The Vineyard Tavern

[Nerindel]

Ædhral smiled warmly as the stranger approached, He was taller than he first appeared and his dark eyes gave his grim features a gentle warmth that could easily be missed if one were not looking for it and as he spoke she was surprised, his voice was not gruff but soft and gentle. Before she could answer his first query he continued to speak revelling to her the crest of Gondor upon the shining breast armour carefully concealed beneath his dark cloak. She recognised the crest at once as her Grandfather had oft told her tales of Gondor and the Brave Roquen that protected those lands. Was this man one such knight? she wondered staring wide eyed at the stars set above the white tree.

“I can not reveal this secret to anyone good lady.” he was saying as he pulled the cloak back over again conceal the shining armour from prying eyes. “ But you are singing a song I once sang myself. When I was coming back from a place, I think, that you know?” He smiled gently

Ædhral stood confused and a little taken aback with the strangers words, it’s just a song the elves of Mirkwood sang… Isn’t it? she thought to herself, but just then the stranger sank to his knees those dark eyes now level with hers, carefully studying her face, “you look like the daughter of some one I knew… if you are her you might be able to help me?” he whispered gently.

A little startled Ædhral took a step back , He bore no recognition to her, but he may have known her father, No papa was just a farmer how would he have known a soldier of Gondor? she thought shaking the idea off as absurd, he must be mistaken! She silently concluded.

“Mayhaps these questions can be answered when you are less busy. Pay mind that I am a patient sort and that I can wait my turn till your work is done,” He said as though reading her apprehension. “I will wait your answers. As you await mine.” he smiled with a pleasant incline of his head.

Not wishing to offend Ædhral set down the dishes she had been carrying and gestured for the stranger to stand, as he did so she glanced about the inn to see if one of the others were available to cover her chores while she spoke with this stranger. She caught sight of Kannah across the room rolling her eyes and shaking her head, obviously believing the dark haired fellow was yet another young man trying to win her young friends affections, But she was also busily wiped down the taverns table and collected the empty ale jars. She looked for Finian but he was occupied with another guest. Oh why had she promised cook that she would call Rochadan to lunch! “Just then she saw the young lad who the stable master had agreed to take under his wing, the lad sat alone wistfully gazing out of the open window in the direction of the stables.

With a warm smile she turned back to her guest, “ Off course I will speak with you and help if I can, just let me rid myself of these dishes and see to one last task then I will join you.” The stranger nodded his understanding and thanks then took a seat to await her return.

Picking up the dishes Ædhral walked towards the young boy, “Andhan wasn’t it?” she asked gently as she came up beside him.

“Eh um yes!” the lad fumbled surprised by her sudden appearance.

“you should go down,” she smiled indicating the stables through the open window, “They will not get any closer be simply staring at them,” smiled gently.

“Oh no miss I would not wish to get in the Stable masters way, after him being so kind to me and all!” Andhan replied shaking his head.

“Oh I don’t think you would get in his way and I dare say he would be pleased to know that you are well, but if it would make it easier you could deliver a message to him for me,” she smiled kindly.

The young boy nodded eagerly a pleasing smile coming to his face. “You see I promised cook I would call Rochadan for lunch, he does tend to get rather wrapped up in his work and has to be reminded of time,” she winked, “But something has come up and it would really help me a lot if you could let Master Rochadan know that it is time for lunch,”

“I can do that!” the young boy grinned leaping down from his seat.

“Thank you Andhan,” she smiled ruffling his hair affectionately, “Remember to return with them, cook will give me an earful if I forgot to invite the stable master young friend to lunch,” she winked playfully.

“I will!” Andhan laughed as he hurried out the door, she stood for a moment watching out the window, as the young lad eagerly made his way to the stables, He will fit in just fine and soon find his way! she thought with a warm smile, then turning from the window she moved towards the kitchen stopping briefly to let Kannah know that she would be having lunch with one of the guests, but quickly moving on before the woman could make anything of it.

“Young Andhan has gone to let Rochadan know that lunch is ready,” she told cook as she set the dishes into the stone sink, “And he will be joining them,” she continued wiping her hands on her apron.

“Good, good cook mumbled as she set cookies and milk on the table for the two children.

