The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Nogrod]

“If I get your meaning right, you are trying to tell me, that an old silly legend just materialized to burn my home?”, Rían asked, behind his words, dead serious now. “I don’t know what was there between your father and mine, but I know, it was a man who grinned just like you and had the stature like yours, who burnt my home and whom we run away from – and whom my father called with both names: as Grimgor the Bearhand and as the “Owl’s Eye” or “The One That Runs at Dusk”.”

Rían noticed, that the pitch of his voice had climbed up a little too high, and so his voice was breaking. He tried to ease himself, taking a long sip from his pint, trying to sort out his head. What is this all about? After all the years of hide and seek, I’m sitting here in front of a man whose father has been one of the main reasons to my life’s tragedy. And what am I doing? Squeaking like a pre-teen! He had planned this one so many times! But where was his action now?

He leaned back again, trying to appear secure – which he truly wasn’t! His wits seemed to have deserted him totally. What to say, how to continue? Attack or defence, action or reaction? Keep talking or do something?

In the end he opted for some more talk. He needed time now, and if he could make the giant talk, he would have it. He could think.

“Well, you have not done any harm to me, either I to you. Let’s talk this over like sensible human beings. Tell me about your father. Maybe we can work this out together?”

[Firefoot]

“So, do you?” repeated Gróin. Lily hesitated. Perhaps it would not hurt… she did enjoy dancing, after all. Maybe… maybe it would even help, if Marcho did not spot her. Or Posco. At least, she thought bitterly, they would not mistake the Dwarf for some new lad of hers.

“Well… why not?” She smiled slightly and stood. Gróin led her over to the open area which had been cleared for dancing. She was glad that there were several others dancing there, as it meant she would not stand out so much. The lively tune was familiar to her, and she realized that she was actually looking forward to this. “Have you ever danced to hobbits’ music, Gróin?” she asked. He admitted that he had not, and Lily grinned. “Well, then you are in for a treat.” Her happy laugh could almost be heard as completely carefree. Keeping an eye turned to Marcho (who, thankfully, was paying no attention at the moment) and the quiet inn, she now led Gróin out into the dance.

She fell into the rhythm quickly, stepping, whirling, and dipping. For his part, Gróin seemed talented enough, and if the Dwarvish style of dancing was not quite so light as the Hobbits’, he still picked up the song quite well. A fleeting thought passed through her mind: if only I was here just to enjoy myself and meet new people…! But then it escaped her memory like a dream half-remembered at awakening. Why ought she to fret so much over a lad who had apparently forgotten her? And as she threw herself into the dance, she realized that she almost did not care.

[Witch_Queen]

She walked out of the stables, her black hair blowing freely in the wind. It was only a short time ago that she was in Rivendel with what elves remained behind. Fáinu had gone on to the Shire, atleast thats what the note had said. One of the elves told her what happened. Evidently she had a "spell" and almost lost her life because of it. Cree's journey from Rivendel was olong and lonely. Cree could barely remember everything that happened.

Cree was no stranger to suffering. All her life Cree searched for the truth about her father's death and now she knew.

I killed him, no wonder everyone thought I was dangerous. I don't want to believe it anymore. All my life I have wondered if I was indeed a victim. My life has been a lie, I killed the only person that truly ever cared for me.

Cree could hear waht sounded like a crow squawking. She knew imediately who it was. "Avalon!" The departure from the Shire had meant leaving her friend behind. NOw she was back and wasn't leaving for a long time. Cree could hear waht sounded like people laughing and music playing. "A party?" Cree's life had changed but as far as her life at the Green Dragon Cree was always happy to celebrate with everyone else. At the Green Dragon Cree's trouble no longer existed.

Cree's cloak reflected that of a Rivendel elf not of Eryn Lasgalen her home. Cree's cloak would have to do after all she wasn't going back to the land she left behind. Cree walked to the front yard of the Inn. "Avalon should be around here somewhere." Cree figured Fáinu wouldn't be expecting her to be here so soon. If it wasn't for her stubborness she would still be in Rivendel couped up in bed. She was fine now. She had suprised everyone when she "woke up" and almost jumped out of bed. The elves that took care of her had told her to go back to bed, that she needed her rest. But she wasn't going to waste time when she had to get back to "her home".

