The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Witch_Queen]

Cree
Cree's mind was resting on one thing. The last journey she had took. She was with Grimm and he ended up abandoning her when she needed him the most. "Fáinu, the last person I left the Shire with ended up leaving me to the life I know now. I trust you and I know you will not abuse the trust I have for you." She had once loved Grimm but now she feared him and hated him.

She sat back and placed the empty mug on the table. Nothing matter now. Tomorrow she would leave and start a new life.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

"Fáinu, the last person I left the Shire with ended up leaving me to the life I know now. I trust you and I know you will not abuse the trust I have for you."

"I will try not to," He joked, she was not impressed. He stopped smiling and looked away, "I'm sorry Cree, that was harsh." Cree smiled at him and he Felt relief. Two hobbits hobbled past on their way to the bar, they were arguing over who had drunk more, they had no idea what was to come. Neither did Fáinu, he had no idea what troubles lay ahead, how much anguish he and Cree would have to suffer.

"Cree," Fáinu began "earlier you said you would not leave my side. Let me make a similar pledge." Cree leaned froward to listen, "I shall not let you leave me. What ever may befall. Though the fires of Hell burn my flesh, I shalln’t let you go." He hoped beyond hope, that Cree would never have to remind him if his heart became hot with rage. He saw that this journey might lead him thither. He only wished that he could keep his cool.

[Primrose Bolger]

Cook had been most helpful with the calming down of the cider drenched Hobbit. She’d seen to him getting cleaned up and into some suitable dry garments that had once belonged to her late husband. His own, she’d had Ginger rinse out and hang over the backs of some chairs she’d set near the fire. A fresh mug of cider and a whispered conversation between Cook and Master Rowley, with several nods her way, and Ginger could see the fellow had quite come round in his anger toward Ferdy.

Once he was out the door, Cook called the lass to her, handing her a small bucket of hot soapy water and a couple of rags. ‘Might want to get the sticky mess well off the table’s top and the chair.’ Ginger hurried out the door to do as bid.

‘And after that,’ she could just hear the last of Cook’s instructions before the door swung closed behind her, ‘then take Master Ferdy out for a breath of fresh air. I don’t think he’s cut out to be a server . . .’

Ginger’s feet fairly flew over the polished boards of the Inn’s floor. With an economy of motion she soon had the table and chair back to their more welcoming condition. Ferdy had his head hung down as he mopped the floor in a rather ineffectual way. ‘Oh, here,’ she said, plopping her rags in the bucket and taking the mop from him. A few practiced swipes and the floor was also back to its original shape, if a bit damp. She thrust the mop back at Ferdy, motioning for him to bring it and his bucket back to the kitchen.

Cook was nowhere to be seen when they entered. Ginger grabbed the lad by his hand and hauled him toward the back door. She fetched her own cloak from the peg there, and handed him one the other servers used as they ran errands for Cook. Ferdy balked a bit as she opened the door and stepped out, pulling him along.

‘Come on, now,’ she chided him. ‘Cook says we’re to take a walk after our evening duties. Get a breath of fresh air. Then come back for a nice cup of tea.’ They could just hear someone coming up the stairs and into the kitchen from the cellar. ‘That’s her now. We’d best go.’ She pulled her hood up over her curls. ‘Race you to the old cottage!’ she grinned, taking off at a run down the dirt path.

[piosenniel]

NOTE

Time will be moving ahead in the Shire by late tomorrow, Pacific Time, U.S..

So, please try to get your posts for this evening wrapped up.

Thanks!

~*~ Piosenniel, Shire Moderator

[starkat]

Tired but happy, Gwenneth decided to retire early. She quietly entered the kitchen and bid Cook good night. The young elf looked around for Ginger, but did not see her.

I guess I will see her in the morning. I have a letter to write to my brother. When she reached her room, she pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write.

Gwenneth wrote of her experiences in the Shire and of the people she had met. As she came to the close of her letter, Gwenneth realized that she would be moving on soon and sighed. I will stay through the handfasting. She signed her letter and set it aside. On her nightstand was a book. She opened it to the marker and settled into read.

