[Bêthberry]

As the crowd mulled around the notice, Bethberry moved away, wanting to give each applicant some privacy of thought and perhaps whispered confidences. She walked the Mead Hall and crinkled her nose at the tincture of ash and smoke in the air. We need to air out the Inn, she said to herself, deciding then to open each large shuttered window, except for those which gave out onto the ruined stable, creating a small breeze which blew fresh air into the Hall. She then conferred with the serving maids, asking them to bring in large bouguets of blooms from the garden and set them around the tables and at the windows. The hyacinth, beebalm and phlox, combined with heliotrope and sweet peas would, she hoped, chase away the lingering odour of fire. Then she returned to the front where several had gathered, waiting, it appeared, to apply for the jobs.

The Innkeeper smiled at the eager, fresh-faced young woman who was the first to speak up. It was Sigrid, Ivar's daughter. "If you are from a sheep farm, you likely know how to card and spin wool. There might be work for you with the weaver, if you have an interest."

"Please, ma'am, for now I would prefer to work here, to get to know people and Edoras."

Bethberry nodded. Aylwen had given her a rundown of who had helped with the fire and this girl had eagerly played her part.

"Have you ever seen an Inn before?"

Sigrid shook her head, no.

"Well, then, let's find work for you which will make you acquainted with how an Inn works. For room and board, and five coins a week, I'll ask you to scrub the floors, clean the walls and windows--general cleaning--and help with the laundry. If you can keep your eyes and wits about you and learn how to take orders, perhaps soon you can wait on tables. Agreed?"

Sigrid could not believe her luck. A job. A real job. "And Kajsa, my dog?"

"Is he any good as watchdog? It would appear we need to improve our security around here."

"I could train him to recognize all who belong and watch out for strangers."

"Then I'll hire him as well," said the Innkeeper with a smile. Aylwen will help you find your room and give you a tour of the Inn. I'll see you later tonight or tomorrow."

Sigrid skipped away with a grin, winking at Faran and looking at Olav and Ragnor arguing in the corner. She had found a place.

Bethberry noticed that the skipping was in time to the music which wafted gently throughout the Inn. She smiled. Leofan's family continued to grow, but a musician would be a welcome addition to the Inn. Entertainment would attract more customers, and more customers would help pay for the new stable.

She turned then to Faran, a quiet, serene young man. "Your head seems full of ideas if I read the eagerness in your eyes right, young man."

"Aye, I've a few ideas about how to plan the stable. I've built three so far, and know how to build a strong thatched roof." He spoke rapidly, urgently, his words brimming with suggestions and ideas and enthusiasm.

"Oh!" spoke up Aylwen. "I forgot. Madi gave me this map to give to you. From the artist Idona." With those words, she handed the slip of paper to Bethberry, who unfurled it. She looked up at the man.

"Your name?"

"Faran."

"Well, Faran, I'll say you're hired to design the stable, but I want you to work with Idona. The girl has a good head for space and she knows the Horse and our clientele. She can give you practical advice on what we need, and she will share your love of drawing. Room and board, plus ten coin a week. And you're to help with the building, too."

Faran beamed. Aylwen mentally began planning how many rooms would not be bringing in any money. There were back rooms which had not been used in some time. Perhaps she could prepare them for all these new hands, and the Inn would not lose any paying rooms. She made a note to remind Bethberry of this need later.

Finally, Bethberry turned to the man with dark, shadowed eyes and a brow creased with frowns. He had been attentive, kindly attentive, to his daughter and so unlike that other father Aywlen had mentioned, the one who had stormed out, dragging his little girl with him like a piece oi chattel or a slave. She raised her eyebrow at this father. they were a strange pair, the father dark as the southerners were; the daughter fair as any child of Rohan.

"I can work. I've strong arms and a steady eye. I know farming and how to trade. And I need to feed my daughter."

"You've the look of a refugee about you," the Innkeeper observed. "And your name is?"

"Tamurilo, Innkeeper," he replied, and explained his presence in Edoras to her. His frown seemed to have travelled over to the Innkeeper, for Bethberry's face grew dark.

"We'll need all the hands we can find. There's work for you here. Perhaps you can confer with Leofan on how much timber we need, and with him supervise the buying of lumber and thatch and nails. If you talk with the wife of the stable master, Frodides is her name, you will find a good women to watch over your daughter while you work."

By the time Bethberry had finished talking with everyone, she was ready for an ale herself to dry her throat. She noticed the two men still arguing in the corner. She looked around, and raised her voice.

"We still have need of strong arms who will journey to the forests to fell timber for us. I'll borrow the smith's wagon, but this will be an opportunity for stout young men to prove their strength. It will be a job for brawn and brain and I'm sure many a lass will be impressed with those who assume it." She walked over to the front desk, looking at the papers there. She hoped soon to be able to leave to seek out Ruthven.

[ 5:16 PM December 03, 2003: Message edited by: Bêthberry ]