The Green Dragon

[Beruthiel]

So many people had come into the inn and it was getting stuffy inside, Ruth went outside for a breath of fresh air. Breathing in deeply, the wind pushed her long brown hair off her face. There was no one else outside and she felt very alone.

Walking to the stables she found her horse,Lid. Stroking him gently she felt comforted and yet there was something in the back of her mind that was tormenting her. Looking inside Lid's stable she could see something shiny lying in the dirt, moving closer she picked it up to see that it was a pendant.

It was extremely beautiful, a bright blue gem lay in the middle while silver patterns surrounded it.

Lookind at this, Ruth gasped and broke down into tears. 'This is a sign, I have to go' She told herself and without another word she led Lid out of the stable and galloped of, not knowing if she would ever return.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami burst in on the pair. She could clearly see the hobbit lass who had just come into the Inn and one of the male servers who was standing there with his mouth hanging open.

She jostled him aside, and went over to the girl, "Sorry, the help is new and don't know what they're doing. I'm Cami, the assistant Innkeeper around here, a good friend of Pio's who has come up to help her.

"You may not have seen me before. I haven't lived in the Shire for many years. I hail from the forest regions to the east."

"And what might your name be? Can I help you with anything?"

[Frodess]

With all of this hospitality and attention, the hobbit lass breathed a sigh of relief. Of course by this time, all of the food was gone and she stared longingly at the plate for a few seconds.

"I am Champignonne, daughter of Uthane Took. Perhaps you have heard of her, she has travelled far. She has sent me out on my own, to find the elves. May I have some cheese?" she asked, interruping her own story. Luckily, the cheese came quickly, so her eyes lit up and she felt a little more talkative.

"Thank you so much!" Champignonne exclaimed. "There is nothing like cheese during every meal!" However, she glanced longingly at the two other hobbits who had the mushrooms. She shrugged her shoulders and blushed, looking for some sort of response.

[ January 11, 2003: Message edited by: Frodess ]

[Carrûn]

Awyrgan sat back watching Umbria. For a time he waited for her to speak but eventually he decided she was still wracked with too much grief to reply. She will have to come to terms with this on her own.

He glanced out of the nearby window and noticed that the Sun was beginning to set in the West and the sky was growing darker. Time for me to be off, he thought. He pulled an envelope and quill pen from within his cloak, and finding no ink scooped up a handful of ashes to use instead. He looked at his boots for a time and then wrote a short note and placed it in the envelope. I would not part with such fair company on anything but pleasent terms. But I have need of haste as always and cannot tarry. It would greatly ease my heart if you could look after Nárello for me for a time. He will wish to be off soon but the child has seen more than his share of sorrows and deserves a rest. May the sun forever shine upon you, He paused, and then wrote with some difficulty, and those that will follow you. On the outside he simply wrote It was a fun game - perhaps we shall play again some day in a happier hour. A. He placed what he hoped to be a sufficient amount of coin into the envelope and then placed it on the small table next to his chair where his could be sure Piosenniel would find it. He considered walking over and handing it to her but decided against it. He glanced briefly about and was satisfied that none of the other patrons would touch it. I have that effect on people, he noted dryly.

Turning to Umbria he spoke to her for the last time. "Farewell Firstborn. May the Valar ease your pain." He then swiftly arose and glided like a wraith out of the door. Few apart from the sandy-haired boy and a few of the sharper eyed noticed his passing.

He drew his cloak about him, the night was coming on fast and a swift breeze blew about him. The stars were beginning to shine in the sky. Awyrgan looked up as he did every night to see one small star in the North shine brightly as if it were dancing. It is as it should be. I travel under you, selde, the one who I always see and yet will never see. Suddenly his eyes grew cold, then bright red like fire as grief and rage poured from within him like the sudden breaking of a dam. Yet he spoke no word nor uttered any cry. For once he made no effort to silence his emotions even though he knew there were those in the Inn who could sense them as clearly as if he spoke. Placing one foot ahead of the other he strode off into the night away from the Shire and the warmth of the Inn.

