The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Witch_Queen]

Count was glad to be out of the stables and in fresh air. "Steady Count." Adu said as she stroke his mane. Adu was in a better mood though the day was to her just beginning. She turned as she heard someone say that supper was being served. She still didn't feel like going back inside. The air felt good to her and nothing else mattered. Fáinu was right beside her and Adu knew that perhaps everything would be ok. "Fáinu what do you know of fate. After what you have said it seems like fate has turned her back on you." She couldn't keep her mouth shut. Though she meant for it to sound serious she knew instead it sounded cold like her heart.

Adu kept on riding until she noticed that she was alone. She turned Count around. "Fáinu, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Its just... Oh never mind. I'm going to say something that I will regret. Just know that I'm sorry about that." Adu felt bad now and she knew that unless Fáinu let her know that everything was ok that she would hate herself for the rest of her life. Adu dismounted from her horse and walked over to him. Her grey eyes reflected his face and her soul. Count walked behind Adu even though she didn't have her hands on the reigns. Adu swore she over heard Fáinu say, "Adu, your eyes are the window to your soul. I understand what you mean." Instead Adu realized that deep down inside it was herself telling her that.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

"Fáinu, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Its just... Oh never mind. I'm going to say something that I will regret. Just know that I'm sorry about that."

Fáinu leaped up upon his horse and looked at her.

"There is nothing to forgive." he said with a smile, "I only tell you what it is I feel I can see in you, I may be wrong, but then I may be rite, who can tell?"

He moved his horse, (Grey mane) forward and nodded as if to ask her to follow. They had not gone far when Fáinu thought he saw a fire in the corner of his eye. Sharply he turned his head and saw that a farmer was making a bonfire. Adu saw that Fáinu had his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Fáinu’s face was pale and Adu thought he had seen something that had haunted him. soon he turned and smiled at Adu, then drew his sword. It was long and pale; the blade glittered in the little light that was about. There were runes on the blade, but the light was dim and Adu could not see them clearly. one set of runes went from the middle near the hilt upwards, another set was just above it in a curved shape.

"This, " Said Fáinu, "is Anganárí, the iron flame. I found it in the lonely mountain. When I heard that Smaug was dead, I went there and met Dwaline. While walking through the halls I saw this sword, broken into five peaces and a part of the hilt was missing.

'Why has this sword not been fixed?' I asked,
'It is an elvish sword' replied the Dwarf, 'your smything of swords is different to ours, it is difficult for us to re-forge any elvish sword. You are welcome to it.'

I picked it up and saw that the runes going upwards read; 'Falokrist' that is 'Dragon cleaver'. I thought that it was fate telling me that this sword had come to me to live up to its name."

He paused and re-sheathed the sword. Adu then saw that the hilt was silver and had yet more runes and a picture of a flame in the centre. The grip was purple and at the end was a green gem.

"I took it back to Rivendell and asked the smiths to fix it." he continued "They did so, and the scalars told me that it was probably made in the second age, and used to slay Dragons in the far north before the Dwarves were driven out. However, they did not think the name was fitting any more and so named it a new, Anganárí, and this name is in an ark shape above the original name." he paused and looked over at Adu, who looked slightly confused, "I know it dose not seem to have much to do with anything, but I feel that one day, perhaps, Anganárí will re claim its name of old. I always felt it was fate that lead me to find it... then again, perhaps I am wrong."

They stood in silence for a while. Fáinu left his sword alone and seemed to smile as stood there, no direction in which to ride did he have in mind, in fact, he did not know if he wanted to leave and return to Imladris as he had been bidden. He did not know what to do... as usual.

[Lalwendë]

Jinniver had joined the noisy supper table occupied by Andwise, Derufin and the hobbit lads; two of the hobbits sat on either side of her and spent most of the meal trying to make her laugh. Now they were holding a smoke ring blowing contest and mocking each other with ever more ridiculous insults. Jinniver had spent suppertime with a smile on her face because of their antics and now she couldn’t help but start giggling. The two hobbits cheered when they saw they had succeeded in amusing her and bowed their heads in mock honour. “Miss Cornthrift, your smile is as beautiful as sunrise after a rainy night” said one and the other topped it by saying “And your laughter is like the sound of birds at dawn”. Jinniver laughed even more and toasted the hobbits as they all drained their tankards.

She looked around to see if anyone was coming by to refill drinks. She didn’t want to go to the bar herself as she had taken a little more drink than she knew was good for her, and she recalled her clumsy episodes of the previous evening all too well. This was strong ale, and it had got the better of many men who had drunk less than she had. But she did want at least one more drink, as she was loathe to leave such good company.

