The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Alaksoron]

The stranger gulped down the last of his ale and set down the mug with a heavy thud. He raised his head slowly to regard the red-headed hobbit standing over him. Belatedly he said "Certainly. Be my guest. I do not mind at all. Can I buy you a drink? I don't believe I caught your nam-......."

His attention was diverted by a new arrival to the inn. Not bothering to finish his question he took a long drawl at his pipe and fell once again to mutterings. No one else seemed to notice the weather-cloaked Elf-like apparition that so raptly held his attention.

[Alaksoron]

So. At least two others than the red-headed woman standing by his table (she still had not taken her seat) had noticed him. The Elven woman (he assumed she was Elven, though the light of the Valar had left her face) had immediately turned away, wrapping herself in a midnight blue cloak that had undoubtedly cost too much to be used for traveling long distances. His stare had that effect on many people, unfortunately. He was aware that his eyes were cold, a result of the violent life he had led.

The dark-headed woman with long lashes, however, was different. She met his lingering stare with an equally intent one of her own. "Easterling?" he wondered.

He turned to the red-haired woman still tarrying at the corner of the table. "Are you going to stand there forever? You asked to sit here. Sit." Without waiting to ask her he ordered two mugs of ale.

[Mad Baggins]

Through the frowziness of her sleepy state, Mira heard someone (it sounded like Lily) say something about going for a walk. With a great effort, she roused herself and said sleepily, "Walk? That'd be good right now. Just thing to wake me up." After rubbing her eyes and yawning, she opened them to see Lily looking at Willow, waiting for her response.

"Pardon me...going for a drink," Mira mumbled, still half-asleep. She got up and walked slowly to the bar. Once there, she asked for a cup of coffee. "Strong coffee, please," she added. She was served a steaming black cup, and she drank it in a few gulps. It flowed down her throat, a scalding, wonderfully energizing liquid that woke her up almost instantly.

Mira ambled back to the table where the others sat and plopped down in her seat. Looking expectantly at Willow, she said, "Well? Are you coming?"

[Kitanna]

Peony slid into the chair across from the man. "Sorry, I was waiting for you to finish your thought. You ended your sentence so aruptly. Is everything all right?"

Peony smiled and thanked the hobbit lass who brought the ale for them, "Thank you for the ale sir, but I do not even know your name." She smiled to him and took a small sip out of her mug. Peony waited for him to answer.

[Alaksoron]

"I am a friend. For now you can call me Jean. True, that is not my name, but you could hardly expect me to give my name to someone I just met in a tavern on foreign ground. And I suppose it is useless for me to ask you your name?"

The stranger, or Jean as we should call him now, seemed to be feeling more comfortable now, or maybe it was the ale, but he tossed back his hood. His complexion was dark, with the front of his head shaved and a single long braid in the back as thick as a child's wrist falling down his back past his shoulders and disappearing down his cloak.

He glanced briefly in the direction of the blue-cloaked Elf-woman while putting out his pipe with his thumb before turning to face his companion.

[Kitanna]

Jean drew back his hood, revealing a long braid down his back. "Useless to ask my name? Never! I give out my name because it makes people seem like friends instead of strangers." She smiled and took another sip of ale. "My name is Peony Minyatur."

Jean took his pipe away from his mouth for a moment and took a sip of his ale. "And may I ask where you are from Mr. Jean?"

[Bombadil]

Iadarion smiled as he read the sign for The Green Dragon. He had heard much of this merry place. It would be a perfect destination to end his day after travelling through the rain during most of it.

He had been on an errand to the Old Forest, from his current home in Eryn Lasgalen - and decided to explore the lands of the Shire before his return. As he stepped in, the few who noticed his odd appearance were thrown offguard by his graceful movements that modelled the quiet stream flowing through the endless forest. But this image was quickly shattered as Iardarion jumped in the air to click his heels and give a cheer for the Shire. Some gave the green-cloaked, yellow-booted creature disapproving looks, while others laughed and applauded his joy.

"Hey dol, to all!" he yelled and at last sat down in an empty booth. He drew the long blonde hair from his face, and glanced around the Inn with a smirk on his face - delightfully smoking the Old Toby pipeweed he had purchased on his way up from the South. He thought for a moment of buying a pint for all, but decided not to possibly come off as intrusive to the halflings around him. Folk in these parts weren't as accepting of such queer behavior.

[Sirithheruwen]

Twylight could still feel the man's gaze burning at her back now and again, like the sun racing in and out of the clouds in the outside world. She was beginning to regret turning away so hastily. He hadn't meant her any harm, as far as she knew of anyways. What if he had also noticed her shudder? Her fearful glance? But her secret...that was too dangerous. If the news of her secret spread, she could fall into the wrong hands and she could do nothing about it.

She sighed, summoned up all of her courage, preparing herself to turn around and meet the man's eyes. Just as she was about to turn around, a cheerful female voice spoke out beside her. It was a hobbit lady, one of the serving maids.

"Is there anything I can get you m'am?"

Twylight stared blankly. Finally, as the maid was beginning to look a little nervous, she held up a slender finger, motioning for the hobbit to wait one moment. Rummaging in a little bundle at her side, Twylight came out with a scrap of parchment and an odd rock that had not before been seen in the Shire. Putting rock to paper, she wrote:

My name is Tw- she paused, and abruptly crossed it out. She tried again:

I would like to arrange a room here at the Green Dragon. Do not worry, I can still hear you. My throat...it hurts. I cannot speak at the moment.

The maid nodded, still looking a little unsure. But all the same, between writing and speaking, they got something worked out and Twylight secured her room. She just hoped that no one else had noticed her odd behavior. With another rubbing of the rock, she finished off the last bit of parchment with this closing:

Thank you very much. I'll motion to you when I am ready to go. Do me a favour, miss, and don't tell anyone about this okay? Thank you.