The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Nurumaiel]

The fragrant scent of supper drifted to the table where Posco and Lily sat, and both drew in the beautiful smell with peaceful smiles. Posco did not take his eyes off her, for he thought she was too sweet for words, and he wanted to remember any and every moment they spent together, in the case that he would see her again as Mrs. Tommy Banks. He studied her hair, her eyes, her cheeks, her little nose, her smiling lips, and he didn't realise that the supper was being served, until she asked him, with a laugh, if he were at all hungry, and if he would like something to eat. And then he sprang to his feet, bidding her stay where she was, and he was not gone long before two bowls of chicken stew were placed on their little table.

"Is it anything like your mother's food?" Lily asked.

"I have to say it isn't," said Posco, with a regretful smile. "It's very good, and I'm very hungry, but my mother is, after all, my mother, and I can't say that anyone cooks better than she does." He paused in his eating, and watched Lily daintily sip at her stew, and he wondered if someday he would sit across from her every day, or if Tommy Banks would be the happy hobbit who enjoyed such.

"Yes," said Posco, hurrying on, for he did not want to dwell in despondent thoughts about Tommy Banks, and he recalled to himself that he was the one who had asked Lily to give that lad a chance, for it was the best thing to do. "My mother is a splendid cook, like most hobbit mothers are. Perhaps you'd like to stay for a day or two at my family's home? It might be a wise thing to have them meet you."

[piosenniel]

‘Tolly Greenhand, you say? And from Greenholm.’ Cook nodded her head at the name. ‘Didn’t by chance mention why he’s come to Bywater, has he?’ Ginger shook her head ‘no’, saying she hadn’t thought to ask. ‘Well, now, that’s alright; you’re new at this serving business.’ She grinned at the lass and chuckled. ‘You’ll learn, though, if you mean to stay on here, that a wealth of information can be gathered in drips and drabs with quick, friendly little questions as you’re slipping a plate of food or a full mug of drink before a patron. I like to keep a thumb on what’s happening, so I depend on you all to be my eyes and ears.’ She handed Ginger a tray filled with more baskets of bread and sent her out the door.

‘Tolly Greenhand,’ she said quietly into the empty kitchen . . . save for the old tabby who raised one eyelid for a second, then drifted off again. ‘I wonder if he’s come to see the mayor on some business. Distant cousins of a sort if he’s from Greenholm,’ she mumbled, turning the thoughts in her head. Cook pulled one of the big pans of apple cobbler from the warming oven and began cutting it into generous portions. Her curiosity got the better of her and she dished out a bowlful, then filled a small pitcher with clotted cream.

‘Well, now, I guess I’ll just deliver dessert myself to the fellow who likes my cooking so much . . .’

[Arry]

He liked the way she’d slipped him a shy smile as she whispered her thanks. Her nose crinkled at the bridge as she did so and her eyes crinkled up, too at the outer edges. What a sweet face she has he thought to himself, watching her walk back toward the kitchen.

Two or three of the thirstier lads at the table cleared their throats and scraped their empty mugs along the surface of the oak table. One of them, following along with Ferdy’s gaze, was about to comment on what a pretty thing she was to look at, when he saw the look in the Ferdy’s eye as he turned back to pour the cider. Others round the table raised their brows and nodded their heads knowingly. ‘See you at the dance, then, shall we, Ferdy?’ winking at him as the golden stream flowed into his mug.

‘Well, I believe you will,’ returned Ferdy, topping the last lad’s mug.

‘And not with a pitcher in your hand, either, if I have the right of it,’ the other continued. He raised his mug to Ferdy, who acknowledged the truth of the Hobbit’s statement with a grin. The others at the table cried out in a merry manner, ‘Hear! Hear!’ and drank deep to their fortunate fellow.

Ferdy laughed outright and making a mock bow, went back to the bar to refill his pitchers.

[Nimrodel_9]

The door swung open. Keleth, son of Damon, of Gondor stepped inside the inn. He took off his hood, shaking the water from his shoulder length, light brown hair that had soaked through. Slowly he closed the door, then made his way to the bar to ask for a room to stay in. Then he went to the corner and sat by himself.

Keleth had traveled long and far from Gondor, his home. Though he had lived there all his life, he had never felt like he belonged. So, he resolved to traveling alone in the wild. Now, far from his home, he still felt like a black sheep among the white.

Anunsew was drenched when he came in the inn.
It's warmer here, he thought, I should stay here for the night.
He went to a corner and slung his leather coat over a seat and rested. He wore a tarnished mail and a tunic underneath it. The mail obviously had seen better days. He wore a scabbard at his belt with an unsheathed sword.
I'm so tired, he thought to himself, if I were an elf, I wouldn't be worrying much about tiredness.

Anunsew is a hermit, a wandering human without any home or shelter. He came from indefinite places and have seen sunsets across many plains. He came from somewhere in Gondor, in an insignificant village where he left his home to see things his people won't see int their lifetimes. In other words, he was an adventurous person.

