Merry sprinted down the hall, buttoning his shirt with one hand and holding a half eaten apple with the other. He briefly stopped at open doors, glancing in, and then running until he came to another, and another, and—
A loud thump and he fell back against the slate. The apple bounced out of his hand and landed by a rather immense foot.
"Strider!" he said, coming to. He grasped the broad hand that reached down to help him.
"Looking for something?" Aragorn smiled and pulled the halfling to his feet.
"Yes. Well, someone, actually," said Merry. A passing elf bowed his head and the hobbit's eyebrows raised, confused. "Um...yes, Pippin. I'm looking for Pippin, have you seen him?"
"Out in the gardens with Frodo, I believe."
Another elf stopped, bowed, and continued on his way.
"Right," Merry watched the elf go, "thank you." Pausing, Merry looked up at the ranger. "Strider?"
"Hm?"
"Is it in the elves' custom to bow?"
"You could say so," said Aragorn, smiling again. Merry turned and dashed down the hall, nearly slipping again as he rounded the corner.
**TBC