It was after some time that a shadow slipped up behind him. It spoke. "You are late friend." "A friend approaches from the front Arassuil." Awyrgan replied. The second man circled around until he was standing in front of the green eyed man. He was dressed in the garb of a Ranger and his eyes were keene. "It has been too long Encaitar." He said softly. Awyrgan stared at him coldly. "That name is dead to me - I am Awrygan, the Condemned One. I will never forget this and neither should you." Arassuil shook his head sadly. "My friend, will you never find peace in all of your wanderings. There are those who would see you retake your place among us, the place where you belong." "My place is in the ashes of my house where I failed to return in time. Many that should have lived are dead because of me." Awyrgan spoke bitterly. "What concern is it of yours anyway," he snapped. He paused. "I am sorry, life is hard and joys are few. No, I will never find peace my friend." Unshed tears in his eyes reflected the starlight but they would never fall.

Arassuil sighed. "Come, the others are waiting. They lost the tracks near a stream, perhaps your eyes will see better." Awyrgan nodded silently and they strode off into the night, faces bent towards the ground. For a second Awyrgan's thoughts strayed back to the Inn. So long as there is such a place there will be those like me to defend it. If for nothing more than that those such as the elf may grieve in some form of peace. The moment of reflection passed and he focused his eyes again on the ground, ever the hunter.

[ January 11, 2003: Message edited by: Carrûn ]

[Nurumaiel]

Just then Don hopped down from the stool and began walking out the kitchen door. "I'm fed up with you two crazy ladies," she said. "Especially the redheaded one. She talks too much. Goodbye!"

For a moment Rie and Nuru looked at each other, even Rie stunned, and then they rushed out into the common room, where Don was sitting and watching everyone.

"Don, what do you think you're doing, coming out here?" asked Nuru. "It's dangerous."

"So?" said Don stubbornly. "You can't make me leave. I'm my own person. If Mum or my second mum or Dad were alive and wanted me to, I would, because they're nice to me. But you two are just a couple of meanies!"

Rie sat down next to Don. "Tell me more about yourself," she said. "What happened after your family was split up."

Don seemed a bit more willing now that she was in the common room. "Oh, we went to live with different relatives," she said. "I had to go live with my mean old Aunt Mirabella. She made me go to bed really early, always be in stupid pretty dresses, and do you know what? She didn't think children should have fun. When I would tell her I'm bored she'd say, 'Why don't you read a book or just go to sleep?' I knew how to read because a nice old hobbit man who was a friend of my second mum taught me. But anyway, I'd ask if I could run and play outside with the other hobbit kids, and she'd say, 'No, you might get dirty, and playing and running is only for the children of ruffians.' Then I got really upset because she had just called my Mum and second mum and Dad ruffians because they let me run outside.

"And Aunt Mirabella wouldn't even let me talk to the other kids. She said I might learn bad things from them. She'd let me visit my sisters and brothers a lot, but not my twin. She said he was a bad example for me and it was better if I never saw him again. So I ran away.

"I went to find out where my twin was but when I got there my Aunt Donnamira, who has the same name as me and is worse than any other of my aunts and uncles, sent me right back to Aunt Mirabella, and I got scolded and sent to bed without supper. I ran away again, and this time I didn't try to find my twin, because I'd have to go right back to Aunt Mirabella. I just wandered around and had adventures and now I came here." Her eyes narrowed. "And what do I find? Two crazy ladies that are worse than my aunts could ever be!"

Nuru shoulders started shaking, and then, getting up, said quickly that she had to go back to the kitchen, for it was almost time for lunch.

"Why was she shaking?" asked Don.

"I think she was crying," said Rie, trying to fool the girl. "I think you hurt her feelings when you said she was a crazy old lady."

"No, she wasn't!" said Don. "You must not have eyes. She wasn't crying. She was laughing."

[Orual]

It had shaken Rie some when Don had bolted out of the kitchen. Just when she thought that she was making some headway! The girl really was stubborn, and more than a bit flighty: she had doubtless had a harder life than Rie had originally thought.

