The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Crystal Heart]

Bartholomew-Arthur's brother

He hurried into the Inn. He had heard a rumor that his brother's girlfriend now resided here. His eyes scanned the room quickly. He spotted her. A beacon of a memory that shone through the crowded room. He pushed his way through until he stood in front of her.

"Miss Crystal Heart! I am so glad I found you! I bring great news. Your father was ambushed and killed twenty kilometers out of Rohan! My men took him down. He was riding without an escort. See! You must believe. I have his precious sword!" He said excitedly. He held out the sword, no longer shethed.

Crystal's eyes studied it. She held it in her hands. Slowly her face came to realization and burst into a smile. A smile he hadn't seen in years.

"Bartholomew! Do you know what this means?!" Crystal exclaimed. He nodded. Yes, he understood. The killer of his brother had been killed. Vengence had been his. It also meant that Crystal Heart could safely return to Rohan and live her life in peace.

"You can come home Miss Crystal. Isn't that wonderful!" He smiled, but saw that her eyes didn't hold the same joy.

"The Shire is my home, Bartholomew. I shan't be returning to Rohan," Crystal informed him softly. He stood back, shocked. This place was nothing compared to Rohan. She would be looked at differently because she wasn't a hobbit. Who would she stay with? Who would even look after her?

"You can't be serious, Miss Crystal?" He asked in surprise. She nodded her head and turned away. She held her hand out to a hobbit that stood near her.

"Bartholomew, this is Angry Brandybuck. Angry, this is my good friend Bartholomew," Crystal said. Bartholomew bowed his head in respect. It had been years since Arty's death. He never figured that she would move on to another love. And that was what Angry Brandybuck was, another love. He looked into her eyes and he knew that she loved Angry with all of her strength. He hadn't seen her this happy since before Arty's death. He was happy for her, but sad at the same time. Yet, it had been Arty's one wish. He had wanted her to continue on if he had died. He had confinde that in him.

"It is wonderful to meet you, Mr. Angry Brandybuck. I am sorry that you will not be returning to Rohan. Who knows, you might marry the hobbit and I'll return to see you. Make sure you tell me if that ever does happen. I wish you the best of luck," He said as he started away.

"Wait, won't you stay and celebrate. The Inn burnt down a couple of weeks back and we helped build it again. You and I could celebrate the death of my father," Crystal said. He shook his head.

"I'm needed with my men. Good bye Miss Crystal."

"Good bye Bartholomew."

Bartholomew left the happy Inn, feeling as if Crystal had made the correct choice. He hoped she was happy and would await the day when she sent message of her upcoming marriage.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

As always, it was Toby who knew what Snaveling really needed. The ale coursed through the Man’s blood and cooled the fires of self-pity and rage that coursed through him. What in the world was I thinking? he railed inwardly. And what is it about Galadel that gives her such power over me? His eyes strayed toward Roa where she sat with the Elven woman. Her reaction could not have been more dismissive nor so clear of her opinion. Snaveling was torn between relief and anger. He did not know what he had hoped for or wanted with his song, but whatever it had been he had not received it.

“Did I not tell you that you would do well to stay for this gala event?” Toby was saying, “I promise you, my friend, by the end of this night we will all be a great deal happier. We will each pay our debts to this place for bringing us together. You have your way…and I most certainly have mine.” Toby muffled another laugh as he patted his bulging vest pocket meaningfully.

“What do you mean?” Snaveling asked, intrigued by the hobbit’s manner in spite of his distracted feelings.

Toby merely winked at him, saying “All in good time.” Toby turned away to look over the crowd as a hobbit lass stepped up and spoke to him. Snaveling was in no mood for idle chatter; at the moment, even a brief conversation with his friend was beyond him. Scowling at the entire room, he drained the last of his ale and slipped away from the table. He moved along the walls to where the Innkeeper was standing. He had, of course, seen much of Aman in his weeks at the Inn, but he had avoided all but the most necessary conversation with her. He did not trust the Men of Gondor, but he despised the people of Rohan. As his own people’s nearest neighbours, they were the outsiders with whom they most often came into conflict.

Aman was talking with an especially large fellow – for a hobbit – who appeared to be someone of importance in the Shire. As Snaveling neared them both, they turned and the hobbit looked at him with open suspicion. Aman, however, courteously – if not with great warmth – asked if there were something she could do for him. Snaveling returned the hobbit’s glare before answering the woman. “Is there naught but ale and wine in this place?” he asked. “I feel the need of something much stronger!”

[Kransha]

Toby was distracted from Snaveling’s next statement by a polite female voice behind him. He spun around to face the voice’s source, not entirely ready to be addressed by anyone, but quickly regained his composure and noble demeanor. He quickly assessed the girl in front of him, looking her over from head to toe with his keenly focused hazel eyes, now half-closed and squinting as the mixed light of the inn played upon them.

“Mirabell Baggins.” said the hobbit lass as she curtsied, “Would you like to have a chat with me?”

