The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Witch_Queen]

Aduthondiel
"Thank you for your help there, miss - now how can I help you?" Adu was glad that she was finally going to get a chance to talk to Aman.
"Miss Aman, I am Aduthondiel. Well Crystal and Hama call me Adu. I was wondering if there was any way I could possibly help with the celebration for the rest of the night. Crystal has gone to find Angry and Hama went back to Rohan to take over the position of General." Adu went on to tell Aman about how Crystal was told about her father's death. How Hama had decided that he was the right one to take over for General Dorian.

"All I want to do is find something to do tonight besides sit around and watch everyone else. Plus Count seems too cozy to go out for a ride tonight. I guess I have no one else to talk to so I decided that I wanted to help in any way I could." Adu wanted to help or atleast find herself to be usefull in some way. There was usually something for her to do back in Rohan when Dorian was there. Yet that time had passed and Adu didn't know what else she was going to do when Hama returned with the rightful position of General.

Hama will return and we will finally be able to move on with life. Hopefully there will not be a war for many years. Adu smiled at the thought of Hama returning to the Shire.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman was a little taken aback by the odd request.

"My dear, it is a party! The best way to help me would be to enjoy yourself - and I say that truly," she added sincerely, though with a smile, laying a hand on Aduthondiel's arm. "I had heard some things about Crystal, besides the parts that she had told me, but this Dorian character..." she blew out and shook her head. "All I can say is that it is well that to curse the dead is bad luck for the things I might be tempted to say!

"Aduthondiel, I...I would honestly like you to enjoy yourself. There is nothing that needs doing really, for I have three servers already," she said, referring to Hawthorne, Buttercup and Ruby. "Have a drink. Take a seat. Listen to the music. Find some conversation - there is certainly plenty! Or," she added, looking up as the music sped up into a lively jig. "find a partner, any partner, and lead us in a dance!"

Looking up at the hobbits on their makeshift stage, Aman smiled. They were all now slightly flushed but had a victorious glint in their eyes as their fingers sped over the strings or as they sang gustily. They were really getting into it, and it had lightened the mood of the Inn in a fresh spurt of merry-making - and, as predicted, the drinks were flowing as fast as the music.

[Feared Half-Elf]

"Larnas Eare," she muttered. "I have heard of it. Myself, I was born in a little known, small forest far to the east, far beyond the Black Land. When the War of the Ring threatened, I was drawn to these lands, Rohan and Gondor mainly, although I did visit Rivendell. I now live in Eryn Lasgalen, and have no intention of returning home for the present." she replied. There was a reason for her not returning to her homeland, but she had no intention of revealing it unless somebody asked outright.

She tweaked the skirts of her simple dress, and was surprised that she wasn't feeling so uncomfortable. 'That's what company does to you.' She thought. 'It forces you to relax. At least I'm not moping in a corner like a punished child, like earlier. I really should learn to relax in a party when I'm alone.'

[Maeggaladiel]

Of course I travel alone, Eleniel. It doesn't bother me, I've no reason to be bothered. I do thank you for your sympathies, but I do not see how anyone could help me find what I need. No offense, this is my struggle, and I feel I must go alone." Isaac said, kindly.

"No offense taken," said Eleniel. Her foot tapped on the floor in time with the music. Things had livened up in the Inn as soon as the makeshift stage had been set up in the center of the room. The musicians seemed to be enjoying themselves, as were all who listened to them. "To each his own, as I always say."

***
The carraige sped down the cobblestone street. The driver was late, and for that he would pay. Grumbling to himself, he urged the horses to go faster. As he neared the bend in the road, not far from the Green Dragon Inn, a silver dog stepped out into his path. The horses spooked and zig-zagged wildly across the road.

"Oi! Whoa, there!" yelped the driver, but the horses only ran faster. The dog was frozen in place like a statue, it's eyes wide in fear and confusion. THe driver yanked on the reigns with all his might, pulling the horses to the opposite side of the road. Thundering hooves missed the dog by inches, but the wooden carraige wheel caught the hapless mutt in the side.

The dog let out an almost human scream of pain, which frightened the horses further. The driver could not stop, so he was forced to leave the dog lying in the ditch.
***

The music was joined by an eerie screech from outside. Eleniel's heart missed a beat.

"ARROW!" she cried, leaping to the door. This was bad. This was very bad.

[Firefoot]

After their amazing first performance, Lily was quite ready to continue with the next song. Willow leaned over toward her and whispered, "A faster one next. You played one before, go for it!" Lily happily complied, and began playing the song which she had played earlier. If she had enjoyed the last song, she was in heaven now, playing the song that of her whole repertoire was her favorite, the song that was part of many of her earliest childhood memories. If she had stopped playing long enough to watch her fellow musicians, she would see that they were performing with the same gusto and enthusiasm as she was.

Suddenly Lily was jerked out of the captivating harmony of the music by a scream of pain and a shout that she could not make out. Lily blundered on, hoping she hadn't messed up too badly, and was able to get back in beat, but her concentration was lost, and she was unable to play with the same enthusiasm she had felt just seconds before. Lily had never been one to ignore someone in pain, whether that someone was a young hobbit, one of the Big Folk, or even an animal. She finished the song up with grace. She couldn't see that any of the other people in the common room were paying them much attention anyway, as it seemed many of them were as curious as she as to what had happened outside the Inn.

"What should we do?" Lily asked. "Should we keep going, or should we find out what happened and whether we can help and then come back to playing?" Lily personally was in favor of finding out what had happened and trying to help especially if someone or something was hurt, but if the others all thought it would be better to keep playing, she would stick with them continue playing. She waited anxiously for their answers.

[Archsage Isaac]

Isaac had been caught up in the music, but was snapped out of it when Eleniel screamed and ran by him. He had heard the scream of pain from outside. He put the weighted cape he'd removed back on and replaced his sheathe on his hip before quickly giving chase after Eleniel. He ran through the doors.

He barely saw Eleniel running back the way that he'd come in. Now that he was outdoors, he knew that he could really move. Isaac ran after her as fast as he could, quickly catching up to her. "What's wrong, Eleniel? What has happened..." His voice trailed off as he saw the horses and the carriage going past them. And where's he off to in such a hurry? he thought, still a bit foggy on the exact details. That is, until he caught a glimpse of something lying in a ditch nearby...

[Eowyn Skywalker]

Willow herself jerked a bit as she heard the scream, but tried to tune it out to the best of her abilities.

Once they finished the tune, Willow tucked her violin under her arm. Lily turned to her. "What should we do?" Lily asked. "Should we keep going, or should we find out what happened and whether we can help and then come back to playing?"

Willow caught a tone to the other hobbit's vioce, that implied that she really wanted to go see what happened; a tone of compassion, fear, and anger that something had been hurt. "Tell you what, Lily," Willow said quickly; urgently. "You go and see what happened. The others too, if they so wish. I'll carry on the music for now, and when you get back we can continue. If you want to see what's happening, go! I can handle this, and if Mira, and Daisy wish to go, well, I'll manage. Just return fairly fast, after you find out what happened!"

She spoke quickly because she detested the thought that someone might be injured, but yet did not wish to detain Lily, if she desired to see what was going on. Willow herself was not too curious, she never had been, but she was not one to hold up another in those manners.

"Go," she said. "I do not care if you want to. I can manage, Lily. Go and see what happened!"

Willow took her fiddle back, and tucked it under her chin. "Daisy, Mira, are you going to go with Lily? If you are, I'll manage her. Just be fairly quick!"