The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[piosenniel]

Cook remembers to answer the door

‘Never rains but it pours,’ muttered Cook as she served up bowls of stewed coney and taters for the servers to take out to the guests in the Common Room. There’d been a faint knock at the kitchen door and then the rather dramatic entry of Gil and friends along with Derufin carrying in the limp body of a man. Ranger, it had turned out to be. And none too clean by the looks of the table where his clothes had left dirty marks on the freshly scrubbed surface.

Well, he’d left . . . before she could clean and dress his wound; his rescuers trailing out the door behind him. Leaving her to clean the table after him. And now there was Buttercup fretting and fuming over her cider soaked apron and clothes. She was sponging away at them, quite ineffectively when Cook ordered her up to her room to change into clean, dry ones. ‘Be faster,’ she called after the grumbling Hobbit. ‘And change that look on your face while you’re up there, Miss! I’m sure Master Gil apologized. He’s a well mannered lad at heart. I don’t want you scaring the customers off with a soured frown.’

She’d almost forgotten that someone had knocked at the door earlier. Balancing the stirring spoon on the stew pot, she wiped her hands on her apron and reached up to tuck her errant grey curls behind her ears. ‘Goodness gracious! I hope the poor dear left standing there has not gone off in a huff.’ As quick as her legs could carry her she came to the door and opened it.

There was no one there. The step was empty. She was just about to shut the door, when she heard the faint rustle of someone’s cloak. And then a tall figure stepped up onto the little porch, looming over her.

Cook stifled a gasp and put her hand to her heart to keep it from leaping out her chest. ‘Land sakes, Master Lithmirë. You scared me half to death! Come in! Come in! You’ve not missed supper. And I’ve put together some of your tea herbs for you.’ She motioned him to follow her to the table the Ranger had recently vacated and bade him sit down. ‘Just let me brew some up in a little pot, then we’ll have a bite to eat together.’

She poured the hot water in the pot and set it in front of him, along with a cup. ‘I’ve spoken with Granny Oldbuck,’ she said, keeping a steady patter of conversation going. The Elf was a quiet one, and rather skittish. Best to keep a stream of calm words going. ‘She says it’s fine if you come up to her place and poke about in the woods round her house. I told her we might come up tomorrow . . . that is if you’d like to . . .’

[Esgallhugwen]

Falowik and Eswen talked for a brief while before Falowik ventured back outside to check on Uien. They cannot be parted for long can they? she thought, wondering what a love like that would feel like if she could be so lucky.

She had long finished her miruvor, her strength was no longer stretched and thin. Eswen looked about her, not wishing to become involved with the other patrons she watched them passively.

A larger group of newcomers were being served dinner, Lithmirë was no where to be found. Hobbits scurrying about and an assortment of men and those of her Kin were sitting down to dinner as well.

She sighed and took up her saddle bags to her room, moving lightly and swift before anyone could tell who or what had passed.

Eswen sat on the bed gazing into the small crackling fire, you should have told him how you felt, now it is too late and he is gone, she moved to the window and opening the latch she cunningly crept onto the roof of the Green Dragon.

Thinking back on her dark journey, she held a dagger in her hand the ebony twin of the ivory set she had given to Lira.

What is my purpose?

But there were only stars and silence to answer her.

[Kath]

After finishing her meal and her letter Astilwen headed out of the Inn to escape the commotion within. She walked around the grounds admiring the beautiful plants and flowers as she breathed in the refreshing night air. She gave a wide berth to the elf woman and the man who were lying together under a large tree as they looked peaceful and she had no wish to disturb them. She did give the tree a closer look however, as she had seen it on the way in and it now appeared to her to be in a slightly different place. Dismissing the thought with a shake of her head she continued walking.

Coming to a hobbit sized bench on the far side of the Inn she sat down and tilted her head back to look up at the stars. They were exceptionally beautiful as the night was so clear and every separate star could be seen. As she tried to find some of the constellations her father had shown her as a child her attention was diverted by the sudden flash of starlight reflected by something on the roof if the Inn. Standing up on the bench Astilwen saw another elf woman sitting on the roof, with a dagger in her hands. She looked pained and deep in thought, twirling the dagger as she stared up into the sky.

Before she was really aware of her actions, Astilwen called up to the elf
"Hello? Are you alright ma'am?"

For a moment she was unsure if she had been heard, as the elf gave no sign that the words had reached her. Then, as if coming out of a trance, she lowered her eyes a little towards Astilwen.

[Huan]

Gwynn and the others introduce themselves to Gil

‘Up . . . from Pincup . . .’ Emlin smiled as he drew out the words. ‘Surely we have a poet in our midst! And one who serves ale,’ he went on, ‘a delicious duo of occupations.’

The others laughed at the poor joke, then chided the Elf for putting Gil on the spot. ‘We are those players. And tired and hungry ones to boot.’ Gwynn started the introductions by giving his name and looking expectantly toward his sister to be next.

‘We’d be happy to play. Or rather I should say, Gwynn and I, Talan, can keep time with our clapping if you wish. We handle the puppets, and have no skills really for the music.’ She pointed toward the Elf. ‘Now Emlin, there, is a singer and plays the flute, too. And truth be told, it doesn’t take much to encourage him to show off his skill.’ She nodded down to where the Hobbits sat. ‘Rowan and Tolly Foxburr. Now they are our musicians. Rowan plays the pipes, all sorts I should qualify, and Tolly the hand drum and bells. And both are a fair hand at the dulcimer.’

‘Let us have our supper first,’ chimed in Tolly. ‘And a few rounds of the Dragon’s ale under our belts. We’d be glad to join in the evening’s festivities.’ He looked toward Rowan and amended his offer. ‘That is, I would be willing to play. I should let my sister speak for herself.’

Rowan looked toward the table Gil had pointed out where his friends and little nephews sat. The littlest one stood on the bench waving over to her and the other players. ‘Can’t disappoint our fervent fans,’ she laughed, waving back at the youngster. ‘And I suppose we might do one short tale, too, for the boys.’ She cocked her head and looked appraisingly at the lads. ‘I’m thinking something with a dragon in it would do, eh?’ Her brown eyes turned back to Gil. ‘But let us fill our grumbling bellies first with the Inn’s good food and drink,’ she added, holding her mug out to him.

[Fairleaf]

From her vantage point, Fairleaf watched the tableaux of the Uien and the fair haired man who rested against her. The man seemed to be sleeping. His face was peaceful, a smile gracing it for one brief moment as the Elf bent to kiss his brow. The Elf, however, did not sleep. Her eyes were open in the starlight and memories, the Ent-maid supposed, ran deep beneath them.

In the distance, she saw the scarred Elf knock on the Inn’s back door, then slide into the shadows to wait for an answer. It was some time before the rectangle of bright light that shown from the kitchen flooded out onto the little porch and the sturdy figure of the cook stepped into it.

Good, good! She is taking him in. thought Fairleaf. Root and Stem! He needs a little nourishment for both. If only he’ll take what’s offered.’

Fairleaf stirred her leaves, catching the scents on the night breezes. She inched her roots deeper. Elves can revel in their waking dreams for a long time she recalled. She would have to be patient and wait for them to leave.