[Firefoot]

The corners of Lily's mouth turned upward at Posco's play on her name. Could Tommy Banks ever be so sweet? She wished Posco was not leaving so soon, even though she would be spending much more time with him in the coming days. "Good night, Posco," she answered simply. "I will see you tomorrow, then." With that, Posco swung up onto his pony, his gaze lingering on her as he began to ride off. Lily waited there, not quite ready to return inside. When he reached a bend in the road that would take him out of sight, he turned and gave a final wave. Lily waved back, and then he was gone.

Lily took her time going back to the Inn, detouring through the stable and wandering up to the door. She did not know anyone in the Common Room, and did not feel up to meeting new people this night, though it was her last night there. It was starting to get late, at any rate, and she would go to sleep soon - there was a long day travelling ahead of her.

Upon reaching her room, Lily realized how tired she was. She had been through several emotional ups and downs throughout the day, which had taken their toll. Nevertheless, her thoughts were pleasant when she finally fell into her bed. Good-night, my Lily of the valley.

[piosenniel]

GREEN DRAGON INN FACTS:

It is the 4th Age, year 12. By the Shire Calendar it is year 1433 S.R. (Shire Reckoning).

King Elessar is on the throne of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor.

Mirkwood has been reclaimed by the Elves and is now called Eryn Lasgalen.

Paladdin Took, Pippin’s father, is Thain of the Shire. (Thain is an honorary title for the military leader of the Shire. The title has been held in the Took Family since the position was first established in 3rd Age 1979 with Bucca of the Marish as First Thain.) Paladdin Took dies in year 13, and will be succeeded by his son, Peregrin, ‘Pippin’, Took.

Samwise Gamgee is Mayor of the Shire, having succeeded Will Whitfoot in 1427 S.R.

The Innkeeper, in the Green Dragon Inn of this forum, is: Aman – a young woman from Rohan.

Before her, the Innkeeper was Piosenniel, and before her it was Dwarin, the Dwarf.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Other ongoing characters in the Inn:

Ruby Brown, Hobbit – not married – server and maid

Buttercup Brownlock, Hobbit – not married – kitchen assistant and maid

Vinca Bunce, widowed, Inn Cook (character played by Piosenniel)

Derufin, General handyman/jack-of-all-trades round the Inn (played by Envinyatar)

Meriadoc - Stablemaster

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Ongoing characters from outside the Inn:

Halfred Whitfoot – local Shiriff from Bywater and Postmaster for this area of the Shire; his pony’s name is Dumpling.

_____________________________________________

Please Note:

No 'SAVES' are allowed in the Inn (except for modifications needed to be made by the Moderators or Innkeeper).

With the exception of the Innkeeper and the Moderators, no OOC (Out Of Character) comments are allowed in the Inn.

Only the Innkeeper, Amanaduial, or the Moderators move the timeline for the Inn forward.

Visitors to the Inn will need to read the posts that come before theirs to get an idea of what time it is in the Shire, what the weather is like, and what is happening.

No violence is allowed in the Inn or on Inn grounds.

Please be familiar with the rules for the Inn and Games in The Red Book of Westmarch, the first topic in the Shire.

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About Elves in Shire RPG's:

Please use this description from Tolkien when crafting an Elf:

Return of the King – Appendix F: Tolkien’s description for the Quendi (The Speakers) – the name given to the Elves by themselves after they first awoke in Middle-earth.

“They were a race high and beautiful, the older Children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as Kings, who now are gone: the People of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finrod; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that is now heard . . .”

Please use this as a guideline for describing your Elven character’s appearance.

[Lalwendë]

The tears almost welled up again in Jinniver’s pale eyes as Aman offered her kindness and comfort. Sipping her tea and savouring the warmth, she smiled weakly. She did not want to tell Aman the whole sorry tale of her past. Besides she would hear it soon enough now she had told it to Andwise and Derufin. It was this past that had driven her brother to be so protective, to watch her like a falconer might watch his bird.