This hypothesis was proven by Don's life story...all those aunts and her seperation from her twin, and running away twice. Rie could hardly imagine being forced into a prim lady's role.

"Well, maybe she was laughing," Rie said, leaning back in her chair and falling back into her bickering. Then she caught herself. "Look, Don, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I'm just used to my own family, where offences can be smoothed away by a little witty dialogue. I guess it's not all like it is at my house."

"You didn't hurt my feelings, I was just tired of hearing you talk," Don muttered.

"Sure you--" Rie caught herself again. "Anyway, I can understand why you ran away, if you can believe that. If I'd been in your place, I would've run away as well. Imagine, them trying to stuff you in prissy dresses!"

"You're making fun of me," Don shouted.

"Shh, keep it down!" Rie hissed. "I'm not making fun of you. I mean it. My mother's a metalcrafter--she makes mail shirts, armor, swords, and the like--and so I was never made into a little lady, as you can probably see. But I too had aunts who wanted me to be a right Elven-queen!" She glanced at Nuru, who went into another little fit of laughter at that. Perfect timing, Rie thought, she had just recovered!

"Anyway," Rie continued, "if you'll believe me, I know what you're going through."

"You don't, either," Don insisted.

Rie quickly counted to ten in her head. "Sure I do. You needn't believe me if you don't wish, but it's true. From one non-lady to another, it's true."

[piosenniel]

She saw him place the coins within the envelope, and lay it carefully on the table. He meant to leave. She wished that there had been a longer space of time granted him for solace within the small boundaries of the Inn. Pio sighed. Well she knew the dark matters which could press upon the spirit, driving one on toward darkness and shadowed doom.

Her hand itched to grasp her blade again, proof against the encroaching Shadow. But the life within her stirred and she stayed those thoughts, feeling their needs call to her. ‘My task is done, for now.’ she told herself, feeling the Darkness which rose up again and yet again to challenge the Light.

She watched as he left the room, disappearing into the obscuring safety of the night. ‘The grace of the Valar be with you, Awyrgan.’ she murmured, knowing that those words could bring but cold comfort to the chosen

[Nuranar]

Dusk had fallen on the Shire. For a brief moment, the last rays of the sun had transformed the snow into a sheet of flame, glowing red. The famed Green Dragon Inn had seemed roofed with gold, blazing like a beacon on the shore of a dim sea. Now the blue shadows grew, rapidly deepening into night, but those enjoying the inn’s famed cheer cared little. The brief winter day had ended, but it would be a busy evening of laughter and song in this oasis of light.

When the wide front door swung open, its creaking hinges were unheard amid the chatter and clatter. In stepped an Elf, throwing back the hood of his cloak with one hand as he held open the door with the other. The warm yellow light of many oil lamps and candles glinted on his fair hair as he paused in the doorway; for an instant as his blue-grey eyes surveyed the room. Then he stepped forward and turned to hold the door for his companion.

She, too, was Elven, and clad like her escort in a dark cloak that had seen many seasons of service. However, her hair was darker than the twilight against which she was silhouetted; braided and wound about her head, it framed her face with a dusky coronet. Her features resembled those of her companion so strikingly that it was clear they were near kin. Furthermore, although most Elves appear young in the eyes of mortals, these two were truly young in their kind.

The two approached the Elven lady who appeared to be running the inn. “Mistress Innkeeper,” the young man addressed her, bowing courteously. “I am Tarondo, and this is my sister Luinien. We originally hail from that which was once Greenwood the Great; now we are from wherever we find ourselves. Might we request supper and some of the ale for which the Green Dragon Inn is renowned?” His eyes twinkled with merriment as he waited for her reply.

[Carrûn]

Nárello sat upon the counter in silence. He had watched Awrygan slip out of the Inn practically unoticed. Off again on some task which he would throw himself into in an attempt to quiet his own demons, only the boy knew from experience it would make no difference once it was over. The pain was too much to bear.

"He's gone," the boy said softly to himself and no one else in particular. Although he did not realize it, this was true in more ways than one. He had finished all the apples and was getting sleeping. His head nodded and he fell asleep on the counter.

