First things first

This short piece is dedicated to Evan.

Grumbleshanks glanced around the room uneasily. Not sensing any immediate danger, he still felt wary of the situation. Closed doors. High windows. Strangers. Sure, he had accompanied his parents on bartering runs onto the docks and streets and into the shops of the Tall Folk, but never had he been on his own without a crew of Winddrivers to fall back on. He took a harder look around the room in case something should attract his scrutiny.

Perception: 11+8=19 (anything?)

Satisfied, he turned to the speaker of the curt introduction and, remembering his father's tactics, eyeballed him up and down and up and down and up and down. Willing the unbroken silence to wrapping it's unnerving tentacles about the human, he simply crinkled his brow and harumphed. He walked over to the sleepy-eyed and bed-headed fay folk and applied the same gaze and harumph upon them. Grumbleshanks could feel the awkwardness thicken like gravy over a stove.

What would father do now? What would Pinchfilcher do? What do I do now? They're all expecting something! Yikes. Ehh...

Rumble, rumble, rumble. He glanced at Gurkirat's stomach.

Scrumble, scrumble, scrumble. He glanced at the elf's stomach.

Trumble, trumble, trumble. He glanced at the half-elf's stomach.

Brumble, brumble, brumble. He glanced at the human's stomach.

Grumble, grumble, grumble. He glanced at his own stomach.

With the twinkle of an idea upon his brow, the halfling walked over to the wall. Taking his spear, still painted with dried blood, he propped it against the wall. Grumbleshanks walked behind a chair near the middle of the table and pulled it out. He carefully took off his coat: first his right arm, then his left. Ever-so-gently, the childish figure stood on his tippy toes to drape his coat over the back of the wooden chair. Walking around to the side, he gripped it and pulled his body onto the seat. He tried dangling his legs. Then he tried criss-cross applesauce. Still uncomfortable, he tried sitting on his legs. Resting his arms on the table, he realized a meal would indeed be difficult to eat. The halfing clambered off the chair and walked over to the door which he pounded a total of three times. He waited.

Soon enough, the door opened a crack and the elf maiden's head poked around the corner. Seeing the halfing waiting expectantly, she raised her eyebrows in question. Grumbleshanks stepped just under the fair head of the fair maiden and beckoned her fair ears down to his level. She obliged. The two carried on a hushed conversation involving pointing, gesturing, and a kiss from the halfling to the maiden's hand.

Silently, Grumbleshanks walked back to the table and sat behind the chair he had picked earlier. Glaring at each of the occupants, he dared them to ask with only his steady gaze. No one bit. So, he waited. And waited. And waited. Until finally, the fair elf walked into the room carrying two wooden boxes and two bundles of cloth. She set them upon two chairs adjacent: the box first, topped by the cloth. The halfling smiled and bowed. The maiden left and returned pushing a trolley from which a most welcoming and refreshing aroma wafted. The halfling's grin blossomed into a Cheshire smile. With that he climbed aboard the cushioned seat and tested the level of his arms. Apparently satisfied, he placed his folded hands upon his lap and waited. The elf maiden smiled her fair smile and, as gracefully as a lullaby, set silverware and plates upon the table. Then she lifted the platters of steaming grains, cooked meats, and dried fruits to set them upon the table. Once finished, she glanced towards the hobbit who gave her two thumbs up and an ear-touching smile. Taking her cue, the maiden floated out the door.

Standing upon his box, the halfling looked at each of the other occupants. He cleared his throat. Four sets of eyes looked at him with confusion, amusement, and expectancy. "My name is Grumbleshanks and my tumbly is grumbly. Let's munch." With that, he sat down, tucked his napkin into his shirt, dished his plate, and munched.