The Green Dragon Inn - Part 4

[Envinyatar]

"Fancy stomaching a bacon butty, Derufin?"

Cruelty, thy name is Aman! he groaned.

His rebellious stomach roiled at the thought of bacon, dripping with grease, and slathered in brown sauce, pressed between two thick slices of Cook’s white bread. Derufin clutched his middle as the waves of impending revolt increased.

Standing up carefully from his chair, he leaned for a moment on the table as his head spun. Cook came over, a look of concern on her face. More for the cleanliness of her kitchen floor than for me! he thought briefly as he waved her off.

‘Tell Aman I’m done in for the day. Vanwe can handle the start to the attic clean up with her. I just don't think I ca . . .’ His barely audible whisper trailed off as his face, now shiny with sweat, turned a ghastly shade of pale green, and he clenched his stomach tighter.

He moved quickly, then, knocking over his chair, and made for the kitchen door at a dead run.

Cook followed after him and shut the door securely as he exited. Buttercup, her eyes first gone wide at the scene, frowned at this action. Cook answered her succinctly as she went back to her skillets filled with eggs and sausages.

‘I don’t want to hear it if he doesn’t make it to the “facilities” in time!’

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman entered the stables, looking around for any sign of Vanwe. Sure enough, a few seconds later the sound of soft singing began again, accompanied by the rhythmic swish-swish of a broom on the stone floor.

"Morning, Vanwe."

The woman spun around, surprised, which surprised Aman as she was usually so alert. "Oh! Goodness me, you can move quietly!"

The woman of Rohan shrugged. "Horse trainer for the Rohirrim. Doesn't do to disturb the wild ones. Will you come in for some breakfast, and help me with a little something?"

Vanwe smiled. "I'm sure I could manage a bite. Can I..?" She motioned towards the floor.

"It'll wait, I'm sure."

Vanwe nodded. "Thankyou." Propping the broom against the wall, she and Aman walked together towards the Inn, quite slowly, revelling in the early morning light.

Aman grinned suddenly, unable to stop herself. "Have you see Derufin this morning?"

Vanwe suddenly seemed to freeze, although she kept walking and her smile remained, although it was a little fixed. "I...I have." She replied slowly.

Aman took in her expression change, but didn't say anything, carrying on, her smile wide as she shook her head. "Oh, he is a state!" She cleared her throat. "Thats, er, thats why I need you to help me with a little job. The attic needs to be cleared out, I'm afraid."

"Really?"

By Vanwe's mild tone, Aman could tell the elf certainly hadn't yet seen the attic. She debated telling her, then thought of how she would look when she saw it- probably like Aman herself had looked when Cami had first shown her into the decrepit storage space. She carried on in a weak tone. "Right. I mean, yes, yes it does. And...well, its at least a two or three person task."

"That big?"

Aman held open the door for Vanwe as they went inside. "I don't really know." She answered, truthfully.

OCC: Wooh, 2000th post, and in my favourite Inn!

[ June 10, 2003: Message edited by: Amanaduial the archer ]

[Elora]

(OOC- Congratulations Aman!)
--------------------------------------

The attic sounded interesting to Vanwe, who was not entirely sure what an attic was. Not that she'd admit as much, for Aman was discussing attics as though they were commonplace and Vanwe was determined to appear as though she fitted in. It would be nice to belong somewhere, for a change.

Aman held the door open and ushered Vanwe through as the Elf was wondering why Aman knew about attics but not about how big a job the "attic" was. Before she could turn to ask, Derufin bolted past them. Vanwe slid to one side smoothly, desperate to not get in his way and anxiously watched him pass at a sprint. Aman narrowly avoided collision herself. He was distinctly green and very unhappy.

Aman patted ruffled skirts and hair that had been swept up in Derufin's rapid departure back into place as she looked after the man. She was chuckling. Vanwe was astonished. Her heart was pounding at the nearness of the catastrophe. Aman shook her head in wry amusement and continued through the door.

"Men and their ale," she murmured as she laughed. All Vanwe could do was try to not look so perplexed. How Aman could find such danger amusing was a riddle to Vanwe.

"Breakfast and that attic won't keep all day," Aman said and again beckoned Vanwe on towards the kitchen. She glanced sideways at the Elf as they crossed the floor.

"Something wrong, Vanwe," she asked mildly. Vanwe, utterly atwitch with confusion merely nodded as she replied, "No, nothing at all."

Aman measured up the contrary and distracted nature of Vanwe's response and frowned lightly, but the expression passed as they entered the kitchen. The table still held the breakfast that Derufin had abandoned with such haste. Cook beamed, still amused, at the two who entered.

"Ah, sit! You'll need a big breakfast for that attic," she exclaimed.

"And probably lunch too," Cami added with michevious humour as Aman and Vanwe sat as bidden.

Vanwe, who still had no idea what an attic was could only smile and puzzle over that further. Cook and Cami busily added to the store on the table, Cook not wasting the opportunity to make it clear how perilious it was to miss breakfast. Vanwe, for whom breakfast had never been something she had been able to rely on, pointed out what seemed to her to be obvious.

"You do not die if you do not eat breakfast Cook. I rarely have eaten breakfast, and I am not dead," she stated in an effort to reassure Cook that neither she nor Aman would expire for having missed breakfast. Cook fixed Vanwe with a stern expression.

"Your so thin it's wonder, Vanwe," she announced. "Young women should not be so slender, no matter what the fancy fashions say," she declared in a tone that brooked no argument. Cami added, "I wonder if she even eats dinner." It had not escaped the Hobbit's notice that Vanwe had not arrived for dinner the night before.

For Vanwe, for whom the plentitude of food was inextricably related to your wealth and station and not fashion or even your hunger, it was one more thing she could not fathom. Mystified, she stopped any further comments by placing a thick piece of warm bread drizzled with honey into her mouth and chewed it and the exchange over.

"Oh, leave her be... she is Elven, and supposed to be tall and willowy. Pay them no heed, Vanwe," Aman waged on her behalf. What, Vanwe wondered, is a willow? Riddle, enigma and puzzles shaped this morning. She finished her bread whilst Cook muttered something about Elves being underfed as a race, and tried to lighten her state of confusion.

"Aman, what is an attic?"

Why that prompted Cook and Cami to commence laughing, Vanwe did not know. Aman smiled, somewhat guiltily, and said, "Vanwe, that is something you will shortly discover, my dear."

Cami was still chortling and Cook set another piece of bread before Vanwe. "Not before she finishes that tea, and the bread, she won't."

Vanwe decided that was as good an answer as she could expect and nodded. If she had to finish the bread and tea, that she would do. She set to, smiling at Aman as she did so, being sure to avail herself of the discovery she made yesterday of the wondrous thing called honey. Perhaps that attic would be today's wondrous discovery.

[ June 10, 2003: Message edited by: Elora ]

[Bekah]

Morwennar woke up as the light pierced her consciousness.

The source of it became apparent as Morwennar regained awareness. A small chink of cold but bright light shone through some curtains.

She slowly realized where she was: a fairly comfortable chair in the Green Dragon Inn in the Shire. Someone else was snoring in another chair.

Morwennar got up and began to explore quietly. She had no idea what time it was, but by the position of the moon outside, it was quite early in the morning. She'd had enough sleep, anyway.

Where were her clothes and hairbrush?

Memory rushed to her aid and she recalled leaving them on the horse. She hadn't chosen a room, so of course no one would have shifted them.

Or would they? It never paid to be too trusting, in Morwennar's experience.

Only one way to find out. She winced as the cold of the frosted grass successfully numbed her feet painfully. The horse was in the stables, around the back of the inn.

Morwennar shivered in the cold air, her thin clothes rustling in the breeze.

There was Thunder. And her clothes. But her money wasn't there. Who had stolen it??

She had come here, and the stable boy - or rather man, he was a man, not a boy - had taken Thunder. The money was in a small skin in the saddlebag.

Derufin, that was the name. He must have taken it.

She strode back to the inn, her face stony as she thought over the dangers of the inn.