He thought about where will he go next next day, but he decided that it will be decided later. Now, he should rest.

After awhile, he decided to have a tankard of ale. He slung his coat over his shoulder and went from his place to the bar and asked with a rough voice, "What are we having tonight?"

[SonOfBombadil]

Lewis leaned back in his chair, but still never took his eyes off of Ravon. "Smells like supper's about ready," Lewis commented. "Smells great!" Ravon nodded and the two continued talking.

They had been chatting for a couple of minutes now, but Lewis hadn't let Ravon in on the secret. He insisted that they eat first. They had however, touched upon a part of a suprise, unbeknownst to Ravon. It came up when Lewis was retelling a story of childhood days, when he mentioned a name he had been called as a young boy. "Lewie".

[Primrose Bolger]

Anunsew & Keleth

‘Look what the wind blew in,’ said Buttercup, nudging Ginger on the arm. ‘Two of the Big Folk have come in from rain it looks like. And just in time for supper.’

The Innkeeper, Aman, was busy with other customers as one of the men came up to the bar and asked, in a rough voice, ‘What are we having tonight?’ Ginger smiled up at him prettily a she listed off what was for supper. ‘There’s chicken stew, sir,’ she said. ‘And fresh bread with butter and jam. Cider or ale or both if you’re thirsty. Then warm apple crisp to fill in what holes are left in your appetite.’

She topped off his mug of ale, then showed him to a table. His name was Anunsew, he told her as they walked along, a lonely traveler from Gondor. Now Ginger had heard of Gondor. Some large, Big Folk city in the south, she thought. And she seemed to remember the King, himself, lived there. Once Anunsew had seated himself, Ginger fetched him a basket filled with hot bread, a small crock of butter, and a pot of strawberry jam. A generous bowl of good smelling chicken stew came next for the hungry looking man. ‘Now will there be anything else?’ she asked him.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Buttercup made for the table where the other man had seated himself. Keleth he called himself, she found out. A wanderer it seemed and from far away Gondor. ‘Can I fetch you something to drink, sir?’ she asked, saying there was cider, and ale, wine, and water, and tea of course for those who fancied something hot. She rattled off the supper menu to him, saying she would be glad to fetch him some. ‘You look half drowned, poor man,’ she said eyeing him. ‘Something hot would make you warmer . . . pick up your spirits. What do you say to a bowl of stew hot bread to go with it?’

[Witch_Queen]

Airequarë

Airequarë led his black horse into the stables before going towards the Green Dragon Inn. It had been awhile since he had heard about the new splendour of teh Inn. The tall ranger walked into the inn. He figured his brother was there somewhere. After all it had only been a few months ago that he had recieved a note from his brother. Airequarë hadn't seen his brother since the young man was four and Airequarë went to live in Lothlorien for better training in the weapon of his choice, the bow.

All of his life he never could find love for the cold metal of a sword. He liked the bow cause it made him feel closer to nature. Airequarë refused to go by his human name, since he was more of a free spirit beyond control. His green eyes glanced around the room scanning for any sign of his younger sibling. His beard was trimmed short and in the hair on his chin was a small patch of grey color. His shoulder length hiar was still wet from the rain storm he rode throug. The rain couldn't darken the light brown color of his hair.

Airequarë walked up to the bar and asked about his brother. The waitress pointed him in the direction of a table with a man and a woman seated at it. As he got closer Airequarë realized that his baby brother was sitting with an elf maiden. The sight of his brother all grown up had shocked him after all he pictured Lewis always as the little boy he left behind, but now Lewis was all grown up. He placed his overly large hand on the man's shoulder almost making Lewis jump clear out of his seat. "Lewie, my baby brother." Lewis looked at the towering figure before standing up. "My you have grown up already. Why I remember you last as a little boy who refused to leave his mothers side." He pulled his brother close and almost smothered the man in a big hug. He turned loose of Lewis and pulled up a seat beside his younger half.

"Jonathan, you look just the way I pictured you." Airequarë gave his brother a scornful look. "Lewis, no one has called me that name since I left home. Mother doesn't even think of me as the son she let leave home. I go by what Galadriel called me the first time she saw me, Airequarë." The look on Lewis' face when Airequarë told him not to address him by his human name was a look of death. "But if you feel better calling by what you know me as then go ahead, for I am way to tired to argue with you."

Airequarë found himself a mug of ale and set back down with his brother to find out why he was beckoned to come to the Shire. "Now Lewie, why did you send for me? You know the wife needs me. Oh yes I forgot I hadn't told you yet. Well she's going to be having a baby here in a few months. I can't wait for you to meet her. Mother is happy because she is going to finally be a grandmother. After all she swears up and down that you will never find a woman that will put up with you all her life." Airequarë had forgotten about the elf Lewis was setting with. "Oh I'm sorry. Who is this?" He picked up the elf's hand and gently placed a kiss on the soft peace of flesh covering the hard bones.