The Vineyard Tavern

[Ealasaide]

Rochadan listened to Earcwen’s singing with a distant half-smile on his face, touched by the way the girl had immersed herself so deeply into her song. He found the delight in her face infectious as she finished the song that had started out so sadly with a joyous happy ever after. As the last note faded away, he joined the children in a hearty round of applause for her. For a moment, she did not look at him or the two children, nor did she speak, but continued to look inward upon herself with an expression of delight and almost childlike rapture upon her face. Then, with a soft sigh, she gave herself a little shake and turned to Rochadan.

“You asked for the favour of a song, good sir,” she said with a mischievous smile. “I hope the song was pleasing enough to you and to the children.”

“It was wonderful!” he answered, accompanied by a chorus of agreement from Andhun and little Sallie. “You have acquitted yourself admirably! It was a lovely little song.”

Looking pleased with herself, Earcwen, clapped her hands together once and beamed like a child herself.

“Now Papa!” said Sallie, tugging at her father’s trouser leg. “Sing Sweet Sallie.”

Looking down at Sallie, Rochadan gave his daughter an affectionate smile. He had noticed over the last several minutes that her giggles, though happy, had taken on the thin, rather strained quality that told him she was still feeling tired and a bit overly-sensitive. Any small disappointment could push her back over the brink into tears. Andhun, too, despite the all merriment, was looking a bit worn-out as well. With a good-natured wink at Earcwen, Rochadan knelt down before Sallie and took one of her small hands in each of his. Swinging them playfully back and forth as though they were dancing, he said, “I’ll sing Sweet Sallie, but only two verses. Then we go eat lunch. If we don’t, I’m afraid young Andhun may swoon. Besides, I’m feeling a bit peckish myself. Agreed?”

When Sallie smiled happily and nodded, Rochadan breathed a sigh of relief. It was well past the time they should have gone in for luncheon, and he could only imagine what Cook was saying about him behind his back for being so late. Though he felt a little self-conscious about singing Sallie’s lullaby in front of Earcwen and Andhun, it being one of the songs he had made up himself to sing Sallie to sleep in front of the fire and no real ballad at all, he would be happy to oblige if two verses would be all it took to get the child inside to a bite of food and a nap. Andhun, too, for that matter. In reality, two verses amounted to but a pittance. The song itself had grown, since its first inception, to a dozen or so verses and could go on for what seemed like forever sometimes. Still swinging Sallie’s hands gently back and forth, he began to sing in a deep, pleasantly masculine voice:

My Sallie lies far beyond the Misty Mountains
She sleeps in a tow’r by the gray, rolling sea
I’d ride through the night
And through many tomorrows
To bring my sweet Sallie to me.

Sing hey-nonnie-nonnie, hey-nonnie, hey-nonnie-hey
Bring back my Sallie to me.
Sing hey-nonnie-nonnie, hey-nonnie, hey-nonnie-hey
Bring my sweet Sallie to me.

The briars grow wild around my Sallie’s tower
They bear crimson roses so fair for to see
Sword in hand, I would cut through
Great tangles of briars
To bring my sweet Sallie to me...

As he finished the last chorus of hey-nonnies he leaned slowly forward until at the final bring my sweet Sallie to me the tip of his nose came to rest against hers. For an instant, father and daughter shared a small, private smile, then Sallie threw her arms around her father’s neck and kissed his cheek. He picked her up and, rising, set her on his hip. Rochadan turned to Andhun.

“Then it’s off to our luncheon, we go.” He gave Andhun a helpful arm up from where the boy had again taken a seat on the floor. Then, turning to Earcwen, he smiled.

“I’m afraid as part of the inn’s staff, we eat in the kitchen rather than the common room with the guests. Nonetheless, we would be honored if you would join us, Miss...er...Miss...” he trailed off awkwardly, realizing that neither one of them had been properly introduced.

“Miss Earcwen,” Andhun chimed in helpfully. “Her name’s Miss Earcwen, sir.”

“...Miss Earcwen,” finished Rochadan. “My name is Rochadan. This is my daughter, sweet Sallie. It seems you and young Andhun have already met! Would you give us the pleasure of joining us for lunch?”

[Nerindel]

Ædhral clapped her hands excitedly as Finnian welcomed Tror to become a member of the Vineyards staff, her dark clad friend for the moment forgotten to her exhilaration. She knew Cook would be pleased to have extra help in the kitchen and she looked forward to seeing and tasting the culinary delights of the dwarven cook. “Then you should at least come and met Cook and see where it is you will be working I can give you a tour of the Tavern?” she grinned excitedly, throwing a askance glance to Finnian to make sure it was ok!

The young innkeeper nodded and before he could say any more she had the dwarf’s hand and was leading him tankard sloshing about in his other hand towards the kitchen, “Cooks bark is worse than her bite so you have to excuse her fiery temperament when it appears, she just likes things done on time and in order, but she has everyone’s best interests at heart really!” she smiled as she pushed open the kitchen door and quiet literally dragged the stunned dwarf inside.

“Cook, Cook!” she called elatedly, a dowdy woman with slightly greying hair tied up in a neat bun stuck her head out of the pantry, “What is it where’s the fire!” she exclaimed. “I would like you to met Tror, he has offered to help out in the kitchen and do odd jobs around the Tavern!” Ædhral grinned introducing the dwarf.

“Well I’ll be if it isn’t a dwarf and one that can cook at that!” she grinned stepping out of the pantry, wiping her hands on the corner of her apron. “Nellie Clotty, or cook as I’m commonly known here, but you may call me Nell!” she said extending her hand to him.

“A pleasure,” Tror grinned taking her hand, “I look forward to working with you, both of you,” he continued turning to smile at the still obviously thrilled Ædhral.

“It is about time that boy got a bit o help around here, he might be young but he’s got a level head like his father!” she winked to Ædhral as Finnian walked through the door to make sure the dwarf had caught cook in one of her better moods.

Come on Tror I will show you around the kitchen and get you acquainted with where everything is!” Ædhral grinned, again reaching for his hand.

“Whoa slow down there girl, he’s not going any where, there will be plenty of time for that,” cook laughed . “I bet she didn’t even give you the chance to finish your lunch,” she grinned, eyeing the half filled tankard still in the dwarf’s hand.

“No she didn’t!” Finnian laughed holding up the plate of cheese he had brought from the common room, Ædhral blushed and quickly apologised for her eagerness, But Tror merely laughed and told her not to worry herself about it.

“We are just about to eat , as you are now a member of staff you should join us,” cook said as she quickly pulled up another seat and ushered all three to the table.

[The Perky Ent]

"Of course I'd like to join you! I'm part of the group now, aren't I?" Tror said, laughing heartily. "By the way, you can call me Stoney! Tror "Stoney" Thunder Ax. I'm heir to the Thunder Ax clan of the Iron Mountains. We've been around since the dawn of time." Tror said, standing up tall (tall for a dwarf) as he said this. "Pleased to meet you, Stoney!" Nell said, a smile radiating from her face. "I've got an idea!" Tror said, as he spiritually patted himself on the back. "Now that I'm gonna cook here, would you like to see a sample of what I can cook?" "Sure!" said the group unanimously. "Well, Nell, what ingredients do we have? What do I have to work with? And if we don't have it, where can I get something?"