The Golden Perch Inn

[mormegil]

Kuric looked at the new arrivals hatefully, especially the elf. Reason had fled his mind and now he was drunk with rage, the elf only complicated the problem. He didn’t understand what was being said to him, all he knew, for the moment, was that his ring was missing and nobody was going to do anything about it.

Something held him together and kept him from attempting to kill the three in front of him, but just kept him at bay. Kuric couldn’t comprehend why everybody wasn’t shocked at his news and knew that he must find the thieves alone. Scanning the room quickly he realized that the thief or thieves knew the value of the treasure they had stolen ergo had left the necklace, while fairly valuable in its own right it paled in comparison to the worth of the ring. They would be smart enough to not stay in the commons area. Kuric thought. “Bah!” Kuric spat, “A pox on all of ya here, I’ll go an’ find ‘em meself”.

Just as Kuric began to move to run outside he caught a glimpse of Tollers coming up to Dick and began to speak to him. Kuric finally thought that he had an ally and was about to run outside thinking his new comrade would be following. As he made his move he hesitated when an elf-maiden burst in to the inn calling for something, Kuric didn’t bother to pay attention and was too concerned with his own affairs to care. Roughly pushing the nosey elf and the unconcerned inn keeper aside, knocking poor Dick down, Kuric began to spring toward the door. “Move out of me way,” Kuric yelled as he made his way for the door, he would run the elf-maid over if it came to it so bent on getting his ring back and making them pay for the theft.

[Elfchick7]

Luriniel stepped aside when she realized that the dwarf would walk through to get to the door. He looked very a angry and seemed, to her eyes, under the affects of a strong ale.

Not sure what to make of the situation, Luriniel moved toward the window to see that the grumbling dwarf brought no harm to her wounded sister, who sat outside. Seeing that Nienna was alright, the elf-maid turned back to face the persons in the commons.

Luriniel continued waiting and watching, as she was uncertain as to what her next action should be.

[Folwren]

Dick heard the female elven voice speak from behind him, but he didn’t turn to look. His attention was fixed on the dwarf, and until Kuric had made up his mind as to whether he was going to murder them all or calm down, Dick wasn’t prepared to turn his back for a moment.

But Kuric only paused briefly, before pushing forward, with a rough curse which included them all. He brushed by the elf with his hand, but Dick received the full force of his shoulder and the innkeeper couldn’t keep his footing. He tumbled to the ground, sending the ale spinning from his hand, and for a moment, he lay as though he would not rise again. Cela was by him instantly, but she had hardly begun to offer him help to his feet when he struggled back up by himself, his face red with indignation.

Kuric had left the inn. He was visible outside the open door. Standing just within it stood the elf, asking for aid. Dick stood, trembling with trapped anger and the attempt to keep it down, unsure of what he should do. His mind tumbled over itself as he tried to remember what Tollers had said, and what the new elf had said, and he also tried to decide what he should do. Should he go after the dwarf, or should he leave him be. Should he let sheriff Woolyfoot know that there was an irate and insane dwarf on the loose? Should he actually patronize Kuric, and apologize, tell him the ring would be found again and restored to him, and the thief punished. Punished? For heaven’s sake, he didn’t even know who stole it.

Toller’s words became clear instantly. He remembered now and before he spoke to the new elf, he turned his eyes towards the young hobbit. A key was missing? Which key was it? No questions now, there was someone to be seen to. He walked forward towards the elf still standing in the doorway, uncertain of what she should do.

“I am so sorry,” he said apologetically. “What may I do for you? A room? Certainly. . . And you have a sister?”

[Folwren]

The shouting upset Lil terribly. It upset Iris as well and the two girls drew close together, their hands clasped, and their eyes were wide. Daisy and Tom led the way, running across the garden and courtyard. Dimple, the brother just older that Lil, came behind, making sure the two girls stayed up with the older kids.

At the heavy cellar door they stopped, and Tom struggled to lift it for a moment. He could not do it alone and Daisy stepped forward. The three others stood in terrified silence, waiting with baited breath, and hoping terribly that the dwarf wouldn’t leave the inn before they had time to escape.

With a great heave, the two oldest siblings got the door open. Tom herded the others on before him, down into the darkness, and then shut the door behind him. None of them thought about the difficulty they had had while attempting to open the door - no one considered that opening it from beneath would be even more difficult.

A new danger and fright met them. As the door closed above them, utter and complete darkness closed in around them. They had no light, and after reaching the bottom of the steps and going forward some, no light could reach them from the small cracks in the wooden door. They pressed ahead, all the same. They all felt the danger of being caught by that dwarf, and that fear drove them on, even when the fear of the darkness would have held at least Lil and Iris back.

Lil herself was becoming very sorry for their prank. Stealing from a dwarf may not be wrong, but it was dangerous. Tom had earlier compared a dwarf’s treasure to a dragon's, and he had been surprisingly near the mark. A dragon could scarcely have become as angry as Kuric had over a lost treasure. It had never occurred to her that the dwarf might become so infuriated. Now they were down underground with no light. It was cold and damp down here and it didn’t feel clean. Tom continued to lead them on, but Lil had already lost track of direction.

“Tom?” Lil’s voice wavered and trembled in the darkness. “Tom, I’m scared. Let’s go back.”

[Finduilas]

It appeared that Alassë was cooling down, until a girl in the inn caught her attention by staring at her. Elorn saw the elf go ridged, and her eyes harden. Elorn wondered what made her so non-trusting, but, it not being his business, he decided to keep his nose out of it.

Another female elf bursting in at the door added to the general excitement of the room. When the dwarf finally stormed out of the room the innkeeper went to greet her. Elorn saw that the innkeeper was in need of a rest, so he wondered if he should go help.

“I’ll be right back, ma’am,” he said turning to Alassë, “it appears the landlord may need help, so please excuse me for a moment.”

Elorn approached Dick and the tired looking elf, and offered his services.

[Newsman]

Vehil watched the angry dwarf leave. He smelled the ale on the dwarf's breath and was thankful no one had been hurt. Vehil moved his hands away from his knives and allowed himself to relax, if only for the moment. Since the confrontation, a new elf had come in calling for a room for her wounded sister.

Well, I better go see if there is anything I can do to help. Vehil moved toward the window where the elf was standing. He hated talking to girls, he had always been bad at it. Still, Vehil took a deep breath and introduced himself to elf maid.

[Elfchick7]

Luriniel regarded the elf coolly. He seemed earnest in his desire to help but so had many others.

Without responding to his introduction with one of her own, she spoke calmly, "I thank you for your offer to help. Have you any skill with herbs? My sister has wound that is in great need of attendance." She turned the hobbit who seemed to be the innkeeper, "I will fetch my sister now, if you would be so kind to show me to a room."

Not waiting for the hobbit to answer, Luriniel walked out of the door and helped her sister stand. Together, the elves walked over to the innkeeper.

Nienna surveyed her new surroundings with caution. Her shoulder burned with pain and she winced as she moved forward. Alarmed at the sight of other elves, she turned to Luriniel questioningly. As she received no reaction, Nienna became calm once again.