The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Amanaduial the archer]

"The shivaree?" Aman laughed as she picked up the Derufin's glass and re-filled it with some fine dark stout from the pitcher she was carrying. Looking at Andwise across the table as she set down the glass again, she wrinkled her nose curiously. "What's the shivaree?"

Andwise stared at her, eyebrows raised. "You don't...ah, well, fill my glass, Innkeeper, and I shall educate you both!"

[Lalwendë]

Trying to make herself as unobtrusive as possible, Jinniver walked into the inn, closing the door quietly behind her, and slipped into a place at the end of Andwise and Derufin's table. After arranging herself so she was almost hidden by the table, she nodded to them both and set about the business of filling her pipe.

Aman appeared near the table, bearing a large pitcher of stout. Jinniver savoured the smell and tried to catch Aman's eye. She longed for a drink. Aman was cheerily talking with Derufin, and Jinniver could not but help hear the word 'shivaree' mentioned, as Aman's voice rose sharply as she said it. She had no idea what this might be, but a chill went down her spine, and she leaned forwards, hoping to hear a good story.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Fáinu smirked, slightly in content at the words "Self pity". A shadow seemed to have come across his face and his words seemed dark and filled with madness.

"I have no pity for myself," he said, "What use is there that way? I merely can see nothing for me. I care not. It is for thee, that I care. Fore I perceive that you’re intent on being by my side, may lead you to a peril too great for thine heart to withstand." Cree seemed wrathful, as if about to stand and cast a drinking vestal at him, but he fixed her with a stern look, and she did not move. He had more yet to say.

"You may say that you shall never leave my side. Not even if death takes you. I have seen many use such words, and later wish they had not. I wish you to take caution, not to be rash. Keep a sane mind, do not let you’re regret take hold of you, like mine has me." Cree did not know what to say. She stared at him, he did not seem to be the same elf she had been talking to earlier. He had changed, his voice was different, and he seemed to be looking at another world.

"You came hither to seek Manstarmin," said Fáinu, he defiantly did not seem himself, "Ye thought him alive when thou saw me. But I tell you now that he is dead. Nothing shall bring him back!" he stopped and breathed heavily. The shadow passed, and again, Fainu sat in the Green dragon. Cree was opposite him and did not seem best pleased. She seemed half frightened and half amazed at what he had said.

Fáinu turned his head and looked from the window. a light breeze seemed to be blowing, several hobbit children ran past the inn. Cree leant forward as if to say something, but she stopped and looked down.

"Do you not see?" said Fáinu, "The dragon's curse has held us both. Madness took me, you must forgive me. I knew not what I was saying. I must get some air." He got to his feet and stepped out of the inn. However, the sun was not shining down as he had exspected, but the cool breeze helped relax Fáinu's mind. The rain pattered against his hair and cooled him off.

[piosenniel]

Please Note:

It has clouded over in the Shire and is raining.

[starkat]

Gwenneth and Ginger entered the Inn and shook the rain out of their hair. The young elf maid lightly shook the two boquets she was holding. "I am going to go find Aman."

Seeing Ginger's surprised look, Gwenneth laughed softly. "I made a second boquet for Cook." The elf pushed a boquet into Ginger's hands. "Why don't you take it to her?" Her voice softened, "May I meet you back here? I would be glad to help with something else."

[Angel_Queen]

Ravon looked around it had been awhile since she had been back in the inn. Lewis and her bought a little house in the Shire and hadn't thought about going back to the inn until a few days ago. Ravon was happier now that she didn't have to worry about Cree or her home. After all her home was where ever Lewis was. Right now that was the Shire. With Lewis she was happy unlike she was so long ago. Ravon hadn't seen Lewis all day and was getting worried that he wasn't anywhere to be found. She saw Cree setting alone and what seemed to be trouble written in her eyes. She hadn't talked to Cree in so long and decided a few more minutes wouldn't matter.

Ravon noticed that Cree didn't have Avalon with her. Suddenly worried about what had happened to Cree's friend she walked over to find out. "Cree where is Avalon?" Cree looked up and told Ravon about how she had gotten rid of Avalon so the crow could live its life free from the worries of Cree's curse. Ravon felt sorry for Cree but wouldn't let it show. She turned as she heard the front door open. Lewis was there. Avoiding everyone's way, Ravon ran to meet Lewis before he could get away from her. "It is good to see you my love." There was a smile on her face that seemed to go from ear to ear. She was only happy with him and no one else. "You said you had a surprise for me. Where is it?" Ravon had her hand over the ring she had given Lewis when they had met so long ago. The ring only made Ravon feel that much more love from Lewis.

Deep down inside, though her feelings hid it, Ravon was afraid of one thing. She didn't want to losse Lewis to anyone or anything. But Ravon knew she would eventually loose him to death. Though she figured with his death would be her own.

[Nurumaiel]

Posco had said nothing but, "Oh," when Lily had told him about Tommy Banks, and he had smiled at her in an encouraging manner to show that it did not affect him very much, and then he had fallen silent. This silence was one that Lily did not endeavour to break. She sat there, at the table, watching him, and gazing down at the wood, and looking out the window, and some time had gone by. Eventually Posco had spoken again, and a friendly, common-place conversation began, which led to other conversations, which in turn led to other conversations, and time slipped by easily.

