The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Arry]

Ferdy found the mop and began cleaning up the spilled cider. The momentary scrutiny of the patrons in the Inn had died away, and most had gone back to conversations with their tablemates. The cider splattered Hobbit, a Master Rowley Chubb of Girdley Island, had come back out, dressed in a clean dry outfit. Ferdy ducked his head down to avoid the fellow’s glance toward him. He was surprised when the Hobbit came over to him, saying that now as he considered it, he saw it was just a foolish accident on Ferdy’s part . . . ‘and haven’t we all done foolish things,lad,’ he said with a good-natured wink, ‘when we first start courtin’, eh?’

Again, Ferdy stood gawping at the man, wondering what sort of wizardry this fellow had to have sussed out the particulars of the situation. But Rowley simply clapped him on the shoulder and nodded toward the kitchen’s door, where Cook’s face could just be seen withdrawing . . .

[Amanaduial the archer]

"Three pints of black stout and a tea with milk, Innkeeper!"

Aman took down the order with a flourish and grinned at the good looking hobbit lad - Andwie Greenhand, a popular chap and always very polite to Aman, although his friends could be quite rowdy when they stormed the Inn at every possible occasion - and winked at him as she raised her eyebrows in the direction of the delicate looking girl beside him. Andwise winked back saucily and, at some comment from one of his friends, laughed loudly and turned back to conversation. Aman grinned and turned around again - only to be nearly knocked over by a young man as he pushed aggresively past her. Rather than turning to apologise, he simply ignored the Innkeeper as she staggered, and kept on walking, heading for the Inn door.

Aman raised her eyebrows but contented herself with glaring at his back venemously then righting herself. As she looked around the Inn, momentarily flustered, she caught sight of a the peddler-woman turned gardener, sitting on her own, her scarf over her face, her eyes following the young man with a look quite as hostile as Aman's own. Catching the Innkeeper watching her, Jinniver looked down, embarassed, her pale cheeks flushing, but even from where she stood several tables away, Aman could see that the other woman had been crying. Pursing her lips, she turned away towards the bar and made up the order for Andwise and his friends, adding to the tray two individual pots of rose tea along with two extar cups and saucers. As a grudging afterthought, she pulled out a pint of ale, then wove through the Common Room back to the young hobbit party table of four and, depositing their drinks with a few jovial comments to Andwise and his friends, she changed course towards Jinniver.

Smiling anxiously as she approached, Aman tipped her head onto one side questioningly. "Tea, Jinniver? And if you don't mind my joining you, I need a break as well - I've been on my feet since lunchtime!"

Jinniver gave Aman and watery smile and gestured for her to sit, hurriedly pulling out a chair and muttering her acceptance of the tea and the company. Aman smiled gratefully and sat, placing the tray on the table. As she poured herself a cup of tea and added the milk, she saw Jinniver glance at the ale and shrugged lightly, her eyes returning to her cup. "I figured your hostile friend might like something to cool him down. If all else fails, I can always just throw it at him." Jinniver gave a sniff of laughter at the comment and grinned gratefully at Aman, before the Innkeeper, after a strategic pause, continued. "May I ask what his business here is, Jinniver? I cannot help noticing that he has hardly been particularly friendly towards any here so far - your own self included. Is he upsetting you? I will not stand anyone to upset one of my staff..."

[Witch_Queen]

Cree

Cree looked around she didn't know now what to do. She was going to be leaving the next day. Should she find Avalon and let the bird know or just go on through-out the night and not tell Avalon. Cree couldn't force herself not to tell the friend she let go. The day had been good to her so far. Now it was time for her to move on with her life and not let the days linger in her mind. "Fáinu, should we tell Avalon that we are leaving? Perhaps she would like to know that we are leaving." She turned her gaze back on Fáinu. The elf's expression was blank. Cree could tell nothing about the elf setting across from her.

It was still a few days until Cree would end another year of her life. She couldn't wait until she was roaming the wild with Fáinu. The last adventure Cree had been on ended up with only failure. She sat there thinking about what the future may have in plan for her. The next day she would help Fáinu end his curse. Perhaps she would find a end to her curse as well.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Looking up, as if awoken from a deep sleep, Fáinu forced a smile. "Do what you feel is right by your friend," he said, "I shall not hinder it." Cree thanked Fáinu but felt it best to await a later time. Cree seemed to see some foreboding in Fáinu's eyes, as if he knew that some horrid thing were to happen.