“Oh and Sallie has a new friend who might appreciate the bone from the soup,” Ædhral grinned remembering the large dog that little Sallie had befriended.” Cook raised in eyebrow. “It’s a dog!” Ædhral laughed as she took two plates from the cupboard and began filling them with an assortment of meats and cheeses. Cook raised an eyebrow again this time at the second plate, “Are you hungry then?” she queried.

“Oh no!” Ædhral laughed, “one of the guests has asked to speak with me and I thought he might be hungry I know I am.”

“Another young man from town making a fool of himself, no doubt, you should tell them where to go and not entertain them my dear,” Cook sighed, exasperatedly shaking her head.

“He’s not from town and he just wants to enquire about a song I was humming,” she replied a little offended by the implication.

“Well, be careful some of these strangers have a bad air about them and could easily lead a young woman like you astray .” Cook warned gently.

“Oh, cook they are just people like you or I, if we where suspicious of every stranger we would not meet anyone,” she smiled lifting the two plates and quickly slipping out of the door before cook could say any more. Stopped at the bar she filled two mugs with sweet cider, when moved to join the stranger.

“I thought you might be hungry?” she smiled setting down the plates and handing him one of the mugs of cider.

“My name is Ædhral and the tune I was humming I heard sung by the elves of Mirkwood as they passed through here returning to their woodland realm after aiding our people in the battle of the five armies,” she said as she took the seat across from him. “My purpose for singing it… I don’t rightly know it just comes to me sometimes, mostly when I am happy,” she smiled.

The stranger nodded thoughtfully but said nothing so she continued, “You said that you thought I looked like the daughter of someone you knew, but I do not know how this could be both my parents were but simple farmers, there farm once stood west of here between the lake and the woods. They died when I was little, My mother died from some mysterious illness and it is said that my Father died in an accident, that same year.”

“Said?” the stranger asked curiously.

“After my mother died I was sent to live with my grandfather in lake town, he told me that lightening struck barn that my father had been working in and that he had perished in the flames,” she sighed sadly remembering pain that had come with that loss, but remembering her guest she smiled.

“But that was long ago, listen to me, babbling on when I have not even given you the chance to give me your name?” she laughed nervously, lifting her mug to her lips.

[Bêthberry]

OOC

A hearty welcome to Rohan goes out to new gamers who have demonstrated they can play or run games responsibly and successfully in The Shire.

The Perky Ent now joins the list of Rohan Game Managers. Perky did an especially good job of rallying the troups and covering for absent gamers in The Last Ride of the Heir for the entire duration of his game. Keep up that level of enthusiasm, Perky!

Responsible interactive gaming and good writing was demonstated in that game by astarielle, Eowyn Skywalker, and Hama of the Riddermark, who now join Rohan as Game Players. Congratulations to the three of you.

And some late summer additions come from Resettling the Lost Kingdom: Carrun, Lady Aerowen, and Osse demonstrated they can handle writing in Rohan well. Welcome!

Just a reminder: There are several gamers in The Shire who write well, with interesting characters and original ideas, but who have not stayed with a game or who posted so sporadically their absence caused great difficulties for the other gamers. Gaming in Rohan is more interactive, improvisational, and independent and so all members of a game must be reliable and knowledgable in how to keep a game going.

[The Perky Ent]

OOC:

Thank you very much Bêthberry! I thank you for bestowing with the great priviliage of owning an RPG in Rohan. I promise not to abuse my power Now, I'm gonna start doing what I said I've always done! I'm gonna make an RPG and make Rohan less, if you'll pardon the saying, "dead"! Well, I'm off to write!


Perky

[Ealasaide]

As Rochadan finished the needed repairs to the ladder and carried it back to its place against the inn’s wall for Kellan’s use later in the evening, he looked around for the young woman or her dog. Finding no trace of them, he shrugged ruefully. She must have collected her dog and gone on about her business elsewhere while he was pre-occupied with the ladder and seeing Mistress Bêthberry on her way.

“Too bad,” he sighed. He had enjoyed her company. Thinking of her interest in the stars and the sky, he glanced upward, noticing for the first time that the sun had made considerable progress across the sky. It was near on lunchtime and Sallie had not had her nap. Because she had slept badly the night before, he had intended to see that she had at least a brief nap before lunch. Unfortunately, he had gotten busy and forgotten about it. Now, as he turned to look at her, he could see the undeniable signs of a growing crankiness.

