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

piosenniel · 12-18-2005, 04:18 PM

A trip to the smokehouse

‘An Orc, you say?’ Cook paused for a moment in her butchering and looked toward Ginger. ‘We had one in here quite a while ago,’ she went on, pursing her lips as she stirred through her memories. ‘He came for that big birthday party. Very civilized for an Orc, if I recall correctly. Polite. And good sense of humor.’ She looked at Ginger again. ‘I don’t suppose we could get so lucky again, could we?’

She motioned for Buttercup to fetch the two big roasting pans. And they were soon placed on two chair seats that Ruby had pulled up near the butcher-block. Into each of them she placed a large haunch of goat which would be done up with taters and carrots all nestled about it for supper.

‘Buttercup, you finish up those peas. And then you and Ginger can season the roasts and put them in the oven to roast slow. Don’t get too heavy handed with the rosemary – just a light dusting of it ground will do.’

Cook gathered up the various large pieces she’d managed to cut the rest of the goat into and piled them into a large, two handled pot. ‘Ruby, can you get the other handle? We’ll take these out to the smokehouse to hang.’

It was a heavy load for the two Hobbits, but they managed it nicely and soon were pulling open the smokehouse door. They hung the bloody pieces on the great hooks that came down on ropes from the beams and then closed the door securely. They made sure the low burning fire in the little stove next to the large hut was still going and that the flue from the stove was well opened to let the heat and smoke drift through thickly over the meat. Cook threw a couple of scoops of wet applewood shavings into the little stove for flavor.

The smokehouse stood a good ways away from the back kitchen door and away from the stable. The two Hobbits made their way back to the kitchen, stopping on the way at the pump just outside the kitchen door to clean up. Ruby was asked to start peeling the taters for the roasts, while Buttercup chopped the carrots into good sized chunks. Widow Rosebank was just finishing up the cake batter for dessert.

‘Ginger, girl,’ said Cook, motioning her over to where the butchering had been done. ‘Go fetch the mop and a pail of hot sudsy water. I’ll clean up the table here and put it away and you can scrub up the floor.’

Captain Grishnahk · 12-18-2005, 05:29 PM

Grishnahk cursed his stupidity. He should have known the butcher would have not left raw meat out. Hidding behind the smokehouse is what he would have chosen if he had not been driven by hunger and beaten by the sun. But he had to wait a few more minutes to slip once again back out the door. Once there was no one watching, the orc slipped outside into the sun. Grishnahk sheilded his face with his hands from the sun, and he quickly ran into a nearby forest. The smokehouse was directly on the edge of the clump of trees and he would be able to get to it easily. Now that he was in some shadow, Grishnahk could think more clearly. He watched as the small tastey hobbits dashed into the kitchen after washing their hands at the pump.

The grim captain was distracted rather suddenly as he saw two figures a she and a he, walking down a path; soon sitting under a tree. He smiled evily thinking of what he would do if he were a bit younger, but he soon dismissed the thought and concentrated on his needs. Of course the smokehouse would be locked somehow, and he would have to be quick.

Farael · 12-18-2005, 10:22 PM

Farael looked at the pretty flower (he hadn't learned enough about flowers to know which kind of flower this one was) and sighed before answering "I am afraid my long bow and knife might have given you the wrong impression m'lady" Even though he knew her name, he still had a hard time thinking of her as an equal rather than someone somehow more important than himself "for I have not had any adventures in my young life. It is true I was enrolled in the glorious army of Gondor but... well, my dad made sure I never left to battle, nor to anywhere dangerous. I was all but a messenger boy for one of the captains.

