Breelanders All! RPG

[piosenniel]

Berilac, the Mayor, and the Captain of the Guard

The Captain of the Guard and the Mayor! This was a hopeful sign. It reminded him of the weekly counsels at the Ranger’s fastness – Men and Hobbits sitting down together to share tidings and to plan strategies.

Berilac volunteered to organize the Hobbit archers. Many, he knew, both male and female, would have little hunting bows. And since the family larder depended on what small game could be brought in, he knew they could use them with deadly accuracy. He asked Telien if perhaps four of his archers would stand with him, their longbows adding strength to his own and weight to the argument that the captured ruffians should surrender.

‘I like your idea about the oldsters making the net.’ Berilac’s brow beetled in concentration. ‘That room at the Town Hall – the one where the folk from the outlying farms slept that night of the meeting. Let’s get the gaffers and gammers together in there, push a couple of the long tables together in the center to form a working surface, and we can have them work in shifts – taking over when one gets tired. I should think that once we have the rope and the knotters together, it should take only a day or day and a half for them to complete a sizable net.’

They talked a little further of where they should have them enter. Berilac remembered Kali’s treasure hole, and offered it up as a suggestion. Using his finger, he drew the arc of the hedge in the dirt, so that it faced the other two. ‘Being realistic,’ he said, ‘the ruffians probably already have watchers set on Bree who report our activities as far as they can see them. They must know by now that we have started repair on the hedge and have started down here on its southern edge.’ He pointed to a section of the hedge between the North Gate and the wall of the Hill. ‘This is where one of the children pointed out a large hole, a place actually where the hedge meets the hill. And here,’ he said, pointing to a place nearer the gate . . . I’ve just remembered. It’s a gaping rent where that Farroweed boy crashed a cart one day. If we use these two, we can also position archers on this ledge along the hill line to prevent any escaping back through the hole, as well as on the building tops inside the town.’ Harald and Telien nodded their heads at this suggestion. I’ll hasten the lads who’ve volunteered to fix the North Gate itself, two of the Hobbit families atop the hill. We can get that done and secured, then look as if we’re moving the repairs southward along the hedge to meet those coming north. It will look as if we mean to leave those repairs at the far north until last . . .’

Harald agreed to write the note for Minastan and see that the note was set off. ‘We do need to think further when we might want him to lead them here . . . in a few days, do you think? The ruffians seem quiet enough at the moment.’

Their talk turned to logistics of getting the outlying families into town. Berilac offered to speak with his brother and brothers-in-law; he was sure they could convince the Hobbit folk to come in. ‘Again,’ he said, ‘we’ll need to decide how soon this should be done.’ He left the problem of convincing the Big Folk in the outlying settlements to the good graces of the Mayor and his Captain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All call it a day and head home

Their talk was interrupted by the approach of one of the Hobbit men. ‘Begging your pardon, Berilac, but we should be getting home now. The wives will be waiting on us, and there are some chores of our own to be seen to.’

Berilac stood, wiping his dusty hands on the thighs of his breeches and shook the Hobbit’s hand. ‘Of course, of course! Sorry to have kept you so long! On your way home,’ he asked, walking over to where the other men stood, ‘would you see some of the children safely to their doors?’ There was a general nodding of heads, as the Hobbits sorted out who lived near whom. He turned and spoke briefly to the Mayor and Telien, saying that perhaps they might speak again tomorrow and solidify their plans. They waved to the assorted workers as they left the site, and Harald called out his thanks once more.

Mausi’s children were going to their home with Berilac. And Edmund was included in the group, as the Ranger wanted to keep his eye on him until he was delivered to his mother. The boy had done remarkably well today, he thought, but still he felt the obligation to personally see him home. And besides that, he wanted to take him past the Comfrey’s place. He wanted Everard to show him his own menagerie of animals on the mend.

Everard had just gathered Pearl and Hamson to him, their steps heading toward the path that led to the top of Bree Hill. ‘Hold up, Everard,’ cried Berilac, herding Kali, Mondy, Ella and Edmund before him. ‘Let us walk along with you. I’ve someone here who might be interested in your animals. He has some talent himself in fixing them up when they’re injured.’ Berilac nodded at Edmund, whose little squirrel sat on his shoulder.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Late that night

The children and Mausi had all gone to bed. Berilac pulled the rocker close to the banked fire, and let the subdued heat from it warm his toes. It had been a long day . . . though a good one, he thought. Repair work was going well; the Mayor had the beginnings of a plan for defense. Berilac rested his head back against the chair, his thoughts flying out to his own little family. Fairlight and sweet little Alyssum - So far away. He smiled, thinking that soon there would a new little bairn held in the arms of his dear little wife.

If all went as smoothly as it had so far, he hoped to be heading home soon. He sighed, closing his eyes in the growing darkness of the parlour, the slow rhythm of the rocker lulling him to sleep . . .