The Golden Perch Inn

[MaskedNicci]

She pondered the mental image of Elorn muttering and giving a message to a small hobbit. Maggot...an interesting name...but then again, hobbits did have a way of naming themselves strange things.

Alasse felt the silence between them this time was different, it was more tense and awkward. It was, in a strange way, one of the worst feelings Alasse had experienced in quite some time. She shrugged again, secretly wishing the gesture would tip off the strange, overbearing weight on her shoulders, as though she could just let go of the strange silence.

"Well.." She mumbled for a moment, "I suppose, since odd introductions are out of the way, and we've discussed our business, the proper thing to do would be to converse in some nonsensical talk of our interests?" It was more thinking out loud than an actual question, but she turned askance to him either way. "I don't understand art, I'm no good at cooking, and I'm no good at talking without a purpose." She allowed a crooked smile to adorn her features momentarily, "I suppose I'm exactly what humans would call, 'unromantic'. But then, these aren't times to be romantic, in all honesty. Too much opportunity for foolishness already."

[Elfchick7]

Luriniel hurried into the room where Nienna was. When she arrived, she found Nienna fast asleep and the healer cleaning the wound.

"How long has this girl carried the wound?" the healer asked.

"I am not sure. It was not until four days ago that I learned of it and by that time it was very infected as you see now. My sister does not like to trouble me and so she kept the injury a secret."

"Do you know what caused the wound?"

"Yes. The injury was caused by an orc arrow."

"Then it probably was touched by poison. I will mix a poultice that will draw the poison out." as he began putting different ingredients in a mortar and mixed them with a pestle, he continued, "Apply this every three hours. When the wound starts to look less green and more pink, take the ordinary healing herbs and make a compress for it. If the wound does not begin to clear in three days, send for me again."

"Thank you." she said, removing some gold pieces and holding them out to him, "Take this for your trouble."

"Pay me when she is healed. I will be by as soon as I can to assure that she is healing properly. She needs a good bit of rest. I'll move her to the be before I go. Do not let her move about if it can be avoided."

The healer lifted Nienna and set her on the bed. Luriniel, who had turned down the blankets, was now tucking her sister comfortably in them. She walked the healer out of the Inn and turned to rejoin her sister. Just as she was about to leave the room she heard the new dwarf mention Vehil's brother.

Remembering how much Vehil had originally struck her as resembling Maikaalph, she walked over to them.

"Pardon me for interrupting, but I couldn't help but overhear that you were in search of someone. It leads me to wonder, Vehil, if you are perhaps related to the elf Maikaalp and if he might be the one you are seeking."

[Forest Elf]

Gable took a deep breath to calm herself as fear made her heart beat quickly. Slowly she pushed the wolf off of her and turned around. There were five wolves, the one that she had rescued long ago and the four others with barred fangs and blood lust gleaming in their eyes. Finally calming herself, she prepared herself to run if they decided to come much closer.

Gable took a step back and looked around to see if anyone was coming down the road. She couldn’t see anyone, yet. Then she looked around for something to use to protect herself from them, the only thing that she could see was a limb that was too big and too heavy for anyone to lift, unless there were two or three men doing it.

One of the wolves howled and they began to circle around Gable. Gable took a step back, desperate not to be surrounded. The wolf that had jumped up on Gable snarled at the other wolves, the looked at Gable hesitantly. With a quick growl from a wolf that just stepped out of the bushes, they began to form a circle around Gable again.

[mormegil]

Kuric paced the room furiously kicking any object in his way. He had already torn the bed apart and tipped over the night stand in search of his precious ring. With constant stream of mutters curses he searched on, hoping beyond all hope that his ring would be found in his room or that some clue would point to where it had gone. "Naw, it could be missing," Kuric spoke to himself, "The necklace is still here." He thought perhaps he had left it in the wash room and he made a quick dash in that direction but on his way he vividly remembered removing it and placing it next to the necklace.

This recollection sent a fresh wave of fury through him and he charged off to his room, so infuriated he was, that he punched the nearest wall with his spiked glove driving the spikes deep into the timber.

"It's okay lad," he told himself "ye'll figure it out, stop and think for a moment." He promptly cooled himself every so slightly and afforded him a moment of clear thought.

Upon hearing somebody at his door he barked "Come in!" Hoping that somebody was coming to tell him his ring had been found. The door slowly opened and a very nervous and reticent Tollers appeared. Kuric could hear the tenseness on his voice when he asked, Master Dwarf, so sorry to bother you, but something else has gone missing. Five children....the ones who live just across from you....their mother says they've been gone all day, and I'm trying to help find them. I've been up and down every floor with no luck. You wouldn't have seen them by any chance?" Before Kuric had a chance to explain that right now he didn't care that a couple hobbit children were missing, Tollers spoke again, “You know maybe the same person who stole your Ring has also made off with these children...."