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

[piosenniel]

‘Fair is the speech of the Elder Children of Eryn Lasgalen.’ said Pio, smiling warmly at the two. ‘And fairer yet the presence with which they grace this Inn.’

She came round from the bar, drying her hands, wet from wiping up the spills of the guests clumsy in their eagerness to be off with pints of ale and glasses of wine. A stray curl escaped the circlet she wore to bind back her hair, and she pushed it back unconsciously. ‘Most welcome are you! My name is Piosenniel, Pio if you prefer, the erstwhile Innkeeper for this moment.’

Pio led them to a table to one side of the bar, a place which would afford them some privacy. ‘Tarondo, Luinien, is it not?’ She bade them sit and sat down herself with them. She called a serving girl to the table, asking her to bring a platter of dried fruits and winter apples, some warm mushroom pasties, and bowls of the rich vegetable soup the cook had just made for her. ‘Oh, and a small basket of crusty, warm bread if you please, Elanor. A pitcher of the Winter Ale, two mugs, and a small glass of wine for me.’

She poured the ale for Tarondo and Luinien, then raised her glass to them in salute. Pio leaned back in her chair, enjoying the warmth of the wine as it coursed down her throat. There were many questions she wished to ask, but held her tongue, knowing that it was best to let guests speak in their own time.

[Himaran]

Bali sipped another ale while he awaited the return of Eruantalon from his long sought bath. As he did so, the dwarf noticed the hooded and mysterious man (A ranger, or related to them, he presumed) slip away from the room quietly and exit the inn.

Probably for the better, thought Bali, I didn't like the look of that one. He turned his concentration back to the remaining half of the dark liquid in his glass. If this was all these hobbits had to endure, life sure was good to those who lived simply!

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: Himaran ]

[Nuranar]

Tarondo sat back with a sigh and shoved away his empty plate. “My compliments to the cook!”

“Indeed! I have not had such an excellent meal for many long days,” Luinien agreed. “We have traveled far and long, and have rarely met with such good cheer. But the Shire is a beautiful land, and our journey through it has been easy and pleasant. Unlike some other times!” she concluded with a wry laugh. She caught Tarondo’s eye and read his agreement.

“You must agree it has been worth it – our travels, I mean,” he said, glancing at Pio. “Miss Pio, like so many others my sister and I can be termed wanderers. Although we have not been free from grief or trial, we are not driven by our pasts. We wander because we wish to, to see the wide lands and beauties of this world.”

“And we certainly have done so.” Luinien fell silent in remembrance. “I wish Father could see us now.”

[Finiel]

“Well, I didn’t know that there are still gentlemen living in this earth. Thank you for the seat Master Derufin,” Sarah said sipping her cup of tea after blowing some smoke-rings into the air.
“What brought me here you ask? Nothing actually. I am traveling from Gondor to visit my cousins in the north when I discovered this little inn,” she said as the man drank his ale.
“What about you, what’s your story?” she asked and then ordered another cup of tea. The room now got a bit of foggy with the two smoking and as Sarah blew a rather large smoke-ring it floated to the newly arrived elves. Embarrassed that her smoke-ring disturbed an elf-maiden’s hair, which was black as night and shines like a newly polished shoe (pardon me for the analogy), she apologized for her clumsiness. The elf smiled in return.

Then she faced Derufin again and noticed that he was a bit dusty and rugged compared to the squeaky clean elves by the bar.
“You do need a little bath you know. But the dirt gives you character,” she said in jest as the man laughed at her statement.

[Himaran]

Bali had decided that now would be a good time to get a room for himself. Thus, very reluctantly, he left his table and moved across the room to where Piosenniel was sitting.

"Mi'lady, might you know where the innkeeper is residing? I would like to get a room for tonight."

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: Himaran ]

[piosenniel]

Pio excused herself for a moment as Bali approached her and asked his question. She listened with amusement to his request. ‘My good Sir,’ she replied, ‘you are speaking to the Innkeeper at this very moment!’ His cheeks turned a little pink, an interesting color to see on a Dwarf’s face. ‘And yes, we do have a room for you. A special tonight, it will cost you but a couple of coppers. The Innkeeper is feeling generous tonight.’ The coins were exchanged, and the Elf called one of the servers to the table to show Bali his room.

