The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Primrose Bolger]

‘Breakfast first, don’t you think Cook?’ asked Ginger. She’d set the big bowl of batter aside for a moment and was wiping her newly washed hands on a dishtowel near the sink. ‘I’ll join you two, if you don’t mind. All I had was a slice of toast with jam and a cup of hot tea when I got up.’

Ginger gave Tim three plates she’d got down from the cupboard and handed Wren some knives, forks, spoons and three mugs. ‘Just put them on the table in the middle of the kitchen and set yourselves down. I’ll fetch us a platter of eggs, bacon, and taters. And a basket of nice warm bread.’

‘Wren, if you will, just get a little crock of butter from that table by the door. And Tim, can you get a pot of honey and one of jam.’

She brought a teapot to the table and asked if Tim would do the honor. Then she heaped a platter with hot, tasty food and set it down in the middle of the table, a serving spoon at its side.

‘Help yourselves! There’s plenty more – don’t be shy! Once the meal is done and the table cleared I can tell you what we need done in the vegetable garden.’ Ginger helped herself to a large dollop of honey and stirred it slowly into her tea. ‘So, where are you two from?’ she asked as casually as she could, not wanting to scare them off. Nibbling at a piece of bread spread thick with blackberry jam she waited to hear their answer.

[piosenniel]

Ruby wiped her hand on her apron and offered her hand to the Elf. ‘Alcarillo Nession. Pleased to meet you. Nice name by the way. Rolls right off the tongue. Harlindon, you say. Our handyman’s wife is from Lindon. They just left here this morning bound for there to visit her family.’

Her small hand was lost in his larger one, and she felt somewhat self conscious at the smoothness of his skin. Hers, she was sure, was rough from all the washing up and such she did about the Inn. Nothing to be ashamed of! she reminded herself. She gave him a smile and pumped his arm once as firmly as she could.

‘Right then,’ she said disengaging her hand from his. ‘I’ll be back directly with your food and a pot of tea.’

Ruby paused to take a few more orders, then retreated to the kitchen. Loading her tray up, she made her way back to the common room. Eggs, bacon, and a basket of warm bread soon found their way to Alcarillo’s table. Along with a small pot of sweet cream butter, one of blackberry jam, and one of honey, in case he required it for his tea or bread. ‘Enjoy!’ she said as she placed the pot of hot steaming tea down next to the mug she’d brought him. ‘Just call if you need anything else!’

She hurried away, leaving meals for other hungry patrons, and picking up orders as she returned to the kitchen.

[Folwren]

Tim and Wren took the dishes and flatware to the table and set it. They did not mind being invited to breakfast before doing more work, though Tim promised himself that he’d be sure to complete anything they needed done in return for it. He wouldn’t be treated as a beggar...but, then, he couldn’t be letting his pride get in the way of what might be best for his sister.

The two of them gathered what things Ginger asked them to fetch and once they were all sitting down and the tea was poured and the food served out, Ginger opened conversation.

“So, where are you two from?”

Wren glanced at Tim and Tim looked at the tea pot, noticing for the first time the pretty design of leaves and strawberries. The fork that had traveled half way to his mouth went back down to the plate and he dropped his eyes.

“We come from somewhere near a little town called Bree, a way East of here, I guess.” He glanced up quickly. “We’ve just been...walking a lot lately, ‘s all.”

“Walking a lot,” Wren said with something of a disgusted tone in her voice and she sent her brother a surprisingly fierce look from her large brown eyes. “I’ll say,” she muttered.

‘Why won’t he tell them?’ she wondered to herself, turning her eyes to her food. She had told Woody the evening before of their misfortune but had not really thought about it. Now Tim’s keeping it back and she knowing that he didn’t want it mention made her think of it. There was nothing to catch her attention like the kittens had the night before and stop her thinking. Her appetite suddenly fled and her hand went to her mouth in a futile attempt to keep a sudden sob back. More followed, and in a moment, she was in tears.

“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry,” Tim said, springing up from the table. “I didn’t mean to ruin your breakfast.” He couldn’t look Ginger in the eye. He couldn’t have looked anyone in the eye just now. He bit his lip in a violent attempt to either not say anything sharp to his sister, or not to start crying himself. It was not a very sufficient solution to his problems, however, and he couldn’t help the tears that started suddenly to his own eyes.