Aman soon passed by the table bearing a large pitcher of ale, and she refilled her tankard. Jinniver thanked her kindly and Aman nodded gracefully. Jinniver was immediately struck that there was something out of place about her. ‘Her smile seems forced, and though she looks jovial enough, her eyes say that she is unsettled.’ Jinniver watched the innkeeper move through the smoky, raucous room. She recognised distress when she saw it.

She noticed Aman seemed to falter as she passed by a richly dressed, intimidating looking man; his bearing was proud, and she felt almost too humble to look at him, but the ale had conquered her normal reserved self enough to allow her to take him in. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw Derufin giving the innkeeper a meaningful glance. ‘Well, there’s an interesting tale in that’ thought Jinniver to herself. Taking up the offer of a pinch of tobacco for her pipe, she chatted to the hobbits next to her while she watched to see what would unfold between these three. She hoped that she was not staring, and each time she took a drink, she peered curiously over the top of her tankard.

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Adu looked to the left, down the path leading to the Dragon. She had heard hoof beats coming up the path and her heart skipped a beat. The sillhouetted outline of a man loomed into view, he wore Rohan armour, with a ornately decorated helm. As the lantern light from the windows shone onto his face it revealed a weary expression, just as four more shadows came into view, they too were clad in Rohan armour. Adu looked at the closest, she saw the cloak flap in the wind, she saw the legend on it. It was of an eagle rampant inside the circle of a garter, the crest of the Haukrson family, Hama's family!

She saw his face as he removed his helm slowly, the general's plume flapped in the breeze and she saw Hama's rugged features in the darkness. Adu choked back a sob of happiness as she ran to him. He dismounted and stood, receiving her as she came, and embracing her with equal gusto as she embraced him.

His four guards dismounted and led their horses and Hama's to the stables. Hama led Adu inside with one arm around her neck. As he entered the Green Dragon he was greeted by a gasp. Many people knew the heraldry he bore was the mark of a general of Rohan, and the hobbits, who knew little of such things, simply becase of his imposing build and stern face. He sat down and called for the barmaid. When she came, she meekly took his order for two pints of ale, roast lamb, potatoes, carrots and peas, with Apple-Brown-Betty for pudding. Hama's ale came soon, and as Adu looked at him with admiration he drank it with the air of a man who has not adequately drunk for days. He finished it in under a minute and called for another one.

Fainu entered and sat down next to Adu, he looked at Hama with a slight frown that quickly disappeared as Hama returned the frown with one of his own, and narrowed his eyes. Adu, sensing the conflict quickly said, "Hama, I went searching for you, you were not at Rivendell on your return." Hama grimaced and said quickly, "I did not come via Rivendell. The remnant of Dorian's loyalists is exactly as I feared. They are maniacally loyal to the dead man. I knew they would be waiting at Rivendell, so I did not come back that way...I'm surprised ou did not see them there." Adu cast her thoughts back, yes, if she rememreed rightly there had been riders there bearing Dorin's crest and asking about Hama...

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Fáinu sat there and looked at Hama, as if inspecting him. He was slightly suspicious of him, but he smiled and fained appreciation. He sat silently while Adu and Hama talked, but he noticed that as the converse continued, he felt forgotten. Slowly he went to the bar and bought a drink, he only drunk half of it and then stood there thinking. he was debating in his mind what he should do.

Perhaps now I should leave. Adu is happy, and I have done my deity.
Is that all it was? Deity?
No, I don't suppose it was. For I may have known her, but a little while, I feel she is a dear friend.
What of this Hama? Dost thou not trust him?
I know not. From what she hath said, he seems an honourable man.
That may be yet to be seen.
Then should I leave, or stay?
Stay a while, if it seems though art not wanted, or needed, then thou mustst depart.
I suppose so.

Fáinu looked sadly over at the table; Adu was smiling happily as she spoke with Hama. This gave him a feeling of rejection, he had felt this before, and hated his brothers all the more as the memories came flooding back... he did not know why, but he found that his good hand was resting on his sword hilt, while his other was clenched, though it hurt him.

[starkat]

The sound of horses coming up the path woke Gwenneth. She watched as the men dismounted and entered the Inn. I must have fallen asleep. I guess I am more tired than I thought. The elf rose and dusted herself off and returned to the Inn.