“Aman, “ she said, quietly, looking the innkeeper in the eyes and smiling sadly. “What it is to have a protector so keen he would wish you to be kept under lock and key.” Aman looked at her with a question formed on her lips, but Jinniver stayed her thoughts. “That is my own brother. He is pompous, he is brash and he is a fool, but I know he does it for love.”

“Yet that is something you don’t need, do you? Your brother's love is stifling your own life” said Aman wisely.

“Indeed, I am choked by his so-called care,” Jinniver stiffened a little, feeling courage as she said the words. “Am I not grown? Can I not find my own way in this world?” She looked down again. “But what can I do against such an immovable force? I even come here and he follows me, thinks I am up to no good.”

Aman nodded, and grimaced thinking of how Pegram had pushed her out of the way as he strode stormily to the door. He was a temperamental man she could see that. “Sometimes,” she said, “Those around us, who care for us, do not know how to show it best.”

Taken by these words, Jinniver smiled a little again, yet it was still a sad smile. “I must find out how I can show my brother that his caring instead causes hurt.”

***

Outside in the cold night air, Pegram stamped his feet to keep warm. He remembered the pouch of tobacco he had on him and decided to smoke his pipe. Watching the little clouds go up into the air, he thought of how his sister had almost come to grief when that southerner had tried to get her to leave Bree with him. He knew what he had been after, not his sister’s affection, but the farm. He knew the man would have come with his gang and turned his father and sister out, or worse. The thought of it still angered him.

But now he felt ill at ease. He had won the argument, but still his sister did not seem happy that he was there to protect her. She seemed to hate him. He didn’t like the feeling, but he was too proud to go back in and talk to her.

***

Jinniver and Aman finished their tea, both now feeling more relaxed. Aman tried to make Jinniver laugh by joking about Pegram’s march to of the inn, and her jesting had some effect. Jinniver now had a wide smile on her face, but her eyes were still close to tears.

“You need to sleep on this,” said Aman, pushing her chair back. “I will arrange for your brother to be found a room. Oh, it will be one of the best, mark my words.” and she gave Jinniver a significant wink as she got up from the table.

[Envinyatar]

From the front porch, Derufin heard Andwise call out to him through the doorless entry. ‘Come help me hang this. I’ve done with it now. And bring one or two of the others. T’will make it easier to get the balance right. Gil and Fallon waved him on as he turned back to the little group finishing up the painting in the new bedroom. ‘We’ll get the last of this done,’ Gil told him. ‘You take Ferrin and Tomlin with you.’ Ferdy called out from the kitchen saying he was putting on the last of the new cupboard doors and asking could they get on without his help. ‘Right, then,’ said Tomlin, laying down his hammer. ‘Come on, Ferrin,’ we’ll get the front door up in no time and be back to the last of the moulding.’

Hopeful words, but not to prove true. Doors can be tricky things to get hung just right. And there was much cursing, and shouting of directions, and planning and leveling before the last screw that held the hinges was set in for the last time. The little group stood looking at the door, swinging it open and shut several times just to satisfy themselves. Derufin was sucking on two of his fingers, the two that Fil had accidentally hit with the mallet when they’d tried knocking the door a little more into balance.

The sound of laughter, and a familiar voice, edged in on the compliments the companions were extending to each other on a job well and finally done. ‘So, this is how many Big and Little Folk it takes to hang a door, is it?’

Derufin turned with a great grin splitting his face. ‘You’re here!’ Zimzi’s father, Abar, laughed as he jumped down from the wagon seat, extending his hand up to his wife.

‘”You’re here?” -- He seemed much smarter when Zimzi brought him to see us, didn’t he brother?’ Sakal clambered down from the back of the wagon, his brother Azar following after. ‘Perhaps we should give him the title Captain Obvious.’ Azar shook his head ‘no’. ‘No way he gets that name, Sakal. Never beat that Elf we met at the havens.’ Zimzi’s family had surrounded Derufin by this time, greeting him with claps on the back, handshakes, and a kiss or two on the cheek (this last, of course, being, Zamin, Zimzi’s mother).

