The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[piosenniel]

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[Nurumaiel]

Blanco's face fell and he looked at Posco, a dread little thought wavering on his mind. Was it Posco who had asked her to go riding with him? And the way the two of them had looked at each other, smiling. He suddenly felt jealousy surge up within him as he looked at his brother. So that was why Lily would rarely look at him. She loved Posco! It was an absurd notion, he realized in the furthest reaches of his mind. Lily had only just met Posco and if she cared for him that way at all she was only just falling in love. But Blanco did not care for this intelligence. He hated Posco suddenly with a fierce hatred, but swelling up to match that hatred was his natural good-natured personality and his love for his twin. Feeling dizzy suddenly, he excused himself and slipped away to battle with his feelings alone.

Posco barely noticed the absence of his brother, for he had fallen into anticipating the ride on the morrow. He would have to go to his aunt's house to fetch his pony, but perhaps Lily would accompany him. No. His face darkened a bit. He would not wish her to meet his aunt. His aunt would speak sharply to her and give those scornful, disapproving looks. "Lily," he said, turning to her, "my pony is at my aunt's house and I wondered if you would mind waiting here tomorrow morning for me to come back. I... I don't think you'd like my aunt very much." He hurried on without looking at her. "What do you say to leaving tomorrow after breakfast?"

[Sapphire_Flame]

The woman, apparently called Peony, whom Takua had been watching was sitting by a dwarf and looking extraordinarily bored. Takua took another swig of her ale. She knew dwarves were as reknowned for their conversation skills as orcs were for their kindness.

In a rare show of pity, Takua managed to catch the woman's eye and beckon her over. The woman gave a perplexed blink, then rose and walked over to sit beside Takua.

"You seemed bored," Takua commented with a wry smile. "And personally, I don't blame you. I thought you could use some real conversation." Her usually somber features brightened momentarily. "I am called Takua. What of yourself?"

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman eyed the armoured man sitting in the corner warily as she passed him, and quickly scanned him over with practised eyes. A warrior, there was no doubt of that, but one who seemed to have been recently in the midst of battle. A strange thing indeed, but to say he was weary and travel-stained would be a euphemism - Aman changed her course and started to move towards him, to see whether she could help.

"Excuse me..." a timid voice sounded from behind, but Aman barely noticed as a customer in front also seized her attention, a noisy hobbit with a very red nose.

"Waitress, two pints of ale!" he bellowed in her face arrogantly as she leant down to retrieve a few glasses, his eyes wandering. She straightened up and treated him with an irritated look.

"I'd like to..uh, I would like a room for the night, um, please, miss..." The timid voice sounded again from behind, and Aman started to turn.

"Me first, waitress!" The drunk hobbit reminded her loudly as she did so.

"I apologise for my husband, miz - Balco, I think you've had enough!" A harrassed looking hobbit woman apologised to Aman then reprimanded her husband.

"Excuse me..."

"Bah, hush your noise, woman!"

"I'm warning you Balco..." the woman's voice had a dangerous edge to it. Her husband looked a little sheepish despite himself and muttered a resentful apology, retrieving his coat from the back of his chair and shrugging it on. His little wife supported him with practised ease as he staggered unsteadily, and rolled her eyes at Aman, who grinned back. Bidding them a brief goodnight, the Innkeeper finally turned to the holder of the timid voice behind her, spinning around to face a gawky, scruffy youth, who had one finger poised to tap her shoulder again. He blushed vividly as she turned to him, stammering an apology for interrupting her.

Aman waved the apology aside and smiled kindly at him, worried he might damage himself if he got any more nervous. "Sorry, sir, I was slightly preoccupied." It seems there is a conspiracy to stop me from reaching the warrior... she mused. Glancing over for a split second at the blonde, rugged soldier in the corner, she saw Myrddin, the horserider from earlier, had come to sit with him and was glad, for some inexplicable reason. Turning back to the youth once more, she smiled openly. "Was it a drink or food you wanted, or a room?" she inquired, gently manipulating him onto a barstool.

[Saraphim]

"Greetings Milady." He paused for a moment. "You are welcome to stay here and dine with me. It has been a very long while since I have been in the company of another."

Myrddin's smile widened as her hand was excepted.

"It has been a long while for me as well." she said, happy to finally be speaking to someone after weeks on the road with only her horse for company.

"I am sorry, but I do not believe you told me your name. For what it may be worth, I am Ulrath. I am but a traveler, one who who has come many leagues, seeking peace of mind."

