The Golden Perch Inn - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Undómë · 05-06-2011, 07:50 PM

‘And I figure that way, we’ll have time that way to clean out a few cupboards and start rearranging . . .’

Cook’s last words were still hanging in the air as Rowan headed out the kitchen door to the common room. She wanted to avoid any further conversation on what needed to be done and who was going to do what. As far as she was concerned there was nothing wrong with the organization of the kitchen. ‘I sure hope this Cook’s here for a good, long time . . . don’t want to have to get used to another one’s whims and wishes!’

It was just as she entered the room that she saw the golden haired woman turning to leave the Inn. One of the big folk, she wondered – no, one of the fair folk by her stature and grace.

Rowan sighed. And there was Master Alferad, calling out for Penny to bring more food and beer. And where was Penny? She spotted her sitting at the table with Granny. Rowan raised her brows at the pair. Had Granny managed to convince Penny she should meet her grandson? She was a sly old fox, was granny. And poor Penny was not yet used to her ways.

With a brief stop behind the bar to draw a fresh mug of ale for Al, Rowan hurried to the hobbit’s side. ‘Here’s your drink, Master Alferad,’ she said, holding the mug out to him. ‘Now just settle yourself comfortably in your chair and I’ll fetch you your seconds. Beans, ham, biscuits, honey…..the whole spread, yes?’

‘By the way,’ she said, pursing her lips as she raised her chin toward the door. ‘Who was that Elven lady that just left? Was she looking for someone or something here at the Inn and didn’t find it? Seems like she took her leave awful quick like.’

piosenniel · 05-06-2011, 08:08 PM

Penny

‘Uh oh! Granny, you’re going to have to excuse me.’ Penny gestured toward where Rowan stood talking to Alferad. ‘Looks like one of the customers needs something. And I’d better see to it since I think he was calling out for me.’

She reached over and patted Granny on the arm. ‘Maybe when the lunch traffic slows down I can come sit with you again.’ She gave the old hobbit a little half-smile. ‘I have to admit my curiosity is piqued by your words about your grandson. But there are a few questions I have before I might consider meeting him.’ And there’s no guarantee he’s the least bit interested in meeting me in return! she thought soberly to herself. Penny raised her brows at Granny, her eyes twinkling. ‘So for goodness sake, don’t go planning the wedding while I’m away!’

‘Sorry I didn’t get here sooner,’ Penny said approaching Rowan and Al. ‘Did I miss something?’ she asked, just catching the last of Rowan's comments.

Galadriel55 · 05-06-2011, 08:29 PM

Although in reality Al only had to wait a few seconds before Rowan came by to take his order, it felt like an hour, so eager was he to sink his teeth into the delicious food. She brought a mug of beer, but no plates. Al was disappointed. However, his spirits lifted at the waitress' words.

"Now just settle yourself comfortably in your chair and I’ll fetch you your seconds. Beans, ham, biscuits, honey…..the whole spread, yes?" Al nodded solemnly. The food wasquite important, yes - but did Rowan have to talk to him like a child? "Settle yourself comfortably" indeed! As if I wasn't here for the past hour and have just came in!

"By the way, who was that Elven lady that just left?" Rowan continued in a whisper, "Was she looking for someone or something here at the Inn and didn’t find it? Seems like she took her leave awful quick like."

Al didn't have to think about his reply. He opened his mouth to answer, when Penny came over, apologizing and asking what she's missed.

"Miz Rowan asked me about Goldie, the woman of the Fair Folk, who just left. And I was about to answer. I wanted to say that her name is Goldie, and that she doesn't have any manners nor a civil tongue. Of course, I ain't got no business knowing why she's here; I wouldn't know her name if she just didn't talk to Mistress Elin over my head. No introduction, no hello from her at all! She left for good is what I say." Al felt his stomach rumbling and his impatience growing, even though he finished a good plate of beans just some half an hour ago.

