experienced could have prepared her for what happened next.