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Owen retrieved his bladder pipe from the common room, and letting the door slam behind him, returned to find Seamus and the hobbits already milling about on a platform hard by the Inn’s verandah. Seamus had his rebec out and stood to one side holding it up to his ear, trying to tune it over the noise. Shimshin capered happily about his feet with excitement. It was a bit of a crowd, Owen thought, happy to note that a few elves had joined up as well. But as he stepped up onto the platform he looked dubiously at it. It was one thing to build a stage quickly so that hobbit musicians might not be lost among the dancers, it was quite another to furnish one sturdy enough for a growing group of hobbits, men and elves. And this one had appeared so suddenly Owen feared it might have all the strength of a mushroom sprung up from the lawn overnight.
But walking gingerly about on the creaking boards, Owen looked curiously at all the instruments. Holding his the pipe to his lips, it’s fragile bladder crackled softly as it filled, and he idly fingered the chanter as he nodded to the those he walked past. When at last he rejoined Seamus and Shimshin, he nudged the former, pointing to an elf who held so great a fiddle she had let it rest between her feet. “There Seamus, see what your rebec could have become had you left it on the vine a bit longer!”
Seamus shook his head. “Looks like we have a fine group here. It should be a good day I think.”
“Yes, but the proof is in the playing, eh?” Owen replied. And as if on cue the hobbits started playing ‘Sailor’s Hornpipe’ while gathered around a pretty young girl all dressed in green and cream, and who held a rather interesting penny whistle. Owen and Seamus quickly joined in, to Shimshin’s delight. And the monkey ambled about the platform before breaking into an appropriate dance.
But the next song was an even faster one, and the bladder pipe player was pleased to see that the kegs had begun to be brought out. It was thirsty work, and he did so relax with a bit in him.
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