The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman glanced openly at the hobbit's foot for the first time, being as now he had brought it up as she couldn't be counted as being rude. Or...not as rude, anyway. She winced slightly at it - the hankerchief was rapidly being soaked through with blood, and she could see the swelling underneath.

"Good gracious, whatever did you do to it?!" she exclaimed, but not too loudly - the hobbit already seemed quite embarassed enough without any more attention being attracted to his injury. She held up a hand as he blushed even further, twisting his hands slightly. "No, wait - it doesn't matter. I shall get you someone to look at that directly."

Half turning, Aman stopped herself suddenly and turned back to the hobbit. "Sorry, sir, but may I just ask your name? So I know what to call you by."

"M-my name?" the hobbit stammered, as if the question was the most unusual on earth. Realising the absurdity of his pause, a fresh wave of blushing overtook him fervently and he replied quickly. "Cotton, miss. My name is t-Tom Cotton."

Aman smiled politely, pretending not to notice his pause, and bobbed her head slightly. "Right you are, Mister Cotton. I'll be back as soon as I can." Turning away, she finally allowed herself a little grin, although not an unkind one at the hobbit. Why, one would think she was the first Woman ever to be seen in the Shire!

Pushing open the swinging door into the kitchen, Aman waved aside the steam as Ruby opened one of the oven doors to take out a back of buns. Coughing and clearing the air in front of her with a few frantic waves, Aman peered through at the others in the kitchen - Ruby, one of the hobbit waitresses, and Cook. As Ruby was busy with her buns, she turned to Cook, looking over at the matronly hobbit who had positioned herself in the rocking chair wedged between one corner of the cupboards and the side of the oven, a few sheets of parchment on her lap. The Green Dragon's newly returned cook looked over her half-moon glasses at Aman in a scholarly fashion. "Good evening, Aman - what's the matter?"

Aman grinned. "Ms Bunce, have you seen Uien? There's a delightfully absurd little fellow in the Common Room who may need her help."

[Pippin Pondlily]

Pippin Pondlily was taking careful inventory of the books as they were unpacked into shelves on her father’s library in her family’s new burrow in Hobbiton. She etched tally marks with her quill next to the names as they were identified and shelved. Towards evening, Balbo, her father, walked into the new library with his hands in his pants’ pockets. He was a very chubby hobbit of about fifty plus years of age. He had an incredible pile of thick curly brown hair and long ears that dipped nearly to his shoulders. His eyes were blue and merry and there were laughter lines all about his eyes and mouth. Renowned for his sense of humor, Balbo had been loved dearly in Binbale Wood and undoubtedly would be so here in Hobbitton.

Now he pulled absently at his chin and glanced out the window. The sun was dropping down behind the distant trees and soon it would be supper time.

“You should get out this evening to a pub or something and meet some of the other young hobbits, eh? You go get dressed up for dinner, we’re going to the Goldworthies for there’s not a thing to eat here, well, nothing proper anyways and afterward you can have the evening to yourself. How’s that Pip?”

Pippin smiled gratefully, “That would be wonderful!” she said and kissed him on the cheek on her way out of the library, pushing the book and quill into his arms.

Back in her room where most of her things were unpacked she was contemplating what to wear. She looked in the mirror. Her long wavy blond hair was braided down her back with flyaway bangs hanging down to the left side of her face, covering one full, arched brow. She raised her other brow and winked her long lashes, catching flashes of an intense blue that was the color of her eyes. She smiled enchantingly.

“Hullo Pip,” her mother announced walking in with another trunk of Pippin’s things. “Just a few dresses in this one.” She set it down and looked at Pippin. “Getting out tonight my dear?” Pippin nodded in the mirror. “Well have fun dear and be ready to go over to the Goldworthies in a couple minutes, your aunt is so excited about us living so close again.” Mrs. Pondlily shut the door quietly and Pippin could hear her giving instructions to one of the neighbors who helped them move in about the chairs for the dining room.

Pippin opened the trunk her mother had brought in. She flitted her fingers through the folds of dresses and decided on a nice, dark blue colored one with brown and cream embroidery. This she slipped on over her white chemise and laced up the sides to fit her figure. Taking a look in her glass she undid her hair, brushed it thoroughly, and braided it down her back again. About her neck she clasped a leather chord from which hung a disc with the etching of a wood: Binbale Wood.

After dinner that night she walked down the narrow road to the town’s main circle, looking for a pub. There was one that caught her eye immediately with light pouring out over the flower pots in each window and lots of music and laughter coming from within. She looked up at the sign swinging about the door: The Green Dragon. It seemed just as fine a place as any, maybe better, and she let herself in.

Inside there was a great crowd of people. Though there were mostly hobbits, Pippin was amazed at the number of men, dwarves and elves there were also. She wandered up to the long wooden counter that served as bar and check-in and got the attention of one of the inn maids.

“Good evening!” the woman replied cheerfully. “What will it be then for you Miss? Dinner? Room? Both perhaps?” Her eyes were very bright and her smile was pretty. Pippin felt quite at ease.

