The Golden Perch Inn

[Newsman]

Vehil took another look at the wound and sighed. "Its bad alright, but it could be much worse. I will try my best to treat it. Maikaa..." Vehil shuddered and closed his mouth. He hoped that the other elves hadn't seen him shudder, but his brother's name caused the involuntary twitch. Where in the world could he be?

Vehil took a few herbs and crushed them before mixing them into the open wound. "So where do you hail from?" he attempted small talk to try to bring his mind away from his brother. I hope the healer gets here soon, the way the dwarf is acting, I may need him worse than Nienna.

[Forest Elf]

Gable nodded, though she had meant an elf healer that she had heard some of the folk talking about, who wasn't staying that far away. She went to the stables and quickly put a bridle and saddle upon a pony. It would be easier for the hobbit to ride rather than walk. She swung into the saddle with one easy movement and set the pony into a gallop.

She soon came to the doctor's door. She quickly got down from the horse and walked to the door. She knocked on it loudly. Then even louder she said, "Sir, there is an injured elf at the Inn and we need your help right away."

"I'll be right there!" the doctor said from inside. There was a slight clatter of dishes, then hurried footsteps before the door swung open. "Have you become the one to come and get me every time some one gets hurt?" he asked teasingly. "No matter, ah, good. You brought the pony this time, very good indeed."

Gable helped him onto the pony and he rode off to the Inn without a second thought. Gable stood there, staring after him. Then she figured that he was in a hurry to get to the Inn, and it would be faster for him to ride alone than with her. Of course, she thought to herself, he could be getting her back for not bringing the pony the last time she was here.

[Tevildo]

For a short time, Daisy considered getting angry at her brother. Why had he suggested they hide in the cellar if he already knew there were a series of mazelike tunnels where they could get lost? But the real uncertainty and concern she heard in her brother's voice prevented her from responding sharply. Instead, she reached out, took his hand. and confided, "Don't worry. We're in luck. This morning, I was helping Granny make beeswax candles. She gave me two to carry home to mother along with a brand new flint. Once we get some light in here, I'm sure we'll find our way out."

Tom breathed a long sigh of relief as Daisy prepared to dig into the small pouch where she always hid her treasures. For several minutes, she fumbled at her belt, her fingers searching frantically. It took a while for her to realize that her pouch was not in its accustomed place. Instead, there was only a long string, torn and dangling, with no pouch attached.

Realization flooded over Daisy as she remembered the earlier episode when she had been helping to tug open the door. She blurted out her fears to her brother, "Tom, I don't think I have it. The candles, I mean. We were at the door and the side of my skirt caught on a nail. I heard my skirt rip. At least I thought it was my skirt. Only it must have been my pouch. It's gone....my pouch and everything in it, including the candles and the flint. Everything must be lying back there on the ground beside the trap door...."

"We're lost then. We're really lost," her brother moaned.

"Yes, I am afraid we are."

[Elfchick7]

"So, where do you hail from?" Vehil had asked. For a moment, Luriniel sat in silence. In her mind, she was weighing how safe it would be to tell him truth. Undoubtedly, more questions would come. Surely, he is only trying to bring about conversation. Or does he know me? I do not recall having seen this elf before, but that means little. Having our past rediscovered could prove disastrous, especially while Nienna is in this condition.

Before Luriniel could decide how to answer, Nienna did it for her. "We hail from Mirkwood, good sir, but that was many years ago. We have long since wandered the earth."

Luriniel, desperate to avoid further questions added, "Even this vast land may have failed to quench our restless hearts' thirst for adventure." She cringed inside at how silly it made her sound. What ladies travel across Arda for no higher purpose than adventure? Hopefully, though, that will be enough to satisfy his curiosity as to why we left.

[Newsman]

Mirkwood Elves? Well that was interesting, but so was the delay in the answer. Vehil shook his head to banish the thought, it wasn't important. He took another look at the wound. This is really going to need more help than I can give.

"I had a few friends that lived near Mirkwood" he mumbled. Vehil didn't know what he was mumbling about. He wasn't nervous, but something about this kept him on guard. "Luriniel, can you go outside and watch for the doctor, that is if you trust me with Nienna."

[Newsman]

“Fain, I’m going for a quick ride. But I’ll be back before tomorrow.” That was the last thing that Maikaalph had ever said to Fain. That quick ride had never ended. Maikaalph had never returned. Fain couldn't help but think of his old friend's whereabouts as he trudged up the path to The Golden Perch. What he needed now was a place to rest, and to drown himself in the ale.

Fain entered the inn, and sat at the nearest empty table. Some of the patrons looked at the Dwarf suspiciously, like they were expecting some kind of mischief. Fain couldn't figure out what the cause was, he had never been here before. In fact he had been gone from the Shire since two days after Maikaalph never returned.

He ordered an ale and remembered the past as he waited for it. He had been all over, from Rivendell to Mirkwood, and even Lothlorien, Rohan, and Gondor searching for his old friend. Yet any leads turned up dead. Now he was back where it all began, hoping that maybe there would be some trace of the elf.

His ale arrived, and Fain spent a moment staring into its confines. He shook his head, which ruffled the neat brown beard of his. After another moment, he threw his head back and took a long swallow. Maybe something will happen to help me...

[Elfchick7]

"I do not trust you." Luriniel said flatly. Nienna's eyes opened wide with surprise as she stared at her older sister. Luriniel continued, "It has been a long while since...that is to say...forgive me." she rushed out of the room.

"Vehil, please forgive my sister." Nienna looked up at him apologetically, "The events of this day and recent days past have greatly troubled her. I am the only family she has and she fears that my wound will prove to be more grave than can be healed."

------------------

Luriniel hurried into the commons and was about to go outdoors when she noticed a new dwarf. She stared at him without regard to propriety.

Another! Will this never end! Without a word, she turned and walked through the door. There, she waited and watched for the whoever might be the doctor. What were you thinking, Luriniel? That was foolish. In all your years surely you have learned to act with more caution. That outburst of emotion was rash. Luriniel mentally scolded herself, This elf, Vehil, seems in every way to be a friend. Nienna, please be safe. Please be well.