The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[littlemanpoet]

"Strong tea will have to do," Falco announced as he came back and sat down at table next to Eodwine.

"Oh, very well," Eodwine moaned.

"Come come, Master Eodwine," said Uien, "the tea here is very good! It will do you well."

"Master Eodwine," Falco said, "if you keep up this caterwauling, I'll make sure King Eomer himself hears of it."

Eodwine grinned sourly, pushing his blonde hair away from his brow. "Right you are, right you are. I am behaving in a very bad manner for a veteran of the Rohirrim. So, then, where are we all off to once we have broken our fast?"

"I'm with you, Eodwine," said Falco. "I want to see the world."

Gorby and Anson were looking forward to getting back to Buckland to be reacquainted with family. Uien and Falowik would be following the East Road toward Rivendell, hoping to catch up with Eswen and Lumiel on the road.

"And what of you, Finëwen?" Eodwine asked. "You have been quiet as usual. Will you join Falco and me on the road to Rohan?"

"I said I would. I keep my word."

"Very well then!" Eodwine smiled. "And once we are back, I am going to buy myself a new lyre! Ah! Here come the vittles!"

Sure enough, Buttercup came carrying a wide platter full of breakfast fare. Rose came right behind with tea and milk and butter and pastries. The breakfast was relaxed and long. At least, so thought the humans and elfwoman. The hobbits felt that it had been cut a bit short by the Big People. So all were satisfied, but none were over filled or under, either.

In a matter of a half hour more, their bags were packed, horses fed and saddled, and the seven made their goodbyes to friends and crew, and to each other. It is not told in any tale whether they met again, but each brought fond memories and tales to be told wherever they went.

[Eruantalon]

Finishing his tea and toast the boy felt new life in him. While he sat there he didn’t notice a man that had come in. Fair skinned and tall with dark hair and piercing blue eyes this man seemed to be looking for something….or some one. The boy sat quietly and ate not noticing a single thing going on around him. That’s when he felt a hand on his collar pulling up.

“Boffer Hornbottle what are you doing here?! You should have been home last night! I don’t know how your parents get any thing out of you! Your very absent minded and never do exactly what your you’re told!”

“I’m sorry Mr. Mandrill!” He said with a choke from the tug. “It’s just that I was so tired and the food here is so good. I didn’t mean to make everyone worry.”

“Well you have now haven’t you?” He sat down beside shaken boy; he felt for a moment he was being a bit harsh. He knew that the boy only meant well. Looking around he realized that they where were only a few miles from his home. Maybe no more than a few hours ride.

“Get yourself together and get ready I need you at the mill. There are things to take care of. You’ll need to get home soon although its morning your mothers mother’s birthday party is tonight. Although I’m sure you could probably sit here and eat all day long. We don’t seem to have that time.”

“Yes sir I will be ready in a bit. Would you mind if we sat for a bit while I filled in the corners here for a few moments?”

Nodding in agreement the miller sat closer to him. The boy told him all about the day before. He asked the miller how he knew he was there. What he told him next made sense in a way. The miller didn’t know that the boy was there. He thought he had gotten home the night before. But he went into there to see if he could get something for lunch for them. He was looking for some one to help him when he noticed the boy.

“So I was getting you and me something to eat for lunch. I figured you where were tired from the big day in town and needed and wanted to treat you to some of Vinca’s cooking.”

The boy reached into his pocket and showed the miller one of the gifts he had gotten. The two smiled and enjoyed their tea. Looking at how late it was getting the two made no haste to get going. It was almost lunch time now. The boy must have put the in inn into debt with how much he ate. Paying one of the girls that worked there the two got up and went through the door.

The miller promised he would take him to lunch there once in a while. He seemed to love the food there and they could enjoy a good cup of sweet tea from time to time.

[Firefoot]

A grin lit Lily's face as she saw Posco ride up the lane, and her heart sped up more than just a bit. She wasn't sure whether she was surprised or not that he was alone. She swung herself up into her saddle, riding astride as she always had, and not really caring that her dress lifted to show her legs to just below the knees.

"Good morning, Posco!" she called.

"Good morning, Mi-, er, Lily," he replied, smiling shyly. He rode confidently, Lily noted, and sat his pony easily. The fastest pony in Buckland he had said yesterday. She patted Clover's neck. He was no slowpoke either. Perhaps we will see who has the faster pony later, she thought.

"I am ready to go, if you are," said Lily. Posco nodded, and nudged his pony forward. Lily and Clover fell into step beside them, and they rode off up the lane to enjoy the morning in the Shire together.

