The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[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.

[Firefoot]

Lily felt an immense relief at Posco's offer. She had been worried, before, when he had hardly said anything about her news. She had wondered if he did in fact think that she should do as her aunt and uncle would likely expect, and if she had been wrong in telling him. But she worried no more, because Posco had made himself clear. She smiled over at him.

"I would be delighted if you would ride with me," Lily replied with a pleased smile. "If it's not raining-" she darted a wistful glance out the window "-then we can leave tomorrow after breakfast sometime." It seemed to be the perfect solution. She had not really wanted to leave just yet, especially now with Tommy Banks waiting for her, and say good-bye to Posco for a time, but she had been away from home for quite a while now. If Posco would ride with her for a time, though... they could take their time, and despite the fact that she would be heading home, he would be with her. It was the best of both worlds.

Posco returned her smile with one of his own; Lily recognized it as the same one he had given when she said she would go riding with him. Lily continued, "I hope that there won't be any problems straightening everything out at home." Her features were even, but her voice conveyed a hint of worry. "If there are, well, you may come and 'thrash Tommy Banks,' and if that solves nothing I will run away with you." Her eyes glinted with amusement, though she was being serious, at least in part. She would do whatever she thought was necessary to be with Posco. She wasn't sure what that might entail, and hoped it wasn't too drastic. She was not rebellious by nature, nor did she want to be, but if rebellion was the solution her nature would not stand in the way of her love.

"I hope everything works out," she whispered. She did not know if Posco heard her or not, but either way she took comfort in his presence. She feared that she would miss him something terrible before long.

[Nurumaiel]

Posco glanced nervously down at Lily and coughed slightly. "Well, Lily," he said, as if he regretted his words but felt them his duty to say, "I don't know if we should actually run away. My parents wouldn't like it, and your aunt and uncle wouldn't like it."

"Oh, Posco, I don't really mean it."

"Of course not," he said, and his face brightened. Both were silent for a time, and Posco gazed out at the softly falling rain. He had always loved rain, for it was so soft and smooth-looking, and the sky was grey as if a painted picture, and mysterious mists would sweep over the green hills. Yet this rain seemed to be the outward manifestation of the dreariness in his heart. He did not want Lily to go home, and he did not want her to spend too much time with Tommy Banks. And he did not want to say what he felt he must say. She might misunderstand him, and begin to doubt his affections for her. Nevertheless...

"Lily," said he, and she turned her eyes up to him. He could not help but see the love in her eyes. She enjoyed hearing him speak her name, just as much as he enjoyed hearing her speak his name. He hardly had the heart to go on; but he remembered: he was not saying anything to give her doubt. He was merely speaking as he felt he should speak, as a gentlehobbit. "Lily, when you go home, for my sake, don't be cold and unkind to Tommy Banks. Don't act rebellious towards your aunt and uncle. Be obedient to them as far as you can, and if they try to impose the marriage upon you, be respectful when you answer them. And... and... don't entirely disregard Tommy Banks from your mind. Let him talk to you, and talk to him in return, and try to discern your heart... discern if you really, truly love me, or if you would not be happier with Tommy Banks."

"Of course I love you, Posco," she cried, and dismay was on her face. "Of course I shan't want to marry Tommy Banks. I could not be happy with him."

"I believe it fully, Lily," said Posco, "but I would feel much easier about marrying you if I knew you had made a responsible, well-thought-out decision. If you at least consider that Tommy Banks might be the one you should marry, but you choose me anyway, I'll know I'm making you happy by taking you as my wife, not taking you from a happiness you didn't at first realize."

"Would you do the same if there was a girl back home your parents wanted you to marry?" Lily questioned.

"Yes, I would, if I had your permission. I couldn't really doubt that I had a real, honest affection for you, but I'd think about it, and thoughtfully decide. You won't mind doing that for me, will you, Lily?"