Her eye caught the small figure of Nárello drowsing at the counter. His body, relaxed in sleep, leaned precipitously to one side. One more sigh as he dreamed and he would topple from the chair. ‘Again, you must excuse me.’ she said to Tarondo and Luinien.

She approached the sleeping child and laid her hand on his shoulder, thinking to wake him. He murmured a few words, and laughed softly, his body moving as if toward something offered. It was then that he lost his perch on the stool and would have slumped to the floor, had not the Elf caught him.

Cradling his small form against her, she carried him to her room behind the bar. ‘You are so light, little one.’ she whispered to his sleeping face. It brought a remembrance back to her of holding Shell in her arms in much this same way. She smiled at this thought, as she laid him on the small couch before the fireplace, and drew her cloak, carelessly tossed along the back of it, over him. Pio knelt down by him, and brushed a stray lock of sandy hair from his forehead. ‘Sleep well, sweeting. Let your dreamings be light.’

She lit a small candle lantern and drew down its hood to shield the bright light, leaving it for him should he waken. Closing the door softly behind her, she returned to her guests.

***

‘There was a certain fondness in your voice when you mentioned your Father, Luinien.’ And a certain sadness, too, I think., she added to herself. Pio had brought a pot of sweet-spice tea, and busied herself pouring out three cups of it. Her cup filled, she took a sip, watching the two as they raised their own to their lips. A few moments of easy silence passed. ‘Might I ask who your Father is?’ she said, setting her cup back on the table. ‘Does he wait for his children to come home to him?’

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Envinyatar]

Derufin’s nose crinkled as he looked down at this tunic. ‘Yes, a bath, most definitely! I shall have to look into that . . . later.’ He took another drink of his ale. ‘From Gondor, you say.’ he said, picking up their conversation. ‘I have traveled through that country many times, beautiful in its diversity, don’t you think? What part are you from?’ The two talked on, pleasant conversation to pass a winter’s evening.

His gaze roamed the room at times, watching the interplay of people there. Mostly his eyes followed the figure of the Innkeeper as she moved about, speaking to this one and to that. He smiled to see her gather the sleeping child in her arms, her head bent low, her lips moving with some quiet words for him.

[theWhiteLady]

Nell's hooves pounded upon the dirt road, carrying her master slumped in the saddle. A lone nightingale chirped a bar of sweet notes and there was a chorus of frogs singing raucously from a wood on the right. Laurie chided herself on being so sleepy, but the way to Hobbiton was much longer than she anticipated. Though she did not know its name, Laurie was following the Great East Road. She had already passed through Whitfurrows and Frogmorton, tiny hobbit villages, each window and door properly shut and barred for the night. At that very moment, Nell was passing the Three Farthing Stone, though it was too dark for Laurie to see.

Though used to long journeys, Laurie sighed and hoped it would be morning soon. It was never this cold in the South, she thought as her breath formed a cloud of frost. She urged Nell back into a canter and slept a little, letting her horse follow the road.

[Eruantalon]

After finishing his bath.He took out some fresh cloths from his satchel.Well now its been long since I wore these.He though to himself.But it is fitting none the less.


Now he was dressed in the way of the men of Gondor.The cloths he kept on him as spares if need be.So he made his way down the stairs, where he saw Bali talking to miss Pio.So he walked over to Elwen.Who he called Arendill earlier.

"So now,I can see you recognize my cloths.But your wondering still about my knowledge of you.Well,I am good friend with the Ents dear lady.They heard a silver haired man singing of the star maiden he was to meet.Named Arnedill the fair.He sang and described you in his song.So he sang to trees and things.The Ents heard of this from the trees."Pausing now to sit down.

"Then the trees heard your song and saw your silver bow.Witch is a rare and great weapon.This was also know by my friend Treebeard.So the trees said they had come across a star maiden.With a silver bow to him.Treebeard pays attention to all that sing to his trees you see.So he knew of you and that you where the one that the man had sang of."Now her eyes looked on him wondering.