Once inside, she dropped onto her chair, dumping her bag of personal effects beside her.

No harm in looking for her money. He could have put it in the inn, nobody would suspect that.

The walls of the room were of a beautiful kind of wood; the Green Dragon was also in the open instead of a hobbit hole in the ground. Strange. Hobbits didn't like houses above ground. The furniture matched the walls, carved into intricate and beautiful shapes resembling certain creatures. In fact, they seemed to resemble creatures the four hobbits met on their journey. Treebeard was there, though what he would think of precious wood being used as furniture, Morwennar didn't know. Beautiful rugs adorned the floor, swirling in random but colourful patterns. Shelves with old and dusty looking books were placed here and there around the room. Comfy chairs were dotted around the place. The occupant of the chair opposite her still snored.

He stopped suddenly, and seemed to wake up; Morwennar watched him closely, uncertain as to what kind of person he was and how he would react to someone gliding around the room; then he mumbled something and sank back under the surface of sleep, starting to snore again after a few minutes.

She crossed over to him and examined his face quickly. Honest looking fellow. Most swindlers were honest looking, though. She turned back to the chair beside which she had put her belongings.

And gasped. Under the chair, a familiar looking skin bag peeped out.

So Derufin hadn't taken her money. She remembered now what had happened last night, being unable to obtain a room. The innkeeper had suggested that she sleep on a chair in the lounge, telling her that she could sleep there without receiving disapproval or charge, as she couldn't get a room.

So after buying a drink she had picked the chair she awoke on, gently kicking her money under the chair on the basis that no one would look for it there unless they knew where it was. She had temporarily forgotten.

Morwenna picked up her money and stuffed the bag and its contents into the larger one containing her clothes and wooden comb. She took this latter article out now, and began to run it through her extraordinary fire-red hair.

No creature in all Middle-earth had hair such as hers. It was the colour of live coals, glorifying her pale face. Her peircing blue eyes accentuated them both, and combined everyone looked at Morwennar twice, which was one of the reasons why she often wore her hood down low. Her name was Elvish, though she was a woman of Rohan. It meant 'Dark Fire Maiden', and she was aptly named.

OOC: I have to go now, but I will edit this yet again and follow her up to the attic, where she will be led by her curiousity and boredom, though, of course, always suspecting a trap, given her nature.

[ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: Bekah ]

[piosenniel]

All posters please note:

The above 'SAVES' is the last one allowed in the Inn, with the exception of the Moderators or Innkeeper who may need to make adjustments to bring the large storyline at the Inn into focus.

And even then, those types of 'SAVES' should be few and far between.

The above post needs to be filled in by June 11th, midnight, Pacific Daylight Time. If not, then I will delete them.

If you need to coordinate a post with someone - then PM them - do not put a 'SAVE' on the Green Dragon storyline.

~~ Piosenniel, Shire Moderator

[ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Everdawn]

Madea had been sitting in one of the tables near the bar, watching the conversation between the hobbit, elf and woman. This young woman had never seen such antics in her home. Her father would not allow her to leave the city, which of course was Dol Amroth, without an escort, it just wasn't proper.

She put her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands, and then immediatly sat up straight. Elbows off the table! she remembered, and then laughed and put them back.

"Are there many elves here?" the girl called to Aman from across the room. "its just that ive never seen them before, or hobbits for that matter, ive never seen any of them either. In fact, i havnt seen much of anything to tell you the whole truth." she stopped and put her hands in her lap and then grinned.

"My name is-" she was silent. Should I tell them?... why not? They look trustworthy. "Madea, Madea Obisentauri, only dont tell anyone if they ask, im.. im on the run you see... and i dont care to return to where i came from."

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Aleia woke up in the bright sunlight and yawned. She judged that by the sun, it was quite late in the morning. Aleia hopped out of bed and dressed quickly, hoping to catch one of her companions from the night before in the Common Room.

She thumped down the stairs and went into the Room. Scanning the crowd, she was soon disappointed as she did not see Gilly or Benia. That's two sets of companions I've missed the next morning! she thought, and sat at the bar. She gave a nod to Ruby as a gesture of hello, and ordered a hot cup of coffee.

"Thank you, Aman. And a slice of toast, please. Thanks," she said. As she munched her toast and sipped her coffee, she surveyed the Room to look for someone to sit with and talk to. She hated sitting by herself in an inn. It was quite dreary.

Just then, she noticed a young lad sitting by himself, also scanning the crowd in earnest for a companion. Excellent! thought Aleia. I won't have to sit alone after all! Taking her coffee and toast to the lad's seat, the hobbit introduced herself. "Good morning, lad! I am Aleia Took, of Tookland. May I join you?"

[ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: Horse-Maiden of the Shire ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

“What is an attic?”

The question caught Aman completely off-guard, and her guilty expression along with the actual question set Cook and Cami off, first chuckling, then laughing. That would explain the slightly worried, puzzled look which had been on Vanwe’s face as they walked, and would even more explain why she had replied in so mild a tone when Aman had told her they would be clearing the attic. She was a funny girl…

“You don’t…well, an attic is…its…” the Innkeeper struggled for words for a few minutes, before settling for, “That will be something you will shortly discover. ‘Twill be the first time either of us have done this.” She added, her voice cheerful.

“Aye, well, it will certainly be an experience for both of you, although whether good or bad will become apparent, if it isn’t already,” Cook chuckled, before placing a pot of red tea and a plate of thickly sliced bread. “And not before you’ve finished this tea, and this bread, you won’t.”

“Thanks, Cook.” Aman hungrily took a slice of bread and spread it thickly with honey. She had come to love the breakfasts in the Inn, when there was time for them. “No bacon this morning?”

There was a groaning and a small gurgle behind them, before Derufin ran once more out of the Inn. Cook pursed her lips disapprovingly after the disappearing man, then turned her gaze on Aman, who was staring after him, shocked, but trying to hold back a laugh. “You shouldn’t torment him, Miss Aman, he isn’t himself today.”

Aman’s wide eyed gaze was genuine. “What?! I honestly didn’t know he was there, this time!” The fact that she was still trying to restrain a laugh probably wasn’t, she reasoned, helping her case. Cook just pursed her lips a little tighter. The Innkeeper looked away from her intimidating gaze, fixing her thoughts, and her teeth, in the honey covered bread. Vanwe did the same, and Aman smiled at the look of delight on her face as she tasted the honey, still as great and as wondering as when she had tasted it yesterday. Strange, it was as if she had never tasted it before.

A few minutes later, after a hurried, rather unenthusiastic, and unyielding search for Derufin, Aman, Vanwe and Cami set off up the stairs, winding around until they reached the attic. Aman pulled open the trapdoor with a flourish and, holding up her skirts awkwardly, she went up the ladder into the one part of the Inn which had quite probably remained completely unchanged since its building, save the addition of several hundred piles of junk. In the early morning, with the sunlight shafting down over the piles and the dust motes floating through the air gently, the attic looked less intimidating than it had last night, but she still heard Vanwe gasp. Turning, she grinned at the wide eyed elf, who wasn’t trying to conceal her expression now. Cami’s voice shook them out of their surprise though, as the hobbit called up to them through the trapdoor.

“Well, let me know when you finish, alright?”

“Hang on!” Aman dashed back over to the trapdoor, peering down at the other. “Where are you going?”

“Well, someone needs to keep the bar going!” Cami let her false innocence slip, grinning wickedly. “Have a nice time.” Before Aman could object further, the hobbit was gone. The Innkeeper sighed, before straightening up brushing a hand over her hair and turning to Vanwe.

“Well…lets get started then.”

OCC: Love it, Elora and Envinyatar!!!

(OOC: I'm new at all of this, and can't quite think of a way to come in, so here is my best way...)

Rabelle hurried into the Green Dragon Inn. She pulled her weathered cloak even tighter about her, hoping not to be seen. Spotting an empty seat, she sat down quickly and looked around her.

The place was too busy for her tastes. As a sort-of Ranger, she preferred solitude. Besides, when most people saw a female Ranger, they asked questions on how it could be possible. Rabelle always had one answer for them, but it was a little rude, and she didn't quite enjoy making her point known.

