The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

elronds_daughter · 10-28-2004, 03:37 PM

Alameth smiled as the woman introduced herself, her companions, and her dog.
“Does he always take to strangers like this?” she asked, gesturing at the dog at her feet. “My name is Alameth. I come from Rohan. This is my first visit to the Shire.”

“And what brings you here?” she asked Eleniel. “Something important, I would assume.”

Maeggaladiel · 10-28-2004, 03:44 PM

Eleniel laughed, and the dog's tail thumped loudly against the floor.

"Yes," she said. "He likes anyone who is capable of petting or feeding him."

She took another sip from her mug, wetting her throat before continuing.

"I'm here on business," she said. "I own a shop in Laketown, called The Raven's Nest. Arrow and I are on our annual trip to buy merchandise." She reached down and scratched the dog's silver ears.

"It's been a rather slow year for aquisitions," she continued. "But I never regret taking a trip. How about you, lady Alameth? What business brings you all the way from Rohan?"

elronds_daughter · 10-29-2004, 02:11 PM

Alameth paused slightly before answering Eleniel’s question. “Not business, really, but it’s quite a long story,” she said. “I’ll try to be brief, but I’m known for running on and on with my tales.”

“You see, my father was killed in the War of the Ring; the battle of the Pelennor Fields, to be specific. My mother died of grief shortly after. My brother and I were left to fend for ourselves. I’m only nineteen, though you may think I look older, and I’ve never been more than five miles from Edoras. My brother challenged me to make this trip. He seems to think that just because I’m a woman, I don’t have the strength for such a journey.”

“I suppose I’ve proved him wrong now, but I must admit that I’m at a loss to know what to do next. I had hoped you might be able to help.”

Lalwendë · 10-30-2004, 12:03 PM

After the tumble, which had left her feeling a little shaken, although she would never have admitted it, and the tears which she had felt rising in her eyes, Jinniver had felt in need of some comfort. Her first thought was to go to see that her faithful cart horse, Nutkin, was no worse off for the fright that the fighting cats had given him. He was safely back at the paddock, feasting on a bale of hay, and he only gave Jinniver the merest flicker of recognition. Regardless, she patted the old horse and then put her arms about his thick neck, more for her own comfort than his. He snorted at the interruption to his eating, and with a sigh, Jinniver patted him and walked away again.

Her spirits were low and she knew that no amount of hard work would shake off her mood. She realised that she needed a little time to herself, and seeing that she wouldn’t find any at the cottage, she decided to take a short walk down into Hobbiton.

***

Her cheeks red with the exercise and fresh air, Jinniver came back up the lane towards the Green Dragon. Her clothes were even dirtier from the dust on the road, but she wasn’t quite so concerned. A few travellers had passed her by who were wearing clothes that she could only describe as filthy. Some of them had looked like fine folk, and she thought to herself that what was good enough for them, must surely be good enough for her.

Even so, the little nagging voice which always told her to make a good impression could not be completely silenced. It was the voice of her mother, a fine woman who was as much of a lady as any woman could be, despite being a farmer’s wife. She had died a long time ago, ill for some years with ‘the pains‘ as she delicately put it. But even when ill, her mother had taken care to be clean and neat, and some had mistaken her for a woman of much higher status. She was always in the back of Jinniver’s mind, telling her to be sensible, to be respectable, to make the best of herself. And this was something which Jinniver, once she was grown and the dark days were over, was all too aware of.

The voice in her mind became quieter as the now familiar sight of the inn came into view. The hobbit lads were up to something, she could see, and this sight cheered her up. Her dark mood had long since melted away. The flowers she had seen in the hedgerows had played no small part in this, and she carried a bunch of them now as she walked back towards the cottage, smiling. Seeing one of the cats who had frightened Nutkin lazing in the sun at the side of the lane, she stopped to tickle his chin and rub his ears, his misdemeanour now forgotten.

Maeggaladiel · 10-30-2004, 06:57 PM

Eleniel's smile dissappeared as Alameth told her story.

"I am sorry for your loss," she said. "The death of a loved one, especially a parent, can be unbearable." She looked away for a moment, silent. A moment later, however, the smile was back on her face.

"You said you thought I might be able to help you," she said. "Perhaps you're correct." She looked at Alameth. The girl was right; Eleniel never would have guessed she was only nineteen. So young for travelling all alone. Eleniel was only a few years older than Alameth was when she began traveling for The Raven's Nest, but her father had gone with her. Now she was older, but going alone still held its dangers.

"Do you intend to return to Rohan?" she asked Alameth. "Or do you wish to keep traveling? Either way, I'm sure I could help you." She had some coins in a purse, if Alameth needed funds to return home, she could donate. If Alameth needed direction, she could point her shoes in the right way. If she needed a travelling companion, Eleniel could fix that too. She wanted to help in any way she could.

elronds_daughter · 10-30-2004, 07:19 PM

Alameth fidgeted. Eleniel was kind to offer help, having only met her moments before. But perhaps that was only because she had revealed her age. Or the fact that she no longer had any parents. She fidgeted again, but decided to take the offered help, whatever it might entail. "I would be happy for any help you could give."

"As I said, I am at quite a loss as to what I'll do next. I don't, however, have much a desire to go home quite yet. The only lands I've seen have been west of Anduin. Perhaps I could travel with you?" She looked down at the silver dog underneath the table. "From what you've told me of Arrow, I don't think he would mind having one more person to pamper him."

