The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Galadel Vinorel]

"Last night," said Galadel softly. She seemed to be talking to herself rather than to Snaveling, for she was not looking at him, rather her crystal clear eyes were staring within one of the glasses that she held, which was still half filled with wine. The elf thought back to the events of the night before, trying to make some sense of their events that were jumbled up within her troubled mind.

"Last night there was a party," spoke Galadel, totally absorbed in remembering, "Yes, a party in which I played my flute and you sang. You sang, Snaveling. Yes, now I remember that. It seems like only hours ago, yet at the same time, years ago." She turned, bringing her sorrowful eyes to meet with Snaveling's suprised ones. Her eyes were glazed over, as if she were not really there, but somewhere else entirely, some place that was lost within her memory. Yet she was there. "And you spilled the ale, and talked to Aman. You asked forgiveness from her, yes you did. You recieved a new pair of clothes, payed for by the money that you borrowed from Tobias. And Roa saw the amulet. The amulet ." At this Galadel looked deeper into Snaveling's eyes, hers not glazed any longer. "The amulet," she whispered to herself, and then turned away from the man to begin working once again.

For a moment Snaveling remained stunned and very suprised, starring confused at the back of the Elven maiden. Then he spoke, "My lady, you have yet to answer my question."

Sighing, Galadel turned back to him and said, "Must you know, my friend?"

Snaveling was a little taken aback by the word that she used for him, but he did not let that deter him from his want to know the truth. "Yes, Galadel, I really doneed to know."

The maiden could hear the strain in his voice, and sighed once more. "Very well, Snaveling," she said, putting down the cups thta seh held in her hands, "I will tell you a story, one that I have known all of my life, one of the lost land of Numenor." And so the elf began, telling the history of the peaceful land, of the Lords and Ladys that had onced ruled it. She told him about their lives and deaths, wonderful stories, heroic storied, love stories, and tearful ones. And then she told him about its destruction, about Sauron the deceiver, and the King of Numenor's betrayel. How long she talked neither of them know, for both were caught up withing the history of Numenor.

"I remember the beauty of that land," she said after she had told him the land's entire history, "It was filled with trees, gorgeous, tall trees that filled that land. There were items made there, jewels forged, tables and other wooden items carved wtih flowers, birds, and elven characters, that were so beautiful that you would cry when you beheld them. Some of the greatest makers that ever lived worked on that land. I remember the harbors the most, though. I saw some of the largest and most beautiful ships there. I never even knew until then that ships could be so beautiful, except for the ones that came from Valinor."

Seeing Snaveling's startled face, Galadel laughed. "You are wondering now how I could have seen Numenor, the land that was lost so long ago, aren't you, Snaveling?" she said, smiling as the man of the South nodded slowly, "How old do you think I am?"

"Um...Around your late 20's or so. At least, that is how you look, my lady, though I do know that elves never look their real age," he replied.

"No, we never do," replied the maiden softly, and then she went on, "I am not in my 20's at all. I have been alive for a long time, but for how long I will not say. That is my own little secret." Galadel winked at Snaveling, grinning, and then returned to cleaning off the cups off the tables, as teh man thought over all that she had just told to him.

[Archsage Isaac]

“Isaac, about last night... Well there was never a forest.“ Adu told Isaac as he slowly took a sip of the coffee in his mug. He was confused. That image was so real, he could smell the forest air. He swallowed the coffee in his mouth and looked at her.

"The look on your face tells me otherwise, Adu. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe that was just some fabricated image that I thought was real. I do know, however, that this 'Jack' felt something for you, something....special." he said, remembering that image and how it felt. Again he took a slow sip of coffee and found himself once again lost in his own memories.

[nynnd1]

“I am Bredan from Gondor, and I am here,” Bredan thought of what he was going to say now, he couldn’t be bothered to lie.

“I am here because I am running away.” The pair seemed shocked of his reason.

“Do not worry, I have not broken law or anything, I am running for my own protection.”

He felt the weight lift from his body and soul, talking about it was the best way to get over the problem, but then again his weary non trusting self came back into his mind. I do not know either of these people, they could be hunting me down, in which case I am no longer safe in the Shire and have to escape, and blood would probably have to be spilled to escape, he hoped that they were not there to get him. He did not recognise either of them, but that did not help the paranoia of Bredan. He had always been weary, a loner, not trusting anyone to get to close to him, apart from Iolet, but that all ended in tragedy.