She signaled to the bartender and pushed away telltale wisps of red hair from the hood of the cloak. She sipped the ale and looked around once more at the people surrounding her.

[Ealasaid]

Benia looked at the cloak, hood, and gauntlets she had laid out on the chair. They and what they represented to her both beckoned and repelled her. She sighed. As much as she hated to leave the Shire again so quickly, she had no choice. She might as well get on with it. But still she hesitated. There was still the matter of provisions. And she had to say good-bye to Gilly. After all, the entire reason she had come to the Shire in the first place had not been to say hello to Gilly, but to say good-bye. She had the strong premonition that she would not be coming back.

Benia went to the corner and picked up the sword and scabbard that had once belonged to her father, Jack Nightshade. It was a fine weapon, nicely weighted, and well-suited to her size. She was lucky she had grown to be a tall woman. Any smaller and the sword would have been too much for her. She half-drew it from the sheath and watched as the sunlight from the window caught the oiled blade and made it shine.

I should leave it with Gilly. The thought came to her suddenly. She will take care of it.

She glanced at the door behind which her friend still slept. I should leave it and my mother's ring so that they should not come to a bad end. Finally coming to a decision, Benia pushed the sword back into its scabbard and returned it to its resting place in the corner. She slipped out the door.

When she arrived in the common room, Benia found it already crowded. She could see Aleia, the hobbit she and Gilly had spent a jolly evenig with the night before, already in conversation with some new friends. Benia smiled and waved to Aleia, but rather than joining her, went the other way and into the kitchen. She found Aman, Cook, and a young Elven lady at breakfast.

"Excuse me," she said and wished each of them a good morning. "I know you must be very busy. I won't trouble you for long. I am preparing to make a long journey and find my provisions have run low. Where in Bywater could I best buy food and supplies?"

Aman wished her a good morning in return and directed her to the nearby green grocer and general store. Benia thanked her and prepared to go. As she did so, she noticed the eyes of the elflady following her closely. Puzzled, Benia nodded to her. There was a haunted look to the elf's eyes that troubled her. When Benia nodded to her, the elflady smiled and nodded back, but Benia noticed the smile did not travel as far as her eyes. In fact, she seemed nervous of Benia, almost frightened.

[Elora]

Was Benia looking at her closely? And where had Derufin sprung from? Vanwe narrowly averted choking on her sweetened tea and tightened her grip around the warm cup as Cook chided Aman about teasing Derufin. Vanwe was not quite sure which way was up or down. Why, for example, would anyone court fate by provoking a man sorely affected by ale? Vanwe badly missed her scrap of paper which was still in Silvanis' possession. So many questions, she was sure to forget them.

She had sipped at her tea, savouring the honey and rolling her seemingly unending list of queries around in her mind when Benia had descended for the morning. Vanwe had cause to be grateful that she was holding onto her cup with both hands and had a mouthful of tea so as to prevent her from uttering the exclaimation of dismay that sounded over the questions in her mind.

Aman, who had not missed Vanwe's jittery manner all morning, blinked in open question at what precisely had disturbed her this time. Vanwe noticed none of that. She was too busy trying desperately to determine why Benia was looking so closely at her. Behind the woman's cloak, it was difficult to see more of her cloathing but her face reminded her of the Southern woman Vanwe had fleeting observed two or so nights ago. So much had happened it was hard for her to keep accurate track of time.

A warrior, keen to make some gold in fetching back a runaway? They sometimes did that. Vanwe well remembered the downtrodden and miserable youth who passed through her village with a warrior who was on his way to return him. Knowing what he would face upon his return had given her cause to still what she had been in the midst of. It was a sight that was not easy to forget. The child could not have been older than 14 or 15 years, she guessed, and had been dusty, thirsty and marked with a hard trail as he slumped behind his captor's horse. His hands had been tied to the pommel, and he'd been left in the sun whilst the mercenary had bought more water.

There was a deadness in the boy's eyes that had remained with her long after he had stumbled out of town later that day. The close stare of Benia, and Vanwe's suspicion about her origins made it hard to keep her cup from shaking. Vanwe tried to disengage her smile or her gaze, but seemed oddly frozen to where she sat.

Aman, who knew what an attic was and could reckon that they would need all the time they could get to clear it decided there was no time for Vanwe to dive under a table, leap out a window nor fall to her knees and beg for mercy.

She mustered Cami, called Vanwe and headed off in the direction that the attic in question was located. Vanwe rose, still staring at Benia. Almost unthinking, she fell into obesience, sweeping an elegant bow that marked her all the more clearly as hailing from Harad.

"I wish you a fair journey. May the Sun be kind to your path, Mistress," Vanwe said upon rising. Again, a more distinctive declaration of Harad she could not make, other than to fly about the room in dancing silks. Benia cocked her head as she studied Vanwe.

"Vanwe," called Aman. Vanwe can't recall being quite so pleased to be summonsed before.

"Your pardon, Mistress, but I have duties I am bound to perform," she said. With a last earnest, almost pleading smile, Vanwe hurried up the stairs after Aman and Cami. She glanced over her shoulder as she ascended, and saw Benia staring after her in mystification, before a turn in the stairs carried Vanwe from view of the commonroom.

Vanwe arrived in the attic with a sigh of relief that was at odds with Aman's reaction to Cami's announcement. Oblivious Vanwe stood listening for the sound of another climbing the stairs. If Benia was what she thought she might be, she'd have to resort to something else. Vanwe peered out the window at the distant ground and wondered if she'd be able to make the drop.

All Vanwe heard, though, was Aman. "Well... let's get started then," the Inkeeper said.

Vanwe looked about the room more carefully now. It was a myserious place. The morning sunlight caught motes of dust golden and they glimmered as they floated around strange piles of unidentified objects.

"Perhaps I should open the window," said Vanwe. "Yes, help us breathe in all this dust," replied Aman. Vanwe promptly saw to it, adding her mind that removing the necessity to jump through glass or tarry to open it in haste should Benia appear in pursuit would further improve her slim chance of freedom.

Vanwe turned back from the now opened window and pushed up the sleeves on her periwinkle blue dress. On the floor, their skirts had traced large swathes in the dust and already held the disarray of the attic upon their dresses.

"Oh no, Aman, your lovely dress," Vanwe exclaimed as she noticed the dirt that had attached itself to the hems of their skirts.

"My lovely dress," Aman chuckled, "will take more of a beating than this before we are done." Vanwe thought that was a shame, for Aman's dress did not have patches and or signs of hard wear. It was a nice dress, she thought. One more question to add to her list.

Aman turned to where she had carried up cloths and some old, threadbare blankets from the night before.

"We need to sort out this junk," she said, "I'm sure there's no need for this."

Aman reached to the nearest pile and held up an object by way of example. Vanwe studied it.

"Aman, is that a squirrel?"

Aman looked at what she held. In her grasp was indeed a dust ridden grey squirrle that had been expertly stuffed and then stowed to moulder with the rest of the unwanted things in the attic. It stood on a wooden plith, tail all stiff and bushy, reared on it's two hind legs, large white teeth bared for all hazelnuts to quiver in fear from beyond the squirrel's grave. Aman suppressed a slight shudder at the hideous example of taxidermy she held aloft.

"Yes, yes it is Vanwe. This is why the attic simply must be cleaned."

Aman set the stuffed squirrel down, spread out an old blanket and placed the squirrel in the centre of the blanket.

"Any serviceable furniture or supplies for the inn we can set in that corner, the rest we can place here for removal," Aman said, scowling at the still defiantly rearing squirrel. Vanwe looked around the attic again.

"We may not have enough blankets... but I can rig up a pulley such as the one in the stable to get the junk down, Aman," Vanwe offered as she stepped closer to inspect another pile.

"We can arrange for Derufin to cart it down the stairs, Vanwe," Aman said as she added more to the squirrel's blanket. Vanwe straightened in surprise as Aman started to laugh and Vanwe felt her shoulders relax a little. Soon enough the blankets started to fill with all sorts of oddities, imaginable and otherwise.

