The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Encaitare]

Caity eyed the Man who had just joined them. She had seen him about previously, but now he seemed to have cleaned up a bit; his hair was neat and he wore a rich green cloak.

"Nonsense, Mister Snaveling," she said, smiling and deciding that he met her approval. "Please, join us -- if you don't mind sitting on the grass, that is!" She looked from him to her two elven companions, and then continued, "Unless, of course, this is business which does not include simple Hobbits; if such is the case, I will certainly take my leave. I can always use a little more time to practice with the band."

[piosenniel]

The scene in the Green Dragon Inn’s front yard at present . . .

It's a warm, sunny day in the Shire – mid-afternoon.

Preparations for the party are done. The tables are groaning with the plenitude of food brought out to stave off hunger . . . the local Hobbit families continue to arrive, and all of them have brought a special dish or two to share at the party. The staff from the Inn has already brought out great platters of meats and cheeses and baskets of bread for sandwiches along with mustards of all sorts and pickles. Mushroom pasties, jam tarts, and cookies of all sorts.

A number of the kegs have been tapped and tried, much to the satisfaction the thirsty crowds. For those who don't care for ale at the moment, there are pitchers of cold cider, tea, wine of all sorts, and of course, sweet, cold well water.

The three local grannies - Granny Chubb, Granny Oldbuck, and Granny Heathertoes have made their special punch – only for the women at the party. They are fending off, with their stout wooden stirring paddles, those bold lads who try to slip in and steal a taste.

Mayor Samwise and his wife, Rose, and a number of their brood (up to baby Daisy) have arrived for the party. Ginger has volunteered to watch over the main part of the Gardner brood, while Rose and baby Daisy are seated with some other local ladies, enjoying the Grannie’s punch, watching the crowds, and listening to the music. Sam is mingling with the crowd before the ceremony begins.

Gil and his friends, Tomlin, Fallon, and Ferrin are playing and singing on the raised stage near the front of the Inn. They are intermittently joined by Falco Headstrong, Rasputina, Caity, Seamus, and Owen.

[Arry]

Derufin and Zimzi are serenaded . . .

‘Well, now, look who’s coming over!’ Ferrin stood up from the Inn’s steps where he and his companions were talking and joking with Ferdy. The others stood up, too, and opened up their little circle to invite the man and woman in. ‘And aren’t you the lucky one to have this lovely lady on your arm,’ Gil said shaking Derufin’s hand. Zimzi smiled at the compliment and bent down quickly to give the Hobbit a kiss on his crown. ‘For the fair words and the sweet song earlier, Master Gil.’

Tomlin nudged Ferdy as Ferrin and Fallon shook their heads in a knowing manner. ‘Thank goodness you’ve already asked her to marry you,’ said Tomlin, in a loud whisper to Derufin. ‘Look how he’s gone all moony!’ Derufin laughed and pulled Zimzi a bit closer. ‘What’s this I hear,’ he said fixing Gil with his eyes. ‘You’ve been singing to my lady?’

Gil flushed and for once was at a loss for words, but Zimzi jabbed Derufin lightly in the side, turning to face him. ‘He sings quite well . . . and well, you don’t . . .’ Derufin’s brows raised. ‘I’ve heard you singing to the horses, you’ll remember.’

‘How about we sing them that song we worked up for the occasion?’ Ferrin had run quickly to where they’d left their instruments. Gil’s concertina was under one arm, the two fiddles in each hand, and his own hand drum balanced on his head. He motioned to Falco to bring his whistle. ‘I think you’ll know the tune – it’s The Star of County Down. We’ve changed the words a bit . . . for the couple, you know,’ he said nodding toward where Derufin and Zimzi stood talking with the others.

They stood on the steps, with Gil in front. Tomlin and Fallon opened with a playthrough on their fiddles of the chorus, then Gil came in on his concertina, repeating the chorus once again with Falco’s piping weaving in and out. Ferrin kept up the beat with his little drum and the counter tapping of his foot.

With a nod to the couple who stood listening, Gil sang out in his fair voice . . .

Near Bywater town, in the County Down
One morning in July
Down a pathway green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet from her two white feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, I shook myself
To make sure I was standing there.

* From Belfalas Bay up to Mithlond Quay
And from Greenholm to Rushy town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped I shook my head
And I gazed with a feeling rare
And I said, says I, to a passerby
"who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
He smiled at me, and with pride says he,
"That's the gem of Lindon’s crown.
She's Zimziran from the banks of the Lune
She's the star of the County Down."

* From Belfalas Bay up to Mithlond Quay
And from Greenholm to Rushy town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.

I've traveled a bit, but never was hit
Since my roving career began
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of Zimziran.
I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I meet with in shawl or gown
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down.

* From Belfalas Bay up to Mithlond Quay
And from Greenholm to Rushy town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.

At the crossroads fair I'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I'll try sheep's eyes, and deluding lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Though with rust my plow turns brown
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.

* From Belfalas Bay up to Mithlond Quay
And from Greenholm to Rushy town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Snaveling put out a hand as though to stay the hobbit lass. “No, do not go. It is true that my queries have to do with matters beyond the borders of the Shire, but I would not have you leave on that account. I have been to this land before and I am well acquainted with the folk of it. One of them,” he decided it best not to name Toby, “I account my greatest friend. And if these are not reasons enough to prevent my discourtesy to you, I have been urged by my King to seek out the company of Halflings whenever possible, for he feels that I have much to learn from you.”