"I apologize! I had forgotten my manners. I am Myrddin, and likewise a traveler. If you seek peace of mind, I cannot think of a better place than this land." Myrddin said, happy with her new aquaintance, "Already I have begun to drop the worries I carry with me, if only for a little while. But please, tell me your tale, for I can see that it is far more intersting than mine."

[Firefoot]

Lily wondered briefly why Posco did not want her to meet his aunt. Was there something wrong with her or something? But she didn't dwell on it long; there were much more important things to think about.

"That will be fine," said Lily. "I will wait for you outside the stables, then, after breakfast." There was so much more that she wanted to say; how much she was looking forward to the ride, and more importantly, how much she was beginning to care for him. However, she said nothing of it, for she did not know how to say it without embarrassing herself or him, and besides, there were other people sitting around.

It was then that she realized that Blanco had left. She did not know why; she thought that they had been making plans for the afternoon. Then she had been blissfully distracted by Posco and their ride, and he had... disappeared. I wonder why... just because I'm going on a ride with Posco in the morning doesn't mean we all can't do something together in the afternoon... Suddenly it clicked in Lily's mind. Blanco must be jealous of Posco! Then Lily felt slightly sorry for Blanco, for though she would like to get to know him better as a friend, she knew that she could never feel that way about him.

Lily leaned in a little closer to Posco and said softly, "I am truly looking forward to this ride with you, Posco."

[Nurumaiel]

"I... I look forward to it as well, Miss Lily," Posco stammered, and then scolded himself inwardly. Lily had told him already not to call her 'Miss,' and here he was doing it again! It was so difficult speaking to her with all the others around, yet it felt good to have some company. She had leaned closer to him and strands of her hair fell past her ears and into her face. She had a very pretty little face, the firelight flickering across its softness. He liked that face turned towards him, those eyes looking up at him. And she said she was looking forward to riding with him. A smile came to his face and he felt blissfully happy.

Blanco sat at the furthest reaches of the room on a little stool, his knees pulled up to his chin and his eyes filled with mix feelings. He watched Lily's every move, admiring her easy grace and her beauty. And then she leaned closer to Posco and looked into his eyes. Blanco moaned softly and dropped his head, pain conquering him. If Lily ever loved anyone he knew it would not be him. To have his twin brother as a rival was unbearable, yet it could not be avoided. There was nothing to do now but give up; Lily couldn't ever care for him.

No! It was not over yet. He could not give up just because she looked at Posco and not at him. He would win her heart yet, her sweet and gentle heart. Posco would have his chance in the morning, but tomorrow afternoon it would be his chance and he would make Posco look a dull, ugly hobbit. He started when he looked at them again. Their eyes were still locked and Posco was beginning to smile. The firelight was doing something that Blanco did not like. He would bring Posco back to his aunt's house as soon as possible. He could not stay with Lily like this, or he would win.

Blanco hurried back across the room but not to where Posco sat. Rather, he went to Marcho and interrupted the conversation he was having with Marin, though not in an impolite way. To comply with his mother's wishes he could not leave the Inn with Posco until Marcho did. "Marcho," he whispered urgently, "supper is almost over and it's getting dark. Don't you think it's time we were getting back?"

In normal circumstances Marcho would have been all too glad to leave the noisy Common Room full of annoying people, but he was enjoying Marin's company and was loathe to go. "Blanco," he said sourly, "you are entirely too impatient. We have daylight left before we need go. Besides, your aunt's home is not far. We needn't worry of it growing too late."

Blanco's face fell. Posco had a better chance at winning now, spending these minutes in the firelight by Lily. No, no, he could not let him win. He went over to the next table and sat down beside Posco, everything within him burning with determination, though outwardly no sign of it showed. He would not let Posco win.

[Sirithheruwen]

As Marin finished his story, the table fell silent for a moment. Marin took a swig of ale, so he didn't see the medley of looks flash across his face. Twylight realized that she now felt a feeling she had never felt for Marcho before: pity. He pointedly avoided her gaze, but she continued to stare at him.

Her thoughts were interrupted but Marin's voice. "We should get going tonight if we are to reach my house by tomorrow morning," he said for the whole table to hear. "I think it's time to say our good-byes," he said more quietly in Twylight's ear. She nodded sorrowfully.

