The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Witch_Queen]

She walked out of the stables, her black hair blowing freely in the wind. It was only a short time ago that she was in Rivendel with what elves remained behind. Fáinu had gone on to the Shire, atleast thats what the note had said. One of the elves told her what happened. Evidently she had a "spell" and almost lost her life because of it. Cree's journey from Rivendel was olong and lonely. Cree could barely remember everything that happened.

Cree was no stranger to suffering. All her life Cree searched for the truth about her father's death and now she knew.

I killed him, no wonder everyone thought I was dangerous. I don't want to believe it anymore. All my life I have wondered if I was indeed a victim. My life has been a lie, I killed the only person that truly ever cared for me.

Cree could hear waht sounded like a crow squawking. She knew imediately who it was. "Avalon!" The departure from the Shire had meant leaving her friend behind. NOw she was back and wasn't leaving for a long time. Cree could hear waht sounded like people laughing and music playing. "A party?" Cree's life had changed but as far as her life at the Green Dragon Cree was always happy to celebrate with everyone else. At the Green Dragon Cree's trouble no longer existed.

Cree's cloak reflected that of a Rivendel elf not of Eryn Lasgalen her home. Cree's cloak would have to do after all she wasn't going back to the land she left behind. Cree walked to the front yard of the Inn. "Avalon should be around here somewhere." Cree figured Fáinu wouldn't be expecting her to be here so soon. If it wasn't for her stubborness she would still be in Rivendel couped up in bed. She was fine now. She had suprised everyone when she "woke up" and almost jumped out of bed. The elves that took care of her had told her to go back to bed, that she needed her rest. But she wasn't going to waste time when she had to get back to "her home".

Cree walked around the party looking to see if she might spot the white crow. "Maybe if I found Aman she might know where Avalon is." Not seeing any sign of either Avalon or Aman, Cree went inside the inn searching for familar faces.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

The bird nibbled happily on some cram that Fáinu had given her, he was running out, but did not care. Avalon looked back up at him and cocked her head from side to side; Fáinu cleared his throat and then sat back. "You heard about our adventure in the mountains?" He asked, Avalon nodded, "Dwaline was always a faithful news bringer. Well, soon afterwards we travelled through Wilderland to the Lonely Mountain. 'Mirkwood' still held in the back of my mind, no matter what they change it's name to. Esgaroth was no better, the closer we came to dale, the more the burn returned."

Fáinu looked at his hand, the bandage was still tightly wound about it, covered in the dirt of a thousand adventures. He felt a chill as the Inn door opened. Cree went in and for a moment, Fáinu took no notice. He looked again and shook his head. A cruel trick of his mind. But she did not disappear. "Do you see that?" he asked the bird. Avalon looked up and squawked loudly.

"Shut that wretched bird up!" cried a Hobbit, before a large worn flew past Fáinu's head and fell harmlessly to the ground. The elf took no heed of the loud Hobbit as he walked to gather his shoe. The Hobbit seemed to have boots, but did not wear them. What a strange fellow, thought Fáinu. The starlight glimmered through the windows as some Hobbits staggered outside singing songs of drinking and laughing.

Cree did not seem to see Fáinu as he sat in the corner of the room, although she seemed to have heard Avalon's squawking. A barmaid brought Fáinu another mug of ale and rolled her eyes at him and the strange bird that was disturbing the customers. All these outside folk, she thought. The elf raised his head and then stood up, he walked over to Cree as Avalon flew with him.

"Well met," he said, "If indeed we do meet. I fear this may be a trick of the mind."

[Witch_Queen]

Cree turned to see that Fáinu was indeed inside the inn. Cree was so happy to see Avalon that she almost forgot about what Fáinu had said to her. "I do not see why your eyes would be playing tricks with you. I'm here, where else would i be?" Cree couldn't help but chuckle. Since her last "spell" Cree was now a different elf. She laughed more despite what she had been through. "You missed me didn't you Avalon?"

Cree held out her arm for Avalon to perch upon. THe white crow gently landed on the extended arm. "I missed you too."Cree turned to Fáinu, looking him in the eyes. "Fáinu why did you believe that your mind was playing tricks with you. What's going on Fáinu, your not telling me something. What really happened on the way "home"?"

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Cree turned to Fáinu, looking him in the eyes. "Fáinu why did you believe that your mind was playing tricks with you. What's going on Fáinu, you’re not telling me something. What really happened on the way "home"?"

"I suppose I've got used to my mind playing tricks," he said with a smirk, "But all that is in the past." He led Cree to his table and ordered some drinks and food. Avalon stood proudly and then leaped onto the table and looked very dignified. Fáinu smiled and looked up at the ceiling.

"After I left Rivendel," He began, "I rode as fast as the horse would carry me. Weather top seemed like a good place to rest after a few days riding. But that place was full of robbers and I drove them out, I didn't trust it enough to sty for the night. I rode on for a long time. Stopping in ditches for a few hour sleep. But when I did, I could only see the Dragon's eyes. You remember? As the life poured out of it and it laid its curse on you. I couldn't help but feel responsible." He looked at his hand, "I know that this is no longer a true burn," he removed the bandage and all that could be seen was a pail white scar, "But in my mind, it still burns. Not as much as it used to. But still.