Cree walked around the party looking to see if she might spot the white crow. "Maybe if I found Aman she might know where Avalon is." Not seeing any sign of either Avalon or Aman, Cree went inside the inn searching for familar faces.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

The bird nibbled happily on some cram that Fáinu had given her, he was running out, but did not care. Avalon looked back up at him and cocked her head from side to side; Fáinu cleared his throat and then sat back. "You heard about our adventure in the mountains?" He asked, Avalon nodded, "Dwaline was always a faithful news bringer. Well, soon afterwards we travelled through Wilderland to the Lonely Mountain. 'Mirkwood' still held in the back of my mind, no matter what they change it's name to. Esgaroth was no better, the closer we came to dale, the more the burn returned."

Fáinu looked at his hand, the bandage was still tightly wound about it, covered in the dirt of a thousand adventures. He felt a chill as the Inn door opened. Cree went in and for a moment, Fáinu took no notice. He looked again and shook his head. A cruel trick of his mind. But she did not disappear. "Do you see that?" he asked the bird. Avalon looked up and squawked loudly.

"Shut that wretched bird up!" cried a Hobbit, before a large worn flew past Fáinu's head and fell harmlessly to the ground. The elf took no heed of the loud Hobbit as he walked to gather his shoe. The Hobbit seemed to have boots, but did not wear them. What a strange fellow, thought Fáinu. The starlight glimmered through the windows as some Hobbits staggered outside singing songs of drinking and laughing.

Cree did not seem to see Fáinu as he sat in the corner of the room, although she seemed to have heard Avalon's squawking. A barmaid brought Fáinu another mug of ale and rolled her eyes at him and the strange bird that was disturbing the customers. All these outside folk, she thought. The elf raised his head and then stood up, he walked over to Cree as Avalon flew with him.

"Well met," he said, "If indeed we do meet. I fear this may be a trick of the mind."

[Witch_Queen]

Cree turned to see that Fáinu was indeed inside the inn. Cree was so happy to see Avalon that she almost forgot about what Fáinu had said to her. "I do not see why your eyes would be playing tricks with you. I'm here, where else would i be?" Cree couldn't help but chuckle. Since her last "spell" Cree was now a different elf. She laughed more despite what she had been through. "You missed me didn't you Avalon?"

Cree held out her arm for Avalon to perch upon. THe white crow gently landed on the extended arm. "I missed you too."Cree turned to Fáinu, looking him in the eyes. "Fáinu why did you believe that your mind was playing tricks with you. What's going on Fáinu, your not telling me something. What really happened on the way "home"?"

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Cree turned to Fáinu, looking him in the eyes. "Fáinu why did you believe that your mind was playing tricks with you. What's going on Fáinu, you’re not telling me something. What really happened on the way "home"?"

"I suppose I've got used to my mind playing tricks," he said with a smirk, "But all that is in the past." He led Cree to his table and ordered some drinks and food. Avalon stood proudly and then leaped onto the table and looked very dignified. Fáinu smiled and looked up at the ceiling.

"After I left Rivendel," He began, "I rode as fast as the horse would carry me. Weather top seemed like a good place to rest after a few days riding. But that place was full of robbers and I drove them out, I didn't trust it enough to sty for the night. I rode on for a long time. Stopping in ditches for a few hour sleep. But when I did, I could only see the Dragon's eyes. You remember? As the life poured out of it and it laid its curse on you. I couldn't help but feel responsible." He looked at his hand, "I know that this is no longer a true burn," he removed the bandage and all that could be seen was a pail white scar, "But in my mind, it still burns. Not as much as it used to. But still.

"I walked in the Barrow Downs," he said after a pause, Cree looked up with astonishment, "Yes that place still holds many fears. The stones that look like great teeth shrouded in mist loomed overhead and they seemed to have eyes. I decided not to venture into the Old forest, but took the East - West road and came to Hobbiton."

