The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Mad Baggins]

Mira faltered in mid-chord as the scream sounded, but gathered herself together quickly and managed to complete the song. When it was done, the four hobbits gathered together to decide what to do. Lily clearly wanted to go see whether someone was hurt. Willow noticed as well, and said, "Tell you what, Lily. You go and see what happened. The others too, if they so wish. I'll carry on the music for now, and when you get back we can continue. If you want to see what's happening, go! I can handle this, and if Mira, and Daisy wish to go, well, I'll manage. Just return fairly fast, after you find out what happened!"

She spoke this quickly, adding soon after, "Go. I do not care if you want to. I can manage, Lily. Go and see what happened!" She tucked her fiddle under her chin and asked the other two hobbits if they were going to join Lily or stay with her.

Mira spoke up. "I cannot look at injured people; I don't know why but it has always been like that for me. I will stay here with Willow." She drummed her fingers on her flute, waiting for Daisy to announce her choice.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Snaveling’s mind whirled. Much as he wanted to match Toby’s mood of celebration, he found it difficult to centre himself sufficiently. He was tempted to order another six or seven strong ales, but he resisted, remembering how the drink had got him into trouble earlier in the evening. He was spared having to reply to Toby, or to Roa, by the arrival of a stranger who sat at their table and looked at them without a word. Before Snaveling could demand what he wanted a bunch of ridiculous Halflings climbed onto a table and began belabouring the crowd with one of their songs. Snaveling was stunned to see Galadel playing her flute alongside them. Briefly, his eyes met those of the Elf and he felt her reach out to him with her mind. Snaveling slammed shut the doors of his consciousness and he could feel the Elven woman recoil with surprise.

Who in the name of my father is Ar-Pharazôn he wondered. The “Golden King” sounded familiar, but he had never paid much heed to the old tales of the First Days. There had been a story of a great Prince called…what was it?…Tar-something, Tar-Calion! That was it. He had led a fleet to assail the Enemies of the West, but before he could complete his journey…or had it been before?…he had been deposed by traitors. Snaveling remembered the childish tales that his uncle told him about the young nephew and heir of the Prince who had left their island kingdom and come to hide among Snaveling’s people. The gods had destroyed the Island in vengeance for the overthrow of the rightful King by the traitorous group who called themselves…what was it they called themselves? The loyal? The Faithful! Snaveling shook his head – what did such fairy-tales have to do with him?

Roa was looking at him. She has apparently recovered from whatever had upset her, but Snaveling could see that she was simply biding her time until she could confer with Galadel. He put the amulet about his neck once more, but this time he made sure to slip it beneath his tunic. “You are quite right Tobias,” he said as soon as the music had stopped. “We should do our utmost to enjoy the tenor of this night. I for one could use some mirth!” But even as he spoke, the weight of the evening lay heavy on him. To distract himself from the darkness of his own thoughts he turned to the stranger who now sat beside them. “What of you, sir? You must think us a strange group to be so caught up in dark matters when there’s a party to enjoy.”

[Beruthiel]

Daisy's face was flushed from dancing and she wiped sweat from her brow. She for one had nearly fallen off the table top from the shock of the piercing cry of pain from outside. The other hobbits had quickly finished the song and were still standing on top of the table tops, above the heads of the inn's patrons. The little hobbit lass felt quite strange on that table and she dreaded looking over the edge of the table. Thankfully she had been distracted by the mysterious shriek and stopped worrying about the height from the ground.

She joined the other hobbitlasses in the group. Daisy was aware of the eyes watching the hobbit lasses discussing what they should do. Lily obviously wanted to find out what had happened and secretly Daisy agreed with her. She didn't want to leave Willow alone however and when Mira voiced her choice Daisy felt it would alright if she went with Lily. The thought of someone or something in so much pain that they could scream like that was very disturbing.

"You two will be fine here won't you?" Daisy asked Willow and Mira. Both of them nodded hurriedly.
"Yes, alright then. Lily I'll go with you. Lets go."
Daisy said shortly, anxious to get off the table tops and to find out what had happened outside. She hopped down onto one of the chairs and then onto the floor, nearly tripping over her long dress. She waited for Lily to come down as well before heading towards the door.

