An Adventure of Hobbit Proportions RPG

[Kitanna]

"Aye, she's so old that she does not even understand us young people anymore", Peony giggled as Bunny poked fun at Tansy.

"The first adventure is always an important occassion... I think we must have a toast for it!" The hobbit lasses raised their pints in a toast to the occasion.

"We need this adventure," Peony said, "Then maybe we can grab some renown that's not been seen since the hobbits of the Great War." If Peony guessed correctly this was what Bunny was after and the thought of praise throughout the Shire for finding the Entwives excited Peony a great deal.

She took a sip from her pint and smiled, leaning back in her chair. The morning had taken an unexpected turn when Rudy and Hugo decided to come along. It had nearly devastated poor Bunny, but now it seemed things would go smoothly. If all continued this way, the rest of their journey would run smoothly.

Content with her pint and the promise of a second breakfast Peony let out a sigh. But the contentment could not last, Mira's gaze had darted to the door and worry shrouded her face. Peony looked toward the door and saw Rudy and Burt bringing in Gaffer Hugo.

[Finduilas]

Mira laughed heartily at Bunny, though she did hope that everything would be explained to Brown before the Innkeeper came for the bill. She saw Rudy get up though, and it occured to her suddenly that the Gaffer hadn't come in yet. She stood up to go with Rudy, but he sent her a reasuring glance, and a nod, so she sat back down.

Right then Tansy started laughing at Bunny too, but it was strange that it had taken her so long to see what was funny. Mira looked at her curiously before remember her manners and keeping her eyes to herself. Tansy however didn't seem to mind but explained,

"Never mind, dear, you wouldn't get the joke, you're too young."

Mira got the closes to grumpy she had been in the last week. Too young to get the joke? It'd been Tansy that was late in getting it, not her.

But Bunny cut in with a cocky "Aye, she's so old that she does not even understand us young people anymore," which set the them all giggling again.

"Anyway, Mira, am I mistaken if I say you've never been on an adventure before? The first adventure is always an important occassion... I think we must have a toast for it!" said Tansy, the kindness of her words erasing anything that Mira may have held against her, though the attention being drawn to herself made her blush.

Right then she noticed Rudy and Burt, the ostler, helping Gaffer Hugo into the inn. She started up worried. Hugo looked as if he were in a lot of pain. She quickly got up and ran over to them.

"What's wrong? What happened? Are you alright? You're hurt aren't you? Is there anything I can do?" She asked one after the other. She felt near to panic. She could tell he wasn't trying to show it, but it was plain that her Grandfather had hurt himself something terrible.

[littlemanpoet]

All of a sudden Gaffer Hugo was in a dark, closed in place, and he wished he was back outside where he could breathe free. Everybody and their neighbor were crowding around, their faces all full of concern, and it made him feel like he was being smothered.

"Are you hurt?" "Are you all right?" "What happened?"

"Give me some air!" he cried. "And some vittles and drink! I fell off my cart and twisted my ankle is all. I'll be all right, you can be sure, just let me be for a bit!"

Mercifully, Rudy and Burt helped him to a table by a big round window that looked out on the River.

"My but his ankle's swollen something fierce!" "He looks a little white in the face if you ask me." "Someone at his age unattended. Humph!"

Someone gave him a pillow to prop his foot on, and up came Snatch looking as worried as any of the busybodies looking on; but also looking hungry and ready to be fed regardless of the state of his master's ankle.

"Now you be a good boy," Hugo said, "and just lie there next to me so's I can get at my food an' give you a bite now and then."

"Are you sure you're okay?" "Do you need anything else, Gaffer?" "Are you feeling dizzy?"

Before long, food and drink were brought, and Hugo began to feel more himself, though his hip opposite the twisted ankle felt a little wrenched too, but he wasn't about to say anything an' give all these meddlesome folk yet another thing to worry at. Ever since he had sat down, the lightheadedness had dissipated, which helped. He set to with a will on his vittles, and just wished everyone would let be. "Unattended at my age," mumbled, "had better be the way it stays if I have anything to say about it, ain't that so Snatch?"

[Gwathagor]

Brown finished his beer and sat back.

"That," he said, "That was a proper 1420, that was."

When they had brought Gaffer Hugo in, Brown had tried to get close to see what the trouble was. It was no good, of course; there was too much of a crowd. Knowing he couldn't do anything to help, Brown had returned to his stool to finish his breakfast. However, he was concerned about the Gaffer (and a bit curious, too). If he was injured, he might be in any condition to come along - not where they would be going.

Well, he thought, I'd better see how he is.

Brown arose with that intention and found himself faced with the innkeeper, who held out a long, narrow piece of paper on which was scrawled a rather long list of items. He stared at it, confused.

10 pints of stout? Lamb hocks? Lentil stew? What?

"Your bill, master." The innkeeper clearly knew something Brown did not.

"My bill?" replied Brown, who was by this time thoroughly bewildered.

"Aye..." returned the innkeeper, who was now looking at Brown with somewhat narrowed eyes. "The young ladies over there" (he jerked his head towards their table) "said you'd be payin'."

