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

Primrose Bolger · 07-12-2005, 02:08 AM

A bottle of white wine is found

There were no bottles of white wine tucked into the holders behind the bar. Red there was, aplenty. Most of it Old Winyards; though there was a sweet red wine, quite tasty, from Dorwinion.

Ginger made her way into the kitchen and fixed up a small basket of crusty bread, a small platter with a wedge of sharp Shire cheese, and a few slices of ham she’d found in the cooler. A small crock of sweet cream butter and one of aromatic mustard rounded out the offering as she placed them all on a carrying tray along with a sharp knife for the cheese and a butter knife for the spreads..

After conferring with Cook, she tromped down stairs with a little lantern to the cool part of the cellar and found the dusty bottles Cook had mentioned. She plucked the cobwebs from the label of one of the bottles and rubbed it clean with her apron. There was a pretty picture of two intertwined trees, one silver, one gold. And some writing she couldn’t make out, though Cook had told her the name of the wine was Great Jewel and had come from Ithilien. ‘Well this ought to do,’ she thought to herself. The light from the lantern glinted through the clear glass of the bottle, sparkling prettily through the wine within.

Once upstairs she cleaned the bottle of its grime as best she could and placed it on the serving tray along with a pretty blue pottery goblet. She took the corkscrew along with her, hoping the Elf, Alcarillo Nession, would know how to use it, as she did not.

‘There you go, Master Nession,’ she said, putting the tray on his table. She arranged the food and drink before him and laid the knives on the folded napkin she’d brought. ‘Now will there be anything else I can get for you?’

Folwren · 07-12-2005, 08:13 AM

“Maybe you two can stick around for a bit,” Woody said, “I’ll bet Cook’d trade you some chores for meals and such. That is, if you want to...”

“She offered to let us at least stay for breakfast,” Tim replied. “Tomorrow’s breakfast. I don’t think...well, we can’t stay here for ever. Wren and I...” but then he stopped and he looked ahead and shut his mouth. No reason to go shoveling his troubles on some Hobbit boy who was friendly.

Wren didn’t think of it like that. “Mama and Papa died last month,” she said, picking up where Tim had effectually left off. “We’ve been pretty much out walking ever since.”

“Don’t, Wren,” Tim said, glancing quickly at her. She looked up inquisitively at him and he shook his head.

They had reached the barn and Tim reached forward to swing the door open more so that they could fit through with the food. Woody took the lead to take them to wherever Hanson had gone to the kittens. Tim bent a little ways towards his sister and whispered quietly in her ear.

“We don’t need to go about making it a public fact that we’re orphans,” he said. “People around here probably don’t care to hear about all our problems. We’ll stay as long as we’re welcome and as long we’re no burden and are actually working for our keep, but I can’t promise that we’ll stick around any longer than that. I’ve got to find work that can keep me and you alive.”

“But, Tim, she said that we could stay-”

“For tomorrow morning,” he said quickly. They were drawing close to the two hobbits again. “Don’t worry about it.”

Arry · 07-12-2005, 02:49 PM

Woody was disquieted at what Wren had said. Where were their aunts and uncles, he wondered; their cousins or second cousins who would take them in? If Ma and Da were to die, he thought, there were any number of kin who would take Woody and Hanson and their brothers and sisters under their wing.

Tramping about alone! Woody couldn’t fathom doing that. He looked at Hanson, bent over the kittens a smile on his little face. ‘How scared I would feel,’ thought Woody, ‘if Hanson had only me to rely on.’ He glanced toward Tim wondering if the other boy ever felt that way. Woody’s brow puckered as he thought more about Tim and Wren. ‘I’ll talk to Uncle Gil about it,’ he said to himself. ‘He’ll know what to do.’ His problem resolved for the moment he made his way to Hanson and the kittens.

By the gracious leave of the patient mama cat, the four were soon holding the drowsy, milk-filled kittens and chatting. The basket was opened and food and drink shared about.

-----

An hour later or so, Hanson’s ears pricked up as a familiar voice called out both his and Woody’s names. ‘It’s Uncle Gil,’ he said by way of explanation to Wren and her brother. ‘I think it’s time for us to be heading home . . .’

piosenniel · 07-12-2005, 03:13 PM

Please note:

Tomorrow, real-time, I'll be moving time ahead for the Inn to early morning.