She stood up and went over to where Posco, Lily, and Iadarion were sitting. Picking up the now forgotten piece of parchment, she wrote, Well, I have to leave now. I’m very sorry to have to say good-bye, yet I must. She pushed the parchment into the middle of the table, and everyone craned their necks to see what was written. Everyone stood up with much grating of chairs, and started saying good-bye. Iadarion was first. With a little hesitation at first, she reached over and gave him a peck on the cheek. He seemed surprised, but pleased. Next came Posco, eyes still lowered shyly. She too gave him a small kiss on the cheek. He blushed slightly, but chanced a look up. She smiled kindly at him and moved on. Lily was last, and she wrapped her arms around her in a hug. True, she hardly knew these people, but she already felt like she had spent years getting to know them.

Finishing at that table, she went back to where Marcho and Marin were shaking hands. Twylight hesitated slightly when she saw Marcho. He cast down his eyes, and the feelings of pity came back to her strongly. Taking his chin in her hand, she lifted it up, and placed a light kiss on his cheek, the same she had done for Iadarion and Posco. His face broke, and it took her a moment to realize he was smiling – and at her, no less. She smiled joyfully back, and turned to Marin. He put an arm about her shoulder, and he steered her gently towards the exit.

Once outside, they both breathed the fresh air deeply. Both of them did not realize how warm the room had been. They walked slowly up the garden path. Abruptly, Marin turned toward Twylight, and she was troubled to see he wasn’t smiling anymore. “Twylight,” he said softly. “Twylight, can I ask you something?” Of course, she signed. You know you can ask me anything. Her smile had now disappeared too, and she was gazing at him with concern in her light blue eyes. “We’ve grown up together. Known each other for so long. Our long absence made this more clear to me: we need to see each other more often. Well…I mean…I’ve missed you so much…and…well…” As his voice faltered, Twylight’s spine tingled. “How would you feel like never having to be separated again? What…what I’m trying to say is…would you…like to…to marry me?”

Twylight glanced up at the sky. A lone star was shining right above them, and her face broke out in a wide smile. When Marin saw that smile, he knew what her answer was. When he saw that smile he felt like nothing could be more right in the world. Slipping her soft hand into his, Twylight and Marin strolled back along the path towards the moon wobbling over the horizon. To the two lovers, the new stars had never seemed brighter, nor the moon lovelier. As they past out of sight of the Green Dragon Inn, Marin’s strong voice rose up in song. The song had not previously been heard in these parts of the Shire, for it was in the rich, rolling language of the Rohirrim. As the last strains of his voice faded, several new stars sprang into light in the sky and the wind sighed happily. Never had Middle-earth seemed like such a wonderful place.

[CaptainofDespair]

As Myrddin began inquiring about his myriad of adventures, the smile that had set on his lips, twisted into a dark, sullen grimace. His eyes seemed to fade out, as if the fire of life had gone out. His mind drifted back through time, whilst his body remained in the inn. Suddenly, his dark figure shuddered. Slowly, the light rekindled in his eyes, as if an old spark was giving its last efforts towards the flame, and his mind returned to the present. At last, he started to utter the first words that would begin his tale.

"I shall tell you a tale of my time in Gondor. It was only a mere three years ago, maybe four. I was much younger looking than you see me here. I had not been traveling for a year or two, and I had managed to get my life in some semblance of order. I had been struggling trying to find any form of work that I might be suited to. I had passed between multiple crafts, a few weeks as a blacksmith, three months as a carpenter, and I even spent a month or two as a fisherman. Needless to say, I did not take to those very well. But at last, when all my hope had run out, in desperation I signed up to join a mercenary band that was heading out to Mordor, to the Morgul Vale."

He paused, and took a drink from his mug of ale. He then stared up at the ceiling, and as if in a trance, he mind shifted back from the present, to those years in Gondor. Myrddin could not help but cast her gaze on him, as he sat motionless, almost in a state of comatose. For a few moments, he sat like this. But finally, his tense bosy eased, and his mind returned to the world of the present once more. Again, he moved his lips to speak, and continue his dreadful tale.

"The mercenaries I had signed on with had been planning somewhat of a sporting event. They had planned to go to the Morgul Vale, and hunt any remnant orcs that remained. For their trouble, the Gondorian army was willing to pay them in recompense, depending on how many orcs were slain. Each members of the 30 man hunting expedition was entitled to at least small bag of coins, as this was the upfront cost the Army had paid just for starting out. And so we prepared for our trip into the heart of death."