Ch. 4: Concerning Dwarves

"And here I believed that all dwarves simply sprung from the rock itself!"

At this the crowd of men burst into another fit of half drunken laughter.

"Well in my case yes, but as a rule, no," Eily said flatly as she took another long pull from her flagon.

Clearly thinking she was joking, the men that had gathered around roared again with laughter and followed suit.

Eily smiled slightly to herself at that. In the long months she had spent on the road with Gandalf she had learned much about living. And now in the village of Bree the men flocked to her to (like nearly all others she had met) gawk and marvel at the curiosity of her existence.

At first they had been uncertain, even standoffish to her, but as the ale flowed their temperaments had warmed until they sat with her at a table and began to exchange colorful (though not too much so, she was after all a lady) stories and merry song.

She had become rather accustomed to Inn food and the various brews of men. Perhaps Gandalf chose to sleep indoors as much as possible for her safety, or to warm her heart to the race of men, but she believed it was more likely he put them up in Inns because he knew he could leave her there for days or even weeks without worry, for he seemed somewhat protective of her as though much depended on her existence.

"So milady Eily," began Gregor, a very amiable tailor, "Are all dwarf maids so pretty?"

She choked slightly on her ale, shocked at this compliment, which triggered another long round of guffaws from the men.

"Actually," she coughed, no slight amount of embarrassment, "For a dwarf maid I am quite unattractive, even ugly."

"Don't you say such a thing! Who would dare say that?" snarled Brannagh, a balding, gruff, but seemingly very tenderhearted blacksmith.

"A dwarf man I suppose," Eily shrugged, "You see, I've no beard to braid or ornament so I-"

"Pig swallow! They know not what they miss! You're a lovely lady! Strong of spirit and fair minded."

The men somberly agreed, and sipped their drinks with dark faces for a moment to signify their brevity.

"…if a bit small," added Gregor. And again a wave of howling laughter moved across the room.

When Gandalf returned from his meeting the hour had run very late and every man in the pub but the barkeep himself was either at home asleep or passed out under the table. Eily was still awake and finishing her last flagon when Gandalf strode into the room. She stood promptly to meet him at the door as he settled their debts with the barkeep and apologized for keeping her waiting.

"It is no trouble; the men of this village are well mannered compared to some we have encountered. Did your meeting go well?"

Gandalf nodded, a small secretive smile on his lips.

"Who exactly were you meeting with anyway? You have not sidetracked us from our mission yet again have you?" Her eyes narrowed incredulously at the wizard's back.

"I'll have you know that for a wizard, nothing is a side track. It is all one track; it simply contains circles."

Eily rolled her eyes helplessly. For nearly eight months now she had wandered West (often being left at Inn's or with friends of Gandalf so he could sidetrack at his pleasure) with Gandalf, and always he claimed his secret wanderings were for the good of her mission.

She did not doubt him or that he would someday prove his assistance valuable, she just wondered if she would die of old age before that day arrived. Still though she had not been wasting her time, nor had Gandalf been doing her no service whatsoever. When he abandoned her in Inns at backwater villages he usually left her with good company, company that could teach her skills she had not learned in her ninety years in the mountain.

It seemed Gandalf had friends of every shape and size, and they had taught her the basic skills of necessity she had been lacking. He had taken it upon himself to outfit her with proper travel clothing and weapons (however plain), for which she was dearly grateful as the wizard led a simple life and could not have come by expendable income easily.

"So where are we going?" she asked lightly, nudging her pony to keep pace with Gandalf's nag, not expecting an answer.

"If we move quickly enough by this moonlight, we shall reach the Shire just in time."

This peaked her interest instantly, "In time for what?"

There was a long pause as Gandalf trotted ahead of her.

"Gandalf?"

It seemed she had a talent for making tall people laugh.

"GANDALF?!"