Please wrap up any night time interactions your characters have going.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio, Shire Moderator

Alcarillo · 07-12-2005, 06:49 PM

"No, thank you, this is plenty; a meal fit for a king," Alcarillo told Ginger. She had brought his dinner, and asked if he might want anything else.

Alcarillo immediately took a look at the bottle of wine, turning it slowly in his hands. It was white wine, with an image of the Two Trees on its label. Its name was in the Tengwar, and Alcarillo noted that it must be Elvish wine. Alcarillo uncorked it with the corkscrew and poured about a glassful it into an elegant blue goblet. It tasted sweet, cool, and refreshing, and reminded Alcarillo of Harlindon. The bread was a bit too crusty, maybe a little stale, but the butter helped its taste and texture. The cheese and the mustard were delicious together. Alcarillo was surprised by being served ham, and he decided that the halflings must be a rather generous people.

While dining, Alcarillo had decided upon his travel plans: he would rest here for the night and travel to Rivendell in the morning. He knew that he had kin there, family who had escaped from the destruction of Ost-in-Edhil. He had only met his family there once before, thousands of years ago at the end of the Second Age, when he joined the Last Alliance and visited Rivendell on the way to Dagorlad. He remembered finding his cousin again in the midst of battle, and fighting orcs together.

Alcarillo finished his dinner and reminiscing with a satisfied sigh. He was the fullest he had ever been in many, many years. He needed a room for the night. He tucked his red book into his cloak and abandoned his finished dinner and half-empty bottle of wine on the table. Alcarillo wandered out of the warm common room and into the hallway in search of the innkeeper. He hoped that he or she accepted Elvish coins, for those were all he had. He found the counter of the innkeeper near the inn's entrance, and leaned against the wall to patiently wait for another weary traveler to finish booking his room.

Folwren · 07-12-2005, 07:19 PM

They climbed the ladder to the loft, tall, as Cook had said, but sturdy, where Hanson was already waiting with one of the kittens in his hands and Wren hurried forward with sudden excitement. She dropped to her knees beside Hanson and for a minute just looked with positive ecstasy at the tiny bundles of fur curled beside their mother. A smile flickered around her face and her eyes shone as she reached out and gently took up one of the kittens. Tim came more slowly up behind and with a silent sigh sat down beside her. For a few minutes, he had forgotten his trouble. Cook’s offer had almost put them completely out of mind. But Wren’s questions had more often than once reminded him that in the future days something would have to be done.

‘Forget them for now. She’s happy and you can be, too. You have dinner right in front of you and a breakfast has been offered.’ He didn’t have to convince himself any further. He was a child, and though he was growing up faster than most children did, he still had the ability to forget his problems for a short time when things were agreeable. He pulled the basket Woody had put down towards himself and opened it, took out the knife, and began to cut the cheese.

He handed the others starters and then took a bit of bread and cheese in either hand and ate himself. He watched his sister share her attention between the food and the kitten. When he had satisfied himself for the time being, he turned his attention to the kittens Wren showed him and finally picked one up for himself.

About an hour passed of merry, childish talk, eating, and holding and petting the kittens and cat before someone called for Hanson and Woody from the inn. Hanson looked up and put the kitten he had in his hand back down.

“It’s Uncle Gil,” he said, looking at Tim and Wren. “I think it’s time for us to be heading home.” The other three stood up and after rather familiar goodbyes, the two hobbits left the barn and headed in.

“Come over this way from the cats, Wren,” Tim said, drawing his sister away softly. “We don’t want to hurt them while we’re sleeping.”

They curled down in the hay a few feet from the cat’s nest and many feet from the edge of the loft. Wren dropped off to sleep almost at once and Tim lay looking fondly at her in the dim light. He finally shut his eyes and put a protective arm over her and he quickly dropped into a deep and dreamless sleep.

piosenniel · 07-13-2005, 10:07 AM

NOTICE OF TIME CHANGE IN THE INN

It is now early morning in the Inn.

Early risers are up and in the Common Room. The first of the breakfasts is being cooked and served. Various travelers have stopped at the Inn for a meal before going about their day's business.