Kuric instantly made the connection and his heart was somewhat softened at the thought. While he had a gruff exterior he truly cared for the welfare of kids. He thought of the poor hobbit children in the clutches of some ruffians and became even more determine. "Lad, this may be worse than we thought." He said caringly. "We had best sound the alarm and search for them."

[Tevildo]

The lost children....

The children sat cross legged on the ground. Their shoulders touched as they huddled in a tight circle and tried not to notice the heavy black shadows that played around their heads. For the past half hour, Tom had told stories to keep the little ones from becoming too frightened. But even he had reached the end of his patience and fortitude.

"I'm tired, Daisy. I'm so tired. Tired and scared. I wish I'd never seen that ring or torque or taken the key from the bar. I wouldn't even mind running into the Dwarf. Just as long as we make it out of here."

Daisy leaned over and took her brother's hand in an unusual show of affection, "It's alright. We'll get out. I know it. Rest now. Just for a minute. The others have fallen asleep." Lilly's head hung heavy against her shoulder, as her own eyelids fluttered up and down. A moment more and she could not keep them open. There was silence in the twisted halls as all the children slept.

************

Tollers

"Good! Good!" Tollers nodded his head approvingly in response to what the Dwarf said. "Let's go outside and ring the alarm bell in the yard. I've already told Master Dick what's happening, so he'll be able to direct the search inside the Inn. Then you and I can concentrate on the outside."

Tollers grabbed the Dwarf's sleeve and indicated to Kuric that he should follow him out the front door. For the next hour, the two of them scoured the surrounding yard and garden as well as the stable and the shed where tools and old furniture were kept. Despite their best effort, they came up with nothing. Nor was their any indication that the Innkeeper was having any luck inside the Perch. The sun was dipping down in the sky. In just a little while, the moon would rise and darkness would descend on the Shire. If the children were going to be found, they would need to do it very soon.

Tired and frustrated, Tollers stopped for a moment and threw his body down on the ground just outside the chute that led down to the Inn's cellar. He mumbled something to Kuric about needing to rest. That was when he saw it. It was still light enough that he could make out a small leather pouch caught on a nail on the door that led to the cellar. He yanked the bag down and looked inside and then waved it in the air. "Look here. This was stuck on a nail. Right there at the entrance to the cellar. And look what's here....all sorts of things a lass might want!" There was a green ball, a skirt for a doll, and two small candles, along with an assortment of marbles and rings and other children's treasures. Tollers stood up but Kuric had already beaten him over to the door and was trying to pull the trap up.

[Dunwen]

Riding through Stock, the young hobbit gawked openly at the village's houses, turning her gaze from one side to the other. Of course Periwinkle knew that hobbits in the Marish often lived in houses, Man-style. And many hobbits had barns -- her own family did, in fact. But an entire town of houses was a strange and exotic sight. Some rose to amazing heights! Fascinated, she craned her neck to look up at windows that must be at least 12 feet off the ground. Despite being a well-bred young hobbit lady, she bounced, just a tiny bit, in her saddle (making her pony, a sturdy little bay, toss its head in annoyance).

What a good idea it had been to come to Stock! She had never been away from the Tookland before, but she'd heard her Dad mention the Golden Perch Inn and its famous ale often enough. Now that she had reached Stock, however, she had to find the Inn. The one drawback to being on the road, Periwinkle had discovered, was that one missed regular meals. Why, she had eaten only one breakfast and her lunch all day! Granted, she had stopped for a snack at eleven that morning, but a large apple and a muffin washed down only by water from her bottle hardly constituted elevenses. She'd thought to get directions through the town from a kindly-looking farmer working a field on its outskirts, so she chirupped to the pony and continued on her way, eager to get to some hot tea and a warm meal.

Periwinkle Greenhand had missed very few meals in her brief and comfortable life. For one thing, her father had a prosperous farm near Tuckborogh, raising enough most years to feed his family with extra to sell at that town's market. For another, her mother canned, preserved, pickled and dried as much of the farm's harvests as possible, with the help of Periwinkle and her two younger sisters, as if they had to prepare for the Fell Winter every year.

And for a third thing, her mother was a Took by birth. She wasn't a member of the Old Took's immediate family, but the former Agatha Took had gained a small share of the Took fortune and a full share of her own pride. Which was why Peri had risen much earlier than usual to do her chores, then made up a small (by hobbit standards) bundle of food, saddled her pony and headed out of the farmyard down the Stock Road. She wasn't quite running away, having left a letter telling her plans where her Dad would find it. But she was sick to death of Mum's constant attempts to marry her off. Mum had always had an eye on the local lads to see who might be the most advantageous match, but since Peri had come of age last year, it had gotten much worse.