"Aman, what is this" Vanwe asked more than once. Often, Aman would name it a mathom and roll her eyes. She had asked what a mathom is, to which Aman replied with habitual humour, "Noone knows, not even the hobbits who keep mathoms."

Before long, Vanwe had neatly distracted herself in all the fantastic new things she found in the attic. She found an irridescent green feather boa, which she had promptly tossed around her neck in a spontaneous show of her own humour. Aman looked up in surprise at the Elf woman, who sat covered in dust, face smudged, dust cloth tucked in her belt, worn blue dress with a trail of garrish feathers trailing around her neck and down her back.

"I like attics, Aman," Vanwe declared with a rare easy smile that cast her features into a new light. She twirled the end of her boa in emphasis.

"A little too much, perhaps," Aman retorted, which only caused Vanwe to smile all the more as she unwound the boa and added it to the growing pile of mathoms to be discarded. Vanwe turned back to the pile she was presently sorting through and started to hum once more, softly and gently as she explored the ordinary and extraordinary tableau of life in the Shire that had been gathered into the attic of the Green Dragon Inn.

[ June 12, 2003: Message edited by: Elora ]

[littlemanpoet]

After Eodwine had spoken at length with Lespheria over breakfast, he excused himself, paid for his room and board, and bid farewell to the staff. He would be gone for a little while but would be back.

Eodwine left the inn and went to the stables to check on his horse. Somewhere between he barely avoided a decidedly nasty looking and smelling bit of refuse lying in the grass. Someone's breakfast must not have sat well, he mused, and went on.

Eodwine mounted his steed and horse and rider trotted west from Bywater. As the day wore on a Hobbit here and a Hobbit there from Hobbiton to Michel Delving saw a man and horse riding west. After Michel Delving he left the road and headed north into wild country.

OOC: I will be on vacation for a week. So I have absented myself from the RPG for an indefinite time.

[Child of the 7th Age]

When Vanwe and Aman trudged down the attic stairs carrying an assortment of "mathoms", Cami took off her bartending apron and came over to have a look. She stared at the items that were heaped up on the table and absently began to thumb through the piles. "Look at all this!" Cami rhapsodized, her fingers lovingly stroking the green feather boa while she stared approvingly at the rearing squirrel.

Aman had ducked behind the main counter to find herself and Vanwe a drink after all the hard work they had done. Without looking up, she casually said, "Yes, can you believe that useless stuff? Whoever would save so many things? We're going to put these in the trash. And there's a hundred times that many still upstairs. It'll take us days to get the place cleaned out, before we can even think of using a hammer or paintbrush."

Aman began fiddling with some flasks and bottles stored behind the counter. She picked out a nearby table, beckoning Cami and Vanwe to come join her, while she poured them some drinks.

The small hobbit didn't even bother sitting down. She gave the Innkeeper a look of pure exasperation, and cried out, "You can't be serious! You're going to throw out all these beautiful mathoms?" Cami hovered protectively over the feather boa and the assortment of other interesting items that the two women had discovered. "Why, these are valuable. Any hobbit in the Shire would absolutely die to own many of these amazing mathoms. I'm not going to let you throw them away!"

With that cry of defiance, Cami threw her body protectively over the nearest pile of treasures and glared over at Aman. She could never understand the attitude of the Big Folk when it came to mathoms. Even Piosenniel had been like that.

Cami was forever dragging in ten or twenty treasures that she'd picked up in various ways. Most were gifts from friends, but others were little things that folk had sold her over the back fence for a penny or two. Pio was always asking her to pick them up or find them a secure storage place, suggesting that the rooms would be tidier and more organized if it weren't for Cami's plethora of junk. Big folk just didn't understand how important it was for hobbits to live with all their lovely treasures surrounding them, even if they made the room a bit untidy.

Cami stood up and confronted Aman. "You can't just discard these. If you put them out back in the trash barrels, you might cause a riot. Every young hobbit in the area, and a few of the older ones as well, will be picking through the barrels and quarrelling over who gets to haul these treasures away."

Aman put her hand on her hip and stared back at the small hobbit who was defending her stash so vigorously. "Cami Goodchild, just what do you think I should do with all these things and the hundreds more we're going to find upstairs? The Inn will be buried under an assortment of junk, unless I find some way to get rid of them."

Don't worry about that," Cami assured Aman. "All the hobbits in the Shire will be pounding a path to the Dragon once they hear about the treaures that are here. Just put them in the storage shed for now. When you finish cleaning everything out, we'll set up tables in the courtyard and invite everyone to have a look. Then, for just a few pennies each, the hobbits who live nearby and own own guests will be able to purchase these treasures. Every one of them will find a loving home. I can promise you that. Hobbits are always looking for ways to increase their supply of mathoms."

Cami looked over at Aman, triumphantly beaming from ear-to-ear.

[ June 12, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

It was already bright outside when Gilly managed to open her eyes. She was not feeling well, not well at all. Once again she and Benia had stayed up until the early hours reminiscing. It was an enjoyable evening, but this morning she regreted the lost of sleep.

After Benia had retired to the chair, Gilly had decided that she had best read the letter she had been carrying in her pocket all day. Yet another thing she regretted. The handwriting on the envelope was her husband’s, and the news it held was rather trying, robbing her of any remnant of a peaceful night. She had spent the long hours formulating and refining a plan of action.

Couched in his finest writing, Carl had delicately, albeit in a characteristic round-a-bout way affected a major change in her domestic happiness. In brief, Carl’s sister and her family had decided to move from their home in Brandy Hall back to Bywater. This involved staying indefinitely with Carl and Gilly until suitable accommodations could be found, not an easy task. Much as Gilly adored her sister-in-law, the children were a wild lot and choice of husband downright peculiar. The whole house would need to be battened down to weather this storm successfully!

Gilly, slid out of bed, washed her face in the basin and padded across the floor to the parlor. Benia was not there.

Laying open on the floor next to the chair was Benia rucksack. Gilly could see the neatly folded items pushed to the side leaving a large space on the other. Behind the chair was a sheathed sword, and on the table Beania the Fair’s ring. What’s this? Gilly thought with an unexplainable sense of urgency. She rushed out the door, making her way to the commons room.

Blocking her way, various staff members were making their way from the staircase to a large table, burdened with what appeared to be the most wonderful gifts, though perhaps a mite dusty!

[ June 12, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman stared at Cami for a moment, then burst out laughing. She couldn't help it. The other two looked at her, mystified.

"Oh, its just the way you threw yourself over it, Cami, and..." She waved a hand at them. "Oh, ignore me. Light depravation maybe." She ducked back under the bar, handing Cami and Vanwe a tumbler each of the delightfully fizzy apple juice which she had found stored in the chilly larder. Cami reluctantly detached herself from the pile, but still sat between it and Aman. Aman shook her head, twirling a small stirring stick in the apple juice, smiling.

"Cami, I wasn't intending to throw it all away. When I first saw the attic, I did think there was bound to be some half valuable things in there- why do you think I was looking so closely. But these," she gestured with the stick at the sorry looking pile. "Do you think they will have any takers?"

Cami nodded, but less fiercely than before, still protective, but a new light in her eyes as she realised Aman didn't intend to throw it all away. She shifted slightly away from the pile and began to finger the boa gently, stroking it lovingly. Some things about hobbits, Aman thought, I will never understand. "I promise you Aman, none of this will go without a home."

Aman sipped the drink thoughtfully and absent-mindedly wiped a smear of dust from her cheek. "I think there are some real treasures up there-" She said slowly, before being cut off by Cami.

"Mathoms," the hobbit declared indignantly. "are treasures in their own right."

Aman regarded her for a short moment, then nodded. "Aye, have your mathoms then. 'Twill make some extra money for the Inn, and we will need that I wager for Pio's party. Could you find Buttercup and Ruby, Cami?" The hobbit nodded and cheerfully scurried off. "And we," Aman turned to Vanwe. "have some serious sorting to do."

