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

Primrose Bolger · 04-09-2005, 01:28 PM

Hearpwine is given directions

‘Good morning,’ the very tall man said in a pleasant tone. ‘Do any of you know where your teacher is?’

Ginger looked up to see Hearpwine towering over them like some straw-headed giant. She took a step back so that she would not have a view up the fellow’s nose and gave him a smile back. The other girls had moved back in chorus with her and stood close behind her.

‘Well, sir,’ Ginger began, handing off the tall, thin, green book to Daisy. ‘Miz Bella is right through there, in her office.’ She pointed toward the door into the side room. ‘She’s seeing to the parents who want their children at her school. Going over the schedule and such with them.’ She glanced about the schoolroom, not seeing a chair she thought would accommodate the man. ‘You’re more than welcome to stand here and wait for her to get done. Shouldn’t take long.’

From outside the door, Ginger heard Buttercup calling her. She turned round to say good-bye to Daisy and Camille. ‘Got to run and get those dishes done up now that breakfast is done.’ She gave them each a hug. ‘I’ll come back a little later and try to get in on the lesson going on. You two pay close attention and let me know what Miz Bella is teaching first. Catch me up, alright?’

She ran quickly out the door toward the kitchen.

Arry · 04-09-2005, 01:49 PM

Gil pulled his cap from his belt and settled it back on his head as he walked through the classroom and back into the common room proper. Woody and Hanson had been seen to, and he’d made the offer of him and his mates doing some cabinetry work or fix-up jobs as needed for Miz Bella in exchange for her taking on his nephews. Resources were stretched a little thin at his sister’s house, though he bet that Gammer Boffin would send along a jar or two of her plum conserve or gooseberry jam as she could spare it.

He stopped briefly to let the boys know when he’d come back to fetch them. To their amusement, he admonished them once again to be good. They fidgeted under his instruction, eager to get back to their game of marbles. A look of surprise passed over his features as he looked about at their fellow gamers. There was an Elf child with them! He bent down down and whispered to them, ‘Who is your Elven friend?’ The boys looked up confused. He nodded toward Neviel.

‘He’s our new friend, Neviel’ piped up Hanson. ‘We’re teaching him marbles.’

Gil said goodbye once again and hurried out. His eye caught cloaks and pails and whatever else the children had brough, piled all higgledy-piggledy in a corner. ‘Tell Miz Bella the lads and I will come round when classes are over and put up some pegs for cloaks and bags.’ He surveyed the room once more. ‘And we’ll throw up some cubbyhole shelves to put your pails and marble bags in, and whatever else you have in those pockets of yours that you don’t need while you’re learning.’ He grinned down at them, as they looked innocently up at him, their hands in their pockets, fingering the slings and rocks or pea shooters and little pebbles that were thrust in there.

Woody and Hanson gave a relieved sigh as he left. It was hard to put one over on Uncle Gil . They returned to their game. It was Woody's turn to shoot. Hanson stood near Neviel and reaching up his little hand, tugged at the boy's sleeve. 'Say, are you really an Elf?' he asked, trying to accomodate such a novel idea.

Noinkling · 04-09-2005, 02:04 PM

The men had a pleasant smoke and agreed to meet later at supper. Hob and Anyopâ were eager to hear about the battle at last, but there were tasks to be done before they could take their leisure. Hob was soon bidding them a good-day as he was off to the market place to see merchants about taking on his wares.

Benat bid a good-day then to Anyopâ, saying he was going to finish up some wood chopping and stacking for Cook, along with Envinyatar. Later, he would be going to see the mayor, Master Samwise, to inquire about a mutual friend. He was just putting on his cloak when the thought struck him that perhaps Anyopâ might enjoy coming with him.

‘What say you,’ he asked the man, calling Cullen to come along. ‘Would you care to meet Master Samwise with me? It should prove interesting?’

Cullen trotted toward the door and whined. He was eager to be out and about.

Fairleaf · 04-09-2005, 02:22 PM

Mari hurried out to the wagon where Wilfrid sat waiting. ‘They’re all taken care of, dear,’ she said as he gave her a hand up to the seat. She adjusted her thick wool shawl about her and smiled fondly at him. ‘I told Miz Bella we would bring her a pair of little banty laying hens and a rooster. And I spoke with Gil Tussock, asking if he could make her a little coop outside the classroom. We have some of that wire mesh fencing to put up for a little pen I said he could use.’

Wilfrid flicked the reins lightly against Larkspur’s flanks and urged the pony forward. ‘Best get to the lambing pens now, Mari. I’m worried about that black ewe.’ He rubbed his jaw as he thought on it.

