An Adventure of Hobbit Proportions RPG

[Boromir88]

This was Rudy's perfect chance, to get Mira to leave this silly adventure, and go back home. He should be rejoicing, but for some queer reason, he wasn't. He wasn't happy at all. It seemed to Rudy that Mira was only saying what she thought Rudy wanted to hear. He could see that she still longed for an adventure, but had a deceased gaffer and a over-protective brother pulling her in the opposite direction.

Rudy felt a light whack on the back of his head. "Good heavens Rudy! What has gotten into you? Don't you know how to welcome your relatives? Why every spring you and Mira would come up with the gaffer and visit. You couldn't wait because Hyacinth would make you all the bacon you could imagine. She knew how much you loved it. I know it's been a while since you've been up - how long has it been, dear?" He said turning to Hyacinth, but didn't wait for an answer. "Why it's been almost thirteen years, and I sure hope you haven't forgotten us. Remember when your gaffer - "

"Fredegar, how could I possibly ever forget you or Hyacinth?" Rudy intended this as a compliment, but Mira chuckled, because she knew Rudy literally did mean it was impossible to forget Fredegar and Hyacinth Chubb, if you had met them. "Pardon my rudeness for not welcoming you, and introducing you to my fellow hobbits. As you've probably guessed, this is Mira, and that is her friend, Tansy. We've all had a lot on our minds recently, I hope you forgive my poor manners. Speaking of the gaffer, we have to talk, but let's do it outside. Mira, stay here with Tansy."

Mira nodded, even though she probably didn't want to stay, just sitting there. Rudy got up from the table and headed out of the inn with the Chubbs. It wasn't more than a few minutes, before the three hobbits came back into the inn. Mira lifted her head off the table, and the previously jolly Chubbs, now had sorrow looks on their faces.

Rudy sat down across from Mira, and looked directly into her eyes. "What do you want to do, Mira? It's ok, you can tell me the truth."

Mira let out a huge sigh, as if she finally dropped a ton of weight she had been carrying. "I don't want to go home. I want to go on an adventure, with my friends, but how can we now?"

Rudy smiled, he was finally able to get the truth out of Mira, that's all he really ever asks from her. "You know the Gaffer wouldn't want us to be held back, because of him. I bet you, if he could speak to us now he would say: Mira! You can come see me anytime you want, because I aint gunna be doin' much movin' anymore. An adventure! That's somethin' every hobbit should do, but sadly very few ever get the chance to do!."

"He wouldn't have have said it like that!" Mira laughed for what seemed like the first time in a long time. "You're forgetting where he ends with: Whaddya say we make game out of it, eh?" Mira sunk back down, as if all her excitement and joy deflated again. "Still, what are we going to do? It hardly seems right leaving him here."

"Don't you worry about it, Mira, dear." Fredegar quickly jumped in. "Rudy has explained everything to us. My wife and I will take the gaffer back to his home, and give him a proper funeral. He will be missed by many, he was a kind soul. He will be waiting for your return and all the details of your adventure."

"That settles it! You're going to search for the Entwives, whether you want to or not!" Rudy tried to say it sternly, but couldn't keep a straight face. "Now, someone needs to let Bunny know the plan." Before Rudy could finish, Mira went racing off to find Bunny.

[Gwathagor]

Mira's hurry caught Brown's attention. He had been lost in his thoughts at the counter, taking advantage of the hiatus to have another ale. He was, after all, essentially a idealist. (Some foolish individuals might have termed him a pragmatist, but he saw no necessary contradiction between the terms.) A hobbit may have died, but ale was still ale, and was thus worth drinking, regardless of the circumstances.

He turned to look, and saw Rudy shaking hands with two hobbits he didn't recognize. They appeared to have decided something. Mira was talking to Bunny now, and seemed as excited as someone can who has just had a death in the family. He felt sorry for her. To be torn between the emotions of excitement and sorrow - and then possibly wracked by guilt because of it? - was something he hardly envied. And she was an awfully nice hobbit lass...