She was sitting in the grass nearby, trying to construct a small edifice out of twigs and dry leaves. As Rochadan watched, the breeze blew it down for the third time. Crossly, Sallie corked her thumb into her mouth and threw a little foot out to kick at the rubble.

“Uh-oh...” murmured Rochadan. That wasn’t a good sign. He walked over and knelt down in front of her. “Hey, my little princess,” he said cheerfully. “How about some lunch?”

The three-year-old clambered to her feet and leaned heavily against her papa’s knee.

“Yake,” she said around the thumb in her mouth.

“Yake?” repeated Rochadan, puzzled.

Sallie nodded. “I onna oh ooh a yake.”

Mystified, Rochadan shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t get a word of that. C’mon,” he said and reached out to tap his daughter’s little fist gently with his forefinger. “Thumb out of the mouth. What’s yake?”

Sallie stared up at him with a pair of soulful brown eyes, then took the thumb out of her mouth. “Wanna go to the lake,” she explained sullenly before popping the thumb back in again.

Rochadan laughed softly. “Oh, the lake!” He shook his head. “Maybe later, eh? It’s lunchtime now.”

Stubbornly, Sallie shook her head and stamped her foot. “No yunch! Yake!”

“Yes, lunch,” answered Rochadan sternly. “Later lake.” He reached out to pick her up, but discovered rather quickly that he had sorely misjudged the extent of the child’s crankiness. Instead of curling herself into the crook of his arm the way she usually did, Sallie let loose with a ear-splitting shriek and tried to fling herself backward out of his grasp. Startled, he nearly dropped her. Recovering quickly, he tried to settle her in against his shoulder, amazed at how quickly a missed nap could transform his usually happy child into screaming bundle of sharp knees and elbows. Still squirming mightily, Sallie pitched forward this time, her forehead connecting squarely with her father’s cheekbone. Rochadan’s teeth clicked together at the impact. Sallie howled.

“Shhh... shhh...” he whispered, trying desperately to calm her. “We’ll go to the lake a little later.”

“No!” wailed little Sallie. “Lake!” She flung herself backward again, but this time Rochadan was ready for it and caught her easily. He spun gently around with the momentum and nearly collided with Andhún, who had come up behind him from the direction of the inn.

“Missed nap,” Rochadan explained helplessly to the boy, all the while trying to maneuver his daughter into a comfortable nook along his right arm, the way he used to hold her when she was very small.

Wide-eyed, the boy nodded. “M-miss Ædhral sent me to fetch you in, s-sir, for lunch,” he stammered nervously.

“Thank you,” answered Rochadan, giving the boy a quick smile as Sallie planted one little foot in the center of his ribcage and pushed.

“LAKE!” she howled, now in the throes of a full-blown tantrum.

Cautiously, Andhún reached out a slim hand and laid it on the little girl’s back between her shoulder blades. Startled at the touch of a strange hand, Sallie stiffened, her cries stopping in an abrupt little snort. Rubbing her back, Andhún began to sing in a soft, boyish voice. It was a quaint little song with a lilting, old-fashioned melody. Listening, Sallie sniffled quietly and burrowed her face into her father’s bicep.

Rochadan stared at Andhún with a combination of amazement and relief.

Sensing Rochadan’s eyes on him, the boy blushed furiously. “M-my mother used to sing it to my l-little sister,” he whispered sheepishly as the song ended.

Rochadan smiled. “That’s not a song,” he said quietly. “It’s a magic spell. You’ll have to teach it to me sometime.”

“Yes, sir,” answered Andhún with a shy grin. He continued to stroke the child’s back soothingly with his palm. “But I think it’s less the song than... than... than me being a distraction...”

“Again,” mumbled Sallie.

Prompting the boy with an encouraging smile and a nod, Rochadan listened as the boy began the song anew.

[Nurumaiel]

Eacwen had been momentarily confused when Andhun had limped off, but after little time of reflection she realized what had happened and laughed at her own confusion. Standing up, she skipped lightly to the door, humming a little tune, her eyes dancing and full of pleasure as if some delightful thought were in her mind. She stood just outside the door, and she glanced here and there to assure herself no one was about, and then she spun in a circle, nearly losing her balance. Oh, how much like a little girl she felt this fine day!