“Actually, I’ve just moved in about three days ago, just moved to Hobbiton that is--” she pressed up against the bar as a hefty dwarf pushed past her to a chair at the counter. “And I thought I would come down to an inn or pub and have a hot tea and maybe meet some locals.” She paused and looked around at the strange diversity of patrons. “Well, or non-locals, apparently…”

The hobbit woman laughed pearls. “What’s your name, then, lass?”

“Pippin Pondlily,” she said, extending her hand over the counter.

“Pippin?” the woman said, shaking her hand. “Usually a boy’s name wouldn’t it be though?”

Pippin nodded. “Aye, but my father was set on naming his first child regardless of gender.” She winked and the woman chuckled again.

“It’s lovely. I’m Ruby Brown. I’ll be getting your tea then. Feel free to sit where you please. I’ll find you.”

“Many thanks.” Pippin looked around the crowded room before deciding on an empty chair pulled up to a small round table against the wall. From here she decided she could best see the room and the interesting people within as she waited for Ruby Brown to bring her tea…

Having looked back on his days events, Faeradel took out a relatively old looking parchment. To a stranger it was barely recognisable, as it was a map of Eriador, drawn and annotated completely by Faeradel. Marked with a curious symbol was little known village, to the West banks of the Gulf of Lhûn. Also marked with this symbol was Rivendell. Faeradel began plotting the route which he planned to embark on come sunrise. His expedition hadn't been at all challenging as of yet, other than losing his horse there had been no trouble. Faeradel decided the next stop in his journey would be Bree, where he could set about finding a new horse. After all, he was already three days behind schedule.

Faeradel returned the parchment to his backpack, and looked around the bar at some of the locals. He was generaly a sociable person, so he decided it was time for a drink. He got up from the table leaving his backpack by his chair, and approached the bar. stood behind the counter, smiling graciously was a respectable looking lady, who Faeradel assumed was the landlord.
"Good evening ma'am, are you still serving dinner?" Asked Faeradel, politely as possible.

"It's been a long day, and my horse ran off with what little food I had left still tied on his back." said faeradel, trying to initiate a conversation. As if the bar maid wasn't already rushed off her feet.

"One moment please, I'll take your order as soon as I've dealt with this poor hobbit." She replied solemnly.

"Of course." Said Faeradel, expecting such a response. He glanced around the room, when the hobbit he'd noticed earlier caught his eye again. The gash in the poor chaps foot was secreting blood, and soaking the handkerchief wrapped around it. Faeradel almost walked over to him, but thought it better to wait and order his drink and meal first. Afterall, he didn't want to appear impatient or rude to the bar maid.

[Aniriuq Raevla]

A tall,cloaked figure stepped into the Green Dragon,unintentionally slamming the door behind it.It turned its' head slowly from side to side,taking in its' surroundings.After a while,seeming satisfied of what it saw,it lowered its' hood to reveal a young woman.

She was in her late teens,and her appearance was that of a beggar.Her tanned face looked as if it had endured many years of tragidies all crammed into one.Bags sagged under her dark brown eyes,which were in a way that always made her look sad.Her long,light brown hair lay in curls about her head,and looked as if she had not bothered to care for it in days.Her cloak,a dark green,was torn in many places,and looked five sizes to big for her.But the thing that people took the most heed of was a large,livid bruise on her forhead.It looked as though someone had banged her head on a stone floor.

She took a seat at an unoccupied table in a shadowy corner and started to pick at her fingernails.The server came to her.
"Can I get you something to eat or drink miss?"

The young womans head jerked up at the sound of 'eat'.
"Eat?"She said quickly.Her voice was harsh,as though it pained her to talk."Eat?Drink?....Yes,I would be much obliged if you were to bring me some chicken...alot of chicken,and water...alot of water.Please."

The hobbit stared at her for a moment."May I ask your name miss?"She asked.

The young woman looked confused for a moment,staring at the hobbit with eyes that suddenly looked as though they were trying to remember something far off.....Then her body jerked slightly,and she was back at the present.

"My name?"She finally said,"Name?....Ah yes,my name.....I know my name,it's not like I dont!"She said angrily,as though the hobbit had occused her of not."It's Anjareen,but you can call me Anja.Thats what my friends call me."

The hobbit nodded and walked away quickly to get the order. Anja stared at her for a while.....My friends.....I DO have friends...right?

Ofcourse you do.Said a sly voice at the back of her head.Well,atleast you DID have friends.....

Did?She asked the voice.Why 'did'?Where are they?Are they not my friends anymore?

Dont you remember?The sly voice said,plainly amused.

No,I dont remember.She answered,angry that the voice was amused while she was still confused.

"I dont remember anything. I dont remember leaving home,I dont remember not having friends.I cant remember a single thing....."In fact,the only thing she could remember was that four nights ago,when that terrible thing happened.....The voice just laughed at her.

"Why are you laughing?"Anja said angrily."Stop laughing at me.....Stop it.Stop it I said!"

It was a while before she realized she had been talking out loud.People had paused their consversations to stare at her.She stared back at them for a while,then turned her attention back to picking at her nails.