Caity looked surprised at this. “The King said that, did he?” she asked. “Well I can’t imagine what the likes of us could have to teach a Man like you. Are you really kinsman to the King?”

“We are of the same lineage, I am told, but the connection is one so distant in time that it hardly bears the title of kinship. The King could easily forswear me, but for his nobility and the honour of his line. I have myself only recently become aware of the relation. Do not let the richness of my clothes – travel-stained as they may be – fool you into thinking that I am a grand Man of the Court. I am from somewhat more…humble circumstance. My own land is not all that different from the Shire, really, although it has been long since I lived there. But do not let me interrupt your conversation, my own questions can wait. You were, I believe speaking of the handfasting that is to take place today?”

[Mithalwen]

Mithalwen was intrigued by the man of Gondor who had introduced himself and so wished to know what he asked. " I have learnt a little of their customs - which indeed are somewhat different to those of my own people - although weddings happen seldom now among us ".

She smiled gently at Snaveling for she deemed that the mortal had suffered strange reverses of fortune. "Tar-Corondir, tell me what you would ask and I will aid you if I may - though I know not what service I might offer a kinsman of the King of the Atani - for I possess no such rank or status among my own people. I am merely an artisan." She dropped her head a little embarrassed. If this man was at the Court of Elessar the elves he would have met would have been elf-lords from Rivendell and so forth.

[Ealasaide]

Seamus stood under a large tree at the back of the inn’s yard, gazing hopefully up into the branches for some glimpse of Shimshin. He held up over his head the small bowl of honey that Owen had fetched from the kitchen in the hopes of drawing Shimshin down, but so far the only thing Seamus had drawn was a pair of green-tailed flies. He waved them away. Just then, a small voice broke through his thoughts.

"Mr. Seamus, Mr. Seamus!"

Turning, Seamus smiled in recognition as the older of the two hobbit boys he had asked to keep an eye on Shimshin rushed over to him.

"Me and Nick found Shimshin!” the boy panted. “Nick has him around by the front of the Inn."

Seamus’ grin broadened instantly. “Oh, say, Willy, that’s jolly good,” he answered with enthusiasm. “I knew you fellows were right for the job of watching him! Now... where did you say he is?”

“Nick has him by the front of the inn,” Willy repeated, already breaking back in that direction.

Seamus balanced the dish of honey between a small fork of branches and left it there for the flies and their relations to enjoy. Following Nick, he wiped his fingers on his pocket handkerchief as he walked. “That’s the thing about honey,” he said to no one in particular. “No matter how careful you are, you always end up sticky with it!”

“Yes, sir,” said Willy agreeably. As they rounded the corner of the building, he stopped and pointed toward the front door. “There’s Shimshin now!”

The two of them trotted over to where Nick waited with Shimshin seated comfortably on his shoulder. When he caught sight of Seamus, Shimshin jumped off the little hobbit boy’s shoulder and ran to the tall man, climbing up his long leg, over his jacket, and on to his shoulder. Reaching his accustomed perch on Seamus’ shoulder, Shimshin curled his long tail loosely around the man’s neck. One little hand took a firm hold of Seamus’ ear.

Seamus laughed happily at the greeting. “Well, hello, Shimshin!” he exclaimed, stroking the tip of the monkey’s furry tail with his finger. “I’m glad to see you, too.” Seamus then knelt down so that he might better talk to the two boys.

“You’ve done a jolly good job of keeping an eye on him,” he said. “He hasn’t gotten into any mischief has he?”

Both Nick and Willy shook their heads, but Willy grinned. “Not except for making that big lady faint.”

Seamus looked worried. “I must have missed that. Is she all right, I hope?”

Willy nodded. “Yeah...” he leaned forward, lowering his voice. ”I think she was faking anyway.”

“Oh, well, that’s good.” Seamus let out a breath he had not even realized he was holding. “He’s such a harmless little fellow, but people don’t always know how to react to him.”

“I like him,” said little Nick shyly.

“Well, you, Master Nick, are obviously a brave fellow and a fine judge of character,” Seamus announced kindly, letting his blue eyes twinkle at the little boy. Shimshin made an agreeable chuckling sound from Seamus’ shoulder and leaned forward, taking something out of his mouth as he did so. Whatever it was, he dropped it into Seamus’ shirt pocket. Then, the monkey jumped off of Seamus’ shoulder on to the ground beside Nick, where he sat down, wrapping his tail around his haunches. Just then, the music started again on the podium where Gil and his band had struck up a new version of Star of the County Down. Seamus looked anxiously over at the podium, then back at Shimshin and the two boys. Almost in response, Shimshin climbed back on to little Nick’s shoulder. Seamus hesitated. If he intended to play with the band during the handfasting and the party afterward, he knew he had better get back over there to the podium. On the other hand, he also needed to make sure that Shimshin stayed out of trouble.

“Say...” said Seamus, a new idea occurring to him. “How would you two like a job for the day? I haven’t got much money, but I’ll give you a ha'-penny apiece if you’ll keep an eye on Shimshin for Owen and me. Since you are such fast friends with him already, I shouldn’t think he would be much trouble. It wouldn’t have to be all the time... just while Owen and I are playing out instruments. Would you be interested in doing that?”