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Hobbitus Emeritus
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The Common Room of The Prancing Pony
The Prancing Pony was much like any other tavern and inn, only more so. A very old establishment, it was rather large with additional wings and stories built onto the oldest and largest construction.
This was the Common Room, and into it the travelers walked and saw first great upright timbers darkened with many years of the smokes of fires and lanterns, polished by the chance rub of passing hand or cloth. The wooden posts sturdily supported a simple truss-work that held a high roof pitched tall against winter snows. Between the wide posts were many rough tables and benches. In the center of the room was a large, rough laid, stone chimney over a glowing hearth that warmed the entire Common Room.
Here the folk of Bree would gather for news or company and here the few travelers on what had been the great crossroads of ancient kingdoms would come for food and drink and rooms. There were, as always, some dwarves at a table, keeping to themselves. Not very many other folk, even the locals, had come out that evening. Business was a bit slow.
At the back of the great room, beyond the hearth and the tables, was a tall bar. A platform extended halfway up across half the length of it, so that the handful of hobbits gathered there were at ease and on eye level with the Big Folk at the other end of the bar. Behind this bar, were double doors that led to a large kitchen, not to mention, pantries and root and wine cellars.
On either side of the Common Room were other doors that led on the one side to a small wing built especially for halflings. The other doors led to corridors wherein there were rooms and stairwells to still more rooms on the upper floors. The stables were kept around the back of the Prancing Pony, where deliveries were also made to the kitchen.
The owner and proprietor of this establishment was Barliman Butterbur, a short fat Breelander, red of face, short of wind, and always in a hurry.
This evening was no different. No sooner than Tom Ferny had led the strangers into the Common Room, old Barley himself came bustling out, saw them, and hurried over as they took in their surroundings.
"Hullo, hullo, hullo!" he said breathlessly.
"It's good to have some fresh faces here, and that's for certain! No doubt you're tired and hungry and would like some food and some rooms for the night! Manny taking care of your steeds? Well say no more!"
In fact, none of them had yet said anything!
"Come take this table near the hearth and we'll start to take the chill off! What'll you have, beer, wine? We've the best of both and that's for certain! Why bless my soul, an elf! I don't believe we've had one of the fair folk under this roof since my dad was a boy and that was a long time ago, I can tell you! You'll be wanting our best wine, Mistress, I'm sure! Good enough even for elves and that's for certain! We've got some good meat pies and some roast chicken tonight for them that want's it or we can cook up something special. Is that all together? Separate then? I'll have Nob bring out the beer and wine and mugs and plates and some bread and take your orders while I see to your rooms!"
And with that, the fat old innkeeper turned and bustled back to the kitchens as quickly as he had come.
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