‘Well, if she still hasn’t dropped, Wilfrid, by the time the children need to be picked up, old Larkspur and I can come to the Inn and fetch them.’

‘You’re a right treasure,’ he said, giving a relieved sigh, and looking at her with a fond grin. He flicked the reins once again and clucked to the pony to pick up her pace.

Huan · 04-10-2005, 02:00 AM

It was only after a second thought that Anyopâ took Benat up on his offer. There was only so much one could do in an Inn, and he did not relish the idea of spending a day inside. The view from the window in his room when he’d first gotten up was that of a cloudless day in the making. It would be good, he thought, to stretch his muscles with a bit of hard work.

‘Go on over to . . . the cottage, is it? I’ll just change into some clothes more suitable for hard work and join you there.’ Anyopâ rose from the table and headed for the staircase.

‘And we’ll see you later, won’t we?’ he called out to Hob, who was heading to the door just after Benat. ‘Good luck on selling your wares!’

Undómë · 04-10-2005, 02:10 AM

Hob nodded at Anyopâ, then hurried out the door after Benat. He made his way to the stable and checked all his merchandise in the wagon stored under the stable’s eaves. One of the stable hands helped him pull the wagon into the open and brought Strawberry out of her stall. Hob noted she’d been well groomed and gave the lad an extra penny for the effort. The pony was hitched to the wagon and the two moved down the lane toward The Great Road.

With any luck, Hob thought, he’d have most of his business done by mid-afternoon. He’d be back in plenty of time to have a late lunch and relax before supper.

littlemanpoet · 04-10-2005, 08:32 PM

Falowik sat at the trunk of an aged tree by the road, just outside the Green Dragon. Morning was getting on toward noon, and Uien had not been back yet. The tree he sat by was the one he had sat beneath those months and months ago, the day he had first met Uien. He thought back fondly to that night and the following days. She had changed him. He had been a cold hearted exile from Bree, wandering the roofless wild just north of the Shire, from the Blue Mountains to the Trollshaws. For twelve years he had roamed and lived off the land, until he had chanced upon the capture of the man of Rohan named Eodwine, and reported it to folk in the Shire, the closest habitations to where the crime had been committed. It had been a strange adventure, and Uien had chosen to be a part of it with him, rescuing Eodwine from the villains.

Falowik's necklace lay warm and bright against his chest: Uien was thinking of him. He looked up to see her walking toward him from beyond the Inn. He stood.

"What news?" he asked.

"I found Mithalwen busy at work with the smith of Bywater, one Toby Flaxman. She is making braces for Rory, the lad with the weak legs."

Despite her simple report, Uien's face gave away her disquiet. "What is wrong, fair one?"

She came a step closer. "Maybe-" She was looking at her hands, aimlessly working the folds of her skirt. She looked up at his eyes. "Maybe I have no business poking my nose in the business of Rory."

"Why not? Did not Mithalwen invite your aid?"

"Aye, but she does not need my aid. All she needed was help with Master Falco Headstrong, and so I spoke with him, and all was well enough thereafter." Her hands worked frettingly with her skirt, her eyes downcast again.

Falowik took her hands in his and stilled them. She looked up into his eyes again. "What more would you do if you felt it was good to do?"

She looked away, frowning. "Only to make the braces supple enough to grow with his legs as they change."

"That is a great thing!"

She shook her head vigorously. "But unneeded! Mithalwen is making the braces adjustable; they will be enough without my aid."

"Fair enough," Falowik said, "but something lies deeper than that. Does it not?"

Her eyes were large and haunted, looking back at him. Falowik wished that he knew what lay on her heart, but he did not feel that he could force it from her. She must speak what she could when she was ready to.

"I - I do not know. I know not what is wrong with me!" She broke from him and grabbing her skirt, fled across the courtyard to the stables. Falowik's jaw bunched. He did not know what to make of this. She had just fled from him. Maybe being in the presence of other Elves reminded her of what he was not, being a mere Man. Falowik heaved a sigh and chose to leave Uien to her own thoughts for now. If she needed him, the necklace lying against his chest would tell him that she thought of him. He hoped it would not be long before she did. He walked along the side of the Inn, to the horse pasture, and walked a circuit around the fence, hoping to calm his own unruly thoughts by lunch time.

