The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Kransha]

Toby was distracted from Snaveling’s next statement by a polite female voice behind him. He spun around to face the voice’s source, not entirely ready to be addressed by anyone, but quickly regained his composure and noble demeanor. He quickly assessed the girl in front of him, looking her over from head to toe with his keenly focused hazel eyes, now half-closed and squinting as the mixed light of the inn played upon them.

“Mirabell Baggins.” said the hobbit lass as she curtsied, “Would you like to have a chat with me?”

Toby smiled warmly as thoughts began coursing again through his mind. ’A Baggins, eh? Probably one of my cousins or some distant relation. Well, no matter, she seems to be polite enough and it would do me good to talk to someone besides Snaveling. As friendly as he has become, that man just can’t have a good conversation for an extended period of time.’

“Tobias Hornblower the Third, madam,” replied the elder hobbit as he bowed, executing one of his signature dignified flourishes as he did so, “If a conversation is what you desire, I would certainly not mind obliging you.” He sat down on one of the recently vacated chairs before someone else could get to it and reclined, sighing happily. The atmosphere had elevated his mood greatly and he found that he was much more inclined to start a friendly dialogue with this stranger. He leaned forward in the chair and blinked.

“So…what is it you would like to discuss, exactly?” he queried pleasantly.

[Witch_Queen]

Aduthondiel
She was startled at the news she had heard. Could her great General Dorian actually be dead? In her heart she wanted to cry for his loss but couldn't in front of Crystal. She didn't have to leave after all, Count was going to be her's for as long as they both lived. "Crystal this is good news, but I am sorry to hear about your father." Aduthondiel wanted to say he was a good man but knew in her heart that he was only an evil tyrant. "Crystal now what are you going to do with your life?" She knew she should be asking herself the same question.

What am I going to do now that Dorian is dead? Will I stay here to watch everyone around me succomb to death while I live forever? Aduthondiel was already thinking about how life would be without Dorian around to haunt her every dream. Aduthondiel had an idea of what Crystal would probably do. Crystal would probably go on with her life and marry Mr. Angry. "I guess I don't have to leave after all. Though I can't think of any reason to stay. I have no one here. All my family.. well I'm not sure where they are now." For her age she knew that everything in her past affected what was in her future. She had to change what she was going to do if she wanted to have a happy life.

She tried to recover from the news but couldn't. Crystal seemed so happy now. Yet all she could feel was a sadness deep down. No matter how hard she tried the feeling didn't want to go away. She thought she felt a tear roll down her cheek but decided it was only her mind playing tricks on her. "I guess all our troubles have come to an end. Perhaps if I return to Rohan I will make it in time to see who your father successor will be. If I'm lucky maybe Aduthondiel will be the new General! Wouldn't that be nice." She thought she was going to fall down laughing but couldn't. She let out a giggle and went on drinking her ale. "General Aduthondiel. Has sort of a ring to it."

[Feared Half-Elf]

Elkamia stood in the stables, one hand on the nose of her large silver mare. Annufin had finally been moved inside. 'Valar help me' she thought 'I haven't worn a dress since the wedding of Elessar and Arwen.' She glanced down at herself.

The white dress she wore was simple but elegant, with long flowing sleeves. She didn't need a belt with it, strictly speaking, but she wore one anyway, a long scarf of fine silver fabric. White slippers were on her feet, though she would have preferred something sturdier. Her long brown hair was brushed to a shine, and careflly braided in the style she usually wore to keep it out of her eyes.

She sighed, fingering the silver chain about her right wrist. She always had been one for fights and wars, tending to avoid parties whenever possible. 'I can't avoid it tonight. I've helped them rebuild the inn and I can't offend the people here by not coming to the party. And a party means a dress, however much I hate it.'

She took a deep breath, checked her clothes for loose hay collected in the stables, and went to the common room. The room was a bundle of noise, people laughed and joked to each other. Still nervous about wearing the dress, she looked around at the people in the party, seeing if there was anyone she recognised.