“And what brings you two to this pleasant land?” he said trying to learn more of them.

Bredan saw from the corner of his eyes lady Aman cleaning up and being busy, it amazed Bredan how she still looked so good. He knew that people would see him staring but could not tear himself away form the lovely lady. There was then a rumbling sound that came from his stomach, his thought soon changed to his stomach, he had not eaten for days and was really starting to feel it.

“Would you like to carry on this conversation over breakfast, for I am so hungry I could eat,” he thought for the right thing to say.

“I could eat my shoes”, it seemed to fit well enough.

[Maeggaladiel]

Eleniel blinked in suprise. This Brendan was running from something. What? she wondered. Regaining composure, she smiled and shook his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Master Brendan," she said. "I am here on business. I am a merchant, and I travel Middle Earth to gather merchandise from foriegn artisans to sell." She reached down to scratch her dog's ears, but remembered that the beast was in the stables.

"Excuse me," she said with an embarrased laugh. "I usually am accompanied by a dog named Arrow, but he is in the stables at the moment. I guess I'm used to having him around. He was hit by a carriage yesterday evening, and he is being healed by that woman over there." She nodded towards the elven woman Elkamia, talking with a group of friends.

"But what of you, Master Gird? What brings you here?"

[Gird]

"Hmm? Oh, of course. What brings me here..." Gird said in reply. He had been quiet for a while, just taking everything that was said in. "Well, as for myself, I go around all over middle earth, pittering here and there. I just came here because I knew it was a good inn." Gird gave a friendly smile and then yawned big. He had been up all night, but he wasn't going to let it make him into poor company. He scanned his short term memory for something that was said that would make conversation.

"So Eleniel, you said you were from Laketown? I am originally from Esgaroth myself, long ago!" Gird was delighted to meet someone from his homeland, as it had been a while. "Who was your father?" Gird asked.

"I might just know him."

[Maeggaladiel]

A large smile spread across Eleniel's face.

"So," she said. "You too come from Esgaroth! Small world, hmm?" It was strangely comforting to find someone from home in this distant land, even though she enjoyed traveling and meeting new people.

"My father was named Vahn, but he was called Raven or Crow by many, because of his dark hair. Also because he spent a lot of time hunting for trinkets to sell, like a raven hunting shiny objects for his nest." she said with a laugh. "He owned a shop called 'The Raven's Nest,' if that rings any bells."

She leaned forward in her chair, excitedly waiting to see if this gentleman knew of her father.

[Amanaduial the archer]

A curtain of hair fell across Aman's face as she leant over, wiping at an ale stain on one of the weary tables, and she brushed it back quickly behind one ear. As she did so, a figure caught her eye and she turned to look over at it. Aman...Bredan, the Gondorian man who had stayed at the Inn for a few nights now. He was staring at her, a small smile on his face. She was not sure she was entirely comfortable with the way his eyes lingered on her...

However, she was Innkeeper, as ever, and he as yet had no drink. Approaching, the slipped the rag through one apron string and brushed back her hair - having washed it this morning, having gone too bed very early this morning, it seemed determined to show off it's fresh silkiness. Looking up as she reached for a pen and pad from her skirts, she smiled at Bredan warmly, regardless of her unease at his persistent gaze. "Bredan, good morning."

The man beamed widely, his eyes finding hers now. "You remembered..." he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing, my Lady - how can I help you?"

The question surprised the Innkeeper and she laughed. "How can you help me? Sir, I believe the situation should be the other way around."

"Call me Bredan, please." The Gondorian's voice was smooth, charming. Aman glanced at his face, then his belt - but the sheath was empty, and he did not seem to be an early morning drunk.

"Nonetheless, Bredan," she grinned back. "Will you have some breakfast?"

[starkat]

Riding up to the stables, a young women cloaked in grey and wearing dark blue and dark green, dismounts from her horse. Leaving her horse at the stables, she heads over to the inn. Stepping into the main room and removing her hood, Gwenneth looks around the room. Tall, slender, and with long black hair, the elf maid looks around for the innkeeper.

Being uncertain of where to look, Gwenneth sees an empty table near a wall. Heading over to the table she smiles at the others in the room.