The hobbit broght her food,and she began to wolf down the chicken.She didnt care about the stares she was attracting at the moment.She hadnt eaten since that night....

[Amanaduial the archer]

Cook shrugged lightly, shaking her head. "Sorry, Aman, I haven't seen her since she went out with Falowik some time ago-"

"Haven't seen who? Someone I should know about, I trust?" Uien's cool, smooth voice was followed by the sound of the kitchen door closing with a light click. Aman turned to see the beautiful elf standing wraithed ghost-like in the steam from Ruby's buns and smiled openly at her, moving forward to take the other's hand.

"Come Uien, I have someone I need to show you..." Uien smiled back widely, and Aman noted the dreaminess in it, and the way she simply couldn't have helped herself - whether Aman had given her reason to or not, she would have smiled. The Innkeeper raised an eyebrow as they moved out of the kitchen and Uien laughed, wagging a mock retributary finger at the other. "Now, now, Aman, what was that look for?"

Aman replied with all innocent eyes, holding a hand to her chest as if deeply wounded. "What, me? Oh, but Uien, I didn't say a word..." she let her facade melt into her more usual grin and beckoned with a tilt of her head. "There is a hobbit who needs your help - he has-"

"Wounded his foot?"

Aman stared at the elf for a moment, flabbergasted, until Uien laughed once more and pointed over towards the fire. "Not psychic, Aman - there are these things called eyes..."

The Innkeeper replied with her eyebrow raised again and the pair made their way over to Tom Cotton. As Uien seated him in the armchair again (he had risen, for some reason) and lifted his foot to the footstool once more, Aman felt a hand touch her arm and turned inquiringly, then looked up to the new customer, a tall...gentleman? The rough looking man seemed almost elven in his appearance, because of his height and some other aspect in the way he carried himself, but his unshaven appearance and tattered longcoat made him look a sight more roguish. Still, when he inquired as to whether dinner was still being served, his voice was perfectly polite, and manners would do just fine for Aman.

"It's been a long day, and my horse ran off with what little food I had left still tied on his back." The man's second comment seemed a little random, but he was evidently trying to start up a conversation. Aman shot him a quizzical glance, then excused herself. "One moment please, I'll take your order as soon as I've dealt with this poor hobbit."

"Of course."

Tom will be fine with Uien for a few moments... Aman turned away from the elf and hobbit and back to the man. "My apologies, sir - you would like to eat? And a drink as well...pardon me, may I ask what your name is?"

[littlemanpoet]

Falowik watched as Uien was whisked away by Aman. He excused himself to Cook and ambled back into the Common Room. He returned to Eodwine and company, and settle back next to his half finished ale mug. He turned to Eodwine.

"Master Eodwine, it is getting late, and I recall a tale you promised for late in the night."

"Ah, that I did," Eodwine smiled, "but only if there are ears willing to hear the tale, and no young and innocent ears must hear, for it is a harrowing story."

Falowik nodded and drank from his mug.

Falco Boffin spoke up. "What do you s'pose that thing what killed him was, Master Eodwine? The thing you pushed him into?"

"Don't be giving away the tale before it is told, Master Boffin!" laughed Eodwine. "I'll tell what I think when the time comes, which will be soon. In fact, why not go round up a few bodies who might want to hear the tale, Master Falco? And grab Ruby or Buttercup while you walk, for my mouth is just about dry and could use a wetting before I begin."

"So it shall be, Master Eodwine." Falco got up and moved to the bar.

[Umwë]

On distance Tom could see Aman coming back with an elf on her side. He rubbed his eyes and looked again to be sure that it was an elf. As he realized that his eye’s wasn’t wrong he started to feel nervous again. He tried to not blush and tensed himself so much that his body started to shake. He took a deep breathe just before they approached him.
“This is Uien, Tom. Uien, this is Tom.” Aman said and smiled to them both. Uien looked scary to Tom, she looked ghostly in a way he couldn’t describe. Uien’s face yet looked warm and kind but Tom still couldn’t get the thoughts about her being a ghost out of his head. Tom could see how Aman suddenly disappeared and helped another customer.

“M-my foot...” he said with a low voice. His throat felt dry and Tom squirmed and started to sweat.

“Don’t worry. It will be fine.” Uien said with her beautiful elven voice and tried to calm Tom down.

She picked up a plant with long leaves and crushed it softly in her hands and it spread a delightful fragrance in the room. He sniffed and tried to remember the smell from the plant. “I know t-that smell... It is...” Tom started. He began to feel exhausted and he just got more tired. “It is Athelas“ Tom said and closed his eyes and sniffed again to be sure. Uien looked at him and her face turned into a surprised look. “You know about this herb?” she said softly and tried to not sound too surprised. “Well... Yes, I know quite a lot about plants and herbs.. This plant is very useful when it comes to healing, yet not many know’s about it’s healing powers.” Tom paused for a few seconds. “My father was a gardener and I’ve been his apprentice for a time now, in hope that I could settle myself somewhere and work with gardening.” Tom said and closed his eyes again. He sighed deeply and looked at Uien again that still looked at him and he could see the shape of Aman coming up behind Uien and looked at Tom too.