Brown turned away and concentrated on his ale with an admirable, almost single-minded diligence. Hopefully they would be on the move soon. In his mind he reviewed the road they would take and soon enough found his imagination drawn, inevitably, to the stark, windswept beauty of the North Moors. A tingle of deep-seated joy ran up his spine.

[Valier]

Bunny's eyes widen a little as Micheal described what he had seen in the North Moors. Something in the way he said it made Bunny uncomfortable, was he lying? she was almost certain of it.
Bunny, having been the only girl in a family of mischievous boys, was use to telling when a lad was hiding something from her.
But for what purpose Micheal had to lie was beyond Bunny. Was he making fun of her and her dreams of discovery?
Was he just wanting to go with them so if they didn't find entwives he could rub it in their faces? or was he really just fibbing because he wanted to sound like he had something to contribute, hoping despaeratly for adventure himself?

Bunny was thrown off guard and was unsure how to answer his question of him accompanying them.
They sat in a momentary silence, Bunny shifted on the step. The day was lengthening and the sun was beginning to set.
What should she say? Bunny was torn.
"Ummm well I think my belly is grumbling a bit, why don't we finish our chat inside?" Bunny stood up smoothing her dress, she was going to try and avoid answering Micheal for a bit if she could.
"Let's see what my companions are doing... we shall see what they think of you join..... Offfff!!! As Bunny went to open the door, an excited Mira pushed the door open from the other side.
"Oh Bunny! I'm so sorry! I just came to tell you, that I do still want to come. We have some relatives here and they have agreed to take our Gaffer home....to be buried." Mira's voice broke.

"Our Gaffer would have wanted us to continue and I don't plan on letting him down." Mira smiled and the excited tone came back into her voice." Are we going to leave soon?"

"umm well yes Mira I think we can." Bunny smiled at the young lass, taking her arm in hers. "Mr Micheal here seems to want to come with us.... What do you think Mira? Should we let him? "
Bunny winked at Mira, threw a look back at Micheal and started heading towards the table occupied by Tansy and Rudy and their relatives.

As Bunny approached the table Mira introduced her to Mr and Mrs Chubb. Bunny curtseyed as proper and said her how-do-you-do's before taking a seat beside Tansy. Mira looked from Micheal to the table of her family. "And this here....she motioned him forward, is Micheal....not sure of his last name. But Bunny has told me he wants to come with us and I Think he should!" I thought we should give him a chance at adventure too. Mira winked at Bunny, who smiled.

Bunny was relieved! she was dreading having to make the decision if Micheal could come or not, looks like Mira did it for her.

Bunny scanned the room as Micheal took a seat near Mira and looked quite pale. Bunny smiled inwardly. We shall see how Mr. Micheals lies play out for good or bad. Makes it a little more exciting Bunny decided.
Bunny saw Brown sitting alone drinking ale and Peony not far off at a table by herself with her head down.
Mr and Mrs Chubb rose and embraced Rudy and Mira in turn "Don't worry dears we shall handle things from here" Mrs Chubb said as she kissed their cheeks. Bunny rose after they left leaving Mira and Rudy and Micheal alone.

She approached Brown directly first. "Brown could you join us at our table? I'm having a round sent over for a toast to the Gaffer." Brown nodded and headed over to the table. Bunny went to Peony and laid her hand softly on her shoulder. "Dear?.. come have one last ale with us for the Gaffer." Peony nodded also and rose to go with Bunny.


They all sat a little uncomfortable and quiet around the table that was now crowded with frothing ale mugs. Bunny rose first raising her mug, but was a little unsure what to say."To the Gaffer!" was all she could manage. "Here here!!" followed Rudy as he rose. Everyone rose, toasted and drank deeply.