Avalon seemed impatient. She squawked and flapped, she didn't want this story; she wanted to know what happened on this 'adventure'. Fáinu closed his eyes and thought back to when they left The Lonely Mountain. "I think Avalon wishes to hear the tale of what we did." Said Fáinu and Cree nodded. "You see," he went on, "This Dragon in the north was terrorising many Dwarf colonies. Smaug was the last of the great Dragons; so we hopped this would not be such a challenge.

"The journey was traitorous, the grey mountains loomed ever further away than they really were. Several Dwarves came with us: Therin, Kili, and Fundin. There were all pretty young and knew well the story of Thorin and the defeat of Smaug. Kili hoped he would not suffer the same fate as his namesake. But we all feared for our lives. Dragons are, after all, Dragons."

[Glirdan]

“Well… why not?” Lily stood and Gróin led her over to where everyone else was dancing. “Have you ever danced to hobbits’ music, Gróin?” He shook his head. “Well, then you are in for a treat.” and she laughed. Such a sweet laugh and if Gróin didn't know better, he would have thought that she was having a great time. She started dancing to the rythym of the song and she looked like she was really enjoying herself. Gróin then started dancing and their rythyms matched up perfectly: Lily's light, graceful movements and Gróin's heavy foot stomping. After awhile, it really did look like Lily was enjoying herself, as if she completely forgot all her troubles. She looked so happy that Gróin could not tell whether or not she was faking it. The song ended and everyone clapped. "Whew! That was fun!! Would you like a drink?" Gróin asked Lily polietly and she nodded her head.

Gróin made his way through the crowd to the friendly Hobbit serving the beverages. "Two ales please," he asked a little breathlessly. The Hobbit smiled as he handed over the two drinks and turned to make his way back over to Lily. He was enjoying himself so much that he had completely forgotten his troubles with Sarin and Corin. He pushed his way through the crowd, looking around trying to find his way back to Lily. It was then that he saw something that made him gasp in shock. "Was that?? No, it couldn't have been...could it?" he thought to himself as he made his way over to Lily. He put out of his mind as reached Lily and gave her her drink. "Gróin? Is something wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Lily stated.

"It's....it's nothing. I thought I saw....but it couldn't have been...could it? Oh, there I go rambling on. I'm sorry. It was nothing. I thought I saw an old friend, but it couldn't have been. Not here anyway," he said. "Anyway, forget about it. Let's get back to dancing."

[Thinlómien]

I can't believe this! That lad is pulling my leg! But though he was no reader of minds, Grimhorn could see that Rían was dead serious. He wasn't playing, this time.

My father, Grimhorn thought. He was astonished to find out how much it hurt after all these years. All these years of secretly knowing that everything wasn't like it seemed to be, he reminded himself. At some level he had known that there was something wrong with his father.

Then his mood changed. Why do I accept all the lad says as truth? His father was a big liar, so isn't he quite probably a liar as well? But again, there was too much pain in his voice. He might have been mistaken for the man. Seen what his father had wanted him to see. It was a frail hope, but Grimhorn clinged to it.

Then he came back to his senses. That wasn't probable, so he shouldn't use time in that idle dreaming. Maybe he could ask Rían, if he was sure it was Grimgor Bearhand he had seen. But it wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was that there had been hostility between Hermit Sundry and Grimgor Bearhand. What and why was it, was the matter. I knew my father well enough. He wouldn't have burned a man's house without a reason. I wonder what reason did Hermit Sundry provide him...

Grimhorn would have liked to talk this over with someone, but Rían really wasn't the ideal guy. There were too much personal feelings tangled to this matter. If there was someone neutral, or someone on the same side with him, who could solve this and talk the matter over.

Then he realised how childishly he was thinking. There wasn't anyone else. It was Rían Sundry who he would solve this matter with, no one else. They needed each other's help to find out the truth. Neither could do it alone. He had to accept that he needed Rían's help. And he needed to accept that his father did what he did and it couldn't be changed anymore.

"Now you make sense, master Rían. However painful it is, we need to talk. You say let's begin with my father, and I agree it's a good idea. Then we could move on to yours and see what there was between them and what was this "Owl's Eye"-thing of your father's."

Grimhorn took a big gulp of beer and asked: "What would you like to know about the man your father called "The One That Runs at Dusk"?"