The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

All day Snaveling had avoided Roa by helping replant the herb garden with slips of plants donated to the Inn by a well-to-do hobbit. Many of the herbs he was familiar with, but some were unknown to him. The Kingsfoil had been a welcome surprise and he had lingered long over its glorious odour. Many a night he had comforted himself with a highly-scented tea made of the herb, according to a recipe long known and cherished by his people. Eventually, the shadows had lengthened and the sky had decorated herself with stars, and the workers outside had gone off to prepare themselves for the party. Snaveling had retired to his makeshift bed in the stables – the Innkeeper had offered him a room in the remade Inn, but he preferred the privacy of his stall – and made himself as ready as he could. There was not much he could do, given he was already wearing all the clothes that he owned. Still, he had been able to give himself a good scrubbing with the help of a handful of hay and a bucket of water, and he had sharpened his knife to shave off the scraggly black beard that hung from his face like moss. There wasn’t much that he could do with his clothes, but he dusted off the muck as best he could and did up all the ties and buttons. The last thing he did, almost as an afterthought, was to take the small amulet from beneath his tunic where all could see it.

He entered the Inn with trepidation and anticipation. What met his eyes staggered him; having spent the better part of his life alone and in the wild, the plenty that awaited him within the common room was at the limits of imagination. Tables groaned with food, and were decorated with huge bunches of fresh flowers. Garlands hung from the walls and ceiling rafters, and a large fire blazed in the hearth, filling the room with warmth. Candles and lanterns added to the light, to the point where there was no shadow upon the evening. The Room was already filled with gaily dressed people, and there was music and talk and laughter from all directions. Snaveling paused for a moment on the very threshold, ready to flee should the crowd take notice of him and realize that he did not belong. But then his eye fell on Roa where she stood chatting gaily, and he stepped forward into the warm embrace of the party.

He stood in a corner, his eyes on the Woman and his heart in turmoil. He did not know what to think of his vision: ever had the woman in his dreams been a faceless person, defined solely by the comfort that she would provide him. She had been as much a feature of his lodge as was the carved front door and the bench of hewn logs at the eastern wing where he could clean his kill. But now she was a person, and one who was far more than a domestic drudge. He wanted to have Roa with him in the lodge just to be with her. The idea of actually wanting to share his life with another was so new to him that he hardly knew how to approach it – all he knew for sure was that Roa was altogether admirable and entirely beyond his reach. Recognizing this gave him an intense pain in his guts that was not altogether unpleasant.

He was drawn from his reverie by a music that felt like sunshine in autumn, and he looked about for the source of it. Galadel stood by the fire playing a tune on a little flute. The melody spoke deep to his hear, and like all Elvish music it took on a form that he saw. Green fields opened before him, and the cry of seabirds rang out. For a moment, he even felt that he could smell the slight tang of saltwater. Galadel altered the tune and looked at him. Seized by the music, Snaveling stepped forward and put the vision into words:

Flow down, cold rivulet, to the sea,
Thy tribute wave deliver:
No more by thee my steps shall be,
For ever and for ever.

Flow, softly flow, by lawn and lea,
A rivulet then a river;
Nowhere by thee my steps shall be,
For ever and for ever.

But here will sigh thine alder tree,
And here thine aspen shiver;
And here by thee will hum the bee,
For ever and for ever.

A thousand suns will stream on thee,
A thousand moons will quiver;
But not by thee my steps shall be,
For ever and for ever.

It was an old song, one that he had not heard sung since he left his homeland, and singing it took him back to much happier times in his life: times when he enjoyed the company of others and looked to them to provide the kind of solace that the lonely spirit was unable to bring itself. He looked about him, and was terrified to see the many faces of the guests openly staring at him – some in amusement, some (those who had knowledge of him) in open shock. Roa’s eyes were, however, perhaps the widest. He looked at her and, made bold – or driven mad – by the music, he sang again:

All things uncomely and broken,
all things worn-out and old,
The cry of a child by the roadway,
the creak of a lumbering cart,

The heavy steps of the ploughman,
splashing the wintry mould,
Are wronging your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.

