#( omf

And yet, somehow, the tall woman with wheat-golden hair had managed to attract his full attention. Perhaps it was the private smile that lit up her face as she sketched, or the fact that she was not facing any of the prize-winning displays. In any case, Ruacálë felt sure that speaking to her would be more rewarding than attending the Gourd Society meeting – just as he had, once upon a time, felt sure that extending his impromptu encounter with Yavanna would be worth missing his apprenticeship interview with Aule.