The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Lalwendë]

The stable master had suddenly excused himself and Jinniver turned to Andwise the hobbit, with a smile on her face. He offered her some pipeweed and she filled her pipe as she listened to him. “What about you? From Bree I heard. What brings you so far afield from home?”

“Yes, I am a Breelander” Jinniver took a draw on her pipe and blew a smoke ring. “Our farm is on the Greenway, just outside the walls, though far away enough to be called a quiet place. I live with my old Dad, and my niece has lately joined us there. My brother is a brewer in Bree itself. You could call our farm a nursery, as we grow only flowers and shrubs, not taters and wheat, though we do grow herbs. I’ve come to The Shire to see if some of the good folk hereabouts would like to buy from us.”

Andwise looked as though he was a little puzzled. “Well, it is not so far, and now we have regular carts going to and fro on the road, it would be easy to send deliveries. I even thought of making a little seed catalogue of sorts, so that over the winter evenings the gardeners of the Shire can pass the time in ordering those things they want to grow when spring comes around”.

Jinniver was keen to know if this would be something Shire folk would like. It was an idea she had thought of before leaving home, but had decided to keep it in the back of her mind until she saw how things went. She had not known what to expect of the Shire, though some of the Hobbits of Bree, regular customers and good friends, had urged her to try for some trade here. Her father had been keen on the idea, though he was nervous about letting her go alone. “Still, I suppose you’ve seen through enough troubles. I daresay you could handle yourself” he had said, more to reassure himself. As Jinniver looked around her, she wondered at her father’s worries. She had never thought such a friendly and charming place could exist. She blew another smoke ring contentedly and then her face became more serious.

“I have heard tell about the troubles that the Shire itself suffered, worse than we had in Bree. Though they were bad enough,“ she said sadly. “And yet it is so welcoming here. In the inn last night, there were many people, elves and men, who I’d only call peculiar, and look at that strange man under the tree there now.” They watched as the grey haired man woke up and got to his feet. “These are all as old friends in the Shire, and yet I wouldn’t go down The Greenway without such as this” Jinniver pulled out the old dagger she carried. “The King may have come back, but there could still be untrustworthy creatures abroad.”

Andwise looked a little startled as she put the knife onto the table, and she withdrew it with a smile. "Or am I too wary, master Andwise?"

[starkat]

Her joke had come off wonderfully. The two hobbits who had assisted her greeted the elves just as they sat down and then returned to their own table. Gwenneth could not quit giggling. The look on her new friends’ faces had been worth it.

Gwenneth smiled at her companions. “It is not often that I get the opportunity to show my more mischievous side. Thank you for being such good sports.”

Isilmë and Ascasir looked at each other and laughed. All three elves returned to the meal at hand. After a few minutes, Gwenneth spoke first. “Have you seen much of the Shire since your arrival?”

[Envinyatar]

‘Don’t get your breeches in a twist, Stablemaster!’ Cook looked up from her lists as she sat at the table, the tall figure of Derufin looming over her. ‘No “Hello, Cook!” or a “By your leave, Cook”?! Just a demand to know where Mistress Zimzi has gone off to!’

Derufin backed away a few steps. Cook had stood up from her chair with the last sentence, and hands on hips, one foot tapping, was glaring at the man. He grinned shamefacedly at her. She reminded him of his own ma when he was a much younger lad . . . expecting his best manners no matter the situation. He gave a small bow and rephrased his question.

‘Mistress Bunce, I saw Zimzi going off in a cart with Merrimac. Could you tell me where she’s going?’ Derufin cocked one eye at Cook to see if she had softened.

Buttercup had by this time come into the kitchen and both of them he found, as he straightened up, were laughing at him. ‘She’s not been kidnapped, you great ninny! If that’s what you’re thinking,’ said Buttercup. ‘You asked to us to keep her from the cottage for a while,’ continued Cook. ‘I’ve sent her to a friend of mine’s burrow in Hobbiton. She’ll be quite busy there . . . doing a variety of things to get ready for the festivities.’

It was Derufin’s turn to laugh now. ‘And here I thought you would keep her occupied in the Inn.’ He sat down at the table and told the two Hobbits the garden he had contracted the young woman of Bree to do. Leaning across the table as he finished his explanation, he asked, in a hopeful tone, would Zimzi be coming back to the Inn at night.

Cook shook her head and smiled sympathetically at him. ‘Think of it this way, my dear . . . absence makes the heart grow fonder . . .’

With a long face, Derufin took his leave of the two Hobbits and went out to finish his meal . . .

[Arry]

“Oh, aye, the Greenway. Right after the war I wouldna have gone down it myself. But it’s been twelve years now, and I’d wager that anywhere in the Shire is a safe place to go. I have to say that since Master Meriadoc and Master Peregrin came home to stay, and our own Master Gamgee, of course, the Shiriff’s have done a good job driving the undesirables from the Shire bounds.”

“Now outside the four farthings I wouldn’t think of traveling without my stout walking stick by my side. And to be honest I only go as far Bree, and that but once a year to visit my wife’s sister in Archet.”

Andwise signaled to one of the servers and asked for a mug of stout, sweet tea. “And bring the lady here what she’d like, if you please,” he added. His pipe had gone out and he spent a few moments fiddling with it, then relit it. The smoke from the bowl puffed upward in small rings, soon stretched out in the afternoon’s air and disappeared. “You know, though,” he said, a sudden memory coming back to him. “Just a short while ago one of our own Shiriff’s and an Elf from the Inn and a man from Rohan, or some such eastern place were here at the Inn. They’d come back from the lake north of the Shire. Nenuial, up there by the Evendim Hills – where that old city of men is . . . let me just think now . . .”