The feisty hobbit normally drove off unwanted suitors with relatively little effort, but Mum's latest favorite, Mungo Sackville, refused to be deterred. Even when Peri purposely cooked him a 'dinner' of tough, over-salted mutton, doughy bread, burnt vegetables and rock-hard cake, he had not stopped his frequent visits. If the stubborn fellow had expressed tender sentiments toward Peri herself, she might have tolerated his company. However, young Mr. Sackville's greatest interest appeared to be the the size of her eventual share of the farm and the fine furnishings in the Greenhand burrow. He also had an irritating habit of complaining about the amount of time Peri spent wandering in the woods and fields near the farm. She herself thought it was a miracle that she hadn't brained him with one of the well-made iron pots in the Greenhand kitchen. The last straw had been when Mistress Greenhand had started pointing out, on a daily basis, that Mungo's holding bordered their own, and that he had a large burrow perfect for raising large family.

"Ha!" said Peri to herself. Mungo and Mum would have a hard time pressuring her to marry when she wasn't there. 'And it's not just that I don't want Mungo,' she thought to herself. 'I don't even know what I do want, and I can't ever get a chance to think about with those two pestering me, and the garden and the chores and everything.' She hoped she'd be able to clear her mind while she visited Stock.

Before her in the fine spring evening was a large building whose sign displayed a large golden fish. She'd found the Inn, and now it was time to find a late tea, followed by an early dinner! Peri turned the pony into the yard, where she could hear several voices. Dismounting, she looked around for someone who could stable the animal.

[mormegil]

With one great heave, Kuric threw the doors open. It was obvious that they had been opened recently as not nearly as much dust flew about as should have. "They're down here, that's fer sure lad."

Kuric began running into the cellar and looked back at Tollers who was waiting hesitatingly at the entrance. He could tell that Tollers was indeed frightened of entering the cellar without a search party.

"No sense in waiting lad, there in trouble down there and we can help them. I don't suppose ye have a weapon, best get one quick, whatever will work, it may be helpful in a pinch"

[Folwren]

The day had been long - far too long. Dick was wearing out, and still customer’s were arriving. Well, of course they were. It was evening, after all, and evening was always the busiest time of day - it was supposed to be, because that’s when people were coming to the end of their day’s journeying.

There were some new arrivals with ponies that needed taking care of. Dick saw Will going out to tend to the animals and he nodded in approval. His mind went on immediately, though, and five minutes later, he was confronted by two hobbits who owned one of the carts and ponies.

“Hullo,” Dick said, blinking with a little surprise as two hobbit lasses faced him.

“Are you the innkeeper?” asked the older one. She looked rather fierce.

“I am that. How can I help you?”

The older one gave the younger a prod and the girl stepped forward. “I snuck behind your counter and stole some ale,” she mumbled. “I am sorry.”

“Oh. O h dear me,” Dick said. He didn’t know what to think. The thing was unheard of, almost.

“I’m sorry, too,” said the older one in a clearer voice. “Here’s pay for it, also for supper and a room. Ruby here’s something of a trouble maker, sir, and I hope you’ll forgive us both, but if she causes any other trouble and you find anything else missing, you can do whatever you think necessary.”

“Well...yes, well...I hope it doesn’t come to that.” Dick took the offered coins and directed them to a room. “I hope this is comfortable for you. When you’re ready for dinner come back on out to the common room and you’ll be served immediately.”

He padded back up the hall and plunged once more into other business. Before much longer, another hobbit entered. She found a seat and sat back to consider the people around her. Dick meant to go to her immediately and see how he could serve her, but as he crossed the room, his sleeve was caught by someone to his left. He turned at once, and found himself face to face with a much distressed Mrs. Hedgethistle.

“Oh, Mr. Boffin! Have my children been found yet?”

“I don’t know, Mrs. Hedgethistle,” replied Dick, patting the distraught hobbit’s hand gently. “I haven’t heard from the dwarf Kurik or Tollers in quite some time.” She let out a wail of despair and Dick tried to comfort her. “I’m sure they’ll be fine when they find them! Tollers is a sensible lad, and the dwarf is big and strong so nothing will be very dangerous for them. Here, sit down, and I’ll make sure you get something to eat and get a drink.”

Mrs. Hedgethistle collapsed into her chair and Dick hurried on to the newest customer. “Good evening, ma’am, can I get you anything to eat or drink?”