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

The boy looked at Aleia warily and turned his back. Aleia sighed and muttered, "I suppose that's a 'no'." She turned about and made her way back to the bar. On the way she spotted Benia, who waved. Aleia waved back and thought, She must be leaving.

As she sat down, she set her coffee and toast upon the table. Then she wrapped herself in her cloak and sat there thinking quietly. After a while, she noticed the woman beside her looking quite lonely.

"Excuse me, miss," said Aleia, tapping the woman on the shoulder. "I am Aleia Took, of Tookland. I was wondering if you would like to chat for a bit with me." As she waited for the answer, Aleia noticed the woman hastily brush away a few strands of red hair.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Making her way around the room, Gilly spotted Aleia. Greeting her with a "good morning" she asked if she had seen Benia recently. The hobbit thought that she had seen her last go into the kitchen, but a quick look told Gilly that she was no longer there. The thought of her friend mysteriously disappearing was unsettling, but how long could she stay in one place with out feeling hemmed in? At least her things were still there, even if she herself was absent.

Aman, the innkeeper, and a fair looking southern woman were seated at a table of dusty items from upstairs. Vanwe was turning them over in the light and dusting them carefully while Aman sorted the finished pieces into three groups. Aman was commenting on their relative value and chuckling to herself.

Gilly approached, hesitant to interrupt what was obviously the preparation for some large and important party. “Excuse me, Miss Aman?” Gilly ventured. “I’m sorry to disturb your work, but do you recall having seen Miss Benia Nightshade this morning? I have looked about, but don’t seem to be able to locate her.”

“Oh, you’re hardly disturbing us!” Aman declared cheerfully. “We are just doing a little house cleaning.” The lady from Rohan quickly shifted one of the piles to the floor as Ruby and Buttercup appeared covered in cobwebs and with arms full.

“Miss Nightshade was here earlier asking where she would be able to find supplies for the next leg of her travels. Perhaps she has gone to make the purchase.” Pausing in her sorting, she looked at Gilly and offered, “I sent her in the direction of Heathertoe’s House goods and the farmer’s market, if it is of help.”

“Yes, thank you. It is,” the hobbit smiled. It was a relief to find that Benia had left of her own volition. Every fiber of Gilly’s muscles promptly relaxed. Stooping over she picked up one of the trinkets off the floor. “You aren’t going to dispose of these are you?” she asked looking up at the innkeeper.

A grin spread over Aman’s face. “You are a hobbit, and know about these matters,” she began. “Can you explain the merits of such stuff?”

Gilly stood up slowly, still holding the figure of a squirrel in her hand. If this cleans up well it would make a perfect gift for Sylvia’s husband, she thought before turning her attention to Aman’s question. Her mind searched inward as she tried to find the words for her opinions on mathom. “You know,” she finally said, “some things are of value because they are useful or beautiful. This you know. But mathom is valuable because it is interesting to look at or perhaps to think about, yet most is easy to give away, to share. You never know who may have owned these things though the years. These have certainly been passed around for generations!”

Aman shugged as Gilly set the squirrel down, lingering a bit to look at the wonderful treasures.

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

A chill shot through the room, awakening Talenyanica from her nightmares. She sat up slowly and looked over at hearth, as cold as she is. Talen starts to rise to start the fire anew, but stops and gazes out the window. So far from home, but even far in her heart it seems. She stiffles her tears as she pulls on a cloak, drawing the hood over her pointed ears and long blonde hair. She pulls on her boots as the first stars out to the east begin to flicker out like an old flame. Talenyanica runs out of the room and down the stars with nothing, but remorse.

She runs out to the stables behind the Inn and grabs her loving liverchestnut gelding. A thought crosses her mind of her beautiful mare that she had left at home. She could still here the old mares whinny in her mind, it was the heartshattering whinny she gave at being left by the elven princess.

Talenyanica burst out of the stables as the sun rises. She wises to greet her old friend that has watched over her everyday, but instead she turns the gelding towards the west and gallups off her old friend warming her back as she searches for what she does not yet know.

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Just so we're all on track here:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It is still morning of a pleasant summer day at the Inn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Nerindel]

Léspheria and Eodwine spoke of her bother and Fawain's plight most of the morning. Eodwine had seemed surprised that she had remained behind, until she explained that although she was proficient with a sword, words and healing were her gifts.

Eodwine had quizzed her for every detail, this worried her a little, she knew the man was seeking adventure but this was not what she would call an adventure. After Eodwine had finished his breakfast he excused himself, saying that he would be leaving this morning.

"Your not planning to journey to Annúminas, now are you?" she asked showing her concern. Eodwine looked at her then smiling mischievously, he shook his head "No, off course not! Why, I would not wish to be the cause of more worry to you my dear lady", with that he gently took her hand, kissed it softly and bid her farewell.

"Quel fara" (Good Hunting) she whispered as he left, for something in her heart told her that if Annúminas was not his course then this man would surely enter the wilds to look for his adventure.

After Eodwine left she cleared up his empty breakfast dishes and took them to the kitchen for washing as she entered the kitchen she was surprised to find only cook there. The hobbit woman was busy baking and the delightful smell of bread baking in the stove filled the room. "Where is everyone?" she asked as she washed up the breakfast dishes.

Vinca jumped "Oh, my dear what are you thinking Making me jump like that!" she scolded. "The other's are busy helping miz Aman to clear the attic, They intend to turn it into a few more much needed rooms" she continued, before Léspheria had time to apologise.

Lespheria lightly skipped over to picked up her apron saying "Then I best get to work, we can't have the guests going thirsty now, can we!" she laughed. she heard Vinca chuckle as she left her to her baking.

As she filled a fresh pitcher she saw Aman, Vanwe, Cami, Buttercup and Ruby rummaging though tables full of dusty oddities, the three hobbit woman were delighting at the wonders that they found as they wiped the dust from various long forgotten items.

As she turned to serve the various patrons who's mugs were drained, Vinca burst though the door with a tray in her hand, "Oh, Léspheria my dear you couldn't take this over to the ladies, I must catch the bread before it burns" Smiling she nodded and took the tray from the flustered woman's hands, as soon as the tray was in her own hands Vinca bolted back through the door shouting her thanks as she left.

The tray held Five mugs and a large cold pitcher of Iced mint tea, a plate full of cooks famed honey cakes and Five warm damp clothes, presumably so the five woman could clean their dusty hands and faces before enjoying their refreshments.

She slowly walked up to the table careful not to trip on the things that lay strewn about the floor. The Five woman were so busy that they didn't mark her presence until they heard the mugs clink together as she set the tray on the nearest empty table.


"Refreshments!" she smiled trying hard to bite back the laugh that was threatening to escape her lips at the sight before her, the five woman were covered from head to toe in dust.

"Are we having fun?" she laughed as the ladies picked up the damp cloth's and wiped the dust from their grimy hands and faces.

The three Hobbit women nodded profusely, causing herself, Aman and Vanwe to burst into fits of laughter.

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Snowdog]

(OOC: Sorry, especially to Elora & Ealasaid, for the lateness of my post. I will recap the time from where my character was 'last night'through 'today.)
----------------------------------------------

Silvanis sat silently upon a grassy knoll with Blackveil grazing nearby as the sun sank to twilight, and in a trance he went. The cooler breeze of the summer night approaching felt good as he decided to sleep there in the grass, but when its westerly breath paused, the heat filled the air, bringing memory of the Southern dunes and the Oasis Inn...

From inside the Green Dragon, the faint sound of dance could be heard, and Silvanis turned to the woman he slipped the stone to. The stone will either fill her with fear or memory, and it was his hopes she would know that not all that was evil remained evil after the downfall. Yet it will puzzle her to no end to wonder why he slipped it to her. For it is unknown to her that her veiled countenence and figure reminded him of a dancer away south, and now he wondered if she did that dance even now inside the Inn. Maybe it was the wandering gaze she had, really calling no place home, much like he. Maybe it was the mystery of her glance....

Silvanis restrained himself from getting up and going in, for he had no room there this night, but contented himself in listing to the faint tinkle of finger cymbals and the varying intensity of the music through the night air. It was partially in thought, partially in dream that he started to drift when the sounds ended.