Undómë · 05-07-2011, 09:13 PM

‘Hmmm,’ was all that Rowan could manage after Alferad’s description of what had happened. She furrowed her brow and rubbed her chin as she thought through the situation.

‘Listen, Penny,’ she said, touching the other lass’ arm. Can you fetch Mater Alferad his food? And, oh, do you think you might take a pot of hot tea to Mistress Elin’s room, too? I’m thinking she could use a cup or two while she relaxes. Nothing like a cuppa to set your mind at ease my Gammer always says.’

Rowan grabbed a shawl off the hook by the door and stepped out the door. As the chilly breeze swirled in around her, she drew the shawl a little closer about her shoulders and hurried down the little path leading from the Perch.

She squinted her eyes and looked as far down the path as she could see, then to each side with as much concentration. In the soft, grey light of the autumn afternoon, she could see no evidence of the long-gone Elven lady.

'Ah, well!' she thought to herself. 'There's customers aplenty in side the Inn that need seeing to.'

Rowan hurried back to the common room, already hearing the cries of, 'Hey, Miss! Another round here, if you please!' With a quick smile and quicker feet, she filled mugs and delivered them to the thirsty patrons.

piosenniel · 05-07-2011, 11:58 PM

Penny

‘Here you go then, Master Alferad,’ Penny said, hurrying back from the kitchen with a tray of steaming dishes. ‘A generous bowl of beans and ham . . . and I’ve brought you a small dish of chopped onion. Wasn’t sure you like them, but thought I’d bring it anyway. And here’s a little basket of hot, fluffy biscuits. With butter here and a pot of strawberry jam and one of honey, too.’ She laid the food out before the hobbit. ‘Enjoy!’ Penny set a full mug of ale down next to the other one that Rowan had brought earlier. ‘Thought it might be a two mug meal.’

With a smile and quick curtsy, Penny left Al to his meal and made her way to Mistress Elin’s room. She rapped softly on the door, not wanting to wake the little girl if she were napping.

‘Mistress Elin . . . m’am?’ she called out quietly. ‘It’s Penny. Rowan’s sent me with some hot tea for you.’

Penny waited for a few moments, but could hear no stirring in the room. 'Well, perhaps she's tired, too, from all her traveling.' She set the thick-cozied pot and cups on the little table just outside Elin's door and hurried away quietly.

Mithalwen · 05-09-2011, 02:05 AM

Elin awoke with a start and after a moment of confusion as to where she was, came to her senses. Someone had been calling her name, not in her dream, not Annie who a glance told her still slept and who would have called her "mummy" anyway. Caught the wrong side of the bed from the door, by the time Elin reached it, Penny was well down the hallway.

"Penny, wait! " she called, heading after her, "I must have dozed off!" . Elin realised her hair had come unpinned and that she was still holding her knitting. She smiled ruefully at the hobbit as her longer legs caught up. "Thank you for the tea - I was just thinking I'd like some... or at least I was before I fell asleep. I don't want to keep you when you're busy but do they keep much store of herbs in the kitchen here? I won't find much growing this time of the year but there are a few things that a cook might have that would ease Annie's cold a bit - garlic, mint, thyme, licorice maybe?"

piosenniel · 05-09-2011, 08:48 PM

Penny

‘Store of herbs and such in the kitchen? Oh, dear, Mistress Elin!’ Penny furrowed her brow a bit and shook her head. ‘Now, I’m not saying we don’t have any of what you asked for, it’s just that Cousin Iris and I just started working here at the Inn - today.’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Guess the old Cook up and disappeared on them and they’ve been having to make do – Rowan and Prim, that is, all by themselves.’

‘Hmmmm, how about I go back to the kitchen and ask Prim if we have those? I could bring them to you.’ Penny glanced back toward Elin’s room. ‘Course, if you think the wee one’ll sleep a bit more, you can come on back to the kitchen and make up your concoction there. We haven’t started making supper as yet, so it’d be no trouble.’