Walking up to the bar, Gwenneth asked for a glass fo tea. She had discovered that the tea in the Shire was wonderful thanks to one of the people she had met in the Inn. Turning her back to the bar, the young elf maid watched the various interactions of the patrons with a smile.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Snaveling sat in brood, his hunger forgotten in the wake of his failure with the barmaid. Nothing had gone right since his arrival – Aman, so long held in his memory as a dear friend – was now distant and confused in her manner to him. The first person he had approached for news of Roa had given him nothing, and as he looked about the Inn he saw little hope of better. Save Aman and one or two of the serving maids, there was nobody here that he recognised, not even Tobias Hornblower. A smile crossed his lips at the memory of his friend, and he swore that first thing tomorrow he would seek out the old hobbit. But the matter at hand was still more pressing – whom could he ask for news of the Ranger woman? There were several likely candidates in the Common Room. One, a man, had been glaring at him with suspicion since Aman had left Snaveling by the fire. Such a look did not sit well with the man of the south, and he made note of it for attention later…

Another woman caught his eye however. She was small and difficult to overlook, even in the crowded Inn, for her hair was almost like the colour of Roa’s. She sat alone at a table and also looked at Snaveling from time to time, although where the man was hostile, she was merely curious and even sought to hide her interest. Snaveling had spent a lifetime upon the fringes of human society, however, and knew what it was to be spied upon by those who did not know or trust him. Not so long ago, he would have either slunk away from eyes like hers, or looked for some mean way to pay her for her interest. But the time he had spent at Elessar’s court had done much to correct the abuse and neglect of his years in the waste. Smoothing his face with a courteous smile, he rose and crossed the room to the woman.

He felt the eyes of the man following him as he went, and again thought to himself that he would have to look into the meaning of that look…soon.

Standing politely by the table of the woman, Snaveling introduced himself and asked if he might sit. The woman appeared to be a little alarmed by his action, but indicated that she would welcome the company. As he sat, Snaveling noticed for the first time that the woman bore about her the signs of a long night the day before – he too knew all-too-well the strength and effect of halfling ale, and he could not quite hide the smile at the feeling of solidarity. If the woman noticed the smile, she did not comment on it. Instead, she put out her hand in a frank manner and introduced herself as Jinniver.

Snaveling took the hand and returned the gesture in the politest manner, as taught to him by the Chamberlain Lorant. He could feel the rough skin of the woman’s years spent in hard work, and he knew by looking at her that she was well travelled. Excellent: it boded well that she might have news of the Ranger.

“I do not think that I have seen you before,” Jinniver said, “but you seem to be known to the Innkeeper, and the Inn would seem to be known to you. Have you been here before?”

“Yes, a long time ago,” is all he answered. Once more, he found that if she were unaware of his history with this place, it would be for the better.

“May I ask what brings you here again?” she asked, her eyes quickly flicking to where Aman was working. Snaveling pretended not to see.

“I am looking for a friend of mine,” he said, and went on to describe Roa. He did not reveal why he was looking for her, or why it was so important for him to find her. “You would appear to have travelled a good deal, lady,” he concluded. “Is it possible you have seen her?”

Jinniver shook her head and said, “I’m afraid that I don’t know any Ranger woman by that name. Red hair you say? That I would remember” and she laughed lightly. “No, Mr. Snaveling, I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

Snaveling lapsed into quiet for a moment, despair already threatening to overcome him, even though his search was yet so young. Once more he felt the eyes of the man upon him, and he knew that soon his story would be known throughout the Inn. Places like this have long memories, and it was only a matter of time before everyone knew the truth. He decided that it would be best to find out as much information as he could now about the people at the Inn – particularly that man. Using the most inviting tone he could muster Snaveling said, “Well I am sorry to hear that, but I am sure that she will turn up. I wonder if I might thank you for your pains by buying you a pint of ale, or perhaps some wine? I have been away for a while and would very much like to know about the people staying at the Dragon.”

[Witch_Queen]

Adu's heart fluttered as she saw Hama. She didn't want to believe that she actually stayed in Rivendell now. She looked back and remembered the black cloaked man who asked about Hama. She also remembered his face. It was the face of the one man she despised all her life in Rohan. Dorian's right hand man.She was never really fond of him. He had always associated Adu as Dorian's little elfmaidden. Adu had wanted to dispose of the man but Dorian wouldn't allow it. He had always threated Adu about harming any of his soldiers. She wasn't allowed to even fall in love with anyone of them. Deep down inside Adu always thought of herself as a prisoner and not a soldier. Adu smiled and came back to the situation."Hama, I shall always remain loyal to my general. I am suprised though that you came with an escort. Its not like you to stand out like that. I take it that Eomer was only happy to give you Dorian's position." Adu noticed that her new friend had left. She didn't want either of them to hate or dislike each other. Fáinu had been there for her while Hama was gone. Hama had been there almost all her life. Adu no longer considered her life in Eryn Lasgalen important now. It was the life she made in Rohan.

She motioned for Fáinu to come back and join them. Adu was happiest when she had both her friends. "Hama I am glad to serve you and no other man." Her words stuck in her mind. I am glad he is back. Without him I would always be miserable. Hama is what makes my life worth living. Thank you Fáinu for everything.