The Green Dragon Inn - Part 10

[Witch_Queen]

Aduthondiel
"Crystal it isn't right for me to keep you away from Mr. Angry. You two should be togther right now. This is a joyous time. You shouldn't sit here and listen to an elf ramble on and on about what the future has in store for us." Adu knew that she had make Crystal go be with Angry. She wasn't sure if the two of them could continue the conversation. It was better if it ended for the moment.

She got up and fixed her some ale. Adu thought it would be right if she found Aman and talk to her about Crystal's good news. Adu had watched as Aman talked to the other visitors. The inn had became very popular after the fire and everything. Adu only had to wait for Hama to return with the good news. Yet what would she do if he didn't return. Adu knew she should have went with Hama. I shouldn't have let him go all by himself. I don't care how mighty a warrior he is. No one should be made to travel alone. Not even a heartless man like Dorian.

It didn't matter how much Adu wanted to forget Dorian he always managed to get back into her life. He was always going to be there with her no matter what. Adu had to face the fact that his spirit would haunt her life until she made everything right. "Crystal would you like a mug of ale?" Adu had to get her mind on something else. Dorian was dead and he couldn't do anything else to hurt her or Crystal. Life was better for the two of them. Adu was just happy that Crystal had Angry in her life. I have Count and Crystal has Angry. Everything turned out weird for me. I've got my horse at least. Count won't leave me for a long time. That is unless someone finds it in their mind to take Count away from me. Thats when the fight is on.

[Memory of Trees]

Kyria recieved the meal gratefully. "Thank you, Aman," she said, her mouth curving into a pretty smile as she took the plate from the innkeeper. Looking around for a place to sit, Kyria turned to the four hobbit girls next to her. "I heard you singing," she said, addressing the one called Willow. "It was lovely! You have a beautiful voice."

"Why, thank you," the girl responded, smiling.

"You're quite welcome! My name is Kyria." The young elf paused, twisting her black-gloved hands together nervously. "Do you mind if I sit down?" she asked at last.

[Maeggaladiel]

Arrow wagged his silvery tail as Eleniel tossed him a piece of bread.

"You're getting spoiled, O Great Hunting Dog," she scolded. "Just remember that you're going back to the hunting and gathering life after this." Arrow raised a mithril eyebrow, as though he thought differently.

From behind her, a man had taken a stand and was delivering an official-sounding and somewhat alcohol-laced speech to the patrons of the Inn. The speech was announcing the donation of a sum of money to the Inn by a certain hobbit, who looked rather drunk himself. It seemed as though this Inn had experienced some hard times in the recent past and was now celebrating its recovery.

Eleniel applauded politely as he finished his speech. On the other side of the Inn, a trio of younger hobbits finished a song.

"Bravo!" Eleniel said. "Fine music!" Arrow tilted back his head and howled along with their next song, agreeing with her judgement. Eleniel laughed.

"Apparently you approve of the song!" she said. She approched the hobbits and the elven woman who had joined them.

"Mind if I sit in and listen?" she asked. Arrow tilted his head to the side, casting a pleading glance through black puppy eyes to the hobbits.

[Archsage Isaac]

Isaac had drifted off into his thoughts while listening to the music that had been played. It was great, very beautiful. It comforted him. He snapped out of his thoughts quickly enough though and took a drink from his mug.

To his dismay, there was no ale left. He was slightly saddened, but then came back to reality. He could get more, but thought it rude to drink when Deva drank no more. As he placed his mug on the table before him, he saw an elven girl stop almost to the bar. She just stopped in place, staring at another elf girl seated at the bar. Both wore beautiful robes, and both soon walked back in the direction the first had come.

With a slight smile he turned his attention to Deva. Being the kind of person used to being alone, he never did know how to start a conversation, always feeling as if he'd say the wrong thing. A childish fear, yes, but a fear nonetheless. It was his only fear. Isaac had stared down death and put his life on the line everyday he traveled, but he was afraid of saying the wrong thing to start a conversation. He sat in silence for several moments, before unstrapping the sheathe from his hip and laying it in his lap, looking at the intricate designs that had been placed on it.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

The transformation of Snaveling was remarkable. Before their eyes his confident, happy façade fell away, and once more he became the shifty-eyed rogue they had known. He licked his lips nervously as he looked from Aman to Toby to Pimpernel. He glanced at the door as though contemplating escape, but Roa had chosen this moment to finally pay him heed, and for the first time today she was looking at him with something less than the bitter disdain that he had come to expect from her, and which he thought would ever mar her expression toward him. He turned back to Aman, and saw that she was becoming increasingly suspicious, and for a moment – just a moment – he thought he saw something else in her eye…something that regarded him in a generous light…something that would be hurt were he to prove himself once more a rogue, and a thief, and a vagabond.

