The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Eowyn Skywalker]

Willow grinned at the other two hobbits. "Okay, Willow," said Mira, "what are you thinking? That twinkle in your eyes says you've got an idea, so let's hear it."

Willow smiled. "Well," she began. "Aman asked me to play the fiddle later on tonight, for she said I did all right on the violin. However, I..." she paused, searching for the right word. "I freeze up when in front of everyone. However, I was thinking, that if you two were musical in any manner, you could join me. And it seems you are too."

She glanced over at Daisy. "You asked for a tune, ehh? One little thing here, can you sing? I'll play you one soon, if you'd like, but I'd like some acompaniment later. If we could come up with a tune that all three of us know... Mira, you could play the flute, and Daisy, you could sing. This could be... interesting."

She stopped as she heard someone enter the room, and another hobbit girl entered the room. "Or maybe four of us," she added. "I think we may have another girl joining us."

Willow handed her fiddle over to Daisy. "Hold this, please, and be careful with it," she said. "I'll go and see if this newcomer would like to join us, after all, we hobbit girls should stick together in such a place as the Green Dragon."

Willow walked over to the newcomer, and introduced herself. "I am Willow Overhill," she said. "Would you like to join Mira, Daisy and I to chat? After all, we hobbit girls should stick together."

She smiled, and walked the new girl over to their group, and waited for her to introduce herself.

[Firefoot]

The hobbit lass was still standing against the wall when she saw that one of the three hobbit girls she had seen earlier was getting up. She was thrilled when the lass walked right up to her, but she tried to stay calm. The girl said, "I am Willow Overhill. Would you like to join Mira, Daisy and I to chat? After all, we hobbit girls should stick together." They both smiled, and she followed Willow back over to where the other two were waiting and watching them with smiles on their faces.

"I'm Lily Thistlewool," she said. The other two introduced themselves as Daisy and Mira. Then she noticed the fiddle which was still sitting in Daisy's lap. "Do you play the fiddle?" Lily asked.

"Me? No, this is Willow's." Daisy replied, and handed the fiddle back to Willow. The three hobbits explained their idea of Willow and Mira playing their instruments and Daisy singing that night.

"Do you play an instrument too?" asked Mira.

"Yes, I've been playing the fiddle for a couple of years now," replied Lily. "My fiddle has been my most treasured belonging ever since -" she paused awkwardly. She hadn't meant to say so much. "Ever since I began playing," she amended hastily. "I have it up in my room. I could go get it later." She waited for their replies, and hoped they hadn't noticed her slip up.

[Eowyn Skywalker]

"You play the fiddle too?" asked Willow. "That's great! If we can find some tunes that we both know..."

She looked over at Lily, who had a twisted expression on her face; obviously she had said something that she had intended not to. "I know what you mean," Willow said, "with the fiddle being a most prized possession. It's the only thing I have left of my mother, you know," she added, softly.

Noting the expressions on Daisy and Mira's faces, she quickly changed the subject. "So, what songs do you know, Lily, Daisy, Mira? If we could come up with one we all know..."

She sat down down, to await a response. "So you're from Bree," she said, trying to keep the area from growing to quiet, as the other hobbits thought of any songs they knew. "I recognize the name as one of the Breelands names. Mira, and Daisy, where are you two from?"

Willow tightened up her bowstrings as she sat, waiting for a few answers.

[Kitanna]

Deav took in everything Isaac said. He had never heard of someone losing their memory before and from what rumors he had heard they seemed highly unlikely. "Er...I'm very sorry." Deva was at a loss for words. What exactly does one say in such a situation such as this.

The Dwarf lifted his mug to Isaac, "To hoping you find where you are really from." He then took a large gulp from the mug.

[Eowyn Skywalker]

"That's very nice," said Willow. "You play the flute very well."

Willow stood up, and tested the strings on her fiddle. It was still quite in tune since when she had played it earlier, and she dredged her mind for a tune. One came to mind straight away; a slow, sad sounding song; one of the slower Shire songs. Willow thought it might fit, and played the tune to see if the others recognized it.

