The Golden Perch Inn

[Finduilas]

Elorn paused when he caught sight of the sign of The Golden Perch. He knew it was a good inn by hobbit standards, but he had no clue what hobbit standards were. But he also knew that something was often better than nothing. And hobbits seemed pleasant creatures, once you got used to children that were entirely grown up.

He decided to stop and as he entered the inn, he looked around for a seat. Seeing a chair that was out of the way and close to a corner, he made his way to it. He had first seen a hobbit just a few days ago, and wanted to be able to observe them without being overly observed himself.

A dwarf’s hand on his mace and half ignoring the man across the table from him, caught Elorn’s eye. It looked like a possible argument, and though Elorn didn’t like trouble, arguments were usually interesting.

[Folwren]

Dick had helped his newest customer and found himself standing with nothing to do behind the counter. He looked over the common room several times, but everyone seemed well and happy, with food and drink before them. From behind him, in the kitchen, he could hear Cela’s voice break out in protest. Something about an apple pie… Tollers again, Dick figured, and promptly shut out the sound of a possible row. His eyes scanned the room again and he was just about to go see if he could find Rowan when a new comer entered the inn.

It was a tall man who came in, young and handsome. His eyes scanned the room quickly as he entered and immediately, he made his way over to a far, shadowed corner, away from the light of the windows, and took a seat. Once more his eyes passed around the room and Dick saw them settle on the dwarf and the man that he had previously been speaking with. Dick’s eyes followed his gaze and he, too, saw the hand clenched on the shaft of the mace. His eyebrows lifted and then lowered with concern. He didn’t want an argument and he didn’t think trouble would be interesting enough to pay for the trouble it would cause.

But an argument had not been declared and trouble had not begun. Dick didn’t want to address the dwarf without need and therefore he wouldn’t. Instead, he would see if the new guest needed anything.

He went about the counter and pattered quickly over the solitary young man and drew his attention to himself as he arrived by speaking.

“G’day, my dear sir! May I get you anything? Ale? Wine? Beer? Breakfast, maybe, instead? We’ve got biscuits and eggs and bacon and perhaps anything else you want?”

[MaskedNicci]

Alassë

The Golden Perch, the sign said. Alassë figured that it would do no harm to go inside and have something to drink. She wasn't about to get drunk and chatter away loose-tongued with the locals, but she couldn't deny being parched for thirst.

Stepping inside wearing her comfortable and well-worn traveling clothes, she ventured to look openly around. It was cozy inside, and she had just entered in time to see another figure seat himself. It was a human, and he looked a tad suspicious to Alassë, though he wasn't the ugliest of his race, and there was no outward signs that should cause her to suspect him of anything but traveling to see a relative. Yet she suspected, just the same. He was observing his surroundings quickly and with curiosity, which Alassë still did not like. Seating herself not too far from him, she took her turn at observation.

[Finduilas]

Elorn gave a start when a hobbit, apparently the landlord, addressed him. He had stopped thinking about the man and dwarf, or even about the inn, and had been thinking of home.

“Oh. Good day,” he replied. “ Um, yes, I’d like… ale for now. Thanks.”

As the hobbit turned to go Elorn stopped him. “Excuse me, but how would I be able to get a message to a Farmer Maggot? Where exactly does he live? And I would like to get a room here. I don’t know how long I will be staying.”

[Folwren]

“A room! Aye, indeed, sir, as soon as you want it. And I can give you directions to Maggot’s. He lives down the road south*, several miles. You’ll see it. He’s got a lane branching off from the road, with a gate and fence by it. Beautifully kept lands. He keeps a couple of wolfish dogs, so make certain you stay on the road and approach his house by the lane.

“I’ll go and get your ale for ye.” He started away quickly, pattering over the floor and around tables as though he’d done it all his life. He stepped behind the bar and filled the mug full and foaming, and started back towards his customer.

He had almost reached the man when something happened to Dick that had never happened to him before. His eyes strayed upwards, drawn by the presence of a newcomer. His attention left the ale in his hands and the path that his feet took as he looked towards the elf who had just taken a seat. She was near the man he was serving and her eyes were slowly looking around her.

It was at the moment that his mind grasped the idea that she was actually studying the people around her as though she expected to see something suspicious that he bumped into the edge of one of the heavy tables. He stumbled sideways and his feet tripped around themselves, and Dick went plunging down towards the floor.

He gave a squeaking cry as the ale mug flew up and out of his hands. He didn’t watch where it landed as he concentrated on catching himself. But when he had shaken his head and slowly mounted to his knees and looked around, his eyes grew larger and his body froze.

The elven girl was standing up, her cloak and clothes soaked with the ale that he had fairly thrown directly into her lap. Dick groaned inwardly and paused before rising to address the problem.

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*Still don’t have a map by me, so I may be wrong. Subject to possible changing.

[Finduilas]

Elorn waited as the landlord filled his order, and watched, slightly amused as he tripped over himself. Elorn’s amusement faded when he saw where his ill fated ale landed. He quickly jumped up, helped the confused Dick to his feet, and then went over to help the elf.

“Apologies for any inconvenience, ma'am,” he said as he picked up the empty mug, and offering her his handkerchief.

Elorn stifled his impolite inclination to laugh, knowing that it probably wouldn’t go over the well with the injured elf. He righted her chair, which had fallen over in her hasty rise, and offered it to her.

[Tevildo]

Daisy turned around and grinned impishly at Tom, relishing her triumph of being the one whom mother picked to care for the younger siblings. "Yes, mum, I'll do that," she responded pertly, taking Lil's hand and heading towards the door.

"Where are we going?" the younger girl queried. "Let's do something exciting....a real adventure."

"We'll see in a minute. For now, let's go down to the common room and then we'll figure things out."

Daisy swept into the hallway with the four other children following behind her. The very last in line was Tom, who still had a sullen expression on his face. After filing into the Common Room, they sat down at one of the tables and began peering around at the other guests.

Within two minutes, Lil was complaining loudly to her older sister. "I'm hungry," she wailed. "Maybe we could get something good to eat? A big piece of pie? It's no fun just sitting here."

Daisy shook her head. "I spent all my pennies the other day in the market. We haven't any money. Not even a ha' penny."

"This isn't exciting. It's not an adventure. And I want a piece of pie," countered Lil in a dejected tone.

"Behave, Lil! Everyone is looking at us. Mum wants us to be good." Daisy gave her a stern face.

"I am being good. But this is boring..... I want to do something different than sitting in this dumb old room and watching other people eat."

"I have an idea....." A soft voice rose from the end of the table. Tom withdrew an object from his pocket and placed it triumphantly in front of the others.

Daisy turned around to look. Her jaw dropped open in surprise, as she exclaimed, "Tolman Hedgethistle! Where did you get that? Ooh....you're going to get in trouble. Big trouble!"