05-06-2011, 08:29 PM	#3
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,518	Although in reality Al only had to wait a few seconds before Rowan came by to take his order, it felt like an hour, so eager was he to sink his teeth into the delicious food. She brought a mug of beer, but no plates. Al was disappointed. However, his spirits lifted at the waitress' words. "Now just settle yourself comfortably in your chair and I’ll fetch you your seconds. Beans, ham, biscuits, honey…..the whole spread, yes?" Al nodded solemnly. The food wasquite important, yes - but did Rowan have to talk to him like a child? "Settle yourself comfortably" indeed! As if I wasn't here for the past hour and have just came in! "By the way, who was that Elven lady that just left?" Rowan continued in a whisper, "Was she looking for someone or something here at the Inn and didn’t find it? Seems like she took her leave awful quick like." Al didn't have to think about his reply. He opened his mouth to answer, when Penny came over, apologizing and asking what she's missed. "Miz Rowan asked me about Goldie, the woman of the Fair Folk, who just left. And I was about to answer. I wanted to say that her name is Goldie, and that she doesn't have any manners nor a civil tongue. Of course, I ain't got no business knowing why she's here; I wouldn't know her name if she just didn't talk to Mistress Elin over my head. No introduction, no hello from her at all! She left for good is what I say." Al felt his stomach rumbling and his impatience growing, even though he finished a good plate of beans just some half an hour ago. Last edited by Galadriel55; 05-07-2011 at 12:36 PM.

05-07-2011, 09:13 PM	#4
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	‘Hmmm,’ was all that Rowan could manage after Alferad’s description of what had happened. She furrowed her brow and rubbed her chin as she thought through the situation. ‘Listen, Penny,’ she said, touching the other lass’ arm. Can you fetch Mater Alferad his food? And, oh, do you think you might take a pot of hot tea to Mistress Elin’s room, too? I’m thinking she could use a cup or two while she relaxes. Nothing like a cuppa to set your mind at ease my Gammer always says.’ Rowan grabbed a shawl off the hook by the door and stepped out the door. As the chilly breeze swirled in around her, she drew the shawl a little closer about her shoulders and hurried down the little path leading from the Perch. She squinted her eyes and looked as far down the path as she could see, then to each side with as much concentration. In the soft, grey light of the autumn afternoon, she could see no evidence of the long-gone Elven lady. 'Ah, well!' she thought to herself. 'There's customers aplenty in side the Inn that need seeing to.' Rowan hurried back to the common room, already hearing the cries of, 'Hey, Miss! Another round here, if you please!' With a quick smile and quicker feet, she filled mugs and delivered them to the thirsty patrons. Last edited by Undómë; 05-08-2011 at 01:39 PM.

05-07-2011, 11:58 PM	#5
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Penny ‘Here you go then, Master Alferad,’ Penny said, hurrying back from the kitchen with a tray of steaming dishes. ‘A generous bowl of beans and ham . . . and I’ve brought you a small dish of chopped onion. Wasn’t sure you like them, but thought I’d bring it anyway. And here’s a little basket of hot, fluffy biscuits. With butter here and a pot of strawberry jam and one of honey, too.’ She laid the food out before the hobbit. ‘Enjoy!’ Penny set a full mug of ale down next to the other one that Rowan had brought earlier. ‘Thought it might be a two mug meal.’ With a smile and quick curtsy, Penny left Al to his meal and made her way to Mistress Elin’s room. She rapped softly on the door, not wanting to wake the little girl if she were napping. ‘Mistress Elin . . . m’am?’ she called out quietly. ‘It’s Penny. Rowan’s sent me with some hot tea for you.’ Penny waited for a few moments, but could hear no stirring in the room. 'Well, perhaps she's tired, too, from all her traveling.' She set the thick-cozied pot and cups on the little table just outside Elin's door and hurried away quietly. Last edited by piosenniel; 05-08-2011 at 02:19 PM.

