17. Gracious Living
From atop her chair, Thrasja forks rags into holes, monkeying the cloth about to hold. 'Tis dank like the wharf, though without violin-prowed fishing skiffs.
Just a candle in a half-bottle – the glassier's gift – and Northman poorbread – cookie – alongside Ranilo's fare.
Audila returns soaked, golden locks sheeting about his face, but he grins a moon, raises a bright bottle. Could be crystal, so fine it seems. The scent...
"Perfume?" she says. "For me?" Audila nods, withdrawing this morn's money. Though unlettered, she knows it won't buy an oxtail. But perfume… she grips her pendant prayerfully: they'll stay housed next month.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
