The Golden Perch Inn - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Celuien · 07-01-2006, 10:15 AM

"How is it that you're the only one I’ve given permission to go anywhere, and you're the only one as is still here? Hmph."

A merrily laughing Primrose gave her answer. "Because I've not finished the basket for Will yet. And besides, I'd not go until I was sure as work here was finished. But I think it is now." She packed an apple and some cheese into a basket on the table, filling it to the brim. "There. And now, I suppose I'll be leaving too. But not for long." An impish grin and blush appeared with her last words.

"Off with you, then." Cela echoed Primrose's mischievous tone.

Off went Primrose through the door, the basket on her arm.

She came to the stable. "Hello there, Will!" she called up to the roof. "I've brought you your second breakfast. Shall I leave it here, or would you like me to climb up there and bring it to you?"

Primrose had no intention of climbing the roof, but she thought suggesting the climb a good joke.

Arry · 07-01-2006, 02:10 PM

The cracked shingles had all been removed, along with an additional row about the area. Will had begun the pouring on of the pitchy tar and was just swabbing a section of it onto the cleared area when a familiar voice called up from the ground.

‘I've brought you your second breakfast. Shall I leave it here, or would you like me to climb up there and bring it to you?’

Engrossed as he was in his roofing business, he called back without thinking. ‘Oh, aye! Come on up! And if you would . . . there’s an extra tarring brush just underneath the ladder . . . leaning up against the stable side. Can you bring that up, too?’

He poured another small section of pitch and began working on it. His stomach began grumbling at the promise of food. Thoughts of bread and cheese, he hoped, and some sweet tea to drink pushed him to work at a faster pace.

‘Oh! And mind that fifth step . . . it felt a bit wobbly when I came up . . .’

Undómë · 07-01-2006, 03:25 PM

‘Hi, Rowan!’ Daisy called out, waving, ‘Papi’s lookin’ for you! What’re you doing?’ Daisy’s little face looked expectantly toward her. And close beside her was Dorlind.

Thorns and thistles! Rowan thought to herself. She put a smile on her face and motioned them closer. ‘You haven’t seen Tollers, have you?’ she asked sweetly, leaning on her broom. ‘He was supposed to have cleaned up in here this morning.’ She sighed, for a bit of dramatic effect. ‘Now he’s left me to see to it.’

Rowan looked down the corridor toward the bath room. The door was still firmly closed and she could hear a bit of splashing…which she hoped meant that the man was simply making himself more comfortable in the tub and not that he was getting out. She cocked her head a bit and listened for any sounds from his room. She heard none. Rowan breathed deep in relief.

‘You know,’ she said, raising her voice enough, she hoped, that Meliot would hear her. ‘I think the floor’s pretty clean now. And Mister Greymoss seems happy in his bath still…’

She leaned her broom against the wall. ‘Why don’t you come with me back to the Common Room. I think I saw a new girl out there with her brother. And she looks just your age.’ She reached down and grabbed a hand each of theirs in hers. ‘Let’s go out and I’ll introduce you…’

Celuien · 07-01-2006, 05:46 PM

Climb the ladder? Anything but that! Primrose sucked in her breath. She had never climbed so high in her life, kitchen work only requiring her to stand on a chair to reach a high shelf at the most.

But Will's tone told her that he had returned her joke seriously, or at least was daring her to come up. She would go. She wasn't about to give anyone, especially Will, an excuse to tease her. It was just a little ladder. Nothing to be frightened about.

Primrose stooped to pick up the tarring brush. Clutching it in her hand, she looked skyward, steadying her nerves for the climb.

"Here I come, Will," she called, trying to keep a cheerful tone. She took a rung in her free hand, holding Will's basket and the brush in the other, and put one foot on the lowest step.

You're in for it now, Primrose.

Climbing was difficult with only one hand to steady her ascent. Primrose swayed unsteadily on the ladder, precariously inching her way up one rung at a time.

Will called out from above, "Doing alright there?"

"Oh, fine. Be up in half a minute." Primrose lied.

Her hand came to the fifth step. As she grasped it, the rung moved. She hesitated. With all the trouble she'd been having with steady rungs, could she trust one that seemed as uncertain about being on a ladder as she was?

Primrose decided she could. She would hurry over the loose step and there would be an end of it. Besides, if she turned back now, she would feel like a fool. She moved up the ladder and placed her weight on the loose rung. It shifted under her feet, and Primrose lost her balance. With a sudden cry, she fell to the ground.

Forest Elf · 07-02-2006, 02:44 PM

“Sure, Tollers. I can help you with the furniture.” Gable replied. “Just let me put the brush away first.” Gable put the brush back.