It was a tight spot for Snaveling, the tightest yet, and he was alone in it. Galadel was across the room with Roa, apparently unaware of what was transpiring. Aman was suspicious, but not yet awake to what had happened. Toby, perhaps his dearest friend – for he was the one who, in an odd way, best understood Snaveling – was weaving toward him, smilingly unaware that this time he was the victim of the Man’s vicious nature.

And Roa was watching him, with those maddeningly perceptive green eyes of hers.

It was a tight spot. The happy music of an increasingly boisterous group hung about him like offending flowers, and the general clamour of the partygoers weaved about him. But it did not include him: he was, as always an outsider. But then something occurred to the Man that had never really crossed his mind before. This isolated pain, this solitary void in the middle of such celebration…was his own doing. So palpably did he feel this truth that he took a small step backward. His hand reached up and clutched the amulet about his neck. He had taken Toby’s gold. He had betrayed his friend and put his own head in the noose. He had taken what he had been given from Toby, Aman, Galadel and Roa and carelessly thrown it aside for the sake of a new set of clothes.

He did not feel guilt, not yet. It was a long road that Snaveling was travelling from the Man he had been, and there remained far to go yet. But he did feel shame – shame for his betrayal of Toby, and shame to be so nakedly caught out by Aman, before the very eyes of Roa. He looked back and forth between the two women, then addressed the Innkeeper. “Yes,” he said, “Yes, Toby was generous…or rather,” he turned to the hobbit who was now within earshot. “Hello Toby. I’m sorry but I seem to have interfered with your plans somewhat. I borrowed a coin from the pouch, so now there will only be ten for Aman. You see,” he said hurriedly, “you were asleep and I wanted to make a purchase rather urgently,” he indicated the boy, “so I took the coin without asking. I realise I probably shouldn’t have, but there’s no harm yet. If you wish to have the coin back, I can get it for you from the tailor I’ve asked to meet me here. But if you are willing to loan it me, I will be sure to pay you back as soon as I can.” He paused here and looked at Aman -- he lacked the courage to look at Roa -- to see her reaction. She frowned lightly, and it was enough to prompt Snaveling to speak further to Toby. “I admit, it may be some time before I can afford to pay you back, but I will give you whatever surety you require.”

[Roa_Aoife]

Roa frowned slightly. Something was definitely wrong. She leaned in and concentrated on what was happening. Almost all of Snaveling's confession reached her ears, and Roa was taken aback. That he had taken the gold was no surprise- he seemed to have a habit of doing that- but that he had confessed, and offered recompence, the shock nearly pushed her from her seat. Galadel cuaght her reaction and smiled.

"He has changed, indeed," Roa was able to murmur. Catching the frown on Aman's face, she quickly rose to her feet. As a matter of honor, she would take the punishment before Snaveling. Quickly she strode toward them, though she remained on the other side of Toby when she came into the group.

[Maeggaladiel]

Listening to the music, Eleniel did not notice Arrow's silver ears perk up. The dog turned his head, looking at a man across the room. Wagging his mithril tail, the dog trotted away from his mistress and sat down at the man's feet.

"Woof!" said Arrow in a friendly manner. Eleniel was shaken from her trance by the dog's outburst. She looked down at her feet, but the dog was no longer there. Panicing, she glanced around her. That mutt could get into so much trouble!

She found him at the feet of a man, who appeared to be studying his sword-sheath. She ran over and gripped the dog's collar.

"Sorry about that!" she said sheepishly. "Apparently my dog likes you!" She gave the collar a tug, but the dog flopped stubbornly to the ground. Eleniel sighed.

"My name's Eleniel Goodchild of Laketown. No relation to Cami Goodchild." she told the man with a smile. "It seems my friend Arrow here has found a place to sit." she cast him an angry glance, but the dog ignored it. "Mind if we join you, sir?"

She scratched the dog's ears, waiting for a reply.

[*Arwen*]

Tiruviel

Tiruviel excused herself from the table and went to get herself a drink. She had suddenly realised how thirst she was. Three quaters of the way to the bar she stopped suddenly, staring ahead of her at the elf seated there.

She was beautiful - small with long blonde hair (very similar to her own) and a cream and wine coloured robe. Her hands reached out to her drink and Tiruviel noticed that they were neatly fitted with smooth black gloves. Tiruviel looked at herself. Compared to the woman she was nothign at all. She had long blonde hair as well but her robe wasn't nearly as stunning. She was still wearing her travelling clothes - green and brown cloth. She felt a sudden urge of desire to understand this woman and talk to her.

"Excuse me for disturbing you," she said quietly as she sat herself on a neighbouring stool, "But i couldn't help noticing you from my table. Would you like to come and join us? We are all strangers to each other - do not worry."

Kyria smiled and nodded. Leading the way, Tiruviel wound her way through the tables until she got to her own. Then, gesturing to an empty chair, she introduced everybody.

"Elkamia, this is Kyria.
Kyria, this is Elkamia."