Chapter 2: New Friends
Just as the sun began to rise, the pair reached the Green Dragon Inn. "Stay here Moonbeam. I won't be gone too long." She tied the pony to a post in the stable and stepped toward the door.
A figure-just inches taller than she-bumped her against the wall as it exited the tavern. "Excuse me ma'am." The figure said, grabbing Astrid's hand to steady her. "I'm sorry. This dreadful snow made me slip into you. I'm Giles Brandybuck. Pleased 'ta meet 'ya." He smiled and bowed down.
"I'm Astrid Boffin from Stock."
"Well, Astrid, what brings you to Bywater?" Giles started to walk forward, and Astrid followed.
"Stock is really short of food, and my brother Gabriel has pneumonia. My Papa said he might not live the winter. I'm goin' to Rivendell to get some food and medicine for him. I had to come her first 'ta see if anyone else would help me." She dusted some snow from her apron.
Giles looked down and said, "Well, I could come. I'm quiet handy tools and cooking. I know another hobbit-Willy Cotton-who may also wanna come along with us. He's inside the Inn."
Astrid glanced up, and snow fell on her face, concealing blushing cheeks. "Well, go and get 'im. We could leave now and get in a few miles by sunset. 'Tis only dawn. The whole day is ahead 'o us."
Giles started to frown. "Oh. I was going to offer you a drink milady, for your troubles. On me." He kicked the snow around until he could see the cobblestones below. With a large gulp, he got down on one knee and kissed the top of her hand. "The Green Dragon has plenty of food for now. Please?"
Astrid's eyes widened, and she quickly glanced down the brightening road. She turned to face him again and replied, "Yes. Yes, I will."
Just as the sun began to rise, the pair reached the Green Dragon Inn. "Stay here Moonbeam. I won't be gone too long." She tied the pony to a post in the stable and stepped toward the door.
A figure-just inches taller than she-bumped her against the wall as it exited the tavern. "Excuse me ma'am." The figure said, grabbing Astrid's hand to steady her. "I'm sorry. This dreadful snow made me slip into you. I'm Giles Brandybuck. Pleased 'ta meet 'ya." He smiled and bowed down.
"I'm Astrid Boffin from Stock."
"Well, Astrid, what brings you to Bywater?" Giles started to walk forward, and Astrid followed.
"Stock is really short of food, and my brother Gabriel has pneumonia. My Papa said he might not live the winter. I'm goin' to Rivendell to get some food and medicine for him. I had to come her first 'ta see if anyone else would help me." She dusted some snow from her apron.
Giles looked down and said, "Well, I could come. I'm quiet handy tools and cooking. I know another hobbit-Willy Cotton-who may also wanna come along with us. He's inside the Inn."
Astrid glanced up, and snow fell on her face, concealing blushing cheeks. "Well, go and get 'im. We could leave now and get in a few miles by sunset. 'Tis only dawn. The whole day is ahead 'o us."
Giles started to frown. "Oh. I was going to offer you a drink milady, for your troubles. On me." He kicked the snow around until he could see the cobblestones below. With a large gulp, he got down on one knee and kissed the top of her hand. "The Green Dragon has plenty of food for now. Please?"
Astrid's eyes widened, and she quickly glanced down the brightening road. She turned to face him again and replied, "Yes. Yes, I will."