Her mind was still on the pony while she was walking back over to Tollers; the piece of cape, and the wolf. “Tollers, have…um, have you heard of anyone who has lost a pony?” Gable asked casually.

Arry · 07-02-2006, 02:47 PM

‘You great dumb ox! What were you thinking?’

Will threw down the tarring broom and tore off his gloves, all the while muttering imprecations at himself for saying the owner of ‘the voice’ should come up the ladder. So engrossed was he in his task he hadn’t taken time to consider that it was Prim and she most likely had a basket with food on her arm for him.

‘You ninny!’ he cried aloud, just as he reached the edge of the roof.

He looked down in horror at Prim sprawled on the ground below…along with the ladder…

‘Don’t move! I’m coming! Just hang on!’ he called down in as reassuring a voice as he could. ‘Here…I’ll just swing down to this window frame here and shimmy down the shutter. Used to do it at my Uncle Tam’s barn in Crickhollow…when my cousins and me used to jump from the gable to the new haypile in the yard below…’ He kept up the patter as he eased himself downward, hoping she would make some reply, that she hadn’t been knocked clean out.

Will was just easing himself down the shutter, to the bottom ledge of the window, when he looked down again at Prim. He smiled and waggled his fingers at her, hoping she would wave back.

‘Please let her be alright,’ he whispered under his breath, trying to reassure himself.

First, his foot slipped as his toes reached for the ledge; then, his fingers fumbled as he tried to find a grip. The ground rushed up to meet him as he fell. There was a thud as he hit and a rather sickening crunch as his left wrist tried to cushion his fall, followed by a rather hard knock to his head.

‘Sorry, Prim,’ he said raising his head weakly. ‘Should’na made you climb up…thoughtless…so stupid…’

His voice trailed off as he passed out.

Celuien · 07-02-2006, 04:55 PM

The world went dark as Primrose hit the ground. After a time, the light struck her eyes, and she was keenly aware of a stabbing pain in her leg, which lay crumpled around the ladder under her body.

Primrose moaned faintly, and then, turning her head to the right, gasped out a half scream. Will was limp on the ground next to her. He must have fallen too, she thought, and bewailed her foolish attempt to climb to ladder.

Primrose reached over to Will's shoulder and shook him.

"Will. Wake up, Will." He didn't.

Frightened, Primrose frantically shouted to anyone who could hear:

"Help! Please, oh, please help!"

07-01-2006, 02:10 PM	#2
Arry Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 704	The cracked shingles had all been removed, along with an additional row about the area. Will had begun the pouring on of the pitchy tar and was just swabbing a section of it onto the cleared area when a familiar voice called up from the ground. ‘I've brought you your second breakfast. Shall I leave it here, or would you like me to climb up there and bring it to you?’ Engrossed as he was in his roofing business, he called back without thinking. ‘Oh, aye! Come on up! And if you would . . . there’s an extra tarring brush just underneath the ladder . . . leaning up against the stable side. Can you bring that up, too?’ He poured another small section of pitch and began working on it. His stomach began grumbling at the promise of food. Thoughts of bread and cheese, he hoped, and some sweet tea to drink pushed him to work at a faster pace. ‘Oh! And mind that fifth step . . . it felt a bit wobbly when I came up . . .’ Last edited by Arry; 07-02-2006 at 01:55 AM.

07-02-2006, 02:44 PM	#5
Forest Elf Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2006 Location: You say your hurting is over.. It feels like you're out of reach... Posts: 86	“Sure, Tollers. I can help you with the furniture.” Gable replied. “Just let me put the brush away first.” Gable put the brush back. Her mind was still on the pony while she was walking back over to Tollers; the piece of cape, and the wolf. “Tollers, have…um, have you heard of anyone who has lost a pony?” Gable asked casually. Last edited by Forest Elf; 07-06-2006 at 04:47 PM.

07-01-2006, 10:15 AM	#1
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	"How is it that you're the only one I’ve given permission to go anywhere, and you're the only one as is still here? Hmph." A merrily laughing Primrose gave her answer. "Because I've not finished the basket for Will yet. And besides, I'd not go until I was sure as work here was finished. But I think it is now." She packed an apple and some cheese into a basket on the table, filling it to the brim. "There. And now, I suppose I'll be leaving too. But not for long." An impish grin and blush appeared with her last words. "Off with you, then." Cela echoed Primrose's mischievous tone. Off went Primrose through the door, the basket on her arm. She came to the stable. "Hello there, Will!" she called up to the roof. "I've brought you your second breakfast. Shall I leave it here, or would you like me to climb up there and bring it to you?" Primrose had no intention of climbing the roof, but she thought suggesting the climb a good joke.