Bunny was torn yet again. should she wait to say something of their trip? The day was running out and Bunny was tired. She would have to say something without being untactful and soon. She sat and leaned forward in her chair.
"Well since we are all here, I should say that I am deeply sorry about the Gaffer's untimely death. Bunny bowed her head. " I am leaving in the morning to start my adventure..... It seems you all still want to join me. I will understand if any of you choose to not come. Bunny looked up and met eyes with each Hobbit. She was nervous with them all staring back at her, but she was supposed to be the "leader" of this adventure. Even though as the days wore on she felt less and less like leading.
" I think I shall take my leave for the night and head off to bed. Goodnight everyone, We shall meet here when the sun rises." Bunny curtseyed and headed off to her room, even though she was sure she would never sleep.

[Thinlómien]

Tansy too wished the others goodnight and left. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep and she wanted to let her thoughts buzz around in her head and reach some sort of order if they wished to do so, so she headed out of the inn to the fields and forest-paths.

Walking had always been something special to her, a way of distancing herself from everyday worries and seeing something new. It was something as close to an adventure as she could get in her life. Now that she was on an adventure, and had been walking all day, she still wanted to go for a walk to sort things out. She smiled at the way her strange self worked.

Sun had set while they had been inside and now the moon was rising. The sky was clear and there was no wind. Tansy looked at the stars, recalling the old story her grandmother had told her and her sister when they had been small. She had said that dead people go to the sky and become stars. Tansy hadn't believed in the story even back then, nor had she ever bothered herself with thoughts of death, but now she found herself wondering if one of the stars on the sky was shining there for the first time tonight.

She shrugged, as if to banish the silly thought. Why was she so affected with the Gaffer's death? People she knew had died before him. The gaffer had been a rather random acquiantance and Tansy had lost three grandparents and an aunt, and had almost lost her brother.

Besides she had even always known the Gaffer would die. To phrase the thought into words even just in her mind felt treacherous, but she could not deny the truth in it. Tansy hadn't been too happy to hear that Mira, who was still more a child than an adult, was to join their expedition, but when gaffer Hugo too had decided to come, she had secretly thought the adventure would be ruined. It would be easy enough to go on an adventure with a mere girl, but an old man to look after? And old man for whom the adventure would prove hard if not fatal? She had been afraid she'd end up looking after everyone and playing the nanny, just like home.

Now she was ashamed for those thoughts. She knew Hugo's death hadn't been caused by her wishing he would not be on the adventure, but she felt guilty nevertheless. Her guilt was only reinforced when she recalled another thought. She had been even slightly envious of the gaffer's position as the oldest of the adventurers. If he hadn't come, she would have been the oldest, the one who was supposed to be the wisest. Bitterly she thought she now had that position, being six years older than Rudy who was the second eldest. What wisdom had she ever had to offer to anyone?

She hoped Bunny at least knew what she was doing. Tansy had faith in her young friend, but she knew Bunny was sometimes too idealistic, rash, unthoughtful or impractical to succeed in things or act rationally. (Rationality on an adveture? She rebuked herself for being silly.) She wondered if Bunny had any idea about what she was going to do with the young guy, Michael. Tansy didn't think he would be dangerous and could understand his desire for adventure, but she was a little doubtful. She doubted the newcomer's capacity to handle any kind of tight situations an adventure could involve, and she also doubted the others would accept him to their group.

She took a deep breath and told herself to stop. She was once again worrying about other people's business, or about useless things. She had come on this adventure relax, to give up her duties, responsibilities and sorrows, and here she was creating new ones all the time.

She decided walking was doing no good to her. She turned around and started her way back to the inn. She resolved to sleep well despite everything.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

That evening, Michael disappeared quietly to his lonely room in the very back of the inn, but he did not go to sleep immediately. Actually, he wanted to, but the memories of the events of the past day - so rich on events that it was even unpleasant - kept buzzing in his head, and he had to sort them out. He was not a person who would put much emphasis on rational reflection of things, and certainly not that he would do it intentionally, like sitting down and telling himself: "And now, Mishka, you will think". No, but the chaos in which his brain was all the day was perhaps too much for him.