Home is behind, the world ahead.
And there are many pathes to tread.
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade,
All shall fade, all shadows fade

The song was somewhat known in the Shire, and sounded sad and mournful on a violin. And that was what Willow wanted too, she liked that kind of music, though she knew many faster songs. "Are you familiar with that song?" she asked, tucking her fiddle under her arm. "It is fairly simple."

She sat back down, suddenly realizing that she had played where someone would hear her, and for that reason. What have I just done? she thought. I've never been able to play in front of someone before, and never intentionally. Maybe I am growing more comfortable with playing, more than I thought.

She breathed out sharply. "Are any of you familiar with the song?" she asked, her voice soft, and thoughtful. The song had been a favorite of her mother's... and. Do not bring up painful memories, Willow, she chided herself. You have finally found a place to fit in. You are not going to run off again!

Willow tightened her face, her resolve made. She was going to play her fiddle that day, and there was no memory that could stop that.

[Archsage Isaac]

Isaac nodded and raised his own mug. Soon the waitress brought him his steak and the utensils to eat. After cutting a piece of the meat, he speared it with his fork and put it in his mouth. It tasted great. He continued like this for several minutes until the steak was all ate. He then smiled and took a drink from his mug.

"I thank you for your concern, Deva, but do not worry about me. I may never find it, it's not a loss. How can one lose what one has never had?" Isaac said, taking another drink from his mug. "I also thank you for refrain from conversation while I was eating. I find it vulgar to eat with a mouth full of food." he said, wiping his mouth on an old, but clean, rag that he'd had in his bag. He stowed the rag away again and looked toward the bar where he'd distincly heard a fiddle. Very good... he thought, smiling once again.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman was slightly startled by the flirtatious tone and behaviour of the man in front of her, but didn't let it show - it was rather hard to make the unshakeable Innkeeper seem outwardly startled or lose her control completely. Although you came rather close tonight.. she reflected, slipping a glance at Snaveling. The man seemed troubled once more, she noticed, and as she watched her ran a fretful hand through his hair, snagging his fingers on the knots and tats. For a second, the Innkeeper thought to catch his attention, for he had seemed so relaxed and when he was so troubled his resolve might slip...but no, he seemed to make up his mind and stood.

"Aman?"

Aman looked back at the man by the bar and nearly blushed - shame, Aman, to get so distracted when someone is waiting! "Apologies, Bredan, I was a little distracted."

"Hmm, I saw," Bredan seemed thoughtful and sighed as he said this as his eyes followed Snaveling out of the bar. Aman thought it best to change the subject back to business, pulling out the large leather bound ledger from across the bar where another customer had just signed into the Inn.

"Of course you may have a room - although we seem to be getting a little short of late. If you could just put your name here, and sign here with your mark. Thank you.." she smiled at the man and, turning to get it from the wall, she handed him a selected room key. "One with a nice view across the Shire hills there," she added as she gave it to him. His fingers slid across herself and he seemed to blush very slightly.

Aman wasn't sure what the man's intentions were, but he seemed a decent enough fellow - still, it didn't generally pay to get too close to the Inn's denizens. All too soon they all moved on...pictures of several of those she had been good friends with flitted through the Innkeeper's memory, but she moved them to one side, for the time being. But something else troubled the Innkeeper's mind, something she wasn't sure she had seen: just as Snaveling had left the table, he had deposited a gold coin into his pocket, leaving Toby asleep at the table. Of course, it might have been his; but hadn't he said before that he had no money to pay his way? You saw him, Aman - he is a different man from the callous would-be murderer who first set fire to the trees. Toby probably gave it to him - Snaveling would not now stoop to stealing from his friend... Aman couldn't help dwelling on the man: he was fascinating, a melancholy, bitter enigma of a character, under which lay a gentleman, she was sure....

The firelight lit the side of the man's sallow face as he approached the woman, and his voice was oddly soft, not his usual harsh tone as he kissed her hand. "My lady...-"

"You're a fool, Amanaduial - you did well to take your hand from his. You know nothing solid about the man and what sort of gossip would you like to give the people of the Shire?" She shook her head, smiling self-mockingly. Rubbing her eyes, she stifled a yawn: it had been a long day and she was tired.

Moving briskly across to the little group of hobbits who sat chatting amiably further along the bar, Aman grinned at them. "Evening ladies, anyone need a drink?"