City Livin'

City life was expensive; it was a lesson Rhawnwyn had learned all too well since she arrived on Bree's southern doorstep little more than a month ago. The young woman had managed to make her coin stretch by camping in the land surrounding the city instead of renting a room at a large inn the locals referred to as "The Pony", but a girl still had to eat and purchase supplies.  She learned quickly not to complain out loud about her ever-diminishing coin supply when Baldrick returned to her with a ring he had pilfered.  The raven seemed pleased with himself, but Rhawnwyn quietly buried the trinket when her feathered companion wasn't near.  The locals already looked at her with a suspicious eye - or so she imagined.  She certainly did not need a story getting around that she was a thief with a bird trained to do the dirty work. 

  After a week in-and-around Bree, Rhawnwyn learned that no one cared if a black raven perched on her shoulder while she walked through town. In fact, there were much more interesting and odd curiosities than a girl with a bird, and most of those earned money by entertaining onlookers.  She did, however, convince her bear friend that he would be happier hunting for food in the countryside of Bree-land than lumbering through the city in her wake. 

  Despite its expense and busyness, Bree was enjoyable for the young Rohirric. The people were friendly enough once they knew you, and there was always something interesting to eat or see as Bree was visited by all manner of Man, Elf, Hobbit, and Dwarf. 

  It was on this particular morning that Rhawnwyn paused to watch the magic tricks of an especially handsome man in the market square.  On a polished table, the man quickly shuffled ornate cups.  He would then ask a random onlooker under which cup hid the coin.  If the person was correct in his or her guess, the young man would bow as he graciously handed the gold coin to them as a prize.  Rhawnwyn could not help but think of the dwindling coppers in her own purse.  A gold coin would go a long way if she were able to win the contest.  It certainly seemed easy enough...you merely needed to pay close attention. 

Rhawnwyn carefully eased through the cluster of people watching the man and blushed when she saw his blue eyes fall on her.  He smiled as he lifted a cup to reveal an empty space, and kept his gaze on the young girl's face as he encouraged the unlucky gentleman to play the game again for another silver coin. The onlooker shook his head and stepped away from the table, leaving the way open between Rhawnwyn and the handsome magician.

  "What about you, Miss? Care to play? I'll let a pretty girl like you have a free guess just to prove you've got what it takes to win this here gold piece."

  Biting the inside of her bottom lip to keep from grinning like an idiot, Rhawnwyn gave a mute nod.  The gamemaster smiled, showed her the location of the coin, and then began to shuffle the cups as he sang a limerick. 

Rhawnwyn kept her eyes on the cup she knew hid the gold coin until moving - and the rhyme- ceased.

"Which cup hides the coin, Beautiful?"

Rhawnwyn cast a quick glance to the man's face and blushed profusely when he winked.  His smile was amazing and being called "beautiful" by such a man of the world made her heart race.  Pointing to the center cup, Rhawnwyn made her choice.  She was rewarded by a congratulations and a view of the coin. 

   "See? I told you it was easy.  Silver for gold if you want to have another go, my Pet."

  Eyes turned to Rhawnwyn to see what the Bird Girl would decide. Her fingers reached for her coin purse.