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

littlemanpoet · 05-31-2005, 06:12 PM

‘Stay back,’ warned the burned elf. ‘Look to yourself!’ He took a step back, and gathering of his cloak about him quickly, he ran away.

Look to myself? Uien stood confounded. She had purposely closed her mind, and so had no notion of what the other had thought or felt, save by his actions. And they made no sense. Then his earlier, unspoken words, came to mind: 'get out'. This burned elf acted as if he feared her, little Uien. A little smile came to her face as she laughed inwardly at the ridiculous thought. Whom had she ever caused to fear? The smile quickly disappeared as she discovered pleasure within at being feared. She was horrified.

But he had not answered her question. Or had he? Reluctantly, she thought back to her own dark time in the deeps of Caradhras. Orcs leered at her, taunting her with what they intended for her. She shuddered. It had taken Falowik's love to dispel that darkness, and that had taken time. This burned elf had been grievously used.

She felt the gem of her necklace, warming. Falowik was thinking of her. Should she go back to him, and leave the burned elf be? No. There was a new hardness within that held her to this new path. Maybe Falowik would understand, maybe give chase. She chose to let that be as it would. She followed the faint elvish shimmer of his fleeing footprints. She did not hurry. Look to yourself? What was that supposed to mean?

Azaelia of Willowbottom · 05-31-2005, 07:06 PM

Peony watched, horrified, as Valin made a hasty exit from their table. Had she done something wrong? Maybe she had been too greedy with the mushrooms. after all...Though she really had tried to be polite!

Miserably, she picked at her mushrooms without any of her usual enthusiasm, watching after him as he went and ordered more ale. Her first encounter with someone from the wide world outside the Shire and he'd gotten up and left.

"Whatever it is, I'm sorry!" she called quietly after him, but it was probably too soft to be heard in the noisy hubbub of the tavern. She sat back down and went back to her food, gradually becoming cheerful again: Peony was not someone who could stay sad for very long. She began looking around with interest at the other occupants of the Green Dragon.

Firefoot · 05-31-2005, 07:29 PM

Willy fidgeted in his seat. His thoughts had drifted during the composition of the song, mostly towards the outdoors. Through the schoolroom window he could see a beautiful blue sky, and warm sunlight streamed through the windows. The lunch break had been nice, but he really was not used to sitting in one place for such long periods of time, and his attention span had been long outlived.

It wasn't that he particularly wanted to go home (after all, what waited him there but chores?), but simply to be out of the confining schoolroom. Whether that meant playing marbles with his new friends or finding some mischief with his brother or something else, he wasn't sure.

So he echoed Reggie's thus far unanswered question. "We are done, right? We can go?"

Child of the 7th Age · 06-01-2005, 12:12 AM

Miz Bella glanced over at the Innkeeper and nodded, "Your point is well taken. I'd wecome any help I could get at teaching these young ones. I'm afraid I'm not as young as I used to be! In any case, I can only be in one place at a time. If I'm working with the new readers, it's hard to give the proper attention to some of the older ones. Nor would I object if you or one of the others wanted to take a smaller group of children and perhaps help them with something special away from this classroom: having Cook teach them how to whip up a mushroom pie, or perhaps, Innkeeper, you might even want to work with a few of the more adventurous in the courtyard showing them how to ride and care for a pony. I know the lads would welcome that! Let's try and talk more on that tonight or tomorrow. Meanwhile, I want to check out the preparations for the faire. Perhaps we can all figure out ways for the children to participate and help make the event a success."

With that, the two women shook hands and agreed to speak more about these matters later. Miz Bella made her way back into the classroom and stopped to thak the Bard for all his help. "It looks as if we've made a good start on that song. Hopefully, we'll have it finished and ready to practice in time for the faire. I hope to see you again soon."