Brown looked over towards Bunny and her companions. Conversation had been subdued when Gaffer Hugo came in injured, but now Bunny was laughing and chatting with her friends as if nothing in the world was the matter. Then Brown understood.

"Just a moment," he said to the innkeeper, and headed over towards Bunny's table. He tried to look stern.

[Valier]

Bunny's fun at the Inn was becoming steadily more unfunny. Hugo Gaffer appeared to be injured, even though he had said he was fine. Which worried Bunny a great deal. She was sure this would slow them down some degree, she was beginning to like Mira and the Gaffer, and Rudy seemed nice enough, but this was turning out to be a leisurely stroll through the Shire, not what she had intended. She was not going to let it get to her, she decided. There was still some fun to be had, before the day was done.

Bunny told the lasses a little joke her father had told her and couldn't help but laugh herself, at the reactions of the girls. But the fun was cut short as well as the laughter. Bunny turned and beheld Brown standing there, arms crossed looking stern. Bunny had not given her little plan a lot of thought. It was just a spur of the moment joke and now she had to come up with something so that Brown did not become cross with her, but not giving in. She wanted to assert a certain amount of dominance, but traveling with someone she had tricked did not in the long run seem like fun. Bunny was not usually one to cause so much trouble, but being away from her families watchful eyes made her feel free and slightly giddy.

Bunny reached up and smoothed her bushy hair, in an attempt to buy herself some time. She needed to think and think quickly.
"Oh Hello there Mister Brown!" Bunny smiled her biggest. She decided to just make it up as she went along.
"I must thank you Brown" Bunny jumped up and took Browns hand in hers.
"We little Lasses were just sooooo famished." As she said this Bunny put the back of her hand to her forehead and swooned slightly.
"I just thought you would have seen this and insisted on purchasing some fine vittles for us."

Bunny turned slightly towards the table of girls, as they stared back at her wide eyed and tried not to giggle.
"We really do appreciate it, Right Lasses?" Bunny threw them all a pleading look.
in chorus they all answered
"Oh yes!"
"So we must thank you again." Bunny smiled sweetly to Brown who just stood there looking confused. He shuffled his feet and looked down for just a moment.

Bunny reached into her pocket and cupped some coins in her hand. As Brown looked up, Bunny lunged at him giving him a large hug, all the while emptied her hand into Browns pocket. She pulled back and straightened her skirt. Brown looked surprised and flustered.

"Now I think if everyone has had their fill we should perhaps get ready to go? Why don't you go square up and see if Gaffer Hugo and Rudy are ready."
Bunny gave Brown a slight push towards Hugo and Rudy, he still looking slightly confused and obliged.
Bunny watched until Brown was gone and sat back into her chair with flop. She didn't think she needed to mention the money she had put in Brown's pocket, not just yet. She wanted to let them all think, at least for awhile that she had indeed tricked Brown into paying for their food and drinks.

"Glad that went well" Bunny laughed and finished off the last of her mug."Are you ladies ready to be off? Inn's are fun and all, but I think I should like to feel the road beneath my feet."

[littlemanpoet]

It was not long before food and drink had been had by all, including Snatch. Gaffer Hugo felt satisfied, and was ready to be moving despite the wunnerful view of the Brandywine River from his big window.

He tested his ankle just a bit on the floor. It was no good. His hip was sore yet, but he figured that was a just from the ankle problem. He was not feeling dizzy anymore, food and drink had done him good. But there was no help for it, he would not be able to walk.

He called the innkeeper over and explained his predicament.

"Don't you worry, Gaffer, I'll have Burt take your Mosy off the cart an' I'll keep that cart nice and clean for you, don't even think about rent, if you'll let me use it from time to time I'll make sure it's as good as new when you get back."

"That suits me fine," Gaffer smiled. "But I didn't bring a saddle for Mosy. Have you any to spare?"

"I think I can find one, and I'll loan it to you in trade for use of your cart. What say you?"

"I'll keep you saddle as well as you'll keep my cart an' we're even," Hugo grinned. They shook on it and the innkeeper hurried off to the stables.

It was not long before Rudy and Brown had helped Hugo out to the courtyard and Mosy stood saddled up and a pack behind the saddle, and all they needed to do was hoist Hugo up into the saddle. Someone they managed it, and Hugo was up no worse for the wear. But then he had a thought.

"I forgot to pay for my lunch!"

"Don't worry," the innkeeper said, "your young man Brown here paid for everybody, including you!"

"Well I'm obliged to be sure!" Hugo said. "You make a fine new friend, Brown!"

[Gwathagor]

Brown smoothed the hair on Mosy's neck and considered explaining what had actually happened.

Instead, he said: "Ah...of course. Though, to be fair, Bunny helped as well."

Bunny might be a thoroughly silly hobbit, but she clearly meant well enough. He'd give her a second chance.

"Well, Gaffer, if you're set, then we should be off. I should like to be on the road before the day gets away from us. Rudy, will you fetch the lasses, or should I?"