The wrong of unshapely things
is a wrong too great to be told,
I hunger to build them anew
and sit on a green knoll apart,

With the earth and the sky and the water,
remade, like a casket of gold
For my dreams of your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.

He fell silent, as did Galadel’s flute. Snaveling slumped into a chair, his heart pounding in his ears, and called for ale.

[astarielle]

The door banged open whith a loud 'thump'. The floor boards creaked as a black boot stepped into the light of the in, quickly followed by another but with a hole in the end. The owner of the boots was that of Astarielle, an Elf from the woodland realm. She had been gone from the area for many a month on end and slowly walked, half limped, into the inn. Her travelling cloak was smothered with what can only be described as muck, go any further than that and you probably wouldn't want to know. In be frank the only part of her which was not absolutely filthy was her eyes, they still shone with the radiance of a thousand stars.

She closed the door silently, quite contrary to her entrance, and made her way to a comfy corner. She sat down as if she had not in weeks, which was probably quite true. Her travels had taken her near and far, over land,water and moutains to places rarely seen. Through snow, hail and driving rain with no thought for what she had left behind, just this moment in time. Now she returned to the place she left long ago to recuperate before setting of on another adventure with old friends as well as new.

She sang to herself, an old elven tune sung to children, those leaving and those returning;

It is a long road,
Winding ever onwards,
Never ceasing for the weary
Or those that dwell on the past.

You know where your feet have trodden
but have know idea where your next step will take you.
Walk on, walk on, with joy in your heart
Embrace life, unending
For you carry the hopes of us all
Our child.

[Roa_Aoife]

Roa was dressed in a simple country dress another guest had lent her. All she had brought with her was a single change of clothes, and they were a traveler's fare to be certain. Usually, she did not concern herself with such things, unless appearing in court. This, however, was a truly special occasion, for the fruit of their long labors was being celebrated. Roa also new that two sets of clothing would not do for much longer. I shall have to see to some purchases...

Roa was not in a particularly festive mood, but soon the atmosphere of the room gathered her in it's embrace, and she relaxed a little. She was quickly swept into a lively conversation. Some asked her for news of the outer world, and she in turned inquired about local business, a topic she had not been able to discuss till now. She quited a little when Galadel began to play. Elven music was a treat to her, despite it's familiarity. Did not her Queen bless the land with her gracious prescence?

She stopped talking all together, though, when Snaveling began to sing. She could not even hide her surprise. He looked at her while he sang. For a moment, the gaze made her question her own actions, but her memories were still fresh. Roa let her face harden, and she quickly turned away. The song ended, she her him call for ail, and she busied herself again in conversation. A hand on her shoulder with drew her. Turning to see Galadel, she excused herself.

"Youu must be tired," she the elf-woman. "Why don't you help yourself to the food?" Roa smiled and obliged her friend. They found a table together and sat down to talking. Galadel was quickly driven to a fit of luaghter from Roa's antics. Roa herself new that her friend would only play along for a short while. Then, she would address the ice that had encased itself over Roa's heart.

[Kransha]

Tobias Hornblower wandered through the raucous din, wading past folk of every age and size as if they represented some dense ocean to be forged with haste. He held onto the small tin mug clutched firmly in his hand with all his might, but could not stop the overflowing froth to splash out onto the unwary backs of some hapless inn-goers, though they didn’t seem to notice at all. The hobbit wore his finest and was acting in the most polite manner he could. Having abandoned the gaudy sequined vest that had been singed beyond repair that day which seemed so long ago, he wore his brightest, flashiest outfit and his warmest demeanor.

He heard countless noises, mugs clicking together noisily, the endless buzz and chatter of conversation, and, from the darker corner of the room, a smooth but stern melody. The elder gentlehobbit heard a cry for ale ring from nearby, and a fervent one at that. He normally would’ve ignored the plea, but he knew who it came from. It was Snaveling’s voice undoubtedly. Toby suddenly realized that the melodic tune that had just coursed through his ears was Snaveling’s, though the man’s course voice had been strangely altered for the better as he sung. 'Strange indeed.' thought the hobbit as he scurried to Snaveling.