05-09-2011, 02:05 AM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Elin awoke with a start and after a moment of confusion as to where she was, came to her senses. Someone had been calling her name, not in her dream, not Annie who a glance told her still slept and who would have called her "mummy" anyway. Caught the wrong side of the bed from the door, by the time Elin reached it, Penny was well down the hallway. "Penny, wait! " she called, heading after her, "I must have dozed off!" . Elin realised her hair had come unpinned and that she was still holding her knitting. She smiled ruefully at the hobbit as her longer legs caught up. "Thank you for the tea - I was just thinking I'd like some... or at least I was before I fell asleep. I don't want to keep you when you're busy but do they keep much store of herbs in the kitchen here? I won't find much growing this time of the year but there are a few things that a cook might have that would ease Annie's cold a bit - garlic, mint, thyme, licorice maybe?" Last edited by Mithalwen; 05-09-2011 at 05:09 AM.

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05-06-2011, 07:50 PM	#1
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	‘And I figure that way, we’ll have time that way to clean out a few cupboards and start rearranging . . .’ Cook’s last words were still hanging in the air as Rowan headed out the kitchen door to the common room. She wanted to avoid any further conversation on what needed to be done and who was going to do what. As far as she was concerned there was nothing wrong with the organization of the kitchen. ‘I sure hope this Cook’s here for a good, long time . . . don’t want to have to get used to another one’s whims and wishes!’ It was just as she entered the room that she saw the golden haired woman turning to leave the Inn. One of the big folk, she wondered – no, one of the fair folk by her stature and grace. Rowan sighed. And there was Master Alferad, calling out for Penny to bring more food and beer. And where was Penny? She spotted her sitting at the table with Granny. Rowan raised her brows at the pair. Had Granny managed to convince Penny she should meet her grandson? She was a sly old fox, was granny. And poor Penny was not yet used to her ways. With a brief stop behind the bar to draw a fresh mug of ale for Al, Rowan hurried to the hobbit’s side. ‘Here’s your drink, Master Alferad,’ she said, holding the mug out to him. ‘Now just settle yourself comfortably in your chair and I’ll fetch you your seconds. Beans, ham, biscuits, honey…..the whole spread, yes?’ ‘By the way,’ she said, pursing her lips as she raised her chin toward the door. ‘Who was that Elven lady that just left? Was she looking for someone or something here at the Inn and didn’t find it? Seems like she took her leave awful quick like.’

05-06-2011, 08:08 PM	#2
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Penny ‘Uh oh! Granny, you’re going to have to excuse me.’ Penny gestured toward where Rowan stood talking to Alferad. ‘Looks like one of the customers needs something. And I’d better see to it since I think he was calling out for me.’ She reached over and patted Granny on the arm. ‘Maybe when the lunch traffic slows down I can come sit with you again.’ She gave the old hobbit a little half-smile. ‘I have to admit my curiosity is piqued by your words about your grandson. But there are a few questions I have before I might consider meeting him.’ And there’s no guarantee he’s the least bit interested in meeting me in return! she thought soberly to herself. Penny raised her brows at Granny, her eyes twinkling. ‘So for goodness sake, don’t go planning the wedding while I’m away!’ ‘Sorry I didn’t get here sooner,’ Penny said approaching Rowan and Al. ‘Did I miss something?’ she asked, just catching the last of Rowan's comments.

05-09-2011, 08:48 PM	#7
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Penny ‘Store of herbs and such in the kitchen? Oh, dear, Mistress Elin!’ Penny furrowed her brow a bit and shook her head. ‘Now, I’m not saying we don’t have any of what you asked for, it’s just that Cousin Iris and I just started working here at the Inn - today.’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Guess the old Cook up and disappeared on them and they’ve been having to make do – Rowan and Prim, that is, all by themselves.’ ‘Hmmmm, how about I go back to the kitchen and ask Prim if we have those? I could bring them to you.’ Penny glanced back toward Elin’s room. ‘Course, if you think the wee one’ll sleep a bit more, you can come on back to the kitchen and make up your concoction there. We haven’t started making supper as yet, so it’d be no trouble.’