[Esgallhugwen]

Aldor smoothed out the creases on his tunic and took a look at the Green Dragon Inn, the cool breeze swam through the lighted lanterns and the banner welcoming all to join the festivities. "See, Miss Peony, all our hard work paid off after all" he winked and led her inside like a true gentleman.

"Now before you take your seat, we must have at least one dance to ensure you'll sleep the night away with sweet dreams swimming in your head", Peony tried to protest at first but gave in "alright Aldor but only one dance, after that we should take it easy and relax" she smiled and her green eyes glistened like emeralds in the lamplight.

"Believe me miss you can have have just one dance!" he took her hand as a folk song started up, they danced among the bustling crowd as more people came into the new Inn and to pay there respects to Master Meriadoc for attending the joyous occasion.

[Kitanna]

Deva woke from his nap and headed downstairs. There was a party of sorts and everyone was dancing, laughing, or drinking the night away. He looked around in search of Peony hoping she was still in the Green Dragon.

Finally he spotted her, ending a dance with a young man. Deva wasted no time and hurried over to her. "Peony, glad to see you stayed out of trouble while I was gone."

Peony looked down to him and smiled, patting his head. "Nice of you to join us. I thought maybe you were just going to sleep away the whole night."

Deva shrugged and looked past Peony to the man she had been dancing with. "And who is your friend."

Peony became aware once more of Aldor's presence. "Deva, this is Aldor. Aldor, my companion I had told you about, Deva."

[bilbo_baggins]

Enessar had become seperated from his friend, Ponto the hobbit in the dance; he had probably found a hobbit lass, or more likely, some food and drink. As he chuckled at this humorous thought, he noticed an amazingly beautiful lady enter through the door.

He approached her and said, "My dear lady, I am Enessar. Might I have the pleasure of your acquaintance?"

"Well yes, thank you. My name is Elkamia," was the enchanting lady's reply.

"Elkamia, that is a lovely name, is it not? Would you care to dance?" asked Enessar, who desperately wanted to meet this ecstatically beautiful maiden...

[Crystal Heart]

Crystal smiled at the prospect of the new title of General.

"So you will be leaving us to go back to Rohan as well?" Crystal asked. She admitted that she was sad to see it happen. She had become very close to her. She was such a breath of fresh air. A part of her new life.

Crystal knew that she was sad for General Dorian's death. Dorian had always been kind to her for some odd reason. She had always been around him. His death wouldn't be a complete cause for celebration.

But for Crystal it was. The one man that caused her pain, the one man that caused her fear, the one man that caused her grief was finally gone from this world. She had never felt any type of love for her father. He had beaten her and hurt her so savagely that she had wished for his death many times. She had been running from him for years and had finally found one place where she was loved once again.

She had been loved in Rohan by Arty and her mother, but after their death there hadn't been any reason to stay. She had fled shortly after and had lead a life of danger and fear. Then she had come to the Shire and into the Green Dragon Inn.

Her life had changed the night she had decided to stop in for something warm to eat. She had been sick then, almost on the brink of death. She barely had enough coins for the food or for the room that sweet Aman had offered. She had sat upon the stool and believed that she would be dead before the night was through. Then she had met Angry Brandybuck.

His eyes, his face, his words had caused her to hold on. She had gotten to know him and had held on to the fact that she had fallen in love once again. A fact that she now cherished. She had almost succumbed to death, but had held on. Hama had helped her through and Angry's warm hand in hers and his gentle face had kept her holding on to the small ray of life that she had maintained.

Angry had taken her home, had given her a warm bed to sleep in. She remembered that morning as if it were still happening to her.

She had woken up in the hobbit's home with a smile. She hadn't rested in such a way in all of her life. She had gotten up and had walked past the closed door of Angry's room. She had decided to make breakfast for his kindness.

She had made eggs and he had come into the kitchen. She had felt that the scene was so right, so natural. They talked over breakfast, both blushing profusely.

They talked about his parents. Angry wasn't sure if they would agree. Crystal hadn't minded. She said she would keep hope until there was no hope to hold on to.

He had left her shortly after that. He had gone to his parents. She had stayed and kept the house orderly. She felt like an anxious wife who awaited her husband.

She looked over at Angry and smiled softly. Her life was finally wonderful.