Chapter 2

The next day, Ava was able to at least go downstairs into the Prancing Pony's bar, filled with laughing drunken men. For once she was glad that her long black hair covered her neck. She still had a bandage on it that the healer had put the night before, seeing how agitated it looked. She looked around for a place to sit.

There was a man with a ferret that was eating the food his owner had put on his shoulder. Others were laughing obnoxiously holding their cups high. Several people where having a drink off. One of which, fell on the floor along with the rest of his ale that he couldn't hold. A loud crash followed, startling her. She looked to its source to see a fat drunken man scramble to his feet over broken table pieces. The bartender sighed and shouted at him. The fat drunkard looked at him swaying slightly.

There was also a man that sat in a corner by himself. She stared at him. He wasn't like the rest. This one was sober. Though, he looked rough with muddy leather boots and a dark worn cloak. His clothing was dark and slightly dirty. His face was hidden by his hood though she could feel his gaze on her.

She looked away to the bartender, knocking on the counter, gaining his attention. He smiled kindly at her and came up to her. "What can I do for you, Miss?" He asked giving a cheeky grin.

She smiled and made the motion for some paper and a pen. He nodded a little confused and handed her a piece of paper and much used pencil. She smiled and wrote:

'Thank you. May I get Ale and something hot to eat?'

She passed him the note and he smiled and nodded. "I will have it out to you in just a few minutes. The meal will be a bit longer." He said gesturing for her to take a seat. Smiling, she went to find one available, taking the paper and pencil with her.

Ava winced noticing the only seat available was beside the darkly clothed man in the corner of the room. He watched her while she took her seat on the bench a couple of feet from him. Ava stared down at the table, trying to ignore his gaze, unconsciously resting a hand on her throat.

"Here you go Missy!" The bartender said cheerfully, handing her a pint of Ale. She smiled up at him and mouths a thank you to him. "Don't mention it. That ones on me."

"Mr. Butterbur?" The dark cloaked man asked.

The bartender turned to him. "Yes Mr. Strider?" He asked a little tense.

"May I get Ale, please?" He asked in softer voice than Ava expected. She stared at him for a long moment. Strider looked to her feeling her gaze which caused her to quickly look away.

Strider smiled and looked back to the crowd seeming to be looking for someone. Ava sipped on her cup. Normally she didn't drink ale, just on occasion. It had been a hard couple of months and she wanted something to sooth herself just this once.

The tender came back through crowd carefully with a plate and Striders ale. Ava nodded in thanks and began eating. "Thank you, Mr. Butterbur." Strider said taking the ale.

After she was done, she went up to her room to see the healer waiting for her again, only this time she was making her bed for her.

"Hello darling. Come sit." The healer said patting the bed. Ava walked over and sat on the bed. The healer came up to her and pulled Ava's hair up and carefully removed the bandage, unwrapping it slowly.

Ava winced hoping it could stay off. "Ok lift your head up. Good. Left, right, forward, back. Ava, do you feel any pain?" Ava shook her head, smiling. "Good, now…Let me look at your wound." Ava tilted her head back and felt the healers' fingers on her neck. "This looks really good. I think it's healed up nicely. Would you like to see?" She asked kindly.

Ava nodded and was handed a mirror. She took a deep breath and looked into it. The gash had healed together and was fading from the glaring red color that it was. She smiled looking back up the healer, hope rising that she wont have to wear any more bandages.

The door suddenly opened and a small boy was pushed inside. Ava jumped and gasped seeing the boy. She ran to him trying to help him up. "What is the meaning of this?" The healer exclaimed to the man closing the door. Ava looked up to him and gasped again. It was Strider.

She was suddenly terrified remembering how tense the bartender seemed to be. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here." He apologized looking to the hobbit, which was looking at each human, looking terrified. "I needed a room to talk to him." He said scanning his small face.

Ava stayed where she was staring at the man, realizing her heart was racing. 'Why am I so jumpy!' She asked herself. Flashes of her attack suddenly entered her mind. She was glad no one could hear her scream as she ran to the small bathroom, quickly closing the door.

Rose gasped and ran to the door. "Ava?" she asked gently knocking on the door. "Ava let me in!" Rose said urgently. Soft sobbing was heard on the other side of the door. Rose sighed softly, turning to a concerned Ranger. "You can have your talk now. I'll explain things in a minute." He nodded and approached the child-like being speaking of what he carried.

Rose entered the bathroom looking in to see Ava in the corner with her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms lying on the top of her knees and her head resting on her arms. Her form was shaking with the silent tears that spilled from her green eyes. The healer walked into the room, laying a comforting arm around her trembling shoulders. "It's ok Ava. You will be safe in Rivendell." She said quietly. Ava lifted her head, wiping the tears from her face. 'I'm fine.' She mouthed, looking to the woman before standing slowly on shaky legs. Rose was right next to her helping her stand.

He was done talking to the hobbit, and smiled at Rose when she came back into the room. She seemed to know the man well by the way she treated him and the look of recognition in his eyes. Ava slowly entered the room looking around to the hobbit who was staring at the floor in thought. She crossed the room and sat down on the bed, not listening to them.