~*~ Pio, Shire Moderator

07-12-2005, 02:49 PM	#3
Arry Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 704	Woody was disquieted at what Wren had said. Where were their aunts and uncles, he wondered; their cousins or second cousins who would take them in? If Ma and Da were to die, he thought, there were any number of kin who would take Woody and Hanson and their brothers and sisters under their wing. Tramping about alone! Woody couldn’t fathom doing that. He looked at Hanson, bent over the kittens a smile on his little face. ‘How scared I would feel,’ thought Woody, ‘if Hanson had only me to rely on.’ He glanced toward Tim wondering if the other boy ever felt that way. Woody’s brow puckered as he thought more about Tim and Wren. ‘I’ll talk to Uncle Gil about it,’ he said to himself. ‘He’ll know what to do.’ His problem resolved for the moment he made his way to Hanson and the kittens. By the gracious leave of the patient mama cat, the four were soon holding the drowsy, milk-filled kittens and chatting. The basket was opened and food and drink shared about. ----- An hour later or so, Hanson’s ears pricked up as a familiar voice called out both his and Woody’s names. ‘It’s Uncle Gil,’ he said by way of explanation to Wren and her brother. ‘I think it’s time for us to be heading home . . .’ __________________ If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world – J.R.R. Tolkien

07-12-2005, 03:13 PM	#4
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Please note: Tomorrow, real-time, I'll be moving time ahead for the Inn to early morning. Please wrap up any night time interactions your characters have going. Thanks! ~*~ Pio, Shire Moderator __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

07-12-2005, 06:49 PM	#5
Alcarillo Shadow of the Past Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minas Mor-go Posts: 1,007	Alcarillo's Dinner "No, thank you, this is plenty; a meal fit for a king," Alcarillo told Ginger. She had brought his dinner, and asked if he might want anything else. Alcarillo immediately took a look at the bottle of wine, turning it slowly in his hands. It was white wine, with an image of the Two Trees on its label. Its name was in the Tengwar, and Alcarillo noted that it must be Elvish wine. Alcarillo uncorked it with the corkscrew and poured about a glassful it into an elegant blue goblet. It tasted sweet, cool, and refreshing, and reminded Alcarillo of Harlindon. The bread was a bit too crusty, maybe a little stale, but the butter helped its taste and texture. The cheese and the mustard were delicious together. Alcarillo was surprised by being served ham, and he decided that the halflings must be a rather generous people. While dining, Alcarillo had decided upon his travel plans: he would rest here for the night and travel to Rivendell in the morning. He knew that he had kin there, family who had escaped from the destruction of Ost-in-Edhil. He had only met his family there once before, thousands of years ago at the end of the Second Age, when he joined the Last Alliance and visited Rivendell on the way to Dagorlad. He remembered finding his cousin again in the midst of battle, and fighting orcs together. Alcarillo finished his dinner and reminiscing with a satisfied sigh. He was the fullest he had ever been in many, many years. He needed a room for the night. He tucked his red book into his cloak and abandoned his finished dinner and half-empty bottle of wine on the table. Alcarillo wandered out of the warm common room and into the hallway in search of the innkeeper. He hoped that he or she accepted Elvish coins, for those were all he had. He found the counter of the innkeeper near the inn's entrance, and leaned against the wall to patiently wait for another weary traveler to finish booking his room.

07-12-2005, 07:19 PM	#6
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Tim, Wren, Woody, and Hanson in the barn They climbed the ladder to the loft, tall, as Cook had said, but sturdy, where Hanson was already waiting with one of the kittens in his hands and Wren hurried forward with sudden excitement. She dropped to her knees beside Hanson and for a minute just looked with positive ecstasy at the tiny bundles of fur curled beside their mother. A smile flickered around her face and her eyes shone as she reached out and gently took up one of the kittens. Tim came more slowly up behind and with a silent sigh sat down beside her. For a few minutes, he had forgotten his trouble. Cook’s offer had almost put them completely out of mind. But Wren’s questions had more often than once reminded him that in the future days something would have to be done. ‘Forget them for now. She’s happy and you can be, too. You have dinner right in front of you and a breakfast has been offered.’ He didn’t have to convince himself any further. He was a child, and though he was growing up faster than most children did, he still had the ability to forget his problems for a short time when things were agreeable. He pulled the basket Woody had put down towards himself and opened it, took out the knife, and began to cut the cheese. He handed the others starters and then took a bit of bread and cheese in either hand and ate himself. He watched his sister share her attention between the food and the kitten. When he had satisfied himself for the time being, he turned his attention to the kittens Wren showed him and finally picked one up for himself. About an hour passed of merry, childish talk, eating, and holding and petting the kittens and cat before someone called for Hanson and Woody from the inn. Hanson looked up and put the kitten he had in his hand back down. “It’s Uncle Gil,” he said, looking at Tim and Wren. “I think it’s time for us to be heading home.” The other three stood up and after rather familiar goodbyes, the two hobbits left the barn and headed in. “Come over this way from the cats, Wren,” Tim said, drawing his sister away softly. “We don’t want to hurt them while we’re sleeping.” They curled down in the hay a few feet from the cat’s nest and many feet from the edge of the loft. Wren dropped off to sleep almost at once and Tim lay looking fondly at her in the dim light. He finally shut his eyes and put a protective arm over her and he quickly dropped into a deep and dreamless sleep.