10-28-2004, 03:44 PM	#2
Maeggaladiel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The end of the world as we know it. I feel fine, incidentally. Posts: 500	Eleniel laughed, and the dog's tail thumped loudly against the floor. "Yes," she said. "He likes anyone who is capable of petting or feeding him." She took another sip from her mug, wetting her throat before continuing. "I'm here on business," she said. "I own a shop in Laketown, called The Raven's Nest. Arrow and I are on our annual trip to buy merchandise." She reached down and scratched the dog's silver ears. "It's been a rather slow year for aquisitions," she continued. "But I never regret taking a trip. How about you, lady Alameth? What business brings you all the way from Rohan?" __________________ "Wide ne bith wel," cwaeth se the geheirde on helle hriman.

10-29-2004, 02:11 PM	#3
elronds_daughter Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the fortune cookie and the post-its. Posts: 644	Alameth's story Alameth paused slightly before answering Eleniel’s question. “Not business, really, but it’s quite a long story,” she said. “I’ll try to be brief, but I’m known for running on and on with my tales.” “You see, my father was killed in the War of the Ring; the battle of the Pelennor Fields, to be specific. My mother died of grief shortly after. My brother and I were left to fend for ourselves. I’m only nineteen, though you may think I look older, and I’ve never been more than five miles from Edoras. My brother challenged me to make this trip. He seems to think that just because I’m a woman, I don’t have the strength for such a journey.” “I suppose I’ve proved him wrong now, but I must admit that I’m at a loss to know what to do next. I had hoped you might be able to help.”

10-30-2004, 06:57 PM	#5
Maeggaladiel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The end of the world as we know it. I feel fine, incidentally. Posts: 500	Eleniel's smile dissappeared as Alameth told her story. "I am sorry for your loss," she said. "The death of a loved one, especially a parent, can be unbearable." She looked away for a moment, silent. A moment later, however, the smile was back on her face. "You said you thought I might be able to help you," she said. "Perhaps you're correct." She looked at Alameth. The girl was right; Eleniel never would have guessed she was only nineteen. So young for travelling all alone. Eleniel was only a few years older than Alameth was when she began traveling for The Raven's Nest, but her father had gone with her. Now she was older, but going alone still held its dangers. "Do you intend to return to Rohan?" she asked Alameth. "Or do you wish to keep traveling? Either way, I'm sure I could help you." She had some coins in a purse, if Alameth needed funds to return home, she could donate. If Alameth needed direction, she could point her shoes in the right way. If she needed a travelling companion, Eleniel could fix that too. She wanted to help in any way she could. __________________ "Wide ne bith wel," cwaeth se the geheirde on helle hriman.

10-28-2004, 03:37 PM	#1
elronds_daughter Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the fortune cookie and the post-its. Posts: 644	Alameth smiled as the woman introduced herself, her companions, and her dog. “Does he always take to strangers like this?” she asked, gesturing at the dog at her feet. “My name is Alameth. I come from Rohan. This is my first visit to the Shire.” “And what brings you here?” she asked Eleniel. “Something important, I would assume.”

10-30-2004, 12:03 PM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	After the tumble, which had left her feeling a little shaken, although she would never have admitted it, and the tears which she had felt rising in her eyes, Jinniver had felt in need of some comfort. Her first thought was to go to see that her faithful cart horse, Nutkin, was no worse off for the fright that the fighting cats had given him. He was safely back at the paddock, feasting on a bale of hay, and he only gave Jinniver the merest flicker of recognition. Regardless, she patted the old horse and then put her arms about his thick neck, more for her own comfort than his. He snorted at the interruption to his eating, and with a sigh, Jinniver patted him and walked away again. Her spirits were low and she knew that no amount of hard work would shake off her mood. She realised that she needed a little time to herself, and seeing that she wouldn’t find any at the cottage, she decided to take a short walk down into Hobbiton. *** Her cheeks red with the exercise and fresh air, Jinniver came back up the lane towards the Green Dragon. Her clothes were even dirtier from the dust on the road, but she wasn’t quite so concerned. A few travellers had passed her by who were wearing clothes that she could only describe as filthy. Some of them had looked like fine folk, and she thought to herself that what was good enough for them, must surely be good enough for her. Even so, the little nagging voice which always told her to make a good impression could not be completely silenced. It was the voice of her mother, a fine woman who was as much of a lady as any woman could be, despite being a farmer’s wife. She had died a long time ago, ill for some years with ‘the pains‘ as she delicately put it. But even when ill, her mother had taken care to be clean and neat, and some had mistaken her for a woman of much higher status. She was always in the back of Jinniver’s mind, telling her to be sensible, to be respectable, to make the best of herself. And this was something which Jinniver, once she was grown and the dark days were over, was all too aware of. The voice in her mind became quieter as the now familiar sight of the inn came into view. The hobbit lads were up to something, she could see, and this sight cheered her up. Her dark mood had long since melted away. The flowers she had seen in the hedgerows had played no small part in this, and she carried a bunch of them now as she walked back towards the cottage, smiling. Seeing one of the cats who had frightened Nutkin lazing in the sun at the side of the lane, she stopped to tickle his chin and rub his ears, his misdemeanour now forgotten.

10-30-2004, 07:19 PM	#6
elronds_daughter Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the fortune cookie and the post-its. Posts: 644	Alameth fidgeted. Eleniel was kind to offer help, having only met her moments before. But perhaps that was only because she had revealed her age. Or the fact that she no longer had any parents. She fidgeted again, but decided to take the offered help, whatever it might entail. "I would be happy for any help you could give." "As I said, I am at quite a loss as to what I'll do next. I don't, however, have much a desire to go home quite yet. The only lands I've seen have been west of Anduin. Perhaps I could travel with you?" She looked down at the silver dog underneath the table. "From what you've told me of Arrow, I don't think he would mind having one more person to pamper him."