What he felt, as he was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, in the silent darkness, was a mixture of guilt, startle of what had happened, and fear of the unknown future. Just how did it come to this? Michael Smallburrow was not happy, he was unhappy and deeply worried. When he overheard the group talking back there on the road, he felt intrigued by the idea of an adventure, of seeing something - what more, in the North! The North! That's where Michael always wanted to go. When it had snowed in Hobbitton, young Mishka always ran out of the door, not caring about the exhortation of his mother to take a warm coat and at least some cap. He always spent hours in the snowdrifts, and returned home late evening and then remained in bed with cold for the rest of the week - which did not bother him, because all the snow outside melted overnight. But here, Michael expected that in the northern parts of the Shire, there would have to be whole fields of snow. At least what he heard, there was supposed to be plenty of snow in the north. That was his first reason to follow the hobbit company. Of course, he also overheard the few words about the Entwives - although he was not too sure what is the party intending to do with them. Michael, personally, knew about the Ents and Entwives just from a goodnight story his grandmother liked to tell to his younger sister, Gilly. Only during the later talk he overheard in the inn, he gathered that the company wants to search for the Entwives. That was also what brought Michael to his lie about seeing "something" in the North Moors.

Michael's heart hurt again. He felt guilty of lying, and what more, he felt trapped in the web of lies he already created. He lied about the North Moors - but how could he have known that the one hobbit, Brown, had already been there? But now he cannot confess that he lied - he must go on pretending that he had been there. In North Moors, there are surely many places that look alike to places where he had been already. He will make up something and pretend that he had been there.

But still, there was already no turning back for him - that was the worst. Most of all, Michael was afraid now. If he could take it all back, he would rather just go away, forget the company and the North Moors - but he could not, not anymore, when they were counting on him, and when he had already told so many lies. He just had to go on and hope the lies he made will not get him into a tight spot.

As he lay down, he could not fall asleep for a long while, still thinking about what tomorrow will bring, and feeling guilty, guilty about lying to the company, lying to Brown, and lying to Bunny. Only very late, when the darkness outside had already deepened and midnight had already passed, Michael Smallburrow fell into an unsettled sleep.

[Boromir88]

Rudy couldn't fall asleep at all. After he had put Mira to bed, he simply laid down, stared up at the ceilling, wide awake. He didn't know when he finally started to doze off, but it didn't seem long before Mira was shaking him.

"Rudy!" she yelled. "Rudy! Come on you big lazy head. Get up!"

Rudy was very groggy and mumbled some unrecognizable phrase, but Mira understood it as "I want to go back to sleep."

"You want to sleep!?" She realized Rudy wasn't fully aware yet, and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to scold her older brother. She probably wouldn't get too many more chances. "You do realize it's almost second breakfast!? We're all ready to go, they've been waiting on you downstairs. I've been trying to shake you up for almost fifteen minutes! I was about to fill a sack full of rocks and drop it on your head. I'd be surprised if they just hadn't left by now. I would have left you here if I was in charge."

Rudy got the hint and got up. He saw Mira running around the room throwing his stuff in his backpack and muttering "Such a slob!" At least she's excited to leave, he thought.

Rudy and Mira went downstairs, everyone was waiting on them to leave. Rudy went to say "Sorry for the wait" but he didn't finish, he was still groggy.

"Well we're ready!" Mira exclaimed, giving a small death glare towards her older brother.

[Kitanna]

Peony had been up most of the night thinking about Gaffer Hugo and the rest of her family. It had been a long night and she was pleased it was over. She had stumbled to get some breakfast and ate absently mindedly. She hoped the others had slept better than her.

One by one her companions rolled in and despite everything, breakfast was pleasant and enjoyable. Filled with the laughter and good humor of hobbit adventurers. Peony shoveled bacon and potatoes into her mouth and talked excitedly about the day's journey. Bunny was radiating joy at being able to continue on their way. The events of the night before were melting away. That was what Gaffer Hugo would have wanted.

Rudy came in last, Mira leading her groggy brother along. ""Sorry for the wait," he said, clearly still drowsy.

"Well we're ready!" Peony smiled. She was happy to see Mira in such good spirits.

"I've had my fill of breakfast and now I itch for adventure." Peony finished the last of her toast.