The sound of singing reached her ears from the stable, and the voice was soft and lovely, the sweet angelic tones obviously that of a young boy's. Intrigued she daintily crossed the grounds and went to the stable door. She hesitated to open it, for fear of disturbing the singer, and she after a brief investigation of the door she found a little crack in the wood that would be just suitable for peering through. She got down on her hands and knees and squinted on eye so she could see through. The sight she saw was precious.

A man, more than likely the stablemaster, was holding a drowsy-looking little girl in his arms, and Andhun was stroking her back and singing to her. There were the stains of angry tears upon the girl's face, but now she was calm and quiet and looked peaceful. As Andhun finished, she said, 'Again,' and he began once more. It seemed likely the girl would be asleep before he finished the next round, but her eyes were still open at the end, though just barely. Andhun had wearied of standing so long on his sore legs, so he cautiously sat himself down on the ground and put his back against a stall door. The girl opened her eyes slightly. 'Again,' she mumbled, and she closed her eyes again. A few moments passed, and then her eyes opened widely and she said, 'Again!' She twisted in her father's arms and saw Andhun sitting on the floor. 'Again?' she questioned.

'I'm sorry,' said Andhun, 'but I became very tired.' The girl studied him for a moment, then struggled to free herself from her father's arms. He hesitated slightly, wondering if she were intending to run for the lake or some other such madness now that her distraction was gone, but then he released her. She went to Andhun and patted his back, and then promptly sat down in his lap, saying, 'Again.'

Andhun laughed softly, and she giggled too, and then he began stroking her back and singing again.

[Ealasaide]

Rochadan breathed a sigh of relief as Sallie settled herself into Andhun's lap and the boy began another cycle of his mother's lullaby. He watched affectionately as she slid her thumb back into her mouth and closed her eyes, lowering long eyelashes that were still wet from angry tears and leaning comfortably into the other child's chest. She was usually such a sweet-tempered little thing that these occasional tantrums took him completely by surprise. To be perfectly honest, they scared him a bit, not because he was afraid of a three-year-old's temper, but more because he always felt so helpless to soothe her. It had been so fortunate that Andhun had come upon them when he did, armed with his gentle nature and his mother's wonderful lullaby. Squatting down beside the two children, Rochadan sighed and raised a hand to massage the lines of stress out of his forehead. So fortunate.

As the song came to an end again, Sallie opened her eyes and looked soberly up into Andhun's face. After a moment, she took her thumb out of her mouth and pointed at one of the boy's many burns with a little pink forefinger.

"You got a owie," she said gravely.

Andhun nodded. "Yes," he answered with equal solemnity. "I've got lots of owies."

"Do they hurt?"

Andhun nodded again. "Yes. Sometimes," he answered softly.

Rochadan tensed as Sallie's lower lip began to tremble. He could tell that she liked Andhun a great deal and was worried that she might, in her current frame of mind, become a little too empathetic to the poor boy's many "owies." He readied himself to sweep in and take control again if the tears returned, but then relaxed as Sallie pointed calmly to her shoe.

"I got a owie, too," she said to Andhun. "On my foot."

At a concerned glance from Andhun, Rochadan gave his head a brief shake. "No, she's fine," he interjected quietly. "She just has a little limp," he added. "She's always had it."

Andhun's lips formed a silent, "oh." He looked back down at the little girl. "I limp, too," he said simply. Sallie said nothing but smiled sweetly up at her new friend with an expression of angelic adulation.

Rochadan could tell that she was pleased to have her limp in common with the boy. Oddly, it seemed to ratchet Andhun up a few notches in her eyes. He smiled. It could turn out to be a very good thing for her to have Andhun around. He was just going to comment on it when the horse housed in the stall Andhun had chosen to lean up against arched his glossy neck over the top of the stall door and began to nuzzle the top of the boy's head. Startled, Andhun pulled away and looked nervously up at the animal. It was a beautiful dark brown gelding with a black face and mane.

Sallie giggled. "That's my papa's horse," she told Andhun. "Alybar."