Toby smiled warmly as thoughts began coursing again through his mind. ’A Baggins, eh? Probably one of my cousins or some distant relation. Well, no matter, she seems to be polite enough and it would do me good to talk to someone besides Snaveling. As friendly as he has become, that man just can’t have a good conversation for an extended period of time.’

“Tobias Hornblower the Third, madam,” replied the elder hobbit as he bowed, executing one of his signature dignified flourishes as he did so, “If a conversation is what you desire, I would certainly not mind obliging you.” He sat down on one of the recently vacated chairs before someone else could get to it and reclined, sighing happily. The atmosphere had elevated his mood greatly and he found that he was much more inclined to start a friendly dialogue with this stranger. He leaned forward in the chair and blinked.

“So…what is it you would like to discuss, exactly?” he queried pleasantly.

[Witch_Queen]

Aduthondiel
She was startled at the news she had heard. Could her great General Dorian actually be dead? In her heart she wanted to cry for his loss but couldn't in front of Crystal. She didn't have to leave after all, Count was going to be her's for as long as they both lived. "Crystal this is good news, but I am sorry to hear about your father." Aduthondiel wanted to say he was a good man but knew in her heart that he was only an evil tyrant. "Crystal now what are you going to do with your life?" She knew she should be asking herself the same question.

What am I going to do now that Dorian is dead? Will I stay here to watch everyone around me succomb to death while I live forever? Aduthondiel was already thinking about how life would be without Dorian around to haunt her every dream. Aduthondiel had an idea of what Crystal would probably do. Crystal would probably go on with her life and marry Mr. Angry. "I guess I don't have to leave after all. Though I can't think of any reason to stay. I have no one here. All my family.. well I'm not sure where they are now." For her age she knew that everything in her past affected what was in her future. She had to change what she was going to do if she wanted to have a happy life.

She tried to recover from the news but couldn't. Crystal seemed so happy now. Yet all she could feel was a sadness deep down. No matter how hard she tried the feeling didn't want to go away. She thought she felt a tear roll down her cheek but decided it was only her mind playing tricks on her. "I guess all our troubles have come to an end. Perhaps if I return to Rohan I will make it in time to see who your father successor will be. If I'm lucky maybe Aduthondiel will be the new General! Wouldn't that be nice." She thought she was going to fall down laughing but couldn't. She let out a giggle and went on drinking her ale. "General Aduthondiel. Has sort of a ring to it."

[Feared Half-Elf]

Elkamia stood in the stables, one hand on the nose of her large silver mare. Annufin had finally been moved inside. 'Valar help me' she thought 'I haven't worn a dress since the wedding of Elessar and Arwen.' She glanced down at herself.

The white dress she wore was simple but elegant, with long flowing sleeves. She didn't need a belt with it, strictly speaking, but she wore one anyway, a long scarf of fine silver fabric. White slippers were on her feet, though she would have preferred something sturdier. Her long brown hair was brushed to a shine, and careflly braided in the style she usually wore to keep it out of her eyes.

She sighed, fingering the silver chain about her right wrist. She always had been one for fights and wars, tending to avoid parties whenever possible. 'I can't avoid it tonight. I've helped them rebuild the inn and I can't offend the people here by not coming to the party. And a party means a dress, however much I hate it.'

She took a deep breath, checked her clothes for loose hay collected in the stables, and went to the common room. The room was a bundle of noise, people laughed and joked to each other. Still nervous about wearing the dress, she looked around at the people in the party, seeing if there was anyone she recognised.

[Esgallhugwen]

Aldor smoothed out the creases on his tunic and took a look at the Green Dragon Inn, the cool breeze swam through the lighted lanterns and the banner welcoming all to join the festivities. "See, Miss Peony, all our hard work paid off after all" he winked and led her inside like a true gentleman.

"Now before you take your seat, we must have at least one dance to ensure you'll sleep the night away with sweet dreams swimming in your head", Peony tried to protest at first but gave in "alright Aldor but only one dance, after that we should take it easy and relax" she smiled and her green eyes glistened like emeralds in the lamplight.

"Believe me miss you can have have just one dance!" he took her hand as a folk song started up, they danced among the bustling crowd as more people came into the new Inn and to pay there respects to Master Meriadoc for attending the joyous occasion.

[Kitanna]

Deva woke from his nap and headed downstairs. There was a party of sorts and everyone was dancing, laughing, or drinking the night away. He looked around in search of Peony hoping she was still in the Green Dragon.

Finally he spotted her, ending a dance with a young man. Deva wasted no time and hurried over to her. "Peony, glad to see you stayed out of trouble while I was gone."

Peony looked down to him and smiled, patting his head. "Nice of you to join us. I thought maybe you were just going to sleep away the whole night."

Deva shrugged and looked past Peony to the man she had been dancing with. "And who is your friend."

Peony became aware once more of Aldor's presence. "Deva, this is Aldor. Aldor, my companion I had told you about, Deva."