The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

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.

[Noinkling]

Tolly’s head was bent well over his bowl as he sopped the last bit of gravy from it with a chunk of bread. So intent was he on getting the final splotch of savory stew cleaned up that he did not notice the approach of another server. The shadow of an arm fell across his vision and a hand holding a bowl of sweet and cinnamon delight placed the tasty offering before him. ‘Ah!’ he said, glancing up with a toothy grin. ‘Dessert!’

He rubbed his hands together in happy anticipation and drew the bowl toward him, glancing up expectantly at the pitcher of clotted cream the server held in her hands. A new server, he noted. Bit long in the tooth for this sort of work, he thought, wondering what circumstances had brought her to work at the Inn. He smiled again at her. ‘Might I have a measure of cream, miss?’ he asked, pushing the bowl toward her.

The server poured a generous dollop onto the flaky, sugared crust of the apple cobbler. Tolly tucked into it with his spoon, shoveling a large bite into his mouth. He nodded at the taste and texture of the concoction, grinning widely around it as he chewed and swallowed. ‘Oh my, this is wonderful! My compliments to your cook, once again, miss!’ he said, looking up into the amused face of the server.

[Arry]

Two voices warred in Ferdy’s head as he moved about the tables pouring cider for the Inn’s thirsty guests. He’d seen Ginger talking to one of the Big Folk who’d come into the common room and now stood at the bar. She looked so small in comparison to the rough-voiced man, he thought. He wanted to interrupt them . . . to shield her from the stranger. About to step toward them, his other voice halted the forward progress of his foot, chiding him.

‘Interrupt’! Pah, you dunderhead! Barge in’s more like it, isn’t it? His cheeks crimsoned slightly at the admonition he’d given himself. And besides, she’s no wilting flower to need you standing over her night and day. She’ll think you a great ninny for butting in while she’s about her job.

‘Watch it, lad!’ came the loud voice of one of the Hobbits who’d held out his mug to be filled. Lost in thought, his eyes on Ginger and not on his own task, Ferdy had filled the fellow’s cup to the brim and now it poured over and onto the table. ‘You’ve got my breeches wet!’ cried the Hobbit, taking the pitcher from Ferdy’s hands. He stood up from his chair, knocking it over in his haste and began blotting at the sticky cider with his napkin.

Ferdy stood gawping at the now angry Hobbit, his ears burning a bright red as all in the Inn turned to look at the hubbub.

[Firefoot]

Lily tried not to appear too elated at Posco's invitation. She would like to meet his parents, of course, but more than that, it would be extra time to spend with him. She knew that she had been procrastinating her inevitable return to Bree throughout the afternoon bit by little bit, but she didn't care.

"I would like to visit your home very much," she replied. "I can't wait to see it, and to meet your parents." Exciting as it was, the prospect of meeting his parents so soon made her a tad nervous - what if they didn't like her, or approve? Nothing that Posco had said led her to believe that they wouldn't, but there was still a possibility. Perhaps the only reason she entertained the thought was her recent doubt that her own aunt and uncle might wish for her to marry Tommy Banks and thereby not approve of Posco. She kept telling herself they wouldn't mind, but in truth she was still trying to persuade herself.

"I'm sure my parents will be happy to meet you," said Posco, as if sensing her doubts.

"I hope so..." she trailed off. Of course they would.

She took another sip of her stew, watching him from under her eyelashes. He was not so surreptitious, openly watching her with tenderness in his eyes. She could not help but treasure the look, and everything about him. What more could she hope for?

Something occurred to her. "Posco, is there anything in particular that I should know before I meet your parents? Anything I should do?" she queried. It certainly wouldn't do for her to get into their bad graces from the start from ignorance.

Anunsew seated comfortably on his chair as Ginger brought him food. He tore a large piece of bread, dipped it on his stew and ate. He was busy munching by himself that he didn't hear what Ginger was asking. When he saw her waiting, he waved her off and said, "No, I don't need anything else, thanks ma'am"

When he finished his meal, a maid took it to the kitchen for washing and mumbled something to herself which Anunsew didn't catch.

Anunsew again fell to his habit of thinking to himself. Come to think of it, he thought, I seldom talk to any body. He sighed and mumbled to himself "I think I'll stay for a few days."