It was the words of the woman from the stable that brought him to, for the sound of the southern reaches was in her voice as well. It was rare indeed that there be two from the south here, and rarer still an elf with the accents! Silvanis stirred and his hand reached for the pouch he silently scooped up in the stables earlier. He let her se it, but he slid it back, seemingly unknowing it was her notes and collections in the pouch. She spoke of Blackveil, who was a bit on edge at the approach of the woman, but remained calm.

Yes, she is a faithful friend and we respect each other. She is wary of all but me, unless she feels a comfort, like with this stablemaster here who managed to give her this fine grooming.'

She went on about matters Silvanis knew not of, and it was not his business to meddle one way or another and so let the dice fall as they may.

'You owe me no debt m'lady. I will be here ere the sun rises.'

And she wandered off in the darkness, Silvanis drifting off with the sound of the Inn wafting outto the opening and closing door.... ting-ting-tek-a-tek-ting-tek-a-tek .... A voice, low and sweet, began to sing a melody that haunted his dreams, and though intense and strange his dreams that night, he awoke to the dark blueness of the clear morning skies above, with only the brightest stars struggling against the ever-approaching sun.

Silvanis saw Blackveil still contentedly grazing nearby, and as he stood she came over. Reaching into the small satchel she carried, he took a strip of jerky to chew. For he was not going to spend another meal at the Inn. The food was good, but one could become complacent there, and so he readied Blackveil to ride. 'Iffn they only had some of that Khandese coffee bean that was making waves in Gondor these days'.... the aroma would draw him in, but for tea... no.

A thought came over him right then... If he could gain the ear of the Innkeeper, he would ask if they would be interested in trying some when he returned from the south seasons from now? The possibillities of introducing the halflings to a fine exotic brew that was way better than the local fare.... A rare smile broke across his face as he managed thoughts of trade... some pipeweed to take there, some good coffee to bring back... ah yes!

Silvanis stopped in front of the Inn, and entered to gain a mug of morning shire coffee to take with him, and he wondered where the woman Vanwe wished to discuss with him the night before...

----------------------------------------------

(OOC: I will try to stay on top of the posts, but being away for a few daays or a week really gets one behind here.)

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

The woman shook her head and said softly, "No." Aleia nodded politely and turned back to her toast upon the table. "Not a day for friendliness," she muttered to herself. Finally finishing her breakfast, she pushed her stool back from the bar and went up to her room.

Upon reaching her room, Aleia packed her belongings back into her rucksack. She withdrew a few coins to pay for the board of her and her horse and the food she had consumed. She thumped down the stairs, paying the barkeep, and made her way to the stables. When Skeet saw her, he nickered and waited eagerly for a treat. She gave him a piece of carrot that had been hiding in her pocket and led him out of the stable, nodding to Derufin as she left. Aleia mounted Skeet and trotted off.

[alaklondewen]

Several minutes had past when Ruby came out of the kitchen with a plate piled high with bacon, eggs, and bread. Fanyarhir’s eyes widened at the sight. He had never eaten in the Shire before. “So what do you think?” Ruby asked smiling broadly as she set the plate on the table in front of him. She seemed to be enjoying Fanyahir’s shocked expression.

“Well…” He started not knowing exactly what to say. “I said I’d leave it in your hands, lady, and I think you’ve done wonderful job. Thank you.” Fanyahir smiled charmingly at Ruby, and she did a small curtsy and turned away.

The journey of the night before was lying heavily of Fanyahir. He was exhausted and the hot meal was wonderful. As he ate he watched the inn’s guests come and go. A variety of people filled the common room, and Fanyahir looked for a friendly face.

[Everdawn]

Oh well, i guess it is just like home, alone and ignored. Thought Madea sitting alone at her table. It was ironic, that everywhere seemed to echo the coldness of her fathers home.

Still she sat, pushing her black hair out of her face, watching the hobbits, men and elves make their way about the inn. So many elves... she stared at them in awe. It is like the stories say, they do put men to shame. she laughed. The hobbits to, were amazing to Madea.

But soon enought she grew bored. "Who would have thought freedom would grow so dull in so shorter time?" she said to no one.

[piosenniel]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] NOTICE OF NEW GAME OPENING [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Manardariel, Sophia the Thunder Mistress, and Nurumaiel invite you to look at their new RPG:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Corsairs and Corsets ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~.

~*~*~ Discussion Thread to open 06/16 – Monday - 0730 Pacific Daylight Time ~*~*~

Please read this Discussion Thread thoroughly; develop an interesting character to play from the “Characters Needed” list; and then write a First Post for your character, to be submitted with the Character Description. Here it is!

Chrestienne, what a nice name, thought Dorelnar to himself. A story must dwell around one with such a name but of course the story must wait till the maiden had finished her meal.

Dorelnar looked around the table trying to get a sense of the feelings and what he had missed. Something had happen between Soronume and Niniel, but what. There was something...No Soronume was too good at masking what he was thinking, nothing was showing on his face. On Niniel's face, well she seemed to be beaming. The pair got up to go to the bar. Yes, something had changed!

But then so had many things. The Lady Elwen was no exception. She seemed different, something about the way she sat, the way she played with her hair, as if this was just a moment not worth worring about. She still retained her sparkle though, that light that followed her where ever she went. Dorelnar smiled to himself, recalling memories of nights long past below the stars and the moon, in clearings still and secret. What a change this place made. No where in his search had Dorelnar ever found a place like this. But then never before had he found the Lady Elwen.

Dorelnar's thoughts seemed to float around him. He could see them, like smoke, they twirled around the heads of the others seated at the small table in the corner by the fire. He sparkled with different colours and shades. Some dark and heavy, thoughts not to be disturbed where they lay sleeping; others bright and glistening. What tales of joy and happiness they left behind them.

And through the thoughts the Lady Elwen's light seem to shine through all. Making the light thoughts sparkle and the dark thoughts lighter. She really was a light to him in darkness and in shade, even his thoughts could sense it!

Dorelar shut his eyes, only to open them moments later to see the Lady Elwen looking at him; smiling.

[arelendil]

A maiden of the stars. "Indeed, I am." laughed Elwen, "But how did you know? A keen eye you must have to spot the little things that make me different from Soronume. Few ever notice the difference, too concerned in there own thoughts and life, I suppose."

Elwen smiled at Dorelnar. He seemed to be thinking or at least watching his thoughts float by.

"Why do you ask?" spoke Elwen again to the maiden Chrestienne. "Is there a question you have of me or was it just a passing comment? Few have ever commented on the nature of myself."

What a lovely person this maiden seemed to be. What was it that had made her join them at their table in the corner Elwen wondered. It was odd that so many had joined them in such a short length of time. Not that it mattered. Elwen loved people, especially those she didn't know. They always provided something new and different!

Elwen brushed her dark hair out of her face and flicked it behind her shoulder, before continuing to play with the loose strands that hung in her face, slowly twisting them around her slender fingers.

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: arelendil ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman smoothed down the new dress she had just put on, doing up the last of the buttns at the back. She had done up to her room to change into a clean dress, for the other one was now dusty and dirty, and had aquired a small rip catching on the odd instrument which Cami had pronounced to be a seed sower the first time they had come into the attic but, judging by its fierceness and its attitude towards Aman's dress, which Aman was becoming more and more sure was a long lost item of torture. When her dress had ripped, Vanwe had semmed very upset, saying to Aman that she would fix it, that she could handle a needle and thread. Aman had shushed her, confused, saying she would mend it herself. She couldn't help wondering why Vanwe had been so upset. Her own dress was patched many times, and was quite worn. Aman made a note that at the next event in the Shire when there was a possibility of presents being given, and there were plenty in the Shire, to bear Vanwe in mind.