Miz Bella waved as the school door closed and the Bard disappeared down the hallway. Turning her eyes back to the class, and seeing how the little ones (especially Willy!) fidgeted in their seats, Ms. Bella hastily announced, "That's plenty for our first day! You're free to go home now. Those of you who need to wait for parents can play in the garden until your Ma or Da come to pick you up. Oh, yes, and please take your slates home to practice your letters."

With that there was a scuffling of feet and general jubilation as the children gathered up their belongings and, like a mighty herd of cattle, went tramping towards the outer door. Miz Bella instantly plopped down in her chair and silently wondered what she had gotten herself into. Her feet hurt so much she thought that they were in danger of dropping off.

Primrose Bolger · 06-01-2005, 01:58 AM

Ginger and Larien begin the biscuits

Ginger couldn’t help but ask. ‘What’s so different about food where you come from?’ She frowned, trying to imagine Hobbits eating anything other than, well, regular Hobbit food. ‘Shire food’s just ordinary stuff,’ she went on. ‘Chicken and taters and carrots and conies. Ham and bacon in the morning with eggs and toast. Thick soups. And lots of mushrooms. Then of course there’s the sweets . . . just enough to tuck in around the empty spaces left after a meal.’

The kitchen was soon reached, and Ginger pushed open the door, ushering Larien and her mug in the door. Cook was there, as was Ruby. Buttercup trailed in behind them, taking a tray of dirty plates and mugs to the sink.

‘This is Larien,’ Ginger said, introducing her friend all around. ‘We’ll get the biscuits going.’

Cook nodded and pointed to the pegs by the kitchen door where extra aprons hung, indicating Larien should put one on. Ginger showed her the way to the pantry and the two picked up the flour and salt and shortening and baking powder to make the dough.

They returned to one of the tables in the center of the kitchen and began measuring ingredients. ‘See those baking sheets over there, hanging on the wall,’ said Ginger. ‘Can you bring them over here and grease ‘em up and dust ‘em a little with flour so’s the biscuits won’t stick . . .’

05-31-2005, 07:06 PM	#2
Azaelia of Willowbottom Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: By the Sea Posts: 446	Peony Underhill Peony watched, horrified, as Valin made a hasty exit from their table. Had she done something wrong? Maybe she had been too greedy with the mushrooms. after all...Though she really had tried to be polite! Miserably, she picked at her mushrooms without any of her usual enthusiasm, watching after him as he went and ordered more ale. Her first encounter with someone from the wide world outside the Shire and he'd gotten up and left. "Whatever it is, I'm sorry!" she called quietly after him, but it was probably too soft to be heard in the noisy hubbub of the tavern. She sat back down and went back to her food, gradually becoming cheerful again: Peony was not someone who could stay sad for very long. She began looking around with interest at the other occupants of the Green Dragon. __________________ "Wherever I have been, I am back."

06-01-2005, 12:12 AM	#4
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	End of the School Day Miz Bella glanced over at the Innkeeper and nodded, "Your point is well taken. I'd wecome any help I could get at teaching these young ones. I'm afraid I'm not as young as I used to be! In any case, I can only be in one place at a time. If I'm working with the new readers, it's hard to give the proper attention to some of the older ones. Nor would I object if you or one of the others wanted to take a smaller group of children and perhaps help them with something special away from this classroom: having Cook teach them how to whip up a mushroom pie, or perhaps, Innkeeper, you might even want to work with a few of the more adventurous in the courtyard showing them how to ride and care for a pony. I know the lads would welcome that! Let's try and talk more on that tonight or tomorrow. Meanwhile, I want to check out the preparations for the faire. Perhaps we can all figure out ways for the children to participate and help make the event a success." With that, the two women shook hands and agreed to speak more about these matters later. Miz Bella made her way back into the classroom and stopped to thak the Bard for all his help. "It looks as if we've made a good start on that song. Hopefully, we'll have it finished and ready to practice in time for the faire. I hope to see you again soon." Miz Bella waved as the school door closed and the Bard disappeared down the hallway. Turning her eyes back to the class, and seeing how the little ones (especially Willy!) fidgeted in their seats, Ms. Bella hastily announced, "That's plenty for our first day! You're free to go home now. Those of you who need to wait for parents can play in the garden until your Ma or Da come to pick you up. Oh, yes, and please take your slates home to practice your letters." With that there was a scuffling of feet and general jubilation as the children gathered up their belongings and, like a mighty herd of cattle, went tramping towards the outer door. Miz Bella instantly plopped down in her chair and silently wondered what she had gotten herself into. Her feet hurt so much she thought that they were in danger of dropping off. Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 06-04-2005 at 09:35 AM.

