The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Hama sat on his horse outside the inn on the road, looking down it. He had his hood covering his face, and after a while he dismounted resignedly and led his horse back to the stables. Entering he saw Crystal and Adu. Walking over he sat next to Adu and ordered an ale. Adu whispered in his ear "Dorian is dead."

Hama's eyebrows raised, but he did not give any open indication of the shock that had just hit him. "Dead? how?", "Outside of Rohan, ambushed."...Hama shook his head. "He was a treeible man, but no man deserves to be killed in an ambush..."

Crystal now turned fiercely to Hama and opened her mouth. Hama raised a hand. "No words from you Crystal. I need to think..."

[Mad Baggins]

Mira sat down, smoothing her dress as she did so. Tobias sat down quickly in another chair, reclining comfortably for a moment. Then he sat forward and asked, "So…what is it you would like to discuss, exactly?” Having done this, he leaned back in his chair again and watched Mirabell.

"Well, Tobias...ah, me...have you a nickname? Mine is Mira," she answered, toying with a lock of hair.

"Yes, in fact I do: Toby," Toby replied, "But besides shorter versions of names, is there anything else you would like to chat about?"

Mira thought for a moment. "Well, let us start at the beginning. I'm from a hole in Hobbiton. I heard that the Dragon was having a grand re-opening party and I decided that it would be a treat to myself to come along. I've been here once or twice before, and thought it a very homely place. I am rather fond of the old place," she said thoughtfully, gazing around at the walls of the Dragon. Snapping out of her reverie, she looked at Toby and inquired, "What about you? Where do you hail from?"

[Eowyn Skywalker]

Willow wondered where her father had went, she hadn't seen him since she had went to fetch her fiddle.

Her old violin.

It was a fine fiddle, she had owned it since childhood, and played it for years, though with all her rush about Ando, the young hobbit who was her brother, she had left it for a while.

And now, she had a chance to play, even if none would listen to her music. It was a fine time to see if her fingers still had their old skill, and to see if there were still people who appereciated fine fiddling.

She smiled as she picked up the bow, and stroked it over the strings. After a test run to tune it up, she headed down to the common room, where the party was in full swing, and people were talking left and right.

She waited till a lull in the music, then picked up her bow, and ran it across the strings in a fast, dancy tune that she had played since childhood.

Willow was aware of people's eyes upon her, but she didn't care. All she focused on was her fingers, and the tune she played.

When she finished, she felt her cheeks burning, and realized that she was standing in front of people...

She dashed away, suddenly embarassed, and ran out of the common room.

[nynnd1]

Bredan rose from his seat, his legs and whole body feeling less tired. The inn was now at the hight of it's time, or so thought, as he had never been to a party of hobbit kind but had heard of them as they were legendary.

He walked to the bar, thinking of his opening line for conversation. He went towards the woman he took as the inn keeper, he had heard people call her Aman. He felt a bit more comfortable talking to her as she was of his height, not being disrespectful to the Hobbits or Dwarfs.

"Why is their a party?" he asked nervously."Is their a birthday".

He really hoped that everyone was friendly, as they seemed to be. He didn't need trouble now.

[astarielle]

Astarielle was in a dream world. To those who say her she probably looked as if she was sleeping, far from it. When she awoke she streched out her back stiffly. There were many more people in the inn now, she had forgotten that a partu was going to take place. Feeling rather self concious in her ragged travel worn gear she left unnoticed my most apart from another Elf of course. She stepped outside and whistled a long wavering note, which seemed to drift with the wind yet against it all the while. Astarielle closed her eyes, as inhibitting one sense hones another, and listened. Clear as a bell she heard it, the familiar thundering of hooves drawing ever nearer.

The glistening white horse came to a stop inches from her feet. Astarielle rubbed its' face with the palm of her hand. She reached over to wear the saddle bags hang a unbuckled one. After rooting inside for a while she withdrew a gleaming pendant with a pale blue stone. she held it up to the light were in hung and reflected the light onto the walls of the surrounding houses. Then Astar moved to the other side of the horse, Talandir, and brought out a carefully folded and wrapped dress. It was long, dark blue and made for her by the finest dressmakers. She smiled to herself, turned to the Talandir and with a mere flick of a finger the horse galloped off into the distance.

A while later she returned to the inn, now feeling over dressed but happier than she had felt in her muddy travelling outfit. She slid in noiselessly and sat back doing, the party now getting into the swing of things.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman smiled at the nervous looking individual as she drew out a pint for him, pushing it across the bar. The man (a Gondorian, Aman made an informed guess) smiled gratefully before wrapping long fingers around the brass handle, then Aman answered him.

"Not a birthday, no - or not in the sense of a person's birthday. The Inn - this Inn, that is, the Green Dragon - recently suffered a fire, and the travellers coming by along with the halflings have done the folk of Middle Earth justice," she smiled fondly. "They rebuilt most of it, as it had to be pulled down, but not even three weeks later..." she gestured around her, a small smile of proud slipping onto her sharp features. "Less than three weeks later, I have almost a new Inn, and that is what this party celebrates. And may I ask what your name is, sir? You have not been to the Shire before, I guess?"

"Aman."

The voice did not come from the man in front of Aman, but from another, who spoke before the nervous possibly-Gondorian could speak. Aman turned to see Snaveling standing nearby, half hidden even in the light atmosphere of the Inn. Something had always struck her as wrong about this sneaking, shadowy-natured man, and she had heard gossip...but then, the Innkeeper paid little heed to gossip, being as much of it was about her, and after all, it was a party! "Snaveling, can I help you?"

"Is there naught but ale and wine in this place?" he asked. "I feel the need of something much stronger!"

Snaveling's tone was slightly mocking, but more jovial and slightly louder than his usual quiet mutterings. He has been drinking...such men are dangerous when they drink, I fear... warned the voice in Aman's head, but her expression remained unruffled as she gave a small smile.

"What is it that you wish for, Snaveling, that is 'stronger'?" She replied lightly.

[Roa_Aoife]

Roa and Galadel had been talking for some time, mostly about nonsence. However, Roa could not remove the melody of his song from her head. Irritated, she excused herself for a moment to get a drink. Galadel gave her an all too knowing smile and nodded. Quickly, the ranger found a tray-bearing server.

As she was about to help herself, a slightly too loud and certainly too familiar voice hit her ears. She turned sharply to see him speaking with Aman. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she decide against the drink. But something else tugged at Roa, something akin to pity, and she tried to push away the saddness she felt for the poor man. Poor man! He would have let you die! He is nothing more than a cold blooded murderer! By this time, she was back at the table. Galadel gave her an inquisitive look, and said, "Is he really? I could have sworn you were mistaken."