[Lalwendë]

Shut in the inn all night long, the moth that had followed Jinniver into the room had settled on her pillow. Starting to wake, she turned her head and dislodged the creature, which fell onto her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she saw the moth and gently scooped it into the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around it. She stumbled out of bed and opening the window, released the moth, who dozily fluttered around outside for a moment.

Jinniver rubbed her face and absent-mindedly started to dress. She had a slight headache and felt confused, remembering the dream she had woken from. There had been a wide open land, uncultivated, and she was alone in it, shivering. She had tried to shout for her father but the words had stuck in her throat. Suddenly she had felt much warmer, and realised that a pair of strong hands were placing a beautiful soft cloak about her shoulders. The same cloak she had dreamt about the night before last, made of plush grey velvet with a red silk lining. Then she had woken to find the moth.

Jinniver pondered over her dream as she dressed, choosing yesterday’s green breeches but a clean lavender coloured tunic, with a fresh white scarf for a collar. She left yesterday’s stained one soaking in the basin of water on the dresser, and hurried down the stairs for breakfast, managing to stub her toe on the way out.

She was halfway through her plate of ham and eggs when she remembered she had not yet brushed and dressed her hair, and embarrassed, she gathered it all up and tied it into a rough knot at the back of her neck. She hoped it would hold, as she had left her belt, with it’s useful ball of string, up in her room. Jinniver exchanged a few words about the fine weather with one of the hobbits who served her up with a huge pot of hot tea, and started to plan out what she might profitably do with her day, once her headache had gone.

[Aniriuq Raevla]

"I remember!" Anjareen sat up quikly. She could remember! She had had a dream about that night,the night she had forgotten everything.....
She had left her home on her seventeenth birthday,finally being the age at which her parents would let her go on her own. She had wanted to see the world outside of the small village in which she had lived. She rememberd waving to her mother and father,Anit and Yillib,goodbye, she remembered her little brother hugging her leg,her reaching down to ruffle his hair and pull him loose. She remembered walking up the grassy hill near her house,taking one last look at her family and home,and turning away,already thinking of where she should go first.Wherever the road leads,and beyond.She remembered thinking.

A week later,she had found herself in a dark forest. The previous seven days had been full of adventure. She had gone through the most beautiful fileds of flowers she had ever seen,and she could have sworn she had seen some faries. The day before she had found a campsite,which obviously belonged to a thieft. A large,dusty,brown bag,full of jewels,pottery,and clothing lay near a pile opf firewood. A man was snoring from beneath a dirty blanket. Abja had been hiding behind some bushes,and was about to walk away when a blue sparkel caught her eye. It was a dagger ,its' blue handle gleaming temptingly in the bright sun. It lay atop the bag full of stolen items,and called to Anja,telling her to take it,take it away from the ugly idiot who had stolen it.She thought for a while,battling with herself whether to take it or not. It wouldnt be wrong,she told herself,it doesnt belong to him,so it wouldnt be wrong to take it.

BUT,argued her good side,what if the man wakes up? He'll kill you! Or worse,he could-...Hey! What are you doing?STOP!Anja had gotten up slowly,and made her way towrds the dagger quietly,The man twitched a couple of times,but other than that,he didnt move. Anja finally made it to the bag. She snatched the dagger from its place,and began to run away,when she tripped over a rock and fell.

"OOF!"

The man jumped up, and looked for the cause of the noise. With his small,black eyes,his bony face and body,and his pale skin,he looked like a corpse. He turned to Anja,who had got shakily to her feet,and raored
.
"Who the 'ell are you?!"He said in an all too familiar voice.

""I'm warning you!"Anja had said pointing the dagger at him."Dont come near me!I'm armed and dangerous!....Believe it!"

The man stared stupidly at the dagger,and his eyes got wide with anger."'Ey! Thas mine,ya little booger!"He lunged at Anja,who screamed and ran away.The man followed her,and had been for the rest of that day and into the next,trapping her in the dark forest she was in.

She had leaned against a tree,gasping for air,thinking:I've lost him,ha cant have followed me all the way here!

"Where are you 'ittle gul? Come 'ere,I wont 'urt you much!"Came the voice of the man,laughing as he came closer
.
Before Anja could run againg,his hand came from around the tree and wrapped its fingers around her throat.She gagged as he cam around and wrapped his other hand around her throat."Gotcha!Now,time to show 'uo wha' 'appens when ol' Dilly get mad!"

He bent down and picked up a large,jagged rock."Buh bye."He raised the rock over his head and brought it down to her forhead,at the same time Anja,who still had the dagger in her hand,had stabbed Dilly in the stomach.Everything had gone black for Anja as the rock connected with her head,and the last thing she heard was a grunt and a curse coming from the man.

