The Golden Perch Inn - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rose · 03-20-2011, 03:48 PM

Granny smacked her lips appreciatively at the feast laid before her. ‘Now there’s someone who knows how to serve beans!’ she said, sprinkling a generous helping of onions over them.

‘’Penny, you say,’ she went on, breaking open a hot biscuit and slathering it with honey and butter. ‘Did you just move hereabouts?’ She eyed the lass up and down. ‘I have a grandson ‘bout your age, mebbe a tad older.’ Granny gave Penny a knowing smile. ‘You married yet, girl? Or spoken for?’

The old hobbit took a bite of her biscuit and munched happily away as she waited for the lass to answer.

Envinyatar · 03-20-2011, 04:32 PM

Tolly took the instruction in stride. Take the water out to the fellow with the red-blonde hair. Man from out Bree way Rowan thought. No, he didn’t want ale, she’d said.

He stopped by the ale cask and drew himself another mug of the Perch’s finest. And what the heck, he thought, why not offer another to the man he was bringing the little jug of water. What man didn’t like ale and wouldn’t really want it over some mug of plain well-water.

‘Reginald, isn’t it?’ he asked, setting the water jug and mug down on the table. ‘Miz Rowan asked me to bring it out to you.’ He set the mug of ale next to the water and slid it closer to the man. ‘Thought you might like a drink of this, too. Goes good with those beans Cook has done up for lunch.’

‘I’m Tolly, Tolly Bramble from Willowbottom. Mind if I sit down with you and drink my own mug with you?’ He looked at Reginald and then back toward the kitchen. ‘Good to be out here with a chance to sit and sip and relax a bit. Those women in the back always have something for a fellow to do if it looks like your getting too settled back.’

Folwren · 03-20-2011, 06:45 PM

Seredic watched over the activity in the common room with a benign and watchful eye, refilling mugs as they came to his hand, and ensuring that all his guests were happy. He kept a particular eye on two guests – Ibin, the tall fellow who had nearly caused such a racket with the two rangers before things started picking up, and this young upstart from Buckland who seemed to take everything and everyone as an insult. He was glad that Rowan took the young hobbit lad in hand. She had such a good way with these customers that Dick never could probably manage. She would sooth their ruffled tempers and put all to rights before anyone knew quite what had happened.

Nearby sat Granny Greenhill, another faithful customer of the inn, like old Mr. Burrower, who, Dick noticed just now, had apparently gotten up and gone on his way. He’d be back the next morning, sure as certain. Granny was pestering Penny just now about whether or not she was married. Dick stepped over to stand opposite her.

“Now, now, Granny,” he said. “Don’t go asking questions like that to lassies you don’t know. You might scare Penny off, and that’d hardly do, as she’s related to our new Cook! What would become of us then! Besides, what would your grandson think of being auctioned off the first new girl you came across his age?”

Rose · 03-20-2011, 07:13 PM

‘Well now, that’s just it isn’t it, Master Boffin. Sometimes the young lads just don’t think. Better they’re steered in the right direction than just go willy-nilly into some romantical thing.’ She shook her finger at the Innkeeper as if he should know this by now.

Granny Greenhill laughed and clapped her hands as if to clear the air. ‘Tis a pretty young lass, Miz Penny here. And look how she’s taken on the responsibility of serving here in the Inn. What young buck in his right mind would not take a first look at her . . . . and his mother a second and third?’

Folwren · 03-20-2011, 07:57 PM

Seredic turned wide eyes to Penny and then back to Granny. “Well, I can hardly say, you know, I’m not a mother, and I already have a wife of my own, and wouldn’t care to take any first look at anybody else. But, if you must ask, you must, I guess. Go ahead and tell her, Penny. . .” He had no idea what Penny’s answer would be, and he didn’t really care. He stepped away to help the next customer, muttering to himself,

“Those women folk are all the same young or old, trying to pair each other up like there’s not enough hobbit pairs around to populate all the Shire and all the Shire’s neighboring lands. Well, well, if I can’t help Penny out of this mess by telling Granny to mind her own business, I guess Penny’ll have to find her own way out.”

