[Ealasaide]

Ealasaide's Post

As the songs they played grew faster and more complex with each start, Seamus' long, thin fingers fairly flew over the fingerboard of his instrument, his bow dancing merrily over the strings. Shimshin turned a merry dance as well at the front of the stage until suddenly mid-step he leaped off the platform and disappeared amid the small group of spectators who had gathered at the base of the platform to watch. Startled, Seamus nudged Owen who looked back at him with wide, equally startled eyes. He had seen Shimshin’s departure as well. It still being mid-song, neither of them wanted to throw down his instrument and pelt after the monkey, but there was no telling what sort of mischief the little guy could get into if left unsupervised. Seamus let his eyes search the crowd as he continued to play. When the song ended, he and Owen both dropped their instruments and climbed off the stage.

“Shimshin!” Seamus called softly. He looked under the stage. “Pssst...pssst...pssst.. Shimshin!”

Behind him, Owen peeked around the edges of the ladies’ skirts, making the same soft pssst sound. Finally, empty-handed, he rejoined Seamus at the foot of the stage as, above them, the band set into a lively rendition of The Maid Behind the Bar. A middle-aged hobbit took up the dancing where Shimshin had left off.

“Say, have you got any cashews?” asked Owen at his elbow. Both of them knew that cashews were, above all else, Shimshin’s cherished food of choice.

Seamus turned his pockets out and shook his head. “Not a one.”

“Maybe the Cook’s got some for the party,” said Owen. “I’ll go ask.”

“Good idea!” rejoined Seamus. “I’ll keep looking for him. If he’s up a tree or something, the cashews will be sure to bring him down again.”

As Owen disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, Seamus dropped to his hands and knees, looking up at the scaffolding under the stage. Seeing no sign of Shimshin there, he rose once more to his feet, this time turning his blue eyes toward the large oak that shaded the gate. “Shimshin!”

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Hilde Bracegirdle's Post

It had turned out that the inn hadn’t had the cashews necessary for luring a small spider monkey from his hiding place. And cook had informed him quite firmly she’d be needing all the hazelnuts she had. So Owen had turned to pleading a bit until, the hobbit matron had reluctantly given him a small handful of stale walnuts. “Don’t be wasting them now, she warned. I don’t have many left and it’ll be another few months before they are to be found again at market!”

So Owen and Seamus had both combed the yard holding out the less than tempting morsels and looking for Shimshin to no avail. It was just then, as Owen contemplated eating a walnut himself, that he remembered the toast that had graced the table at breakfast. And quickly he jogged back into the Inn to find Ruby, rather then braving the inquiries of the cook, and finding her he ask quiet sweetly for spoonful of amber honey in a clean saucer - as if it were quite natural request this time. He did not mention that his charge had gone truant, nor that he had deep misgivings about having brought the creature into such a fine establishment, though it was ever forefront in his mind. But instead he made some pretense of having a sore throat, simply smiling and saying ‘no thank you’, when the perplexed assistant and truly thoughtful hobbit insisted on offering him tea.

And so Owen returned with a cup of fresh tea and a saucer of honey, both of which he set on the edge of the stage. It seemed that Seamus had gotten caught up in what was happening on the stage. Shimshin was nowhere to be seen.