06-01-2005, 01:58 AM	#5
Primrose Bolger Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Bywater Pool Posts: 196	Ginger and Larien begin the biscuits Ginger couldn’t help but ask. ‘What’s so different about food where you come from?’ She frowned, trying to imagine Hobbits eating anything other than, well, regular Hobbit food. ‘Shire food’s just ordinary stuff,’ she went on. ‘Chicken and taters and carrots and conies. Ham and bacon in the morning with eggs and toast. Thick soups. And lots of mushrooms. Then of course there’s the sweets . . . just enough to tuck in around the empty spaces left after a meal.’ The kitchen was soon reached, and Ginger pushed open the door, ushering Larien and her mug in the door. Cook was there, as was Ruby. Buttercup trailed in behind them, taking a tray of dirty plates and mugs to the sink. ‘This is Larien,’ Ginger said, introducing her friend all around. ‘We’ll get the biscuits going.’ Cook nodded and pointed to the pegs by the kitchen door where extra aprons hung, indicating Larien should put one on. Ginger showed her the way to the pantry and the two picked up the flour and salt and shortening and baking powder to make the dough. They returned to one of the tables in the center of the kitchen and began measuring ingredients. ‘See those baking sheets over there, hanging on the wall,’ said Ginger. ‘Can you bring them over here and grease ‘em up and dust ‘em a little with flour so’s the biscuits won’t stick . . .’ __________________ . . . 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

05-31-2005, 06:12 PM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	‘Stay back,’ warned the burned elf. ‘Look to yourself!’ He took a step back, and gathering of his cloak about him quickly, he ran away. Look to myself? Uien stood confounded. She had purposely closed her mind, and so had no notion of what the other had thought or felt, save by his actions. And they made no sense. Then his earlier, unspoken words, came to mind: 'get out'. This burned elf acted as if he feared her, little Uien. A little smile came to her face as she laughed inwardly at the ridiculous thought. Whom had she ever caused to fear? The smile quickly disappeared as she discovered pleasure within at being feared. She was horrified. But he had not answered her question. Or had he? Reluctantly, she thought back to her own dark time in the deeps of Caradhras. Orcs leered at her, taunting her with what they intended for her. She shuddered. It had taken Falowik's love to dispel that darkness, and that had taken time. This burned elf had been grievously used. She felt the gem of her necklace, warming. Falowik was thinking of her. Should she go back to him, and leave the burned elf be? No. There was a new hardness within that held her to this new path. Maybe Falowik would understand, maybe give chase. She chose to let that be as it would. She followed the faint elvish shimmer of his fleeing footprints. She did not hurry. Look to yourself? What was that supposed to mean?

05-31-2005, 07:29 PM	#3
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Willy fidgeted in his seat. His thoughts had drifted during the composition of the song, mostly towards the outdoors. Through the schoolroom window he could see a beautiful blue sky, and warm sunlight streamed through the windows. The lunch break had been nice, but he really was not used to sitting in one place for such long periods of time, and his attention span had been long outlived. It wasn't that he particularly wanted to go home (after all, what waited him there but chores?), but simply to be out of the confining schoolroom. Whether that meant playing marbles with his new friends or finding some mischief with his brother or something else, he wasn't sure. So he echoed Reggie's thus far unanswered question. "We are done, right? We can go?"