He sat back down, put his elbows on the table, and covered his face with his hands, at least until he had gotten a hold on himself and had thought of something to say.

[Primrose Bolger]

The words and tears that her simple question had brought on surprised Ginger. She put down her bread and jam and got up quickly from her chair. Tim sat with his head in his hands looking as if he might bolt all together or burst into tears himself if she touched him or tried any words of comfort on him. Picking up her clean napkin, she went to Wren’s side.

Ginger put her hand round the girl’s heaving shoulders in a sympathetic manner. ‘Bree! Such a long way to have walked! No wonder you’re so worn out from it.’ She dipped the corner of the napkin in the small pitcher of cool water that sat on the table. Cradling Wren’s head against her shoulder, Ginger dabbed at the girl’s red cheeks where the tears ran. ‘Goodness, I’m in not yet in my tweens yet being just eighteen. And I’ve been hardly farther than the western edges of Hobbiton and the eastern edges of Bywater.’

She handed Wren the dry part of the napkin and told her to go ahead and blow her snuffy nose on it. The obvious question had been brewing in her mind since she’d first laid eyes on the two children. Big Folk or no, what were they doing wandering down the Great Road all alone it seemed.

‘Are you on your way to your folks, little one?’ Ginger asked gently. Then thinking that perhaps someone from the Inn could give the two a lift she inquired further. ‘Are they near?’

[Undómë]

Once they’d seated themselves, Teluyaviel shrugged off her cloak, letting it fall haphazardly over the back of her chair. Her eyes were bright with unfeigned interest as she looked about the room. ‘What an interesting place!’ she exclaimed, leaning forward to touch her brother on the arm.

Tindomion shook his head in agreement, knowing that if he were to give his real opinion it would elicit an argument until she felt he’d been brought to see her view. His eyes were on the other of the Elves who’d come to be at the Inn. ‘What brings them here to this rude place?’ he wondered to himself. ‘Where are they bound?’ his musings were brought to a halt as Telu patted him on the arm to gain his attention.

‘I’m quite hungry,’ she declared, looking to where the server who’d spoken to them had gone. ‘See if you can get her attention, Tindo,’ she went on, lifting her chin to where Ruby was hurrying back toward the kitchen. ‘Let’s see what they have to offer.’

Not one to resist a request from his sister, Tindo got up from the table and made his way toward the retreating Hobbit. His own stomach was wondering if the food would be edible.

‘Little Mistress!’ he called out, just a few steps behind her.

[piosenniel]

Ruby's poor impression on Tindomion

Ruby’s hand was on the door to the kitchen; her mind ticking off which table wanted what for breakfast. The voice behind surprised her; she had not heard the Elf’s light footfalls coming near her.

With a gasp she halted quickly and turned to see who spoke. The tray of dirty dishes wobbled precariously on her palm and tipped, sending plates, cups, utensils, and scraps of uneaten food careening toward the floor.

The latter unfortunately splashing on the toes of the Elf’s boots . . .

[Alcarillo]

Alcarillo ate his breakfast in silence, watching the visitors to the inn eat and talk. He spread some jam on his bread and munched on it thoughtfully, then moved on to the eggs and then the bacon. He sipped his tea, watching two other Elves find their seats near the fireplace. Alcarillo spread some honey on another slice of bread and thought of the quaint rustic-ness of the hobbits. Quite interesting creatures, he thought, and very kind and generous. I should visit this land again one day.

A clatter rang across the common room, and heads turned from their breakfast and towards the kitchen door, where someone had dropped a tray full of dirty dishes. Alcarillo saw an embarrassed Ruby standing with the mess spread about in front of her and extending to the feet of one of the two Elves who sat near the fireplace, now standing before her. Oh dear, he must’ve caught her unaware, Alcarillo thought, and she does seem a bit uncomfortable among Elves. Alcarillo recalled her ashamed expression when he introduced himself. Alcarillo took another bite of his bread and considered helping her clean the mess, if nobody else does, I will. For now he remained in his seat, feeling a bit of pity and compassion for the poor hobbit maiden.