04-09-2005, 01:49 PM	#2
Arry Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 704	Gil pulled his cap from his belt and settled it back on his head as he walked through the classroom and back into the common room proper. Woody and Hanson had been seen to, and he’d made the offer of him and his mates doing some cabinetry work or fix-up jobs as needed for Miz Bella in exchange for her taking on his nephews. Resources were stretched a little thin at his sister’s house, though he bet that Gammer Boffin would send along a jar or two of her plum conserve or gooseberry jam as she could spare it. He stopped briefly to let the boys know when he’d come back to fetch them. To their amusement, he admonished them once again to be good. They fidgeted under his instruction, eager to get back to their game of marbles. A look of surprise passed over his features as he looked about at their fellow gamers. There was an Elf child with them! He bent down down and whispered to them, ‘Who is your Elven friend?’ The boys looked up confused. He nodded toward Neviel. ‘He’s our new friend, Neviel’ piped up Hanson. ‘We’re teaching him marbles.’ Gil said goodbye once again and hurried out. His eye caught cloaks and pails and whatever else the children had brough, piled all higgledy-piggledy in a corner. ‘Tell Miz Bella the lads and I will come round when classes are over and put up some pegs for cloaks and bags.’ He surveyed the room once more. ‘And we’ll throw up some cubbyhole shelves to put your pails and marble bags in, and whatever else you have in those pockets of yours that you don’t need while you’re learning.’ He grinned down at them, as they looked innocently up at him, their hands in their pockets, fingering the slings and rocks or pea shooters and little pebbles that were thrust in there. Woody and Hanson gave a relieved sigh as he left. It was hard to put one over on Uncle Gil . They returned to their game. It was Woody's turn to shoot. Hanson stood near Neviel and reaching up his little hand, tugged at the boy's sleeve. 'Say, are you really an Elf?' he asked, trying to accomodate such a novel idea. __________________ If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world – J.R.R. Tolkien Last edited by Arry; 04-15-2005 at 12:45 AM.

04-09-2005, 02:04 PM	#3
Noinkling Wight Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Bird and Baby Posts: 109	The men had a pleasant smoke and agreed to meet later at supper. Hob and Anyopâ were eager to hear about the battle at last, but there were tasks to be done before they could take their leisure. Hob was soon bidding them a good-day as he was off to the market place to see merchants about taking on his wares. Benat bid a good-day then to Anyopâ, saying he was going to finish up some wood chopping and stacking for Cook, along with Envinyatar. Later, he would be going to see the mayor, Master Samwise, to inquire about a mutual friend. He was just putting on his cloak when the thought struck him that perhaps Anyopâ might enjoy coming with him. ‘What say you,’ he asked the man, calling Cullen to come along. ‘Would you care to meet Master Samwise with me? It should prove interesting?’ Cullen trotted toward the door and whined. He was eager to be out and about. __________________ But the place that draws me ever/When my fancy's running wild,/Is a little pub in Oxford/Called The Eagle and the Child . . .

04-09-2005, 02:22 PM	#4
Fairleaf Animated Skeleton Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Piping in Brethil . . . Posts: 36	Mari hurried out to the wagon where Wilfrid sat waiting. ‘They’re all taken care of, dear,’ she said as he gave her a hand up to the seat. She adjusted her thick wool shawl about her and smiled fondly at him. ‘I told Miz Bella we would bring her a pair of little banty laying hens and a rooster. And I spoke with Gil Tussock, asking if he could make her a little coop outside the classroom. We have some of that wire mesh fencing to put up for a little pen I said he could use.’ Wilfrid flicked the reins lightly against Larkspur’s flanks and urged the pony forward. ‘Best get to the lambing pens now, Mari. I’m worried about that black ewe.’ He rubbed his jaw as he thought on it. ‘Well, if she still hasn’t dropped, Wilfrid, by the time the children need to be picked up, old Larkspur and I can come to the Inn and fetch them.’ ‘You’re a right treasure,’ he said, giving a relieved sigh, and looking at her with a fond grin. He flicked the reins once again and clucked to the pony to pick up her pace. __________________ When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown/When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town/When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West/I'll linger here beneath the Sun, because my land is best!

04-10-2005, 02:00 AM	#5
Huan Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Halls of Oromë Posts: 54	It was only after a second thought that Anyopâ took Benat up on his offer. There was only so much one could do in an Inn, and he did not relish the idea of spending a day inside. The view from the window in his room when he’d first gotten up was that of a cloudless day in the making. It would be good, he thought, to stretch his muscles with a bit of hard work. ‘Go on over to . . . the cottage, is it? I’ll just change into some clothes more suitable for hard work and join you there.’ Anyopâ rose from the table and headed for the staircase. ‘And we’ll see you later, won’t we?’ he called out to Hob, who was heading to the door just after Benat. ‘Good luck on selling your wares!’ __________________ But Huan the hound was true of heart, and the love of Lúthien had fallen upon him in the first hour of their meeting; and he grieved at her captivity . . .

