The Green Dragon Inn - Part 3 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ealasaid · 05-24-2003, 05:33 PM

Having retired to Benia's rooms and settled in before the fire, Benia folded her hands in her lap and thought for a moment before answering Gilly's question.
"My father is dead as well," she said softly. "It has everything to do with my mother. She was slain but weeks after we left the Shire. As you know, when we departed your hospitality, we took the road north in the hope of throwing our pursuers off the track. Then we planned to double back to the south and cross the Brandywine at the Sarn Ford. From there, our intent was to make for Rohan, where my father still had many enemies, but he had just as many friends who were willing to assist us. We were overtaken barely a day short of reaching the ford."

Her amber eyes darkened. "My mother was killed there. My father fought hard but he was only one against many. They left him for dead. The only reason I was spared was that, being very young at the time, I had wandered off in a sulk. I was tired and my feet hurt. Foolishly, I wanted to slow down and stop running."

She leaned forward, holding one of her tattooed hands toward Gilly. A wide silver band adorned the middle finger. "Do you remember this ring? It's all I have left of my mother." Wide-eyed, Gilly nodded. Benia's mother, Benia the Fair, had worn it on the same finger.

"My father was grievously wounded," Benia continued. "When he was well enough to travel, we returned to his family in Bree. They hid us until he had recovered the majority of his strength, but the danger was too great for us to stay any longer. We were constantly in flight after that, but he never recovered from the loss of my mother. Eventually, he took to drink."

"He was killed two years ago in a drunken brawl," she ended abruptly.

Gilly made a sympathetic noise in her throat and reached out to pat Benia's hand. "That's sad news indeed" she said. "I was fond of your father."

"Thank you." Benia smiled. "But, really, we should try to get a little sleep. Maybe the rain will let up by morning." She stood and, with much protestation from her guest, finally managed to deposit Gilly into bed in the bedroom. Benia, herself, spent the remainder of the night in the chair before the fire, watching the embers die into darkness and remembering darker days. Finally, she slept.

[ May 30, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]

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05-24-2003, 05:33 PM	#1
Ealasaid Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: under a large pile of dirt & gravel Posts: 193	Having retired to Benia's rooms and settled in before the fire, Benia folded her hands in her lap and thought for a moment before answering Gilly's question. "My father is dead as well," she said softly. "It has everything to do with my mother. She was slain but weeks after we left the Shire. As you know, when we departed your hospitality, we took the road north in the hope of throwing our pursuers off the track. Then we planned to double back to the south and cross the Brandywine at the Sarn Ford. From there, our intent was to make for Rohan, where my father still had many enemies, but he had just as many friends who were willing to assist us. We were overtaken barely a day short of reaching the ford." Her amber eyes darkened. "My mother was killed there. My father fought hard but he was only one against many. They left him for dead. The only reason I was spared was that, being very young at the time, I had wandered off in a sulk. I was tired and my feet hurt. Foolishly, I wanted to slow down and stop running." She leaned forward, holding one of her tattooed hands toward Gilly. A wide silver band adorned the middle finger. "Do you remember this ring? It's all I have left of my mother." Wide-eyed, Gilly nodded. Benia's mother, Benia the Fair, had worn it on the same finger. "My father was grievously wounded," Benia continued. "When he was well enough to travel, we returned to his family in Bree. They hid us until he had recovered the majority of his strength, but the danger was too great for us to stay any longer. We were constantly in flight after that, but he never recovered from the loss of my mother. Eventually, he took to drink." "He was killed two years ago in a drunken brawl," she ended abruptly. Gilly made a sympathetic noise in her throat and reached out to pat Benia's hand. "That's sad news indeed" she said. "I was fond of your father." "Thank you." Benia smiled. "But, really, we should try to get a little sleep. Maybe the rain will let up by morning." She stood and, with much protestation from her guest, finally managed to deposit Gilly into bed in the bedroom. Benia, herself, spent the remainder of the night in the chair before the fire, watching the embers die into darkness and remembering darker days. Finally, she slept. [ May 30, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]