The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 12-09-2004, 02:43 PM

The tears almost welled up again in Jinniver’s pale eyes as Aman offered her kindness and comfort. Sipping her tea and savouring the warmth, she smiled weakly. She did not want to tell Aman the whole sorry tale of her past. Besides she would hear it soon enough now she had told it to Andwise and Derufin. It was this past that had driven her brother to be so protective, to watch her like a falconer might watch his bird.

“Aman, “ she said, quietly, looking the innkeeper in the eyes and smiling sadly. “What it is to have a protector so keen he would wish you to be kept under lock and key.” Aman looked at her with a question formed on her lips, but Jinniver stayed her thoughts. “That is my own brother. He is pompous, he is brash and he is a fool, but I know he does it for love.”

“Yet that is something you don’t need, do you? Your brother's love is stifling your own life” said Aman wisely.

“Indeed, I am choked by his so-called care,” Jinniver stiffened a little, feeling courage as she said the words. “Am I not grown? Can I not find my own way in this world?” She looked down again. “But what can I do against such an immovable force? I even come here and he follows me, thinks I am up to no good.”

Aman nodded, and grimaced thinking of how Pegram had pushed her out of the way as he strode stormily to the door. He was a temperamental man she could see that. “Sometimes,” she said, “Those around us, who care for us, do not know how to show it best.”

Taken by these words, Jinniver smiled a little again, yet it was still a sad smile. “I must find out how I can show my brother that his caring instead causes hurt.”

***

Outside in the cold night air, Pegram stamped his feet to keep warm. He remembered the pouch of tobacco he had on him and decided to smoke his pipe. Watching the little clouds go up into the air, he thought of how his sister had almost come to grief when that southerner had tried to get her to leave Bree with him. He knew what he had been after, not his sister’s affection, but the farm. He knew the man would have come with his gang and turned his father and sister out, or worse. The thought of it still angered him.

But now he felt ill at ease. He had won the argument, but still his sister did not seem happy that he was there to protect her. She seemed to hate him. He didn’t like the feeling, but he was too proud to go back in and talk to her.

***

Jinniver and Aman finished their tea, both now feeling more relaxed. Aman tried to make Jinniver laugh by joking about Pegram’s march to of the inn, and her jesting had some effect. Jinniver now had a wide smile on her face, but her eyes were still close to tears.

“You need to sleep on this,” said Aman, pushing her chair back. “I will arrange for your brother to be found a room. Oh, it will be one of the best, mark my words.” and she gave Jinniver a significant wink as she got up from the table.

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12-09-2004, 02:43 PM	#11
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	The tears almost welled up again in Jinniver’s pale eyes as Aman offered her kindness and comfort. Sipping her tea and savouring the warmth, she smiled weakly. She did not want to tell Aman the whole sorry tale of her past. Besides she would hear it soon enough now she had told it to Andwise and Derufin. It was this past that had driven her brother to be so protective, to watch her like a falconer might watch his bird. “Aman, “ she said, quietly, looking the innkeeper in the eyes and smiling sadly. “What it is to have a protector so keen he would wish you to be kept under lock and key.” Aman looked at her with a question formed on her lips, but Jinniver stayed her thoughts. “That is my own brother. He is pompous, he is brash and he is a fool, but I know he does it for love.” “Yet that is something you don’t need, do you? Your brother's love is stifling your own life” said Aman wisely. “Indeed, I am choked by his so-called care,” Jinniver stiffened a little, feeling courage as she said the words. “Am I not grown? Can I not find my own way in this world?” She looked down again. “But what can I do against such an immovable force? I even come here and he follows me, thinks I am up to no good.” Aman nodded, and grimaced thinking of how Pegram had pushed her out of the way as he strode stormily to the door. He was a temperamental man she could see that. “Sometimes,” she said, “Those around us, who care for us, do not know how to show it best.” Taken by these words, Jinniver smiled a little again, yet it was still a sad smile. “I must find out how I can show my brother that his caring instead causes hurt.” * Outside in the cold night air, Pegram stamped his feet to keep warm. He remembered the pouch of tobacco he had on him and decided to smoke his pipe. Watching the little clouds go up into the air, he thought of how his sister had almost come to grief when that southerner had tried to get her to leave Bree with him. He knew what he had been after, not his sister’s affection, but the farm. He knew the man would have come with his gang and turned his father and sister out, or worse. The thought of it still angered him. But now he felt ill at ease. He had won the argument, but still his sister did not seem happy that he was there to protect her. She seemed to hate him. He didn’t like the feeling, but he was too proud to go back in and talk to her. * Jinniver and Aman finished their tea, both now feeling more relaxed. Aman tried to make Jinniver laugh by joking about Pegram’s march to of the inn, and her jesting had some effect. Jinniver now had a wide smile on her face, but her eyes were still close to tears. “You need to sleep on this,” said Aman, pushing her chair back. “I will arrange for your brother to be found a room. Oh, it will be one of the best, mark my words.” and she gave Jinniver a significant wink as she got up from the table.