07-01-2006, 03:25 PM	#3
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	‘Hi, Rowan!’ Daisy called out, waving, ‘Papi’s lookin’ for you! What’re you doing?’ Daisy’s little face looked expectantly toward her. And close beside her was Dorlind. Thorns and thistles! Rowan thought to herself. She put a smile on her face and motioned them closer. ‘You haven’t seen Tollers, have you?’ she asked sweetly, leaning on her broom. ‘He was supposed to have cleaned up in here this morning.’ She sighed, for a bit of dramatic effect. ‘Now he’s left me to see to it.’ Rowan looked down the corridor toward the bath room. The door was still firmly closed and she could hear a bit of splashing…which she hoped meant that the man was simply making himself more comfortable in the tub and not that he was getting out. She cocked her head a bit and listened for any sounds from his room. She heard none. Rowan breathed deep in relief. ‘You know,’ she said, raising her voice enough, she hoped, that Meliot would hear her. ‘I think the floor’s pretty clean now. And Mister Greymoss seems happy in his bath still…’ She leaned her broom against the wall. ‘Why don’t you come with me back to the Common Room. I think I saw a new girl out there with her brother. And she looks just your age.’ She reached down and grabbed a hand each of theirs in hers. ‘Let’s go out and I’ll introduce you…’

07-01-2006, 05:46 PM	#4
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	Climb the ladder? Anything but that! Primrose sucked in her breath. She had never climbed so high in her life, kitchen work only requiring her to stand on a chair to reach a high shelf at the most. But Will's tone told her that he had returned her joke seriously, or at least was daring her to come up. She would go. She wasn't about to give anyone, especially Will, an excuse to tease her. It was just a little ladder. Nothing to be frightened about. Primrose stooped to pick up the tarring brush. Clutching it in her hand, she looked skyward, steadying her nerves for the climb. "Here I come, Will," she called, trying to keep a cheerful tone. She took a rung in her free hand, holding Will's basket and the brush in the other, and put one foot on the lowest step. You're in for it now, Primrose. Climbing was difficult with only one hand to steady her ascent. Primrose swayed unsteadily on the ladder, precariously inching her way up one rung at a time. Will called out from above, "Doing alright there?" "Oh, fine. Be up in half a minute." Primrose lied. Her hand came to the fifth step. As she grasped it, the rung moved. She hesitated. With all the trouble she'd been having with steady rungs, could she trust one that seemed as uncertain about being on a ladder as she was? Primrose decided she could. She would hurry over the loose step and there would be an end of it. Besides, if she turned back now, she would feel like a fool. She moved up the ladder and placed her weight on the loose rung. It shifted under her feet, and Primrose lost her balance. With a sudden cry, she fell to the ground.

07-02-2006, 02:47 PM	#6
Arry Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 704	‘You great dumb ox! What were you thinking?’ Will threw down the tarring broom and tore off his gloves, all the while muttering imprecations at himself for saying the owner of ‘the voice’ should come up the ladder. So engrossed was he in his task he hadn’t taken time to consider that it was Prim and she most likely had a basket with food on her arm for him. ‘You ninny!’ he cried aloud, just as he reached the edge of the roof. He looked down in horror at Prim sprawled on the ground below…along with the ladder… ‘Don’t move! I’m coming! Just hang on!’ he called down in as reassuring a voice as he could. ‘Here…I’ll just swing down to this window frame here and shimmy down the shutter. Used to do it at my Uncle Tam’s barn in Crickhollow…when my cousins and me used to jump from the gable to the new haypile in the yard below…’ He kept up the patter as he eased himself downward, hoping she would make some reply, that she hadn’t been knocked clean out. Will was just easing himself down the shutter, to the bottom ledge of the window, when he looked down again at Prim. He smiled and waggled his fingers at her, hoping she would wave back. ‘Please let her be alright,’ he whispered under his breath, trying to reassure himself. First, his foot slipped as his toes reached for the ledge; then, his fingers fumbled as he tried to find a grip. The ground rushed up to meet him as he fell. There was a thud as he hit and a rather sickening crunch as his left wrist tried to cushion his fall, followed by a rather hard knock to his head. ‘Sorry, Prim,’ he said raising his head weakly. ‘Should’na made you climb up…thoughtless…so stupid…’ His voice trailed off as he passed out.

07-02-2006, 04:55 PM	#7
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	The world went dark as Primrose hit the ground. After a time, the light struck her eyes, and she was keenly aware of a stabbing pain in her leg, which lay crumpled around the ladder under her body. Primrose moaned faintly, and then, turning her head to the right, gasped out a half scream. Will was limp on the ground next to her. He must have fallen too, she thought, and bewailed her foolish attempt to climb to ladder. Primrose reached over to Will's shoulder and shook him. "Will. Wake up, Will." He didn't. Frightened, Primrose frantically shouted to anyone who could hear: "Help! Please, oh, please help!"