"I walked in the Barrow Downs," he said after a pause, Cree looked up with astonishment, "Yes that place still holds many fears. The stones that look like great teeth shrouded in mist loomed overhead and they seemed to have eyes. I decided not to venture into the Old forest, but took the East - West road and came to Hobbiton."

Avalon seemed impatient. She squawked and flapped, she didn't want this story; she wanted to know what happened on this 'adventure'. Fáinu closed his eyes and thought back to when they left The Lonely Mountain. "I think Avalon wishes to hear the tale of what we did." Said Fáinu and Cree nodded. "You see," he went on, "This Dragon in the north was terrorising many Dwarf colonies. Smaug was the last of the great Dragons; so we hopped this would not be such a challenge.

"The journey was traitorous, the grey mountains loomed ever further away than they really were. Several Dwarves came with us: Therin, Kili, and Fundin. There were all pretty young and knew well the story of Thorin and the defeat of Smaug. Kili hoped he would not suffer the same fate as his namesake. But we all feared for our lives. Dragons are, after all, Dragons."

[Glirdan]

“Well… why not?” Lily stood and Gróin led her over to where everyone else was dancing. “Have you ever danced to hobbits’ music, Gróin?” He shook his head. “Well, then you are in for a treat.” and she laughed. Such a sweet laugh and if Gróin didn't know better, he would have thought that she was having a great time. She started dancing to the rythym of the song and she looked like she was really enjoying herself. Gróin then started dancing and their rythyms matched up perfectly: Lily's light, graceful movements and Gróin's heavy foot stomping. After awhile, it really did look like Lily was enjoying herself, as if she completely forgot all her troubles. She looked so happy that Gróin could not tell whether or not she was faking it. The song ended and everyone clapped. "Whew! That was fun!! Would you like a drink?" Gróin asked Lily polietly and she nodded her head.

Gróin made his way through the crowd to the friendly Hobbit serving the beverages. "Two ales please," he asked a little breathlessly. The Hobbit smiled as he handed over the two drinks and turned to make his way back over to Lily. He was enjoying himself so much that he had completely forgotten his troubles with Sarin and Corin. He pushed his way through the crowd, looking around trying to find his way back to Lily. It was then that he saw something that made him gasp in shock. "Was that?? No, it couldn't have been...could it?" he thought to himself as he made his way over to Lily. He put out of his mind as reached Lily and gave her her drink. "Gróin? Is something wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Lily stated.

"It's....it's nothing. I thought I saw....but it couldn't have been...could it? Oh, there I go rambling on. I'm sorry. It was nothing. I thought I saw an old friend, but it couldn't have been. Not here anyway," he said. "Anyway, forget about it. Let's get back to dancing."

[Farael]

"I picked the wrong man to start my season off with. That's when I decided that I'd be better off far from home and hearth. Not that I've spent all that much time having a home and hearth, so it's no great loss!"

So she was indeed a fugitive. For a moment, Farael wondered how much money he could make by bringing her back. Then he realized it was not in him to do so. Even with his strong sense of duty, this woman seemed more like a girl who had made some bad choices than a nasty thief with a rotten heart. Her smile was bright and honest, and Farael could find no reason to think of her new story a lie. It seemed she had finally relaxed and was telling her true story, or perhaps it had been the wine. Looking at the mug-full of water he held in his hand, Farael remembered he was not sober either.

"So tell me, Losse, exactly why was this man 'the wrong man' unlike any other thief? I find it hard to believe that there is much difference from one another"

[JennyHallu]

"So tell me, Losse, exactly why was this man 'the wrong man' unlike any other thief? I find it hard to believe that there is much difference from one another."

Losse raised an eloquent eyebrow. "Surely, after your experiences, you know that some men are more...forgiving...than others. Damiel Bladespinner hasn't a forgiving bone in his body, and I stole his horse. As soon as it was, ahem," she paused, searching for words, "made clear to me, so to speak, whose horse it had been, I returned it. But Damiel hasn't earned the place he has in the dark corners of the city by forgiving an offense."

She paused, remembering the utter terror of the first legs of her flight from Minas Tirith. "King Elessar is working hard to clean out such elements in his capitol, but he has had much to do, and some have slipped through the cracks. Damiel can't do so for much longer, and then I will be free to go home. And then, also, there may perhaps be a better place for me, and other things I can do. There is always a job for me, if I want it, at that little inn where I sang last winter. Someday, I will open my own. There is a lot of good that can be done with a little tavern. Maybe I'll be able to save some children from some of the difficult decisions I had to make."

Her eyes shone, reflecting the beautiful light of the evening stars, as she contemplated the things she wanted to do with her life. Farael sat back and let her speak, describing the deep dreams of her heart. "There will be a warm hearth, and a cozy little common room. I have no need of anything large. I want it to be a place where people come together in in joy and quiet friendliness. Someone to cook for me," she laughed. "Because that is a dream I know I won't be able to make real. A few quiet rooms, where a weary travellor can spend a quiet night..." She lapsed into silence, stretching out with a tired, hopeful smile as she leaned back in her chair, draining the glass of wine in one long, slow pull, and flipping a coin absentmindedly back and forth across her knuckles.