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piosenniel · 10-27-2003, 01:04 AM

Berilac

‘I’ll stay tonight with you and your family, if you don’t mind, Mausi.’ Berilac finished up his late breakfast and took his dish and utensils to the sink for a wash up. ‘Rosco has room for me, but he lives too far out, and I need to be in the city proper if I’m to get the task done I’ve set for myself.’

He came out to the front room where she sat in her rocker, sewing on some piece of clothing. The morning light glinted off the silvered thimble on her middle finger, as she pushed the needle through the cloth. Not looking up from her work, she asked what he would be doing that day, and when could she expect him back.

‘I’m off to the Prancing Pony a little later, to pick up the children.’ She glanced up at him, a questioning look on her face. ‘We’re going to inspect the Hedge today. Ella, Mondy, and Kali for sure. Little Fippi, I think, and also Lily, the little one that Poppy Goldworthy sees to. We’ll be back well before suppertime.’

He sat down in the chair near hers, a mug of honeyed tea in his hand. He leaned forward and placed an identical mug on the small table between them. She put the piece she was working on down at her side, in the willow basket there, and took up her tea, cradling it with both hands. Berilac told her of his meeting with Rosco and Griffo at the Town Hall last night after the town meeting, and their talk with Miz Woolthistle early this morning about bringing supplies into Bree . . . that and his intention to pick some of the children up when class was over. ‘She’s an interesting woman, the Innkeeper,’ he commented. ‘One of the more broader thinking of the Big Folk.’

The conversation drifted into more personal avenues – news of the new baby on the way and how was Fairlight bearing up with this pregnancy. Mausi gently chided him for not seeing his sisters yet, and he ducked his head in mock penitence. ‘Soon,’ he said, ‘soon.’ She asked him many question about her family, and how had they looked and exactly what had they said.

Before the both of them knew it, some time had passed, and the town bell tolled that it was just going on midday. Berilac got up quickly from his chair, saying he should go now if he were to make it to the Inn on time. Mausi waved him off with a smile, and picked up her sewing as he left the room.

~*~

His long strides brought him quickly to the Inn. As he walked past the little sidestreet just south of the Prancing Pony, he noted three young fellows, lounging about under a tree. They kept their eyes on him as he passed, and did not return the greeting he gave them.’ Up to no good,’ he thought as he passed them.

From the corner of his eye, he saw one of them draw something from the waistband of his breeches and aim it at him. Berilac turned quickly and faced the group, raising his brows at Roddy, sling shot in hand.

‘I shouldn’t do that if I were you, young sir,’ he said in a friendly tone, his hazel eyes looking steadily at the boy. The Ranger’s right hand rested casually on the pommel of his sword. ‘Best save your ammunition for the bandits who will soon be here, not waste it on a friend to Bree.’ Uncomfortable with his steady watch of them, the three boys slunk off, further down the little street, disappearing behind one of the small clapboard buildings that occupied it.

Berilac relaxed the grip on his blade, and continued down the road toward the northern side door to the Inn.

[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

10-27-2003, 01:04 AM	#93
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Berilac ‘I’ll stay tonight with you and your family, if you don’t mind, Mausi.’ Berilac finished up his late breakfast and took his dish and utensils to the sink for a wash up. ‘Rosco has room for me, but he lives too far out, and I need to be in the city proper if I’m to get the task done I’ve set for myself.’ He came out to the front room where she sat in her rocker, sewing on some piece of clothing. The morning light glinted off the silvered thimble on her middle finger, as she pushed the needle through the cloth. Not looking up from her work, she asked what he would be doing that day, and when could she expect him back. ‘I’m off to the Prancing Pony a little later, to pick up the children.’ She glanced up at him, a questioning look on her face. ‘We’re going to inspect the Hedge today. Ella, Mondy, and Kali for sure. Little Fippi, I think, and also Lily, the little one that Poppy Goldworthy sees to. We’ll be back well before suppertime.’ He sat down in the chair near hers, a mug of honeyed tea in his hand. He leaned forward and placed an identical mug on the small table between them. She put the piece she was working on down at her side, in the willow basket there, and took up her tea, cradling it with both hands. Berilac told her of his meeting with Rosco and Griffo at the Town Hall last night after the town meeting, and their talk with Miz Woolthistle early this morning about bringing supplies into Bree . . . that and his intention to pick some of the children up when class was over. ‘She’s an interesting woman, the Innkeeper,’ he commented. ‘One of the more broader thinking of the Big Folk.’ The conversation drifted into more personal avenues – news of the new baby on the way and how was Fairlight bearing up with this pregnancy. Mausi gently chided him for not seeing his sisters yet, and he ducked his head in mock penitence. ‘Soon,’ he said, ‘soon.’ She asked him many question about her family, and how had they looked and exactly what had they said. Before the both of them knew it, some time had passed, and the town bell tolled that it was just going on midday. Berilac got up quickly from his chair, saying he should go now if he were to make it to the Inn on time. Mausi waved him off with a smile, and picked up her sewing as he left the room. ~*~ His long strides brought him quickly to the Inn. As he walked past the little sidestreet just south of the Prancing Pony, he noted three young fellows, lounging about under a tree. They kept their eyes on him as he passed, and did not return the greeting he gave them.’ Up to no good,’ he thought as he passed them. From the corner of his eye, he saw one of them draw something from the waistband of his breeches and aim it at him. Berilac turned quickly and faced the group, raising his brows at Roddy, sling shot in hand. ‘I shouldn’t do that if I were you, young sir,’ he said in a friendly tone, his hazel eyes looking steadily at the boy. The Ranger’s right hand rested casually on the pommel of his sword. ‘Best save your ammunition for the bandits who will soon be here, not waste it on a friend to Bree.’ Uncomfortable with his steady watch of them, the three boys slunk off, further down the little street, disappearing behind one of the small clapboard buildings that occupied it. Berilac relaxed the grip on his blade, and continued down the road toward the northern side door to the Inn. [ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.