“Here you are. It was you who called out for ale, was it not?” he chuckled.

Snaveling wrenched the brimming mug from Toby and imbibed most of its contents in an instant. After a great quaff, he lowered the vessel and nodded to the hobbit, seeming gratified enough to please Toby.

“Master Sna- I mean Snaveling…that was indeed a memorable piece of work. I am, for once, chagrined that I know not the ways of outsiders. The only songs I can sing are the more jovial tunes of the Shire, and they are naught compared to that. I suppose I can sin as well as the next hobbit, but you would not desire to hear my rambling tunes. You have more talent in song than I had thought, Snaveling.”

Snaveling nodded but Tobias could barely tell since most of his face was hidden by the mug again.

“Did I not tell you that you would do well to stay for this gala event? I promise you, my friend, by the end of this night we will all be a great deal happier. We will each pay our debts to this place for bringing us together. You have your way…and I most certainly have mine.”

Toby muffled another laugh as he patted his bulging vest pocket meaningfully and turned to the crowd.

[Mad Baggins]

Mirabell weaved in and out of the crowd, smiling politely and nodding to those who looked down at whatever was pushing them. Her blue sprigged dress swished about her legs and her hair bounced on her shoulders. She hummed a little tune and reached a table, where she sat down on a bench with a sigh. Mira tossed her curls out of her eyes and surveyed the scene. People milled about, enjoying the party and chatting with others.

Mira hopped off the bench and walked about in the crowd, looking for someone to chat with. She saw a young hobbit giving someone a brimming mug of ale, then patting his vest and turning away towards the crowd. Stepping towards him, she curtsied and said, "Mirabell Baggins. Would you like to have a chat with me?"

The young hobbit turned towards her, a bit startled at the sudden question. Mira smiled kindly and waited for a response.

[Crystal Heart]

Crystal looked around the room and shook her head.

"Actually I haven't seen Hama in a while. I will stay here, but I want you to know that I do not like the fact that you are risking your very life because of me. That being said, I thank you. I've never had anything stable in all my life. You have given me a great gift, one that I wish I could give back to you," Crystal said as she continued to look around the room.

Everyone was in high spirits, something that Crystal hadn't seen in a long time. She smiled. This was her new home. This was her new life. No one, not even her father would take this away from her. Everything was going to be alright now.

[Witch_Queen]

Aduthondiel
"Crystal there is nothing to regret and only everything to be thankful for! Always remember that what I have given you is something that anyone can take back. I am sorry that I had originally planed on ending what you have now got. I only wish that I had been there with you longer." Aduthondiel knew that what she was going to do would only make her life worse. "I just don't want to loose Count. He's my best friend." She could tell that everything she had accomplished would be the best things she had ever done in her life. "Crystal I hope that I can return to the Shire some day."

Aduthondiel was glad to see that everyone was in such happy moods. She knew it was now official that the Inn was complete and her life was going back to the same horrible state. "Crystal if you see Hama tonight tell him I need to see him. Perhaps I won't have to face your father alone. Who knows what mood he is in now." In the end I know I will regret my decision. If only I hadn't let my emotions get in the way of my duties. Aduthondiel would soon be alone in the world. "Crystal do you remember when you was just a little girl and no matter how hard your father tried he couldn't keep up with you. Now those were the days." Yes but that was also the time that I had first vistited Rohan and didn't know what it would be like to be a Elf shield maiden of Rohan. Oh well it was still the good days. She couldn't remember a time when she was happier. For once in her life she didn't have to worry about whether she would complete her duties or fail only to disappoint the general.

"Yeah those were the good days. Back then the only pleasure in my life was watching you and your father." She missed the easy life which was never easy to begin with. "I wonder what ever happened to those days." The past only seemed better to her when she compared it with her life today.