The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Roa_Aoife]

Roa wasn't half-way back to the construction when a small voice called her back. I will never finish my work today, she thought irritably. So much for making up for Snaveling. Roa turned around to see the hobbit fellow from earlier running towards her. Galadel was already walking toward him. Roa sighed and did the same. She smiled wearily as he approached.

"Are you friends with that man over there?" said the hobbit, almost shaking with nervousness. Roa looked to where he pointed. Snaveling was rising to his feet and moving quickly to the stables. Friends? Why not... "Yes, yes we are. How may we help you?" Roa answered. From her angle she could see that Snaveling was not in serious danger, though Galadel, who had remained silent, had a bemused smile on her face. Roa wondered what this hobbit had to say.

"That man and the gentle-hobbit with him asked what my business was at the Inn, and it turns out that the gentle-hobbit knew a cousin of mine..." Roa let him ramble on for a moment. He seemed nervous as it was, and she knew that nervous people tended to talk too much. She tried to be patient, but after a moment she cut him off. "Excuse me, Mister Bolger, but I have a great deal of work to do, so could you please get to the point?" The poor hobbit looked quite startled and moved back a foot. "I lost a purse of gold in the fire, and that man said you had it."

Roa nearly reeled in shock. She leaned down and grabbed the hobbit's arm. "He did what?" Mister Bolger looked ready to faint. This was the second Big-person today to do such a thing, and while Roa was not so grim looking as Snaveling, she was still a fierce sight, and so much bigger. Galadel gently pulled her back.

"Forgive us, master hobbit, we were not expecting such a turn of events," she said gently. Mister Bolger calmed down a bit. "Could you describe the bag for us?" And he did, down to the very last detail. Roa calmed down as well, but she was still in shock. She could not believe that one such as Snaveling would, or even could, give over the bag. He had been so intent on having it. What had caused the change? "Wait here," she comanded. Quickly, she strode over to Valthalion.

The young man had been faithful in guarding the bag. Not a single piece of gold had been lost. Mister Bolger thanked Valthalion repeatedly as he gave over the bag. "Give me your name, sir, and I will see to it that you are always welcome among my kin." Valthalion assured him that it was not nescessary, but gave his name anyway. The hobbit nearly wept for pure joy as he walked away. Galadel went back to her work as Valthalion and Roa walked back together. They parted ways, and Roa drove into her task again. It was not yet noon, and already the day had been to long. What else could happen in one day?