“Annuminas,” came the reply as Derufin sat himself down on the other side of Jinniver.

“That’s it! The High King’s city. Well, anyways, they went up there to rescue another fellow from Rohan. Terrible time they had of it, too. Some spawn of the Shadow in the East was there . . .” He shuddered as he recollected the telling of the tale. “They drove it off and all ended well, I heard. But it still scares the bejeebers off me that it was so near us.”

Taking out his pouch of pipeweed, Andwise offered some to the pensive Derufin who sat pushing his dessert about on his plate. “What about you, Stablemaster?” he asked. “You were in the war, I’ve heard tell. What’s your feelings about the Shire . . . safe or no . . .?”

[Envinyatar]

Derufin waved the offer of pipeweed away. ‘I think I’ll just drown my sorrows in another dish of blackberry tart,’ he explained, pulling the pan of dessert toward him. Andwise tucked his pouch away into one of the pockets of his vest. Sitting back in his chair, he regarded the man with a bemused look as Derufin scooped a large portion of tart into his bowl and poured a generous splash of clotted cream over the top.

‘Alright, I’ll bite,’ asked Andwise. ‘What sorrows are you drowning?’

‘I’ve outfoxed myself, my friend,’ replied Derufin around a mouthful of crust and sweet berries. He waved his spoon in the air as he made his points. ‘I asked Buttercup to see if she could occupy Zimzi for the few days left until the handfasting . . . keep her away from the cottage while the flower beds were got in. Well, Buttercup came through for me. She engaged the help of Cook, and now my sweet Zimzi will not be seen, I’ve been told, until the ceremony. Away, she is . . . getting things done as needs be, or so Cook told me.’ He tapped his spoon irritably on the wooden tabletop. ‘My thinking is that they were just waiting for the opportunity to whisk her away. I’m betting it’s some sort of Halfling custom that they’ve sprung on me!’

A barely muffled giggled from behind him made Derufin spin about in his chair. Both Buttercup and Ruby stood there, shaking their heads at him. ‘Poor man!’ cried Buttercup. ‘He’ll live, though, don’t you think,’ commented Ruby in a decidedly unsympathetic tone. Derufin gave them both his most pitiful appearing face, but they only patted him on the cheek and laughed. ‘Best Cook not find you moping about, you know,’ whispered Buttercup as she whisked his empty dish away from him. ‘Elsewise, she’ll be finding “things” to fill in your time.’ Ruby nodded vigorously in agreement. ‘She’s got a long list to tick off . . .’

Derufin through up his hands in mock surrender. One of the Hobbit lads across the table, Tomlin, who had been taking in the exchange, passed a white handkerchief to Derufin, telling him to wave it. ‘You’re up against insurmountable odds, my friend. When the women want things a certain way, you might as well step back out of the path.’ Derufin grinned, shrugging his shoulders, and nodded in acquiescence as he waved the white handkerchief at the retreating serving maids.

Others of the serving staff had come out and began to clear away the dishes, pitchers of ale and cider and pots of hot tea were left on the table for the diners to enjoy. Pouring himself a mug of cold cider, Derufin leaned forward on his elbows toward Andwise. ‘What was it you asked? Something about do I think the Shire is safe or not.’ He took a sip of his drink, then set the mug carefully I front of him. ‘Safe enough, I think. Though, as with anything as ever has been touched with shadow, it’s best to err on the side of caution.’

He saw, as he finished speaking, Jinniver nodding her head in agreement.

[Witch_Queen]

Adu's return

Adu road over the hill as her eyes caught sight of the beautiful Green Dragon Inn. It had been a while since she had layed eyes on it. To her failure she wasn't able to locate Hama. She had stayed on night in Rivendell before she left to return to the Shire. Nothing had changed at all. She wondered how everything was going with Crystal. She figured she would have to locate her. Adu reached down and began rubbing Count's mane. "You've done good my friend. Lets just hope Hama hasn't returned without us seeing him."

Adu jumped down off the saddle of her horse and began leading him to the stables. The walk seemed like only seconds had past but Adu wasn't going to let time fool her. "You deserve a long rest my dear friend." She walked back into the inn and noticed there was new faces. Adu walked to the front of the room. Even though the room seemed to be bursting with hobbits Adu wasn't going to let it affect her. "Now where would Aman be?" Adu didn't know what else to do so she decided to grab a glass of ale and sit by the fireside. It felt good to finally be back. There was only one question still in her mind. Where is Hama?

[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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

[Arry]

‘Shoo now! Band’s on a break for the moment and I’ve got someone to see.’ Ferdy watched as the children went running off in ones and twos back to their parents’ tables. All save one impish little lad of about five years of age who grinned up at him. ‘Ferdy’s got a girlfriend! O – o –ver there!’ he chanted, laughing as Ferdy turned a bit red about the collar. He’d seen Ferdy look toward that girl with the long hair and give her a wink.

‘Ah, Willi,’ returned Ferdy, putting his arm about the boy’s shoulders. ‘You’ve the right of it that I’ve a girl. But she’s my new met friend,’ he said nodding toward Aranel. ‘Now there,’ he went on, turning Willi toward the kitchen door where Ginger was just passing through, ‘there’s my heart’s own.’

‘Can’t see, Ferdy!’ the boy protested. Ferdy picked him up and sat him on his shoulders. ‘There she is, Willi. You can’t miss her pretty carroty curls. Name’s Ginger. Isn’t that a grand name? And if we were closer you could see the little sprinkle of freckles over her nose and fair cheeks.’

Now Willi had never heard of a girl being talked about like that. He clambered down from Ferdy’s shoulders and grabbed his hand, urging him toward the kitchen where Ginger had disappeared. It took little prompting for Ferdy to follow along at his side.