Most Worthy
Winking diamonds sold by dwarven merchants; enamels of only the richest colors; lush, extravagant fabrics from the East; pocketwatches that tick-tocked with solemn or grinning or delicate faces... Glirien wished she had ten eyes to take in everything at the Dale market.
The toymaker said this was her first test as his apprentice. “Buy one thing you think is most good, most worthy, and tell me why.”
She returned at dusk.
“A toy dragon?” her master said, looking at the plain make, the dull materials.
“For my baby sister, sir. She'll like it.”
And the toymaker smiled.
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March 6, 2007. For the Tolkien Weekly "Sight" challenge, and a spinoff of my unpublished WIP featuring these same characters.