04-10-2005, 02:10 AM	#6
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	Hob nodded at Anyopâ, then hurried out the door after Benat. He made his way to the stable and checked all his merchandise in the wagon stored under the stable’s eaves. One of the stable hands helped him pull the wagon into the open and brought Strawberry out of her stall. Hob noted she’d been well groomed and gave the lad an extra penny for the effort. The pony was hitched to the wagon and the two moved down the lane toward The Great Road. With any luck, Hob thought, he’d have most of his business done by mid-afternoon. He’d be back in plenty of time to have a late lunch and relax before supper. __________________ Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost, her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night . . .

04-09-2005, 01:28 PM	#1
Primrose Bolger Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Bywater Pool Posts: 196	Hearpwine is given directions ‘Good morning,’ the very tall man said in a pleasant tone. ‘Do any of you know where your teacher is?’ Ginger looked up to see Hearpwine towering over them like some straw-headed giant. She took a step back so that she would not have a view up the fellow’s nose and gave him a smile back. The other girls had moved back in chorus with her and stood close behind her. ‘Well, sir,’ Ginger began, handing off the tall, thin, green book to Daisy. ‘Miz Bella is right through there, in her office.’ She pointed toward the door into the side room. ‘She’s seeing to the parents who want their children at her school. Going over the schedule and such with them.’ She glanced about the schoolroom, not seeing a chair she thought would accommodate the man. ‘You’re more than welcome to stand here and wait for her to get done. Shouldn’t take long.’ From outside the door, Ginger heard Buttercup calling her. She turned round to say good-bye to Daisy and Camille. ‘Got to run and get those dishes done up now that breakfast is done.’ She gave them each a hug. ‘I’ll come back a little later and try to get in on the lesson going on. You two pay close attention and let me know what Miz Bella is teaching first. Catch me up, alright?’ She ran quickly out the door toward the kitchen. __________________ . . . for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth . . . are quick of hearing and sharpeyed, and though they are inclined to be fat and do not hurry unneccesarily, they are nonetheless nimble and deft in their movements . . . FOTR - Prologue

04-10-2005, 08:32 PM	#7
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Falowik & Uien Falowik sat at the trunk of an aged tree by the road, just outside the Green Dragon. Morning was getting on toward noon, and Uien had not been back yet. The tree he sat by was the one he had sat beneath those months and months ago, the day he had first met Uien. He thought back fondly to that night and the following days. She had changed him. He had been a cold hearted exile from Bree, wandering the roofless wild just north of the Shire, from the Blue Mountains to the Trollshaws. For twelve years he had roamed and lived off the land, until he had chanced upon the capture of the man of Rohan named Eodwine, and reported it to folk in the Shire, the closest habitations to where the crime had been committed. It had been a strange adventure, and Uien had chosen to be a part of it with him, rescuing Eodwine from the villains. Falowik's necklace lay warm and bright against his chest: Uien was thinking of him. He looked up to see her walking toward him from beyond the Inn. He stood. "What news?" he asked. "I found Mithalwen busy at work with the smith of Bywater, one Toby Flaxman. She is making braces for Rory, the lad with the weak legs." Despite her simple report, Uien's face gave away her disquiet. "What is wrong, fair one?" She came a step closer. "Maybe-" She was looking at her hands, aimlessly working the folds of her skirt. She looked up at his eyes. "Maybe I have no business poking my nose in the business of Rory." "Why not? Did not Mithalwen invite your aid?" "Aye, but she does not need my aid. All she needed was help with Master Falco Headstrong, and so I spoke with him, and all was well enough thereafter." Her hands worked frettingly with her skirt, her eyes downcast again. Falowik took her hands in his and stilled them. She looked up into his eyes again. "What more would you do if you felt it was good to do?" She looked away, frowning. "Only to make the braces supple enough to grow with his legs as they change." "That is a great thing!" She shook her head vigorously. "But unneeded! Mithalwen is making the braces adjustable; they will be enough without my aid." "Fair enough," Falowik said, "but something lies deeper than that. Does it not?" Her eyes were large and haunted, looking back at him. Falowik wished that he knew what lay on her heart, but he did not feel that he could force it from her. She must speak what she could when she was ready to. "I - I do not know. I know not what is wrong with me!" She broke from him and grabbing her skirt, fled across the courtyard to the stables. Falowik's jaw bunched. He did not know what to make of this. She had just fled from him. Maybe being in the presence of other Elves reminded her of what he was not, being a mere Man. Falowik heaved a sigh and chose to leave Uien to her own thoughts for now. If she needed him, the necklace lying against his chest would tell him that she thought of him. He hoped it would not be long before she did. He walked along the side of the Inn, to the horse pasture, and walked a circuit around the fence, hoping to calm his own unruly thoughts by lunch time.