She ran her hands over the treasure she had found in the attic, now draped across a large trunk at the foot of her bed, her fingers running over its soft folds, its texture almost silky. Not everything in there had been rubbish, and Aman had made a few finds which she was sure would attract even the non-Hobbit customers of the Inn, but she had smuggled one away to her room. The dress was dove grey underneath the dust, darker now with water, for Aman had washed it quickly to remove the dirt, curious to see what it was like cleaned up. A low, square neck, comely on herself, was lined with black, and the dress's sleeves were also very fancy, sloping and becoming wider, and ending at the elbow. Aman reckoned it would be worn with an undergarment of some kind, with full length sleeves which would run beneath and then out of the shorter sleeves of this dress. More importantly, it was human sized. Aman had no idea of how it had come to be in the attic, but it had been quite far back, and the original owner had certainly forgotten about it. She picked up the dress, trying it against herself in the mirror, and smiled. Vanwe was about her size, and this dress would fit her. The girl seemed to love pretty clothes, such as the feather boa, and Aman figured that if she was given a dress such as this, she would be delighted. And she intended to do so as soon as an oppurtunity presented itself.

The sound of Cami's voice reminded Aman that she should have been downstairs already. Carefully draping the dress across the trunk once more, she locked her door and went downstairs.

In the doorway of a side room leading off from the common room, Cami stood, a fierce expression on her face and a broom clutched in her hands as she shooed away the inquisitive denizens of the Inn (a crowd with an exceptional amount of hobbits straining forward particularly hard, Aman noticed). Aman pushed her way gently through the crowd, murmering apologies as she made her way to the door. Cami stepped back to let her through and a few hobbits attempted to rush their way through. Cami immediately sprang back into position, broom a-brandished.

Shutting the door, Aman breathed a sigh of relief at having escaped the masses, and looked around. Inside the room, piles of attic jumble were being sorted into various piles according to what they were. They were, however, several piles simply marked 'Mathoms'.

"Seems mathoms are even more highly valued than I though." She remarked, as the sound of Cami's authoritive, schoolteacher-like voice came from the other side of the door.

"You can't imagine, Miz Aman." The muffled voice came from behind a pile of furniture, and Cook unearthed herself. "Even I had to fight my way through."

The other sorters consisted of Vanwe, Buttercup and another who Aman vaguely recognised as Gilly, as well as another, Madea who had apparently been conscripted to help. There was a thump on the door and Aman jumped back, opening it slightly, then fully as she saw who it was.

"Feeling better, Derufin?" She inquired. The man certainly looked less sorry for himself as he brushed himself down, but glanced behind him at the closed door with a hunted look.

"They seem to have formed a mob!"

"Something to do with the wonders of mathoms."

"Mathoms?"

Aman shrugged, then beckoned him forward. They each chose a pile. "No doubt Vinca will explain as we go along. They have great value apparently."

"Apparently? Ooh, Miss Aman!" Vinca's voice was indignant. Aman grinned over a pile of toys.

"My apologies, Cook. Come on, we need to get this little lot sorted and ready for airing in the form of a jungle sale as soon as possible- before they get rabid and start calling for our blood!"

[Ealasaid]

Anxious to purchase the supplies for her upcoming journey, Benia crossed the courtyard of the Green Dragon at a quick pace. She was still puzzling over the fear in the eyes of the elflady she had encountered in the kitchen, and even more flummoxed by the sweeping bow the lady had delivered. Benia had not seen a bow like that delivered anywhere outside of Far Harad. But, what would an elf have been doing in Harad? And what reason would she have to fear Benia? Benia glanced up at the windows of the inn and, to her surprise, caught a fleeting glimpse of the elflady's face, watching her from an upstairs window. The face vanished abruptly. Biting her lip in contemplation, Benia turned to go. She was so absorbed in concentration that she nearly walked right under the hooves of an approaching Ranger's horse.

The Ranger reined his gray stallion to the side, and Benia apologized politely, barely looking at his hooded face. Instead, her eyes were caught by the sudden subtle movement of his gloved hand toward something at the front of his saddle. Just then, Gilly burst out the front door of the inn.

"Benia!" she gasped, just a little out of breath. "There you are! I was hoping to catch you, but then I got caught up just a little bit in the kitchen. They have the most wonderful collection of mathom on display! They must be planning a marvelous party."

The man's hand stopped in it's motion and returned casually to his side. Benia turned toward the sound of Gilly's voice, a smile breaking out on her face.

"You hobbits and your mathom!" she joked. "How would you ever get on without it?"

"Of course, you wouldn't understand," answered Gilly. "Always moving about the way you do. But we hobbits know what tremendous value there is in mathom. Not monetary, of course --" she added with a nervous glance at the Ranger. "But it is very valuable nonetheless."

At that, the Ranger turned his gray horse and proceeded toward the inn's stableyard. Warily, Benia watched his retreating back. There was something familiar about him, as if she had seen him before somewhere. It's probably nothing, she told herself, just as it had been nothing with the other one, the one she had suspected of giving her the red stone. Nonetheless, something about this one made her thankful that she was soon to be leaving the Shire. When Benia turned her attention back to Gilly, she found her friend watching the Ranger as well.

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]

[Ealasaid]

Kaldir went to the Inn of the Green Dragon because it had come to his attention that there was a Southern lady, a desert lady of Far Harad, staying there. His spy had even seen the intricate tattoos of her hands that identified her as a lady of the Painted Sand tribe. She would bring a good price. There were still those in the world who remembered the arrogance of the Painted Sand people, and they paid well for their revenge. Evidently, this woman had not made any effort to keep her presence a secret, even being so silly as to favor the common room with a song in her own dialect. The only thing she could have done to draw more attention to herself, thought Kaldir, was to deliver a dance with a sword balanced across the crown of her head. Kaldir smiled as he turned his horse into the courtyard of the inn. Foolish as she seemed, this one would be an easy catch.

For a fleeting instant, Kaldir could scarcely believe his luck. He had no sooner turned his horse into the courtyard than here the lady came, buried in thought and walking almost directly into his arms! He should seize her right there and then, Kaldir told himself, just bind her up, toss her across the back of his saddle and be gone. His hand moved slowly in the direction of the rope he carried looped across his saddle horn. Just then, a hobbit lady burst out the front door of the inn, calling the desert lady by name and babbling some nonsense about mathom. Kaldir's hand stopped and returned to his side. Too bad! he thought to himself, but he was not about to take his quarry right in front of the hobbit lady. All he needed was for her to sound the general alarm, and quicker than he could say peas and potatoes he would find himself surrounded by forty angry hobbitmen brandishing pikes and hoes. Hobbits were small and, for the most part, pretty silly in his eyes, but they could be a fierce lot when they had their backs up. Well, later, he promised himself. The desert lady carried no luggage. She would be back.

He turned his horse and continued through to the inn's stableyard.

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]

[Nurumaiel]

The door opened and a young woman stepped in, throwing back her hood as she did so. She gave a quick glance around the room, then turned and gave a nod to someone standing just outside the door. Her brown eyes flickered in the light from the open window as she entered the common room, a man behind her. The woman was dressed in a brown dress that fell loosely about her and matched her hair and eyes perfectly. The man was also dressed in brown, and his eyes and hair were of the same color as her own.

Nobody paid much attention to them. It was quite true that neither of them were very handsome, but the man had a noble, wise look about him, and the woman a kind, graceful look. Those who could see past outer looks noticed this, and their eyes lit up. Most just ignored them, for they had seen many people come and go at the inn.

"Ruddyn, shall we find a table so we can speak?" the woman said in a low voice. "There is much to talk about."

"No, sister, that would not do," the man replied. "For though shouting out in a loud voice would raise much attraction, to go to a quiet corner and speak dark secrets would bring suspicion to those who may see us. No, Fendadia, I do not think we should do that just yet."

The woman gestured to the counter and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Then shall we go order a drink, meet the innkeeper, and perhaps some of the guests? For it is still morning, and we have much time to talk over things." Without waiting for an answer, she went up to the counter to order a drink.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

“Is it someone you know?” Gilly whispered quietly, staring at the Ranger crossing the yard.

“I’m not certain,” Benia replied, her instincts surfacing despite her relaxed manner. “Come, let us go inside and put these things away. At the moment I feel it would be a good thing to have my hands free!” She said lifting her arms slightly to show the bundles she carried.