Fáinu shook the terrible images from his mind, and looked back at Cree. She seemed to be stareing into his eyes, so he closed them. When he looked again she was peering into her mug, though it was empty. Fáinu tried to break the silence,

"I think I should find some new bandages in rivendell," he began, "This one has served me well, but I feel it is time I had a new one." He smiled at Cree, she did not return it, "Something troubles you?" Cree looked up, Fáinu could not quite put his finger on what it was in her that he saw, fear, love, or anger. She seemed to show all trades.

[Witch_Queen]

Cree
Cree's mind was resting on one thing. The last journey she had took. She was with Grimm and he ended up abandoning her when she needed him the most. "Fáinu, the last person I left the Shire with ended up leaving me to the life I know now. I trust you and I know you will not abuse the trust I have for you." She had once loved Grimm but now she feared him and hated him.

She sat back and placed the empty mug on the table. Nothing matter now. Tomorrow she would leave and start a new life.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

"Fáinu, the last person I left the Shire with ended up leaving me to the life I know now. I trust you and I know you will not abuse the trust I have for you."

"I will try not to," He joked, she was not impressed. He stopped smiling and looked away, "I'm sorry Cree, that was harsh." Cree smiled at him and he Felt relief. Two hobbits hobbled past on their way to the bar, they were arguing over who had drunk more, they had no idea what was to come. Neither did Fáinu, he had no idea what troubles lay ahead, how much anguish he and Cree would have to suffer.

"Cree," Fáinu began "earlier you said you would not leave my side. Let me make a similar pledge." Cree leaned froward to listen, "I shall not let you leave me. What ever may befall. Though the fires of Hell burn my flesh, I shalln’t let you go." He hoped beyond hope, that Cree would never have to remind him if his heart became hot with rage. He saw that this journey might lead him thither. He only wished that he could keep his cool.

[Primrose Bolger]

Cook had been most helpful with the calming down of the cider drenched Hobbit. She’d seen to him getting cleaned up and into some suitable dry garments that had once belonged to her late husband. His own, she’d had Ginger rinse out and hang over the backs of some chairs she’d set near the fire. A fresh mug of cider and a whispered conversation between Cook and Master Rowley, with several nods her way, and Ginger could see the fellow had quite come round in his anger toward Ferdy.

Once he was out the door, Cook called the lass to her, handing her a small bucket of hot soapy water and a couple of rags. ‘Might want to get the sticky mess well off the table’s top and the chair.’ Ginger hurried out the door to do as bid.

‘And after that,’ she could just hear the last of Cook’s instructions before the door swung closed behind her, ‘then take Master Ferdy out for a breath of fresh air. I don’t think he’s cut out to be a server . . .’

Ginger’s feet fairly flew over the polished boards of the Inn’s floor. With an economy of motion she soon had the table and chair back to their more welcoming condition. Ferdy had his head hung down as he mopped the floor in a rather ineffectual way. ‘Oh, here,’ she said, plopping her rags in the bucket and taking the mop from him. A few practiced swipes and the floor was also back to its original shape, if a bit damp. She thrust the mop back at Ferdy, motioning for him to bring it and his bucket back to the kitchen.

Cook was nowhere to be seen when they entered. Ginger grabbed the lad by his hand and hauled him toward the back door. She fetched her own cloak from the peg there, and handed him one the other servers used as they ran errands for Cook. Ferdy balked a bit as she opened the door and stepped out, pulling him along.

‘Come on, now,’ she chided him. ‘Cook says we’re to take a walk after our evening duties. Get a breath of fresh air. Then come back for a nice cup of tea.’ They could just hear someone coming up the stairs and into the kitchen from the cellar. ‘That’s her now. We’d best go.’ She pulled her hood up over her curls. ‘Race you to the old cottage!’ she grinned, taking off at a run down the dirt path.

[piosenniel]

NOTE

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So, please try to get your posts for this evening wrapped up.

Thanks!

~*~ Piosenniel, Shire Moderator