This is why I've come here" he looked into her eyes hopefully "we all know how four brave halflings- hobbits that is- helped My Lord The King in his adventure, so now I'm looking forward to meet some of those adventurous hobbits myself!" Farael's voice lowered to a little more than a whisper "Although it seems like the hobbits in the Inn are not the same kind than the ones I've heard about... these seem pretty... tame"

12-18-2005, 05:29 PM	#2
Captain Grishnahk Wight Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 106	Grishnahk cursed his stupidity. He should have known the butcher would have not left raw meat out. Hidding behind the smokehouse is what he would have chosen if he had not been driven by hunger and beaten by the sun. But he had to wait a few more minutes to slip once again back out the door. Once there was no one watching, the orc slipped outside into the sun. Grishnahk sheilded his face with his hands from the sun, and he quickly ran into a nearby forest. The smokehouse was directly on the edge of the clump of trees and he would be able to get to it easily. Now that he was in some shadow, Grishnahk could think more clearly. He watched as the small tastey hobbits dashed into the kitchen after washing their hands at the pump. The grim captain was distracted rather suddenly as he saw two figures a she and a he, walking down a path; soon sitting under a tree. He smiled evily thinking of what he would do if he were a bit younger, but he soon dismissed the thought and concentrated on his needs. Of course the smokehouse would be locked somehow, and he would have to be quick. __________________ "Faithless is he who says farewell when the road darkens." --J.R.R. Tolkien

12-18-2005, 10:22 PM	#3
Farael Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In hospitals, call rooms and (rarely) my apartment. Posts: 1,538	Farael looked at the pretty flower (he hadn't learned enough about flowers to know which kind of flower this one was) and sighed before answering "I am afraid my long bow and knife might have given you the wrong impression m'lady" Even though he knew her name, he still had a hard time thinking of her as an equal rather than someone somehow more important than himself "for I have not had any adventures in my young life. It is true I was enrolled in the glorious army of Gondor but... well, my dad made sure I never left to battle, nor to anywhere dangerous. I was all but a messenger boy for one of the captains. This is why I've come here" he looked into her eyes hopefully "we all know how four brave halflings- hobbits that is- helped My Lord The King in his adventure, so now I'm looking forward to meet some of those adventurous hobbits myself!" Farael's voice lowered to a little more than a whisper "Although it seems like the hobbits in the Inn are not the same kind than the ones I've heard about... these seem pretty... tame" Last edited by piosenniel; 12-19-2005 at 02:50 AM.

12-18-2005, 04:18 PM	#1
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	A trip to the smokehouse ‘An Orc, you say?’ Cook paused for a moment in her butchering and looked toward Ginger. ‘We had one in here quite a while ago,’ she went on, pursing her lips as she stirred through her memories. ‘He came for that big birthday party. Very civilized for an Orc, if I recall correctly. Polite. And good sense of humor.’ She looked at Ginger again. ‘I don’t suppose we could get so lucky again, could we?’ She motioned for Buttercup to fetch the two big roasting pans. And they were soon placed on two chair seats that Ruby had pulled up near the butcher-block. Into each of them she placed a large haunch of goat which would be done up with taters and carrots all nestled about it for supper. ‘Buttercup, you finish up those peas. And then you and Ginger can season the roasts and put them in the oven to roast slow. Don’t get too heavy handed with the rosemary – just a light dusting of it ground will do.’ Cook gathered up the various large pieces she’d managed to cut the rest of the goat into and piled them into a large, two handled pot. ‘Ruby, can you get the other handle? We’ll take these out to the smokehouse to hang.’ It was a heavy load for the two Hobbits, but they managed it nicely and soon were pulling open the smokehouse door. They hung the bloody pieces on the great hooks that came down on ropes from the beams and then closed the door securely. They made sure the low burning fire in the little stove next to the large hut was still going and that the flue from the stove was well opened to let the heat and smoke drift through thickly over the meat. Cook threw a couple of scoops of wet applewood shavings into the little stove for flavor. The smokehouse stood a good ways away from the back kitchen door and away from the stable. The two Hobbits made their way back to the kitchen, stopping on the way at the pump just outside the kitchen door to clean up. Ruby was asked to start peeling the taters for the roasts, while Buttercup chopped the carrots into good sized chunks. Widow Rosebank was just finishing up the cake batter for dessert. ‘Ginger, girl,’ said Cook, motioning her over to where the butchering had been done. ‘Go fetch the mop and a pail of hot sudsy water. I’ll clean up the table here and put it away and you can scrub up the floor.’