"So you see all of this came to me when last I talked to Mossfoot.He had heard all of the news from Treebeard.Telling me of the fair people that where comming through the lands.So I knew that he was your betrohted.The silver ring on your finger my lady."He now pointed to her hand.

"Not much of any of the travlers that pass this land are not watched.By Rangers,Ents or orthers.Peole of your kind don't come vary often,you see.So it was easy to figure out.Besides that I have read of your kind before.I am a bit of a book worm you see.Its one of the main reasons that I am off to Rivendell soon.Would you like to join Bali and me?We have been going back and forth telling storys.I still have a few left as does he.He is kind and friendly,so there is no worry that he is some strange Dwarf.Come join us there will be fun in it.Maybe you have some good storys too Elwen."now Bali was done talking to Pio.He waved him over from across the room.

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: Eruantalon ]

[Sword Maiden Of The Shire]

Merry glanced around the Inn and noticed another Hobbit eyeing their mushrooms. He nudged Pippin in the ribs and she looked up at him. He moved his head in her direction and Pippin glanced over at her.

Pippin smiled kindly at her and then jumped off the bench and started towards her. Merry followed. "Hello" he said cheerfully "Who might you be?"....

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: Sword Maiden Of The Shire ]

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: Sword Maiden Of The Shire ]

[Finiel]

"Busy as a bee, isn't she?" Sarah said as she saw Derufin glanced at the innkeeper.

"I wonder what happened to Dwarin," she said to herself but Derufin heard her."

Pardon ma'm?" he asked.

"Oh nothing. Just wondering what happened to the former innkeeper. I was born in Lossernach but grew up travelling the country. My father was a merchant...until we were attacked by orcs on our way back to Helm's Deep," she was quiet for a moment remembering the horrible experience," but luckily some of us were saved by the soldiers of Rohan" she said at last with a smile.

The room was now getting crowded and it was a bit weird that nobody was sharing their sotry at this time of hour. And Sarah marveled at the guests who seemed to be in the common room for ages drinking ale or beer or any alcoholic drink but nobody seems to get drunk. Goodness! are there holes in their stomachs?! she thought.

[Everdawn]

Umbria had been sitting in a trance like state before the fire, she only just heard Awrygan's parting words to her. He was gone and Umbria put a hand to her face. There was a small cut above her eyebrow. She wispered to him, hoping that he would hear her words wherever he was,

"Even the Vala do not shine on me dear friend. I know where you have gone. And to say it is for the better, to once again take your place among them" She spoke some words in elvish and returned her eyes to the window.


For hours The man of Dol Amroth, Bebberyn had been riding around the shire. To himself he spoke,

"If I do return empty, without the Everdawn, I will be disgraced! The prince will never trust me with something so important again. I know I shouldnt leave her with such grief on her mind." and with that Bebberyn made up his mind, he rode back to the Inn.

He made his way in and spotted Umbria slumped in a chair. "my lady" he bowed and looked at her "youre hurt! who has done this to you Everdawn!"

She looked at Bebberyn as if seeing him for the first time "I have done it unto myself, Bebberyn the fair!" she closed her eyes. Bebberyn walked away from the table to Pio.

"Im sorry m'lady, I couldnt help noticing when you said you were the innkeeper, Im wondering if you have any bandages and hot salty water. You see that elf over there" he pointed to Umbria "She is The Everdawn, a very important advisor to the Prince of Dol Amroth. I fear she has hurt herself, she has had terrible news this night."

[piosenniel]

As soon as she heard what had happened to Umbria, Pio excused herself once again from the pleasant company of Tarondo and Luinien. She picked up her small healer’s bag and followed Bebberyyn to where the Everdawn sat.

She was looking decidedly pale, and a small rivulet of blood had streamed down her face to stain her cheek. ‘Looking more like sunset than dawn.’ thought Pio to herself, noting the lackluster cast to her eyes. Pio cupped the small chin in her left hand, and turned Umbria’s face to the right and left. No other bruising, that was good. But it was a nasty cut and would need a small suture.