And now it was late afternoon, and the two stood by the window, looking ruefully out at the raining weather. "I'm afraid I rambled on too long, Lily," said Posco, "and now our ride is spoiled. We should have gone earlier."

"Oh, don't be concerning yourself about it," she said, her voice cheerful though her face did betray her disappointment at the inability to spend another afternoon riding with Posco. "Imagine if we had left before the rain began: we would not be hear, warm and dry. Granted, we're disappointed about the ride, but we should be warm and dry, rather than caught in a storm."

"Maybe," said Posco, and while his tone giving the impression that he was speaking to himself, the glances he gave her out of the corner of his eye made it clear that he was addressing the girl at his side. "In fact, absolutely correct. Maybe it will keep storming tomorrow, so you'll be unable to go home. You do mean to go home tomorrow?"

"I think so," she said, softly.

"If you do leave tomorrow, Lily, so will I, and I will return to my own home, though - " and here his eyes glinted fiercely " - if this Tommy Banks poses a real threat to your affections for me, and mine for you, I'll ride all the way to Bree and thrash him."

She could not help but laugh at this. The idea of the shy, timid Posco thrashing Tommy Banks was one very amusing. But aside from the laughable image of himself he presented, he also presented the fact that he did love her, and this fact was, in a sense, reinforced by his next words. Turning to her in the shy, blushing, determined manner he always adopted when he was about to make a request of her, he said: "Miss Lily, I hope you'll allow me to help you saddle your pony, and help you prepare to leave in any manner that would be of use, and then let me ride alongside you for a time to make sure you are safely on your way."

[SonOfBombadil]

Lewis paced back and forth in front of the inn. It was raining, and he was soaked, but he didn't mind. All his mind on was the suprise he was going to tell Ravon. Well, he thought, This is it.

Lewis ascended the steps and entered the Green Dragon Inn. The warmth and cover of the building brought comfort to him. He was just hanging his coat, when he felt a familiar embrace. "It is good to see you my love." Ravon's voice was music to Lewis' ears, and it caused him to smile big. He gave no verbal reply, but wrapped his arms around Ravon in a big bear hug. Ravon spoke first. "You said you had a surprise for me. Where is it?" Lewis chuckled, "Is this why you came running for me? Because you knew I had a suprise for you?" A quick smile and mock-offense was her reply.

"Here, let's sit down," Lewis said as he led Ravon to a table. They sat down and Lewis grabbed both of Ravon's hands in his and looked into her captivating eyes. "Well first I should explain where I've been all day. Remember how I told you my Father is a blacksmith? Well I was looking for tools so that I could start a small smithy out of our house, so that I could support us while we're in the Shire." Lewis paused to let Ravon speak. "Alright, did you find anything?" she asked. "Yes, I found a retired old hobbit that is willing to sell me his old tools for a small price." "That's wonderful!" Ravon exclaimed, "Is that your surpirise?!" "Oh, no!" Lewis answered, "The suprise is much bigger." Ravon's hands tightened from anticipation inside of Lewis'. "But we can wait till after some dinner right?" He was stalling and he knew it, but he had to feel this one out for the right time to tell her...

[Angel_Queen]

Ravon was beyond surprised when Lewis told her about the blacksmith tools he was going to be able to acquire. "Lewis I guess we can wait until after we eat some dinner. Though I really would love to know what the surprise is." She could tell in his eyes that is was going to be something she wouldn't expect. Over the months that Ravon had lived with Lewis she had grown to love the way he was. She would end up having a full stomach before he would allow her to know what the sweets were. Desert after dinner. Ravon loved everything about Lewis but was still distant from him. Nothing would hurt her while Lewis was around. She knew she was safe for now.

"So Lewis what shall we have to eat then?" Ravon was trying to be patient but couldn't. It wasn't like her to be patient. She anticipated the worse but expected the best. Ravon listened as the ran gently came crashing down on the roof of the inn. She realized that she had left the windows up and was worried that for some reason the rain may get in. "Lewis did you go back by our home before you arrived at the inn. I'm afraid the windows are still up." Despite the fact that Ravon had a serious look on her face Lewis began to chuckle and laugh. "Ravon the windows are up. I stopped by the house to see if you was still there before coming back to the inn. All is well in our little hole in the ground." In all her life Ravon never imagined that she would be living in a hobbit hole like all her new neighbors.

Ravon stood up and looked down at Lewis. "I'm going to get an ale would you like one as well?" Lewis gave Ravon a nod and she knew that was her answer. She walked over to the counter and asked a waitress for two pints of ale before returning back to where Lewis was. The foam was layered on top of the warm liquid. Warm ale was always good on a rainy day. Sitting down she placed a mug in front of Lewis. "Here's to us." Ravon's mug and Lewis' mug slightly touched making the foam jiggle. She took a drink and set her mug back down only to be reminded of her old home. When it rained she would always love to dance in it. Now more than anything, Ravon just wanted to be with Lewis. To her it didn't matter what the weather was like, cause with him the sun was always shining.