"Alydar," corrected Rochadan. "Don't worry. He's a friendly fellow... just wanted to say hello." Looking up at Alydar, Rochadan noticed a stray bridle hanging from a nail just to side of the stall door. Out of habit, he rose and took it back to where it belonged in the small tack room just to the right of the front entrance to the stable. On his way back to the two children, however, he happened to glance down and notice a peculiar shadow under the door that led outside to the stableyard, or rather a lack of light there, as though someone or something had been placed against the outside of the door. Curious, he pulled the door open. To his surprise, a young woman toppled in nearly on top of his feet.

He looked down at her with an expression of bemused surprise. "Well, hello there," he greeted her pleasantly. "Is there anything in particular you were looking for?"

[Nurumaiel]

Earcwen had uttered a startled cry as she fell at the man's feet, and she stood, hay clinging to her hair and dress, and a look of complete bewilderment and confusion on her face. 'Goodness gracious!' she cried. 'Sir, I am so sorry to have fallen and caused what might be some inconvenience.' She cocked her head to one side and the look of distress on her face momentarily vanished as she smiled mischievously. 'I must admit, however, that I am even more sorry at having been caught in the act of eavesdropping.' She blushed then, and ducked her head, occupying herself with the task of pulling bits of hay from her skirt. She found herself quite at a loss of what to say, and so decided it would be wiser to say nothing.

Andhun had gotten to his feet, and he approached Earcwen, laughing slightly. 'Here,' he said, 'bend down and I'll take the hay out of your hair.' Earcwen obliged, and he began the task. Sallie became intrigued and was soon pulling hay with Andhun. At one point Earcwen felt a sudden, sharp pain in her head, but though she blinked she kept her mouth firmly closed, and soon Sallie giggled a bit sheepishly. 'Oops,' she said, 'that wasn't hay, that was a hair.' And she held up a strand of, yes indeed, hair. Earcwen felt mirth bubbling up inside of her, and she laughed and tickled the little girl. Then she stood patiently until Andhun stepped back, saying, 'There, I think we've finished.'

'Thank you kindly,' said Earcwen seriously, and then with another blush she looked up at Rochadan. 'I apologize, sir, for eavesdropping,' she said. 'I was intrigued by the singing, and I could not help but look when I found that little crack in the wood.' She paused, and glanced at Andhun. Her face worked, as if she were in a study as to what she should say, and at last she spoke, saying, 'What a charming little song you sang!' She decided that while a girl might enjoy being told she had a fine singing voice, it might not mean as much to a boy.

'I thank you,' said Andhun, his voice grave. 'My mother knew many beautiful songs, and that is only one of them.'

'Sing for me a favourite of yours,' said Earcwen. 'I enjoy hearing you sing very much.'

'Very well,' said Andhun, and he began to sing:

When I was young I had no sense
I bought a fiddle for eighteen pence
The only tune that I could play
Was Over the Hills and Very Far Away
So early in the morning,
so early in the morning,
so early in the morning, before the break of day.

The song was sweet, and had a childish air about it, immediately attractive to the ears of both Earcwen and Sallie, who smiled widely and applauded generously. And Sallie said, 'Again.'

'No, no!' said Andhun. 'I will song you another song, but I won't sing you that one. Listen, Sallie, to this song.' And he began another song, which was beautiful, and while the words expressed a longing the tune was full of peace, as if the one in the song were fairly sure that he would someday have what he wished, and full of happiness as the one reflected upon what he would do for his love.

Oh, I wish I had my Sally-o,
Sally-o, Sally-o.
Oh I wish I had my Sally-o
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.

Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low,
I'd feel no cold from the frost or snow
if I only had my Sally-o
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.

Oh, I would gather flowers so sweet,
flowers so sweet, flowers so sweet,
and pile them round my Sally's feet
where the wild birds sing on the moutain.

Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low,
I'd feel no cold from the frost or snow
if I only had my Sally-o
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.

Oh, I'd bring salmon from the stream,
from the stream, from the stream,
and berries fit for any queen
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.

Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low,
I'd feel no cold from the frost or snow
if I only had my Sally-o
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.

Oh, we'd have music all the day,
all the day, all the day,
and peace that drives all cares away
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.

Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low,
I'd feel no cold from the frost or snow
if I only had my Sally-o
where the wild birds sing on the mountain.