A/N: thankies for the wonderful reviews! i'm really glad you guys all seem to like the story. btw, yes, the whole reason i made her take THE horse is b/c eomer likely would have ignored her running off otherwise (they didn't get off to a good start).
**disclaimer** i don't own any of this except thalion, mista, and everyone else's personalities. and yes, i forgot to say that in the last chapter, so please don't sue me!
Chapter VI
January, T.A. 3021
Lothiriel was enjoying her new profession as a barmaid. She wasn't officially paid, but many of the customers gave her rather large tips (being a woman has its advantages). She saved as much of it as possible, unsure of when she might have to leave the town. If any news reached her of Elves or Men looking for her, she would have more than enough money to buy a new horse and escape. For now, though, she was content to wake up late every morning and wait on customers until well into the night.
The only damper on her spirits was Rhavan Thalion. He was still hanging around the inn, almost as if he was waiting for something...or someone. He was usually sitting at a table or the bar with other "shady" characters that Barliman disliked. Lothiriel often caught them watching her. They unnerved her a little, but seemed tame enough, so she didn't say anything to Barliman.
"Alquayendi, could you serve the men in the corner?" Nob's voice shook her out of her reverie.
"The ones by the fire?" she asked. He nodded, and she sauntered over to the table. It was Thalion and his two companions. They were speaking in low voices in a language she didn't understand. "Can I get anything for you three?" Alquayendi (winkwink) inquired, interrupting their conversation.
They looked at her. "Ale and stew for all three, Miss," said one. She nodded and returned to the bar.
************
The three rangers were getting impatient. What could be taking the others so long? It had been nearly three weeks since Thalion had sent the message. The only excuse was the weather, but it had been fair for much of the time. Ah well. It did not matter much *when* they arrived, only that they did so before the princess got word of their plan.
"Do you think he'll be able to convince her to leave?" one of Thalion's companions asked the ranger in a rough language that few among the townspeople of Bree were bound to know.
Thalion looked over at the girl. Her back was to him, so she did not notice his gaze. Her hair was beautiful, dark curls that reached halfway down her slender back. He smiled softly. It was too bad she was claimed already. If only his liege had not asked him to watch for her...he would have bedded her in an instant. But no, she was a princess, and he could not give way to his own desires. He sighed and turned back to his friends.
"He will have to be stealthy," Thalion whispered in the same rough tongue. "She will not leave willingly."
Alquayendi returned as he spoke this last bit. She carried a heavily-laden tray of stew and ale and bread. "Here y'are, lads. Three stews, three ales, and a loaf of bread on the house." She winked at them, smiling, and whispered conspiratorially. "Barliman will never know." They watched her go as she waltzed back toward the bar, whistling along with the hobbits singing at the next table.
"Not willingly at all," repeated Thalion.
************
Far away in the valley hidden in the mountains, the others were preparing to leave. The snows that had fallen had stopped all travel in and out of the valley for nearly a week. The pass was clear at last, and the riders were impatient to get to Bree. There was far too much at stake to wait much longer: no one knew how long the princess would stay in the town. She could leave any day, and all hope of finding her would be lost. And that was a dangerous possibility.
************
A/N (again): hmmm...and the thot plickens!!! ooh, yes, i am terrible, adding a love interest to the mix. poor thalion, i feel rather sorry for him. he hardly knows lothiriel, and he's fallen for her. but, alas, it could never be, for lothiriel's love is saved for one man you have yet to meet..........
**disclaimer** i don't own any of this except thalion, mista, and everyone else's personalities. and yes, i forgot to say that in the last chapter, so please don't sue me!
Chapter VI
January, T.A. 3021
Lothiriel was enjoying her new profession as a barmaid. She wasn't officially paid, but many of the customers gave her rather large tips (being a woman has its advantages). She saved as much of it as possible, unsure of when she might have to leave the town. If any news reached her of Elves or Men looking for her, she would have more than enough money to buy a new horse and escape. For now, though, she was content to wake up late every morning and wait on customers until well into the night.
The only damper on her spirits was Rhavan Thalion. He was still hanging around the inn, almost as if he was waiting for something...or someone. He was usually sitting at a table or the bar with other "shady" characters that Barliman disliked. Lothiriel often caught them watching her. They unnerved her a little, but seemed tame enough, so she didn't say anything to Barliman.
"Alquayendi, could you serve the men in the corner?" Nob's voice shook her out of her reverie.
"The ones by the fire?" she asked. He nodded, and she sauntered over to the table. It was Thalion and his two companions. They were speaking in low voices in a language she didn't understand. "Can I get anything for you three?" Alquayendi (winkwink) inquired, interrupting their conversation.
They looked at her. "Ale and stew for all three, Miss," said one. She nodded and returned to the bar.
************
The three rangers were getting impatient. What could be taking the others so long? It had been nearly three weeks since Thalion had sent the message. The only excuse was the weather, but it had been fair for much of the time. Ah well. It did not matter much *when* they arrived, only that they did so before the princess got word of their plan.
"Do you think he'll be able to convince her to leave?" one of Thalion's companions asked the ranger in a rough language that few among the townspeople of Bree were bound to know.
Thalion looked over at the girl. Her back was to him, so she did not notice his gaze. Her hair was beautiful, dark curls that reached halfway down her slender back. He smiled softly. It was too bad she was claimed already. If only his liege had not asked him to watch for her...he would have bedded her in an instant. But no, she was a princess, and he could not give way to his own desires. He sighed and turned back to his friends.
"He will have to be stealthy," Thalion whispered in the same rough tongue. "She will not leave willingly."
Alquayendi returned as he spoke this last bit. She carried a heavily-laden tray of stew and ale and bread. "Here y'are, lads. Three stews, three ales, and a loaf of bread on the house." She winked at them, smiling, and whispered conspiratorially. "Barliman will never know." They watched her go as she waltzed back toward the bar, whistling along with the hobbits singing at the next table.
"Not willingly at all," repeated Thalion.
************
Far away in the valley hidden in the mountains, the others were preparing to leave. The snows that had fallen had stopped all travel in and out of the valley for nearly a week. The pass was clear at last, and the riders were impatient to get to Bree. There was far too much at stake to wait much longer: no one knew how long the princess would stay in the town. She could leave any day, and all hope of finding her would be lost. And that was a dangerous possibility.
************
A/N (again): hmmm...and the thot plickens!!! ooh, yes, i am terrible, adding a love interest to the mix. poor thalion, i feel rather sorry for him. he hardly knows lothiriel, and he's fallen for her. but, alas, it could never be, for lothiriel's love is saved for one man you have yet to meet..........