“Ah, foolish me! Here, let me help you.” The hobbit said freeing Benia right arm of its burdens. “Begging your pardon Miss Benia, Ranger or no, his going about all cowled like that, on a hot summer’s morning, he’s up to some mischief, he is!”

“Yes Gilly, I agree. But let us not stand here and wait for him to come follow us in the door, unless you intend to invite him to second breakfast in order to discover his plans!”

With that they headed indoors, weeding their way though the throng of treasure seeking hobbits crowding the door. Benia looked questioningly at Gilly with one arched eyebrow. “Early party goers?” she inquired.

“No just the curious, the stingy and the well informed! Isn’t that right Mrs. Bunce?” she asked patting a middle-aged hobbit on the back.

“Too, right, I expected! But tell me Miss Gilly, which am I?” The hobbit returned.

“All of course!” Gilly said jokingly. “Benia, I’d like you to meet my neighbor, Mrs. Myrtle Bunce. Myrtle, this is a dear old friend of my family’s, Miss Benia, friend of hobbits.”

“Well met!” Myrtle said taking Benia tattooed hand. “Any friend of Gilly’s must be alright. You must stop by for tea and meet my family!”

“Yes, thank you,” the desert woman replied, anxious to get inside. With a nod and a polite smile she took her leave and passed though the door wishing her eyes would adjust quicker after the bright sunny day outside. She must move quickly.

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Aleia returned to the inn after a refreshing ride through Bywater. A few hobbits had given her odd looks, but when they saw she was of their kind they smiled at her and waved.I have forgotten how charming these hobbits are! Aleia thought, and smiled and waved back.

Upon riding through the courtyard, she spotted Gilly chatting with another hobbit. She waved and called "Hello!", and Gilly called and waved back. When she reached the stables, Aleia gave Skeet to Derufin, who grinned and said, "Back so soon?"

"I just couldn't stay away," Aleia called over her shoulder. She re-entered the inn and said to the barkeep, "I'd like to have the same room as before, please."

"Thought you were leaving, what with your 'sack all packed up. Why'd you change your mind?"

"Oh...I just felt like staying a little longer," she answered. When she got up to her room, she eased her rucksack off of her back and sighed, rotating her shoulders, glad to be rid of the weight. Aleia went back downstairs into the Common Room and sat down, ordering an ale. As she gladly gulped it down, she noticed a dark-haired lass sitting by herself at a table.

"Might as well try for some company one last time," she muttered, and got up. Aleia approached Madea and said, for the third time that day, "Would you like to chat with me a bit, lass?"

Any hobbit sitting anywhere could easily be overlooked, but a tall human even in the darkest corner and wearing a grey cloak could be all but overlooked anywhere in the Shire. The man in the corner was no exception.

"Who is he" asked Drogo.
"I don't know but he hasn't ordered a drink all night, all he's done is sit there and watch other customers." replied the bartender.

[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Delian ]

Noticing (from the bartenders comment) that he didn't fit in as well as he did in the Prancing Pony ordered his first drink after the six hours that he had been there.

"One beer." he said softly when the bartender came by.

"Oh! He speaks! I for myself was startin to think you were mute." answered the hobbit.

"Not mute, just waiting."

"Who are you waiting for? I can check and see if they are here."

"Well let's just say I'm waiting for something, not someone."

SAVED for reworked post.

Please see your PM's (Private Messages)

~~ Piosenniel, Shire Moderator

[ June 16, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Everdawn]

Madea was still nervous of her new found freedom. The Girl bushed another lock of black hair over her shoulder as someone came to talk to her. A hobbit. "OH!" Madea cried out in surprise, im really very sorry, i diddnt see you!"

"Would you like to chat?"

Madea smiled, "Why not, it had been such a long time since i had a real conversation. My name is Madea, Madea Obisentauri. I have come to the shire.. well, i seem to have run away, really havent I?" she laughed nervously as she glanced around the Inn, she saw so many men with weapons, Which made her even more nervous.

"What about yourself, i am afraid i dont know your name."

Chrestienne smiled as Elwen pushed back her hair. "It was more a passing comment than anything else," she said after taking another bite. "You just feel different than Soronume."

She glanced around the table, refreshing her memory of faces and names. Dorlenar looked particularly thoughtful. Chrestienne wondered idly about his thoughts, for he looked troubled indeed. Soronume looked totally at ease, Niniel positively glowed sitting next to him. Mardath was being obnoxious, and she was beginning to think that was his usual modis operandi.

With a contented sigh, she pushed her plate a short distance away from her and turned her attention once again to Niniel. "I'm very sorry to ask you to repeat yourself, but I have forgotten the question you asked me earlier."

[Nerindel]

Léspheria was once again ducking behind the bar to refill the pitcher she carried. She turned the tap in the keg but nothing came out, "empty!" a puzzled frown crossed her brow, Buttercup hadn't shown her how to tap the kegs. She looked from the keg to the tap to the staff who were busily running back and forwards with arms full of various Mathoms as Cami had called them. 'Oh! how hard can it be, I have seen it done many times'.

She rolled the empty keg down to the cellar and brought up a fresh one, heaved it to were the empty one had previously sat, then picked up the tap and a small wooden mallet that sat under the bar. "OK here goes!" She placed the tap against the keg , closed her eyes and hit it as hard as she could with the mallet.

She opened her eyes pleased to see that the tap had gone in, but as she held the tap she could feel a pressure building behind it, She looked wildly around for one of the staff, she had no idea what to do now, she wasn't aware this would happen


As she pushed to keep the tap in, thinking the pressure would break her arm, a young man clad in brown leaned deftly across the bar and put his strong hand around the tap and with his other hand slowly turned the tap, "Mug" he urged smiling pleasantly. She did as he asked. Picking up the mug she pushed it under the new tap, at first only a dark frothy foam spluttered and splurted forth from the tap, then the dark nut brown ale ran smoothly into the mug. The stranger then turned the tap off, "there, you forgot to release the pressure" he smiled.

Léspheria looked into the deep brown eyes of the man who had just aided her, she saw a noble wisdom about him, even though his outward appearance was very average. "Thank you, kind sir" She smiled back "I shall have to remember that for next time" she blushed slightly.

Remembering her manners she put her delicate pale hand out to him "My name is Léspheria", Seeing his puzzled expression, at an elven maid working in an inn in the shire, she continued " I am helping out in the inn for a time, as you can see the staff are presently preoccupied." she swept her other hand across to indicate the Four hobbit women, Aman the Red headed Rohirrim innkeeper, Vanwe, another Elf and Deufin the handyman all busily cleaning and airing various items for a jumble sale. "But I will be happy to help you, if I can."

"My name is Ruddyn and this is my sister Fendadia" he said indicating the young woman that sat patiently beside him, as Léspheria turned to greet the woman, her eyes widened in surprise the woman was so obviously his sibling they looked so alike she was suprised she had not noticed before.

She was herself much like her own brother in looks, but they were twins. Looking at the pair she was almost certain that Ruddyn was older than his sister.

Pushing her dark long braid off her shoulder she waited patiently for the pair to order. Her grey elven eyes sparkled in the light of the late morning sun shinning through a nearby window.

[spirit_detective]

The figure walked into the busy inn, her blue eyes almost shining from beneath her hood. Noticing the stares from the onlookers, she smiled confidently and answered the quizzical looks.

"Pardon the intrusion." she walked over to a far table and sat down, placing her sword upon the wooden surface. A maid walked hesitantly up to her.

"We don't have any ale but-"

"Tea will be fine thank you." As she leaned back in her chair, she noticed the maid still standing there. She opened one glowing eye.

"You need something?"

"Your name might be something nice to start out with."

She chuckled to herself. "Aranti."

The maid nodded with a smile and turned to laeve. Aranti drew her hood back revealing short feiry red hair that flipped out at the ends. (My hair comes down slightyl below my ears.) Sighing contently, she looked around at the other tables. Most hand gone back to what they had been doing, but others were still giving her glances. She meerly shook off their gazes and waited for ehr tea.

[ June 16, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]