Pio numbed the site with ice and cleaned it thoroughly, then numbed it once again. Bidding Bebberyn to hold the fair Umbria’s hands for her, she cleaned a fine curved needle with some Dwarven spirits, and threaded it with a fine strand of silken spider web. Two small stitches brought the edges of the wound together neatly. She dabbed a small drop of blood from the corner of the wound, and applied a fair amount of salve to the area, covering it over with a small bandage.

‘Take her upstairs to one of the rooms, and have her lie down, and rest. Sleep and time will be the best healers for her.’ Pio watched as one of the serving girls took the pair upstairs, helping to support the frail Umbria as she walked.

Once done, she cleaned her hands and put her bag away, hoping no one else would come to harm before the turn of another day.

[Nuranar]

Luinien had risen with concern when Piosenniel went to tend the injured lady, but she quickly realized that the capable innkeeper needed no assistance. Her heart warmed to the Elf and her compassion for all those around her.

When Pio returned, she resumed their conversation. ‘You had asked about our father. My father…my father was Amonhilion, He Who Follows the Hills. He and my mother were killed in a rockslide in the Misty Mountains.’ Pio murmured her sympathy. ‘But oh, while he was here he followed the hills, and he voyaged the rivers, and he roamed the plains. He loved this world, and he told us of what he had seen and where he had been. He passed that love onto us.’ Her eyes shone.

‘I can see that,’ Pio smiled. ‘Your mother must have been a rare lady.’

‘Indeed she was. She was an Elf of Mirkwood. Her name was Erinlothiel, and she loved the wood for the memory of what it had been before the shadow. But once she strayed alone and was trapped by the spiders. My father, making his own way through the forest, heard her cries and rescued her. Because of her he stayed some time in the realm of Thranduil; he grew to love her, and for her he gave up the life of the wanderer. And even when they left this world, they were together.’ Silence fell, the silence of remembrance, sweet and sad.

Tarondo sighed and took up the tale. ‘We left Mirkwood soon after, and for most of our lives we have traveled these lands. As Luinien said, Father passed on to us his love for the world, and we longed to follow his steps. But my father was not merely a wanderer,’ he continued, his face animating with pride. ‘Amonhilion was a warrior and the son of a warrior, and he and his father marched to Mordor with the host of Gil-galad.

‘Father returned alone. But with him he brought his father’s sword, that which I now bear. He taught me how to use it; indeed, he taught both us in the use of weapons and in the ways of the land. He wanted us to be fully equipped, to be ready for wherever fate would lead us.’

‘And after everything it has led us all here!’ Luinien laughed, dispelling the somber shadows of the past. ‘To the beautiful Shire and a most wonderful hostess.’

[Envinyatar]

He was growing weary, and charming as his companion was, he longed for the simple comforts of a wash up and a warm bed. A yawn escaped him, and he asked her pardon, that he did not mean to be rude. ‘Would you excuse me, m’lady.’ he asked as he stood up, saying that exhaustion was near to claiming him and would she pardon him if he went to his bed. ‘Perhaps we shall see each other again tomorrow.’ She raised her mug to him and waved him off.

Derufin picked up his pack and walked slowly to where Pio sat with two of the Inn’s guests. He approached quietly and stood silently near, waiting for the opportunity to speak. It was not long in coming. Her Elven ears had heard each step of his approach. She turned her grey, appraising eyes to him, her eyebrows arched.

‘A . . . a room.’ he stammered, like a small boy caught out at some naughtiness. ‘If you will, Mistress Piosenniel.’ He felt the heat rise to his cheeks, and he hoped that in the dim light it would not be noticed.

[piosenniel]

Pio was amused, and a little flattered at his discomfiture. In her earlier days she would have played on it, but now she saw it caused him some small degree of suffering, and she put him at his ease. ‘Derufin, is it not?’ She smiled, offering her hand to him that he might help her up. ‘Tonight you are in luck. There are many rooms available, and for a few coppers only.’

He dug in his pack for the pouch where he kept his coins. But his fingers fumbled in his search and he could not find it. She stayed his hand, saying that he might find her tomorrow with the coins.

