The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Dimturiel]

Ravennar stood for some moments silent, hesitating, as if he now regreted his plea for help. Presently, he took a deep breath and began:

"I think that I should start my tale from the beginning. It will explain my plight better, although it would also cast an ill reflection upon me. If this is so, and if you are no longer willing to help me, I will respect your choice.

"I like to travel, and for this reason I am always being sent on some errand or another. I had a friend, that would go with me, and the roads were shorter when I would tread them with him. But something terrible happened on one of our journeys. The path that we were treading was wild and untamed, and beneath us gaped dark a dark gulf. My friend slipped on a rock and.."

Ravennar stopped and shook his head. He remained silent for a while, as if he was mustering his thoughts.

"I tried to give him aid," he continued at lenght, "I really did, but...but there was nothing that I could do. I returned alone, and told my people what had happened but not all believed me. Some said that I had failed to rescue him on purpose. It was known to all that I had my eyes on the same maiden that he courted. That was true, and true was also the fact that she prefered him, and that I envied him; but I swear, Heather, I swear on what I hold most dear in this world that never had I thought of harming him. He was my friend.

"I recieved this accusation one night at our inn, and I had changed since then. I am always striving now to prove my worth to those that name me murderer. It is not that I am trying to make them renounce their belief, Iam just trying to prove to them that I can do deeds worth singing of. I have become arrogant in my pursuit for glorry. And this lead me to my greatest mistake.

"I was entrusted with an errand of great importance, an errand of which I may not say any more.I had to go to Anuminas. But I , in my arrogance and foly, refused to take any companion and set upon this road alone. The journey was hard. I lost my horse, and I lost my way also. I know not how to reach Anuminas from here. Will you not help me, Heather? Although, now that you know my true self, maybe you are not that willing to aid me."

Ravennar fell silent and looked at Heather expectantly. He hoped very much that he woul recieve help, not for himself as much as for the sake of his errand.

[Firefoot]

That was my fault, said one half of Lily’s mind as Gróin said good night and left for his room. Nevertheless, she was puzzled; she had been completely genuine in her offer of help, but now Gróin seemed determined to simply ignore whatever it was that had gotten him in such a fright. Strange fellow, that one. Not unpleasant, but strange.

“I hope it wasn’t me that put him off,” Lily said to Posco. “He doesn’t think highly enough of himself and wouldn’t ever bother anyone with himself. But I suspect it was just that; a noise in the hallway that frightened him. If it really is something, I suppose we’ll hear more of it. I do hope he finds the one he’s looking for, though.” An awkward silence settled over the table. There seemed to be so many things she ought to say and no good way to say them. “It’s horrible to think you might not, you know… find the one you’re looking for, that is.” Yes, he ought to know. “For if you had no confidence in me, I had none in you, either. You see, when I was riding through Buckland, there was some lad there who told me you had come here to find your bride, and I thought you had come here for someone else.” It sounded absurd now, sitting with him here, but still she could not forget the horrible feelings of her ride here. But it would be all right. He still loved her… and it would be all right. Finally, something about this day made sense.

“And now perhaps we can both start fresh…”

[Dairym]

Heather listened wide-eyed as his story unfolded. Here indeed was a tragedy of misunderstandings. Did love always lead to this? Was it the fate of affection to wound deeper than it healed? Heather remembered the grey, closed face of her father, laugh lines creased into frowns, his eyes haunted with the same hopeless question that shadowed this man of Dale. She brushed her hand across her eyes before the tears could gather.

“Will you not help me, Heather?” Ravennar finished. All signs of reserve had long gone. “Although, now that you know my true self, maybe you are not that willing to aid me.”

Heather sat up. She tried to sound indignant, though it came out rather choked. “Now that I know you, sir? What’re you meaning by that, may I ask? Ravennar,” Heather said slowly, “You speak to me with candor and humble yourself without need. It is a fading age indeed if men so lightly condemn one another.” She smiled. “Anyone could tell you that Annuminas is to the north, by Lake Nenuiel, at the very mouth of the Baranduin. Even on foot, it should only take a fortnight to get there.”

[Dimturiel]

Ravennar looked up to catch a better glimpse of Heather when she began talking. The tone of her voice told him that there was something wrong with her. But what? Had he, unwillingly, touched upon things that brought her pain?

Ravennar started, when he heard how near he was to his destination. Was this really possible? Then that meant that he had not failed, after all. He would not return home in shame. He laughed, a clear, honest laugh, as he had not done for a long time.

"Well," he said, becoming serious again, "Now that I think of it, I realise that all this time I was trying to prove so high and mighty, I have been nothing but a great fool."

He smiled at Heather. Suddenly, he clasped her hand.

"I thank you," he told her, "For this and for everything else. I wish to repay you, somehow, and maybe I shall be able to do this some day. And one more thing. If by what I have told you this evening I brought back memories of your own that grieve you, forgive me. It was not my intent.