A/N: Yay! Chapter Ten is DONE! Chapter eleven's written out, but it's a real big 'un- it'll be incredibly irritating to type…and I'm laaaaaaazy…

Disclaimer: Deowyn, Thalia, Anneth, and Kharaj are mine. Anything you recognize is Tolkien's.

Chapter Ten: Flirtation at the Fair

As Deowyn and I stood by the side of the fair, eyeing the thronging crowds with some trepidation, an outlandishly dressed man wearing a lute strung over one shoulder walked up to us, grinning. He had brown hair and a nice smile, and he appeared to be enjoying himself.

"Would you two ladies like for me to sing you a song?" He asked, bowing low.

"Certainly, sir," Deowyn replied, her face lighting.

"I could never refuse the wish of such a beautiful lady," he answered, straightening and giving us a grin.

"Surely you speak of my companion, for none could call *me* beautiful," Deowyn remarked, somewhat coquettishly. I suppressed a grin- getting out of the house was, apparently, a good thing for my friend!

"Ah, milady, I fear that you are sorely mistaken," he told her with a wink. Without further ado, he launched into a ballad of a beautiful yellow-haired maiden who stole the hearts of all the men she came across. I couldn't help but notice that he didn't take his eyes off Deowyn for most of the time he was singing.

It was a very funny song, and cheered me up immensely. When he was done, we clapped rapturously, and Deowyn began digging in her basket for some money to pay him with. The minstrel waved a hand for her to stop.

"Nay, I would not charge for this: 'twas my pleasure. I ask only that you look for Anneth the minstrel, if ever you see this fair again."

"Anneth…" she repeated. "If ever you are in Edoras, look for Deowyn Guthwinesdottir."

He smiled. "I will."

"You travel with the fair?" Deowyn asked, shifting her basket from her left arm to her right.

"Aye, that I do. 'Tis a hard life, but pays well, and I've naught else to look to for a trade," he answered.

"So you have traveled through many lands?" she eagerly questioned.

"Yes…Harad, and Gondor…"

At that point, I began to feel like the proverbial third wheel. Deowyn and Anneth obviously wanted to talk alone, and interesting as the conversation was, I didn't want to intrude on their privacy.

"Deowyn?" I asked her softly. "I'm going to go look at the fair."

She smiled absentmindedly at me. "There are coins in your basket if you wish to buy anything."

I wandered off, good mood restored, absorbed in the sights and sounds of the bustling fair. Tiny Rohirric children clung to their mothers, staring wide-eyed at the jugglers, minstrels, merchants and sword swallowers. At least I did not stand out so much here…

"Ivory! I-vor-y! Mu-maak ivory!" Called a merchant, piquing my curiosity. I walked over to a scarlet-and-gold tent, where the voice was coming from. Inside, a large table stood, covered in the merchant's goods. Behind the table sat a dark-skinned man, giving a piping call to advertise his products. At the sight of me, he nodded courteously.

I gasped slightly- every inch of the table was covered in beautiful, exotic-looking merchandise. Ivory boxes, carved with incredibly precision and skill; jeweled scimitars; figurines carved of jade and tiger's eye- it looked as though all of Harad had come to one small village in Rohan.

I caught sight of a beautiful crimson scarf lying among the merchandise and fingered the soft fabric for a moment, marveling at its beauty. A tiny jade elephant fell out of it, and I picked it up.

"This is amazing," I breathed, fingering the elephant- or oliphaunt, as this was Middle-earth.

"You like it?" The trader asked, smiling. He had dark brown skin, and chocolate-covered eyes that had a tint of gold to them. "It is Rhanuj, the mumak god. He brings luck to all that carry his figurines."

I smiled a bit. "I suppose I am a lucky person already."

The trader squinted at me. "You are not from Rohan," he observed. "You have the hair and skin of the women of my people."

I eyed the long, dark, curly hair that hung over my shoulders ruefully, and grinned. "I am, indeed, *not* from Rohan," I confirmed, restating the obvious. "Neither am I from Harad. I…I am not sure from whence I come." My face fell. "It gets lonely sometimes."
The trader nodded. "Harad is far from here. I know what it is to ache for your home, and your people."

I looked up. "What is your name?"

"I am Kharaj, son of Nahir. And you?"

"Thalia…Thalia Weaver."

Kharaj raised his eyebrows. "I have traveled far, with this caravan and others, but never have I heard such a name," he said. "Your home must be distant indeed."

I nodded, feeling a tear prick the back of my eye. "Yes, it is."

He caught my gaze, smiling sadly. At that moment, the tent flap opened. A tall Rohirric man walked in, browsing through the merchandise.

I smiled at Kharaj, recognizing his need to attend to his customer. "Thank you," I told him, not quite sure what I was thanking him for- perhaps for sharing his sorrow with me, and for letting me see some of the wonders of Harad.

He nodded courteously at me, holding out a hand. I stared at it for a moment, raising an eyebrow, then shook it. He smiled and leaned back, so presumably I had done the right thing.

I noticed something hard and cold in my hand. Opening it, I saw the little jade oliphaunt I had picked up before. I gasped, shocked.

"You- there must be some mistake," I breathed, handing it back to him.

He pressed it into my hand. "This is my gift to you. Rhanuj be merciful, his luck will help you find your home."

"Merchant…" the Rohirric man interrupted. "I would buy this sword."

I smiled rapturously at Kharaj, clutching the little figurine; then I turned and left, leaving him to deal with his customer.

Once I had re-entered the bustling crowds of the fair, I was struck by the huge number of people there. During the weeks I had stayed with Deowyn, I had become somewhat familiar with the streets of Edoras- but even in Rohan's capital, I had not seen so many people gathered together at once. It reminded me of the Grateful Dead concert I had attended a while ago.

Staring at the sea of blonde heads and unfamiliar faces, a thought struck me-

How was I going to find Deowyn?

A/N pt II- dun dun dun….cliffhanger! ;) Chapter 11 is on the presses, don't worry.