Durelin · 03-21-2011, 11:54 AM

Reginald was a little slow to look up from his food. He swallowed and smiled at the seemingly middle-aged Hobbit. "Thank you, sir." He expected the Hobbit to move on to another table as he had an extra mug or two, but it seemed he wasn't a regular server.

Reginald glanced at the ale mug, hoping it was 'on the house,' but continued to smile. "Not at all, Mister Bramble," he said, grinning a little crookedly at Tolly's remark about the women in the kitchens. "Though I doubt it will be easy to hide from them for long. Women seem to have additional senses when it suits them."

He was not good with women, about all he knew to do was give them a nice smile which only went so far. It was much easier to joke about them. He should be one of those knowing men nearing middle age, who'd been married for a time and could talk about all the things his wife did, make empty complaints, and declare how a man should handle a woman when he in fact bent over backwards for his woman at home. Though there was always the less pleasant sort, as well.

Reginald took a spoonful of the soup and eyed the mug of ale. He needed some water in him, but there was no way he could snub this Tolly and ignore the drink. He took what he considered a healthy drink from the mug of ale, though he wasn't one to knock back a drink in big gulps. It did compliment the smoky beans and ham well.

piosenniel · 03-26-2011, 10:28 PM

Penny

Oh my! Penny bit the inside of her lip to resist blurting out a response. Think, girl! What’s the best way to answer?

The old Gran reminded her strongly of her Great-great aunt on her father’s side, Aunt Hortensia. Plain-spoken and to the point. And not unkindly meant. Penny took a deep breath.

‘Well, Granny, if you don’t mind me being forward and calling you that. The answer to your first question is “no”. I’m not married. And, “no”, I’m not spoken for either.’

She pulled out the chair nearest the elder hobbit and sat down. ‘Hadn’t you better tell me a little about this grandson of yours? I certainly can’t decide if I might like to meet him if I don’t know a thing about him . . . now, can I?’ Penny leaned forward, her chin resting on her hand.

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03-20-2011, 03:48 PM	#1
Rose Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Playing to the tide with Uncle John Posts: 49	Granny smacked her lips appreciatively at the feast laid before her. ‘Now there’s someone who knows how to serve beans!’ she said, sprinkling a generous helping of onions over them. ‘’Penny, you say,’ she went on, breaking open a hot biscuit and slathering it with honey and butter. ‘Did you just move hereabouts?’ She eyed the lass up and down. ‘I have a grandson ‘bout your age, mebbe a tad older.’ Granny gave Penny a knowing smile. ‘You married yet, girl? Or spoken for?’ The old hobbit took a bite of her biscuit and munched happily away as she waited for the lass to answer.

03-20-2011, 04:32 PM	#2
Envinyatar Quill Revenant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through the Downs..... Posts: 849	Tolly took the instruction in stride. Take the water out to the fellow with the red-blonde hair. Man from out Bree way Rowan thought. No, he didn’t want ale, she’d said. He stopped by the ale cask and drew himself another mug of the Perch’s finest. And what the heck, he thought, why not offer another to the man he was bringing the little jug of water. What man didn’t like ale and wouldn’t really want it over some mug of plain well-water. ‘Reginald, isn’t it?’ he asked, setting the water jug and mug down on the table. ‘Miz Rowan asked me to bring it out to you.’ He set the mug of ale next to the water and slid it closer to the man. ‘Thought you might like a drink of this, too. Goes good with those beans Cook has done up for lunch.’ ‘I’m Tolly, Tolly Bramble from Willowbottom. Mind if I sit down with you and drink my own mug with you?’ He looked at Reginald and then back toward the kitchen. ‘Good to be out here with a chance to sit and sip and relax a bit. Those women in the back always have something for a fellow to do if it looks like your getting too settled back.’

