The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Sirithheruwen]

After a little pause, the hobbit lad stood up. "Thank you for your help, miss," he said. "Bingo Cotton, at your service." Twylight's face lit up at the hobbit's little bow. Rummaging in the pocket of her slightly worn cloak, she pulled out the parchment and her writing-rock. Smiling again at his curious look, she wrote,

It is very nice to meet you, Bingo. I'm sorry, but my throat...it hurts and I can't speak at the moment.

To her surprise, Bingo smiled warmly. She had expected some sort of strange look or a polite but hasty good-bye, but he just bowed again.

Oh, no need for such formality. Would you care to join me in the common room for a bit of dinner. That is, if you think Iadarian is all right...

The last bit she added as the hobbit glanced at Iadarian, still sleeping like a baby.

[Nurumaiel]

Bingo's eyes shone at the offer and he smiled widely at her. "I would love to join you for dinner, miss," he said. He looked towards Iadarion, a thoughtful look coming to his face. He trusted the herbs that Master Alwin had given him to work quite well, and even when Iadarion did wake up he would be merely confused. His drunkeness would have left him and he would cause no trouble.

"I think it is quite safe to leave Iadarion," he said, his voice decisive. He moved to the door and opened it, gesturing for her to go through. "After you, miss." She thanked him with a smile and they went to the Common Room.

---------------

Blanco had been watching the seven newcomers with deep curiosity, especially the hobbit he had heard called Falco Boffin, but now his eyes widened alarmingly and he stared not at Falco but at Ruby. "By all the green grass and flowers in my mother's garden, would you look at her, lads!" he said.

Marcho did and frowned in disapproval. "Don't tell me you've found another pretty lass, Blanco."

The hobbit looked quite indignant. "What do you mean, 'found another pretty lass?' I don't find pretty lasses, they just appear." He started suddenly, blushing crimson when he realized what Marcho meant. "Don't be absurd," he said. "Posco can tell you that I've never been in love and I don't make eyes at the lassies." He gestured towards Ruby. "I'm talking about the eyes she's making at him." He rolled his eyes in boyish disgust. "How coquettish!"

"Who taught you that word?" Posco demanded suspiciously, but Blanco merely flashed a smile at him and said, "I'm going over there to see if I can make friends with this Falco Boffin. Don't worry, Posco, you can stay right here where it's nice and safe. Oh, and excuse me, Mister Toby. Marcho will amuse you; don't worry." He sprang to his feet and walked in a direct line to Falco Boffin, stopping before him and thrusting out a hand while winking at the others about the table. "Hallo!" he cried in a loud voice. "My name is Blanco Brandybuck; at your service, sir."

[Arry]

From under his halo of fragrant smoke, Alwin kept one eye on the doings in the Inn. Jack’s attention was focused on the second helping of apple tart, he noted and much ado was being made about the group that had come in just recently. ‘Interesting lot,’ he thought to himself. ‘Odd mixture though. Elf, Men, and Hobbit.’ He chuckled a little to himself at a sudden thought. ‘Well, perhaps not so odd, after all,’ he thought bringing up stories he’d heard in Minas Tirith from the Great War. ‘All they need is a Dwarf of some sort.’ He sighed, moving himself into a more comfortable position on the seat of his chair.

Jack looked up asking if there were something he needed, but Alwin said no and thank-you for the offer. ‘These old bones are getting a bit stiff just sitting here.’ Jack set down his spoon, asking if he could fetch the old man’s packet of herbs. He’d seen him use a pinch of some powder at times to ease the pain from too long a day on the road.

‘No, no. You just finish your sweet. Don’t mind me! I just need to get up and walk about a bit.’ He stood up from the table, nodding toward the group who’d come in. ‘I’ll go see who these adventurers are. Come join me if you wish, when you’re done.’

Buttercup passed near, carrying a pitcher of ale for the adventurers’ table. They’d been joined by another Hobbit or two and the atmosphere about the group was merry. ‘Mistress Buttercup,’ the old man said, reaching out to touch her on the shoulder. ‘I should very much like to meet those fellows and hear their stories. If I may, let me walk with you. And if you would, please introduce me.’ The serving lass slowed her step to let Alwin fall in beside her.

[Sirithheruwen]

"I would love to join you for dinner, miss," Bingo said after a pause. While leaving the room, he held the door open for her. Twylight couldn't help but be pleased, and she hoped her smile told him so.

Out in the common room, a large group of people were gathered around the group of seven that had walked in the door right after Iadarion's drunken incident. Finding an empty table where they could see and hear most of what the group was saying, they both scanned the room for the serving maids. They both spotted them at the same time: one (the one who had helped Twylight arrange her room) was standing and talking with one of the hobbits of the group. The other was walking over with another hobbit to join the group with bowls of what looked like a nice thick soup. The aroma coming from the bowls was mouth-watering.

"Would you look at that!" Bingo said, rolling his eyes. Wondering what in the world he was on about, Twylight waited for him to continue. "Why am I not surprised that Blanco is over ther like a shot?" Twylight turned around to see a hobbit pulled up to his full height loudly say, "Hallo! my name is Blanco Brandybuck; at your service, sir." Turning back from the table to face Twylight, he shook his head. "Always ready to be the center of attention. His twin, Posco, thinks he is overly social. Ah, well."

Posco...Blanco...are these people traveling with you? Are you all related? What brings you to the Green Dragon?

He laughed. "I don't suppose you'll be satified until I tell you my story, eh?" Twylight blushed. "All right then. I will tell you, though I don't suppose Marcho will approve... "

[littlemanpoet]

"Falowik Stonewort, is that you?" Falowik started and turned to look. A man stood, having pushed back his chair, just two tables over. Falowik could not remember having seen the man before, but it was clear that the man recognized him. From Bree? The settlement at Evendim? Not likely - he would remember that! Must be from Bree, he supposed, and more than twelve years ago.

