The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[piosenniel]

It's now later in the afternoon in the Shire.

The day is pleasant and sunny.

~*~

Volunteers would be appreciated to set up tables and chairs, gotten from the Common Room, for the party to take place later this evening out in the Inn's front yard, Shire time.

~*~

[Arry]

New is brought to the kitchen . . .

Gil and his friends had spent most of the morning practicing for the party tonight, they’d put together a nice list of songs, most of them good to dance to. They were just turning into the little lane that led from the main road to the Inn when Fallon spied smoke billowing up into the sky. The others were hurrying along, intent on cajoling Cook into giving them a little something to tide them over ‘til the evening’s festivities. They were luahing and joking with one another and were paying no attention to the view.

‘Look there!’ said Fallon, pointing to the column of smoke. ‘Something’s burning.’ Gil shaded his eyes with his hand and peered at the smoke. ‘Seems to be near the smokehouse,’ he said. ‘Thank the stars it’s not the barn!’ He took off at a dead run, motioning for the others to follow.

Gil stopped just short of the smokehouse structure; Tomlin, Fallon, and Ferrin, halted just behind him. ‘Well, it’s not on fire,’ Tomlin said, stating the obvious. The others crowded closer to the partially opened door which seemed to be the route for the escaping smoke.

Ferrin inspected the latch, his eyes catching the fact that it seemed to be broken. ‘No accident, this,’ he said, drawing their attention to it. They closed the door tightly and rolled one of the garden’s wheel-barrows up against it to keep it closed. Gil and Tomlin stayed to make sure no one would be getting into it again. And Fallon anf Ferrin ran as quick as they could to the back door of the kitchen.

‘Someone’s broken the latch to the smokehouse and left the door open,’ one of them cried as they tumbled willy-nilly into kitchen proper . . .

[Koobdooga]

‘Oh, I don’t know about a wager.’ Ibun’s eyes twinkled as he looked the lass up and down. ‘Now I could be wrong, but you’ve not the build, or so it seems to me, to drink us Dwarves under the table.’ He thumped Fror on the back, showing how solidly his friend was built. ‘But ye can try it if you’ve set your mind to it.’

Ibun motioned a server to bring over a half dozen more mugs, and another pitcher of ale. ‘Now you realize we’ve been drinking since mid morning . . . I think. Isn’t that right Fror? When that Hobbit brewmaster turned up and was giving out free samples.’ Ibun poured the six mugs full of foaming ale. ‘Now you just finish those off, and maybe a half round more, and you’ll be caught up to us.’

He sat down and grinned at her, egging her on. ‘And I suppose I should introduce myself. You’ve already met Fror, it seems. My name is Ibun Lodestone. And you’re Penn, aren’t you? Penn of the ferrets.’ He smiled again and raised his own mug to Fror and then to her.

[Valier]

Penn raised her mug,and slowly drained,she noticed the blurry image of the two dwarves and couldn't help from giggling and giving a little hiccup.Placing the mug down on the table with a slight jolt,Penn examined the beings in front of her more closely.

Penn had never personally met a Dwarf,she had espied some on trips to Edoras with her father,but sitting infront of two now she was quite impressed,what with their stout stature and their long beards.She thought them a hardy people and was glad to be conversing with them over good ale.

Penn's thoughts were conveyed on her face with a smile,she quickly blushed and took another long draught of ale.Penn pushed her blond hair from out her eyes,her cheeks slightly flushed, she cleared her throat..That's two for me"...She said with a grin."Are you gentle-men headed for the Ered Luin?"

[Undómë]

‘. . . perhaps after getting to know each other a little better you will not be so upset that your sister and I,' Farael looked at the flower on his tunic, 'were having a little conversation!’

I highly doubt that! thought Tindomion to himself. He kept his expression neutral as the man finished speaking. ‘Yes, no doubt, we will be safer with weapons at hand,’ he said, nodding his head at Farael. ‘The High King’s Peace aside, I have no trust of Sauron’s minions, especially his Orcs. I’ve seen too often the death they bring. Cruel death. And for the most part, solely for the sport of it.’

Telu spoke up, saying that perhaps they should go back to the Inn, to fetch their bows and quivers. ‘I’ll bring mine, too,’ she said, taking her brother’s arm as they started back toward the Dragon. Tindo raised his brow at her suggestion, then laughed.

‘You think to beat me this time, little sister?’ he chuckled. ‘Don’t deny it! I can see it written in your eyes.’ He peered around Telu to where Farael walked along beside her. ‘She never forgave our father or Thranduil for forbidding her to join our ranks. She really is quite good, you know.’

[Captain Grishnahk]

Grishnahk watched as the people before him walked away. The orc beside him jumped to his feet once they were a good deal away.
"Aye now!" he sneered, "a nice lil' place 'ere, eh? Safe and sound from the world about ye."
"What do you want," Grishnahk said, towering about the greasy goblin.
"You knows good and wells why we's 'ere." the orc said stooping close to the ground and backing up a few feet. One could tell that this orc was terrified of the Captain, but the orc kept his head as well as he could.
"We," Grishnahk said in thought, "I see now, it's not just Them looking for me, is it? He's got the whole lot of ya searchin'."
"Aye!" shouted the orc, he seamed pleased, and smiled revealing his teethless mouth, "He are!"
Grishnahk drew his dagger, he had left his better weapons inside, but this foul maggot would be easy to dispose of.

A shreik was heard from afar off.

[Koobdooga]

Ibun looked at Fror and then back to Penn. The young woman was giggling! And here she was only on her second mug of ale, her cheeks a little flushed. He thought perhaps she might be only a mug away from regretting she had made a wager with them.

He chuckled as she asked about Ered Luin. ‘ “Gentlemen” . . . now there is a compliment I don’t often hear! About the Blue Mountains - yes, we two just met here at the Inn and found out we are both headed in that direction. I’m hoping to find some of my kin and give them an invitation from my King to return to Khazad-dum.’

‘You haven’t by any chance come from that way, have you, Penn? This is the farthest west I’ve traveled. It would be nice to know what lies ahead.’

He leaned forward and took her empty mug from in front of her, wondering if she would indeed drink another. From a pocket in his vest he fished out a short pipe and filled the bowl with pipeweed from a much handled leather pouch. He offered it to Penn and Fror.