03-20-2011, 06:45 PM	#3
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Seredic watched over the activity in the common room with a benign and watchful eye, refilling mugs as they came to his hand, and ensuring that all his guests were happy. He kept a particular eye on two guests – Ibin, the tall fellow who had nearly caused such a racket with the two rangers before things started picking up, and this young upstart from Buckland who seemed to take everything and everyone as an insult. He was glad that Rowan took the young hobbit lad in hand. She had such a good way with these customers that Dick never could probably manage. She would sooth their ruffled tempers and put all to rights before anyone knew quite what had happened. Nearby sat Granny Greenhill, another faithful customer of the inn, like old Mr. Burrower, who, Dick noticed just now, had apparently gotten up and gone on his way. He’d be back the next morning, sure as certain. Granny was pestering Penny just now about whether or not she was married. Dick stepped over to stand opposite her. “Now, now, Granny,” he said. “Don’t go asking questions like that to lassies you don’t know. You might scare Penny off, and that’d hardly do, as she’s related to our new Cook! What would become of us then! Besides, what would your grandson think of being auctioned off the first new girl you came across his age?”

03-20-2011, 07:13 PM	#4
Rose Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Playing to the tide with Uncle John Posts: 49	‘Well now, that’s just it isn’t it, Master Boffin. Sometimes the young lads just don’t think. Better they’re steered in the right direction than just go willy-nilly into some romantical thing.’ She shook her finger at the Innkeeper as if he should know this by now. Granny Greenhill laughed and clapped her hands as if to clear the air. ‘Tis a pretty young lass, Miz Penny here. And look how she’s taken on the responsibility of serving here in the Inn. What young buck in his right mind would not take a first look at her . . . . and his mother a second and third?’

03-20-2011, 07:57 PM	#5
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Seredic turned wide eyes to Penny and then back to Granny. “Well, I can hardly say, you know, I’m not a mother, and I already have a wife of my own, and wouldn’t care to take any first look at anybody else. But, if you must ask, you must, I guess. Go ahead and tell her, Penny. . .” He had no idea what Penny’s answer would be, and he didn’t really care. He stepped away to help the next customer, muttering to himself, “Those women folk are all the same young or old, trying to pair each other up like there’s not enough hobbit pairs around to populate all the Shire and all the Shire’s neighboring lands. Well, well, if I can’t help Penny out of this mess by telling Granny to mind her own business, I guess Penny’ll have to find her own way out.”

03-21-2011, 11:54 AM	#6
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	Reginald was a little slow to look up from his food. He swallowed and smiled at the seemingly middle-aged Hobbit. "Thank you, sir." He expected the Hobbit to move on to another table as he had an extra mug or two, but it seemed he wasn't a regular server. Reginald glanced at the ale mug, hoping it was 'on the house,' but continued to smile. "Not at all, Mister Bramble," he said, grinning a little crookedly at Tolly's remark about the women in the kitchens. "Though I doubt it will be easy to hide from them for long. Women seem to have additional senses when it suits them." He was not good with women, about all he knew to do was give them a nice smile which only went so far. It was much easier to joke about them. He should be one of those knowing men nearing middle age, who'd been married for a time and could talk about all the things his wife did, make empty complaints, and declare how a man should handle a woman when he in fact bent over backwards for his woman at home. Though there was always the less pleasant sort, as well. Reginald took a spoonful of the soup and eyed the mug of ale. He needed some water in him, but there was no way he could snub this Tolly and ignore the drink. He took what he considered a healthy drink from the mug of ale, though he wasn't one to knock back a drink in big gulps. It did compliment the smoky beans and ham well.

03-26-2011, 10:28 PM	#7
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Penny Oh my! Penny bit the inside of her lip to resist blurting out a response. Think, girl! What’s the best way to answer? The old Gran reminded her strongly of her Great-great aunt on her father’s side, Aunt Hortensia. Plain-spoken and to the point. And not unkindly meant. Penny took a deep breath. ‘Well, Granny, if you don’t mind me being forward and calling you that. The answer to your first question is “no”. I’m not married. And, “no”, I’m not spoken for either.’ She pulled out the chair nearest the elder hobbit and sat down. ‘Hadn’t you better tell me a little about this grandson of yours? I certainly can’t decide if I might like to meet him if I don’t know a thing about him . . . now, can I?’ Penny leaned forward, her chin resting on her hand.