[Galadel Vinorel]

As the hobbit lasses left to discover who had screamed, Galadel quickly moved away, knowing that they could take care of the injured. Placing her flute back into the pouch at her side, she quickly made her way back to the table where Roa, Snaveling, Tobias, and a new arrival sat. If my eyes are not mistaken, thought Galadel, he looks as if he were one of the Eldar, one of my kin.

Yet, the female elf's eyes strayed from the stranger towards Snaveling. I am worried about him, the elf thought, how will he take the news of his past? No wonder he was able to block my mind probe. Those of that blood always could. Galadel smiled to herself, memories of long ago filling her mind. Ah, sweet Numenor, Galadel said to herself sadly, How I miss your blessed shores! Oh why did thou have to follow the terrible guidance of Sauron?...No, this is not the time for this. There is work to be done. The elf shook her head, as if to awake from a dream.

As Galadel approached the table, Roa turned to her and smiled a wary smile, relieved to see the elf. The elf nodded to the woman, and the ranger returned the greeting. Then Galadel sat down in the chair beside Roa just as Snaveling was saying something to the stranger. “What of you, sir? You must think us a strange group to be so caught up in dark matters when there’s a party to enjoy," said Snaveling, looking over at the traveler.

[Maeggaladiel]

Her body shaking, Eleniel ran to the gray figure lying in a ditch across the road. She sunk to her knees at Arrow's side. Red stained his silver fur like wine on gray silk.

She was dimly aware of the crowd of patrons who had run outside to see what the commotion was about, but she paid them little heed, her mind numbed.

"Arrow," she whispered softly. The dog whined misrebly.

Arrow had been her dearest friend and traveling companion for years. She had raised him herself; he was the silvery runt of an otherwise coal black litter. He had comforted her in sadness, joined in her merriment, and protected her from harm. And now--

"Stop it," she told herself. Arrow thought that she was talking to him and ceased his whining. Eleniel blinked back tears. Even now, in this moment of pain, her faithful dog heeded his mistress' orders.

"Good boy," she whispered, scratching his nose with one hand and exploring his wound with the other. She sighed in relief. It was not a fatal blow, as she had feared, but he would need medical attention.

How would she move him? He was not a small dog by any stretch of the imagination, and she feared that abusive handling would cause him more pain. Where would he be safe?

She looked behind her, suprised to see the number of people who had come to her side. Isaac was among them.

"Arrow is hurt," she said, her voice shaking. "Could you help me move him to the stable? And is anyone here a healer?" Arrow's tail wagged a little as he saw Isaac.

[Archsage Isaac]

Isaac crouched down beside Eleniel. Upon seeing Isaac, Arrow wagged his tail. "Here, I'll carry him back." Isaac said, slowly moving to Arrow. Eleniel looked at him like he was crazy. "Trust me, I can carry him." Isaac had the upmost confidence in himself. Quickly, he walked into the ditch.

Arrow was on the bank, making Isaac's job of picking him up that much easier. He placed one hand under Arrow's neck, the other near the base of his tail. He stepped back out of the ditch. Arrow began to whine again, just a bit. "Arrow, save your strength until we get back to the stables..." Isaac whispered to the dog. "Eleniel, you'll have to keep him calm while we walk." said Isaac, slowly taking a step back in the direction of the Inn.

[Feared Half-Elf]

Hearing the scream from outside, Elkamia apologised to her companions and fled out the door, hitching up her now troublesome long skirt with one hand. Anybody looking at her would think her for a madwoman, rather than a dignified elf. She didn't care for their thoughts at this moment.

A small group gathered around the ditch. A man began to carry a silvery dog out of the ditch, and Elkamia went to the side of the woman who she assumed was the dog's owner.

"Excuse me, I cannot help but wonder if that dog is yours. If my skills are required, I am happy to lend them. My name is Elkamia, I have a skill with herblore and healing." Years in the wilderness had taught her much about herbs and their uses.