A Hobbit's Mess And Struggle

Rose wiped flour from her hair and cheeks as tried to stand upright, only to hit the plywood ass first with a hard thud. She flinched at the sound of dishes followed after, letting out a whimper when four hours of work were now shattered across the kitchen.

Roselle never had to manage festival prep on her own. Usually, her mum would be back with an entourage of volunteers in the morning. All smiles and candor as tables were prepped and made, food served, and drinks flowing with iced cherries. Yet today it was dead silence. Save for the few snores upstairs, and the consequence of her two left feet.

She slowly rose upward and dusted off her apron, grabbing the broom and sweeping up her mess, “Ooooh I’ll never finish at this rate!” She muttered as she scooped up the glass and dumped it in the nearby trash bin, “Mum, should’ve been here by now!” she thought while she set the intact dishes aside to a safer distance, "At this rate, I'm more liable to set fire to the kitchen then have the feast prepped." She moaned as she gave a huff, fingers tugging a golden lock, “Ooooh Belle! Please get here soon!”

DING!

The door chime ringed on cue. Prompting a smile to cross the halflings chubby cheeks. She darted out of the kitchen, making sure to dust off her apron to make herself look somewhat presentable, nearly tripping on a stray bucket, “Belle, thank the stars you’re here! We have so much to do, and I could use some, she caught herself as she looked forward at the lithe figure, then upward.

The elf narrowed her blue eyes as she adjusted her silk vest, merely sniffing in disdain before frowning downward, “Should have guessed that was you making a mess of things clown-foot. It a wonder that this pigsty hasn’t been condemned already.”

Rose’s smile dropped, a rare frown forming on her end as well, “Good...Good morning Eline. I...I wasn’t expecting you to be back from the capital. Why are you-”

Eline smirked as she tossed her hair back, “Well I’m sorry to surpass your expectations. No doubt quite small compared to your morning snacks.” She laughed, inducing red to coat the hobbit’s cheeks, “What have the Pig Of Cakes gotten into this time? Looks like the flour, and a tad much sugar as well or perhaps-”

“Why are you here?” muttered Rose through a clenched smile.

The elf gave a look of disbelief before rolling her eyes, “You know exactly why I’m here. The Solstice Festival is tonight, and I’d like my room key. The presidential suite to be exact.”

She extends a hand to the tavern keeper palm open, “Hand it over, I’d like to unpack before my private breakfast is made.”

“Ummmmm,” Rose simply gave a stumbled reply before continuing, “No?”

Eline blinked, then blinked again, confusion disbelief clouding her thoughts, “No? What do you mean no?! Father RSVPs that room exclusively for me! So give me what was paid for or so help-”

Rose simply shook her head, “Mayor Alfren didn’t pay for your room this year. In fact, he never came in these past three weeks either.”

“Never came by-” She shook her head, giving a single stomp of her clad boot as she begins to ruffle through her pockets, “Stupid old man! Fuck it! How much? No doubt you need to fill a quota for this year any-”

Rose tapped the desk in earnest, trying to maintain her poker face, “Elieen, the presidential suite is taken already. Now if you-”

Fury began to rattle the elf as she shook, “TAKEN?! Who in this backwater town can afford that spot! What’s next, an impromptu honeymoon by Amillia’ River?!” she growled as she nursed her temples, “Ok, who took the room? I know it isn’t that filthy dwarf Prune! and I didn’t see anyone on the path here! So if you’re lying, I’ll be sure to have Dad send so words to that mum-”

Her words fell as they heard a scream upstairs.