Uien and Falowik exchanged a quick glance; Uien's look was of curiosity. Falowik shrugged to her and turned.

It was a noisy table, and Falowik pitched his untried voice higher and louder than he was used to doing. "Yes, it is I, Falowik. Forgive me, friend, except for this past month, I have been in the wilds for twelve years. I wish I could say that I remember you!"
*********
"Psh, good sir, a rest?" said Aman, fair Innkeeperess from Rohan. "You are near bursting with news! To let you impart it to me - indeed, to all of us - well, I would merely be doing you a favour. Come, good sirs and madams, tell us of your adventures since you vanished those months ago?"

Eodwine started at Aman, agape. "Has it been months? I was afraid it was so. I lost track of the time." Eodwine looked about at the hubbub of servers and old acquaintances becking and calling from here and there, and smiled at the chaos. "You may recall that I rode west out of town."

Aman nodded. "And your horse came back without you not three days hence!"

"Aye. Lucky for me my steed has such good sense! Not to mention the fine caretaking of this fine inn!"

At this point Ruby and Buttercup bustled out with the fixings for supper, and started making the rounds of the seven hungry and thirsty adventurors.

"It may be told now-" Eodwine called out over the bustle, but Aman raised a hand and laughed.

"Hold your tale for a little while, Master Eodwine, and be served. I'm sure that the whole great room will want to hear this tale in a short while."

Eodwine bowed and smiled, sitting down. "As you wish, Lady Aman."
*******
Falco grinned. Ah, it was good to have all this bustle about again! There came the two serving lasses from the kitchen, ready with good stew and strong drink! They both had high color in their pretty faces, and Falco beamed at them. Buttercup was trying to keep up with the other. What was her name? Ah, yes, Ruby! Just like the color in her cheeks! Falco smiled at her, and well this was a good day, was getting a smile back! Ruby had big eyes!

"Greetings, fair lass! It is good to see you again! You look as well as ever I have seen!"

"Thank you, Mr. Boffin, kind of you to say so." Ruby smiled and laid a bowl and spoon before him, and ladeled out the stew.

"Now don't be talking so formal with me, Ruby, you must call me Falco." What was that? Falco sniffed something pleasant on the air. It was Ruby, sweet as you please. "It's good to be back among good food, great ale, and fair faces!"

Ruby moved on to Uien, still smiling. "Oh, you are so full of talk, Falco, as you always have been!" Her charming eyes bounced from her task to his eyes.

"I've a bowl of hot stew to keep my mouth busy for a little while, but my eyes will be following you, pretty Ruby!"

"Tch! Such talk!" Ruby giggled, and moved to serve Falowik.

Gorby said to Anson, "Fancy that! She passes right by you and me though we're closer to the kitchen, and serves old Falco here first!"

Anson nodded glumly. "It looks like we'll have to settle for the dregs tonight."

"Now mind your words!" Ruby said from across the table. "There are no dregs of any kind at the Green Dragon! You'll get as good as any other here, and most like better than what you can get back home! Just a minute longer and I'll be over to you!"

"Forgive my hasty words!" Anson grinned. He was rewarded with the plunk of a big mug from Buttercup's hand, and brown ale poured before his wide eyes and growing smile. "My thanks, lass!"

Buttercup smiled and moved on to Gorby.

Finëwen sat and watched everything in silence. What did any of this have to do with her? She did not know. But she had told Eodwine that she would travel with him to Rohan. Why not? There was nothing else for her, a human raised in Imladris, with no desire to return there. She wished that she could join in the mirth of the rest of them, but felt that she had not really been a part of them at any time, no matter what they said to assure her. She sighed and accepted the bowl of stew placed before her. It smelled good, and she realized that she had an appetite.

[Witch_Queen]

Aduthondiel
She was suprised to see so many people from her past. Adu remembered Arty and was so glad to see him again. "Crystal, have you heard anything from Hama? I'm worried about him." Adu had a feeling that something had happened to him.

Adu didn't need to have Isaac's love she had Hama to worry about now. Nothing was going to keep her from Hama. "Good evening Ms. Lily." Adu couldn't believe how much Crystal's brother had grown. She could remember when he two was just a child. Adu then stood in the shadows until the death of Crystal's mother. But that was then, it was all in the past now.

[Eowyn Skywalker]

Willow shook her head. That had been an interesting encounter, she was sure that she had met the dwarf before. She turned over to Lily, who was now talking. Willow caught a question in Lily's words, though she hadn't really been listening, something about the strangest person she had ever met.

"Oh," Willow said softly. "I haven't really met too many strange people, Lily... I have met other dwarves before, and... well..." Willow smiled shyly, strange to her. "Well, I suppose the strangest people I have ever met, before I came here, were the elves. They are so different from us, you know. I really cannot say that I have met many strange people, beyond myself, as I am rather strange, in a manner." Willow grinned slightly, and caught herself before she started coughing again, bending over with slight pain. She grimaced. "I think we had best be moving on, as we did come out here to walk." she commented, trying to hold back a flinch. Something she had ate wasn't exactly agreeing with her, or else she was coming down with a cold, Willow guessed.

Willow shivered, but didn't exactly want to head back in. She took the lead, walking over around the inn, and tucking her cape closer around her. The day was starting to draw in a chill to it, though the rain was gone. She could hear the other two hobbits following her, beside her. "Dim is in interesting character," she continued. "But then, some strangeness is all right to have, as where would be be if we were all the same?"

The girl smiled, and looked over at the other two. "You see what I mean?" she asked.