[SonOfBombadil]

Lewis was so surprised that his brother had showed up that he did not have any response for a while. Quite a while. But when he came to his senses, he introduced Jonathan to Ravon, the elf maiden that had captured his heart.

Lewis watched as Ravon and Jonathan aquainted themselves with each other. He was still very surprised, but he was also in a very happy state. Here he was in one of his favorite places with the two people that were most dear to his heart.

[piosenniel]

Zimzi

‘Shush now, Marigold,’ said Zimzi, picking up the Hobbit in her arms. Fat tears slid down the girl’s cheeks, and Zimzi caught them with her finger. Her tongue flicked out to take them in, and she smiled at Marigold. ‘You taste just like the sea, you know.’ Marigold’s tears and sniffles stopped as she regarded Zimzi closely. ‘That’s where I grew up,’ continued the woman. ‘Near the salty sea. I thought that only my brothers and I tasted so . . . but now I have found a Hobbit with the sea’s spirit in her!’

Marigold’s hand went down to a spattering of frosting that had fallen on her pretty skirt, and the stormclouds began once more to form behind the girl’s eyes. ‘Tis naught but a little sweetness for one so sweet herself,’ said Zimzi, setting the girl down on the ground. She crouched down beside Marigold and dabbed away the frosting. ‘All pretty again for the party,’ she laughed, twirling the girl about. ‘Oh, but look here. Here’s something to make you even prettier.’ Zimzi took the necklace the kind Elf had just given her and fastened it about Marigold’s neck, looping the fine gold chain twice about the little girl’s neck, so that the pearl hung in the hollow of her throat. Zimzi held up one of the bright, shiny silver platters for her to look in and was rewarded as a bright grin of delight pinned itself on Marigold’s face. Crisis averted, Zimzi cut another good-sized slice of cake for the girl and sent her on her careful way to sit down on the soft grass with it.

[THE Ka]

Rasputina was sitting on the lawn when two of the hobbit musicians - Owen and Seamus came over and sat beside her. She could sense that Seamus was tense about something, but what?

As they seated themselves, Seamus stroke up a conversation to make an apperiance that seemed to cloak his tension. Then, without apparent notice, Seamus pulled an object out of his hand and let it fall into her palm. What lay there was the answer to a question of guilt. It seemed as the sun glint off the broach, it seem to dispell the darkness that she placed on herself.

Although it was returned - the gift was back - a slight suspicion arose. How did he get this? Where? Seamus had been out before she left her room that morning but... How? Suddenly, as if a fleeting messenger on wings, an idea or suggestion came into her mind. Was it his pet monkey? She had had an inccident with this creature earlier, whom had taken a liking to her hat. She did not know the mind of this creature, and she wondered how it could have unlucked her door, and known how exactly to open her box. Her box wasn't a simple device to open, and did cause some frustration with Rasputina, especially when she was in a hurry. The box took much patience, and consentraition to open properly. This was because of its mechanical makings. It was made to be difficult - for any one. You had to count the number of turns as a sequence of clicks emitted by the internals, and after counting them carefully you would have to put pressure at certain areas of the keylocks face.

If that monkey had opened it ( Raspurtina wondered how in Arda it had ), it would had had to listen sometime in on her to find the number of clicks. How thick were those walls? Then it struck her - What if the monkey had slipped in? She would have sensed it right away but, she was so jittered and confused that morning that a herd of cows could have stampeeded by...

Placing the words carefully, she asked Seamus about this speculation. Seamus was startled and jumped alittle. He soon regain some courage and replied that he was thinking the same thing as well, and it could have happened. Apparently, from what she soon learned about this creature, this monkey was clever as ever and curious as well.

"Great", she thought, then he must had found a way to open that box! But, how? That would have to wait until further inspection. She thanked Seamus greatly, and Owen as well, for their recovery of the gift. She felt they needed a reward but, what did she have to give? There had to be something in her Trunk or something else that was hiding (hopefully still) in her box.