07-13-2005, 10:07 AM	#7
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	NOTICE OF TIME CHANGE IN THE INN It is now early morning in the Inn. Early risers are up and in the Common Room. The first of the breakfasts is being cooked and served. Various travelers have stopped at the Inn for a meal before going about their day's business. ~*~ Pio, Shire Moderator __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

07-12-2005, 02:08 AM	#1
Primrose Bolger Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Bywater Pool Posts: 196	A bottle of white wine is found There were no bottles of white wine tucked into the holders behind the bar. Red there was, aplenty. Most of it Old Winyards; though there was a sweet red wine, quite tasty, from Dorwinion. Ginger made her way into the kitchen and fixed up a small basket of crusty bread, a small platter with a wedge of sharp Shire cheese, and a few slices of ham she’d found in the cooler. A small crock of sweet cream butter and one of aromatic mustard rounded out the offering as she placed them all on a carrying tray along with a sharp knife for the cheese and a butter knife for the spreads.. After conferring with Cook, she tromped down stairs with a little lantern to the cool part of the cellar and found the dusty bottles Cook had mentioned. She plucked the cobwebs from the label of one of the bottles and rubbed it clean with her apron. There was a pretty picture of two intertwined trees, one silver, one gold. And some writing she couldn’t make out, though Cook had told her the name of the wine was Great Jewel and had come from Ithilien. ‘Well this ought to do,’ she thought to herself. The light from the lantern glinted through the clear glass of the bottle, sparkling prettily through the wine within. Once upstairs she cleaned the bottle of its grime as best she could and placed it on the serving tray along with a pretty blue pottery goblet. She took the corkscrew along with her, hoping the Elf, Alcarillo Nession, would know how to use it, as she did not. ‘There you go, Master Nession,’ she said, putting the tray on his table. She arranged the food and drink before him and laid the knives on the folded napkin she’d brought. ‘Now will there be anything else I can get for you?’ __________________ . . . 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

07-12-2005, 08:13 AM	#2
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	“Maybe you two can stick around for a bit,” Woody said, “I’ll bet Cook’d trade you some chores for meals and such. That is, if you want to...” “She offered to let us at least stay for breakfast,” Tim replied. “Tomorrow’s breakfast. I don’t think...well, we can’t stay here for ever. Wren and I...” but then he stopped and he looked ahead and shut his mouth. No reason to go shoveling his troubles on some Hobbit boy who was friendly. Wren didn’t think of it like that. “Mama and Papa died last month,” she said, picking up where Tim had effectually left off. “We’ve been pretty much out walking ever since.” “Don’t, Wren,” Tim said, glancing quickly at her. She looked up inquisitively at him and he shook his head. They had reached the barn and Tim reached forward to swing the door open more so that they could fit through with the food. Woody took the lead to take them to wherever Hanson had gone to the kittens. Tim bent a little ways towards his sister and whispered quietly in her ear. “We don’t need to go about making it a public fact that we’re orphans,” he said. “People around here probably don’t care to hear about all our problems. We’ll stay as long as we’re welcome and as long we’re no burden and are actually working for our keep, but I can’t promise that we’ll stick around any longer than that. I’ve got to find work that can keep me and you alive.” “But, Tim, she said that we could stay-” “For tomorrow morning,” he said quickly. They were drawing close to the two hobbits again. “Don’t worry about it.”