The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[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."

[Farael]

"I picked the wrong man to start my season off with. That's when I decided that I'd be better off far from home and hearth. Not that I've spent all that much time having a home and hearth, so it's no great loss!"

So she was indeed a fugitive. For a moment, Farael wondered how much money he could make by bringing her back. Then he realized it was not in him to do so. Even with his strong sense of duty, this woman seemed more like a girl who had made some bad choices than a nasty thief with a rotten heart. Her smile was bright and honest, and Farael could find no reason to think of her new story a lie. It seemed she had finally relaxed and was telling her true story, or perhaps it had been the wine. Looking at the mug-full of water he held in his hand, Farael remembered he was not sober either.

"So tell me, Losse, exactly why was this man 'the wrong man' unlike any other thief? I find it hard to believe that there is much difference from one another"

[JennyHallu]

"So tell me, Losse, exactly why was this man 'the wrong man' unlike any other thief? I find it hard to believe that there is much difference from one another."

Losse raised an eloquent eyebrow. "Surely, after your experiences, you know that some men are more...forgiving...than others. Damiel Bladespinner hasn't a forgiving bone in his body, and I stole his horse. As soon as it was, ahem," she paused, searching for words, "made clear to me, so to speak, whose horse it had been, I returned it. But Damiel hasn't earned the place he has in the dark corners of the city by forgiving an offense."

She paused, remembering the utter terror of the first legs of her flight from Minas Tirith. "King Elessar is working hard to clean out such elements in his capitol, but he has had much to do, and some have slipped through the cracks. Damiel can't do so for much longer, and then I will be free to go home. And then, also, there may perhaps be a better place for me, and other things I can do. There is always a job for me, if I want it, at that little inn where I sang last winter. Someday, I will open my own. There is a lot of good that can be done with a little tavern. Maybe I'll be able to save some children from some of the difficult decisions I had to make."

Her eyes shone, reflecting the beautiful light of the evening stars, as she contemplated the things she wanted to do with her life. Farael sat back and let her speak, describing the deep dreams of her heart. "There will be a warm hearth, and a cozy little common room. I have no need of anything large. I want it to be a place where people come together in in joy and quiet friendliness. Someone to cook for me," she laughed. "Because that is a dream I know I won't be able to make real. A few quiet rooms, where a weary travellor can spend a quiet night..." She lapsed into silence, stretching out with a tired, hopeful smile as she leaned back in her chair, draining the glass of wine in one long, slow pull, and flipping a coin absentmindedly back and forth across her knuckles.

[Farael]

"you know, Losse, instead of risking being chased out of this inn should someone else notice your.... hobby, you might want to watch and learn given that this really is the cozyest Inn I have ever been to."

"Here we go again," thought Farael. "First you get merry, then you get curious and then you get philosophical. You are drunk my friend, and you should bite your tounge hard before you start making promises to this lady. She is a thief, and it could all very well be an elaborate plan to steal..." Then his thoughts trailed off as he could not think anything she could steal from him besides a little money.

Taking a big bite of something that resembled the potatoes his aunt used to prepare for him, Farael nodded his head, as he listened to Losse's words.

[JennyHallu]

Losse giggled. "Oh, I am, believe me!" she said, cheerfully delighting a young hobbit lad nearby by absentmindedly pulling a sweet out of his ear, presenting it to him with a flourish and a seated half-bow. "Everywhere I've gone so far, I've found new ideas. As a matter of fact, this place makes me want to look for a little bit of land on the Pelennor Fields and build a new place. This courtyard is lovely. I don't suppose I'll be able to quite pull off a view of a world-famous mallorn tree, even from as far off as this, but I'll plant an oak tree. It will take a good generation, but my children will see it grow tall and strong. Maybe I'll even have space for an orchard and a garden. I eat such things fresh, but maybe someone else will know of other things to do with them."

She sighed and quieted. "And what of you, my dear Farael? What dreams and desires haunt your sleep? Why do you get up in the morning?"