In the present time Anja gently touched the bruise on her head,wincing from the throbbing pain which had just suddenly started.And his voice...it was the voice in her head that had been mocking her,making her talk to herself,looking crazy....

The next few days after the attack,she had wondered around the forest, disoriented, and had stummbled onto the Green Dragon.

Anja laughed and stood up. She rolled up her cloak and put it into her pack,and placing the dagger lovingly into one of the side pockets.She started to hum a happy little tune and danced her way back to the inn.She was happy,no matter what had happened to her a few nights ago.She couldnt help it,she could remember!

She reached up and scratched her head,and stopped dead in her tracks, She could feel her hair,it was wild,sticking up here and there,her curls fluffy,hardly looking like they used to.

I cant have that,now can I?She thought.Within a few minutes,she had her hair more behaved,and with just that little adjustment,she looked much better. Her eyes shone gleefully in the suns' light,her lips looked full and nolonger chap,she looked much healthier.

She skipped into the inn,still humming,greeting other costumers with a smile and a wave.She sat at a table in the middle of the room,One of the maids came to ask her order.

"Ay,a nice large mug 'o ale would do me fine miss,thank you!"She said in a loud merry voice,which was no longer harsh.She leaned back and propped her feet on the table,still humming and smiling at passing people.

Mulawin watched a group of men getting ready to depart it seemed. The other patrons were still busy with their morning meal, and the serving maid was busy attending their needs.

A young boy was at another table. The young lad seemed oblivious to his surroundings and didn't notice the figure walking towards him.

That was when Mulawin noticed the elf maiden coming towards him with a polite smile. She was tall, her long hair braided and she was attired in a green tunic. Although he had seen elves before he'd never seen one this far from Loudwater, or Bruinen as the elves of Rivendell called it.

"May I join you?" She asked politely.

He had to catch himself from staring too long at her. Mulawin was thankfully glad his friend was not around just yet. His friend had an irritating way of teasing him when it came to "mingling with females"- as Thanatos would term it. As if being a ranger gave him time to do that.

He stood and politely offered the empty chair.

"I would be quite honored, my Lady", he said, clearing his throat.

As they both sat down, curiosity got the best of him. Before he could stop himself he asked, "What brings you to these parts?"

[piosenniel]

GREEN DRAGON INN FACTS:

It is the 4th Age, year 12. By the Shire Calendar it is year 1433 S.R. (Shire Reckoning).

King Elessar is on the throne of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor.

Mirkwood has been reclaimed by the Elves and is now called Eryn Lasgalen.

Paladdin Took, Pippin’s father, is Thain of the Shire. (Thain is an honorary title for the military leader of the Shire. The title has been held in the Took Family since the position was first established in 3rd Age 1979 with Bucca of the Marish as First Thain.) Paladdin Took dies in year 13, and will be succeeded by his son, Peregrin, ‘Pippin’, Took.

Samwise Gamgee is Mayor of the Shire, having succeeded Will Whitfoot in 1427 S.R.

The Innkeeper, in the Green Dragon Inn of this forum, is: Aman – a young woman from Rohan.

Before her, the Innkeeper was Piosenniel, and before her it was Dwarin, the Dwarf.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Other ongoing characters in the Inn:

Ruby Brown, Hobbit – not married – server and maid

Buttercup Brownlock, Hobbit – not married – kitchen assistant and maid

Vinca Bunce, widowed, Inn Cook (character played by Piosenniel)

Derufin, the Stablemaster (played by Envinyatar)

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Ongoing characters from outside the Inn:

Halfred Whitfoot – local Shiriff from Bywater and Postmaster for this area of the Shire; his pony’s name is Dumpling.

_____________________________________________

Please Note:

No 'SAVES' are allowed in the Inn (except for modifications needed to be made by the Moderators or Innkeeper).

With the exception of the Innkeeper and the Moderators, no OOC (Out Of Character) comments are allowed in the Inn.

Only the Innkeeper, Amanaduial, or the Moderators move the timeline for the Inn forward.

Visitors to the Inn will need to read the posts that come before theirs to get an idea of what time it is in the Shire, what the weather is like, and what is happening.

No violence is allowed in the Inn or on Inn grounds.

Please be familiar with the rules for the Inn and Games in The Red Book of Westmarch, the first topic in the Shire.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Elves in Shire RPG's:

Please use this description from Tolkien when crafting an Elf:

Return of the King – Appendix F: Tolkien’s description for the Quendi (The Speakers) – the name given to the Elves by themselves after they first awoke in Middle-earth.

“They were a race high and beautiful, the older Children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as Kings, who now are gone: the People of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finrod; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that is now heard . . .”

Please use this as a guideline for describing your Elven character’s appearance.