It was growing quite late, and the staff of the Inn had already gone to bed. ‘Come, I will show you to the stairs, and direct you to your room.’ She pointed the door of it out to him, and putting an extra blanket and pillow in his arms from the linen closet at the head of the stairs, she bade him good night.

When she returned to her companions, she found that the day had taken its toll on her also. She was weary, and tomorrow would be a long day. Pio showed them also up to their rooms, and told them if they wished they might sit in the Common Room, enjoying the warmth of the fire. She would see them tomorrow, she said with a half suppressed yawn, as she went quickly down to her rooms.

[Everdawn]

Umbria said in a dream like state "thankyou Pio. Bebberyn, tell the prince.. no dont tell the prince anything... you must promise..."
Bebberyn looked concerned as Umbria was taken up to one of the rooms.

He turned to Pio and bowed "thankyou lady, she who is of elven kindred! you have done a great service to Dol Amroth" he was quiet for a while and then spoke, "she did have a husband and a son once, long ago.. I suppose that is why her pain is so strong."

Bebberyn smiled "who do I see to get an ale around here? and I would also need a room here, no, actually, a chair, I will need to stand watch over the Everdawn."

[theWhiteLady]

The first streaks of red and orange were being painted on the dark clouds, and the soft lighting in the east heralded the beginning of a new day. Nell threaded carefully and quietly up a winding path, past many brightly coloured hobbit holes, till she reached the largest of them all at the very top of the hill. The rythmic pattern of hoofbeats stopped and brought Laurie from her sleep. She straightened, rubbed her eyes, and grinned to find herself right at Bilbo's door. Though she had never seen it before, Nell had known right where to go and Laurie knew it as Bag End since it was the largest and most impressive hobbit hole she had ever seen. She dismounted and smoothed the wrinkles from her white dress. White is not the best colour to travel in,she thought with a sigh as she tried to brush the dust away. She straightened her shoulders and rang the doorbell.

A few moments later, a hobbit with a large belly and curly brown hair (quite the usual description for a hobbit, but what really set him apart was his bright, keen eyes) appeared, looking a little miffed at having his first breakfast interrupted. His eyes swept curiously over Laurie's dress and it was quite clear he was wondering what on earth brought her to his home so early in the day. Laurie curtsied and spoke first.

"Mr. Biblo Baggins, I presume?" He nodded in assent so she continued. "I bear a letter from Cami of the Green Dragon; she sent me to deliver it with all haste." Laurie pulled the letter from a pocket in her dress and bent to give it to the small hobbit. Bilbo broke the seal with another curious glance at Laurie, and commensed reading it carefully. By the time he reached the end, Biblo was nearly dancing with excitement, a very funny sight for a hobbit. He grabbed a quill from inside the house and scribbled a reply on the back.

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Send this back straightaway!" But then he hesitated, remembering his manners. "Oh dear, terribly sorry, very rude of me, would you like some breakfast before you go?"

Laurie smiled a little, and though her stomach gave an audible rumble, she declined. "It will only make the excellent food at the Green Dragon taste even better." And before he could protest, she had mounted once more and was off.

[Sapphire_Flame]

It was getting dark outside. Morestel glanced around. Two elves, siblings by the look of them, were being led up to a room by the landlady. She considered following them, but decided to wait until they returned; rest was always needed after a long journey, as Morestel knew quite well. But she did want to speak to them. It had been long since she had spoken to one of her own kind.

"Excuse me, do you need anything?" A waitress was standing in front of Morestel. She pushed back her hood, and looked up at the girl with startling silver-blue eyes.

"Some wine," she said, her tone light. "And I would like to speak to the landlord or lady about renting a room for the night." The girl nodded, and left.

[piosenniel]

The serving girl stared for a moment at the Elf with the silver-blue eyes. Then blushing prettily, she begged the lady's pardon, telling her that the Innkeeper had gone to bed.

'If you wish, I can show you to a room now. You can pay Mistress Pio tomorrow.' The serving girl yawned slightly, hoping the lady would accept her offer.