The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

piosenniel · 09-02-2004, 04:31 PM

It is late afternoon, edging onto evening at the Green Dragon Inn. Supper will be served soon, The fragrant scent of roast lamb with rosemary is in the air, to be served with boiled and buttered taters, and fresh, glistening peas from the garden.

Apple pie is hot from the ovens and just cooling for dessert.

The evening is a fair one . . . no chill breezes or hint of storm.

Firefoot · 09-02-2004, 07:30 PM

Lily had barely gotten over the delight of remembering that poor old hobbit with the geese when Posco brought up the river episode. She fought with her own laughter as she began to tell the story.

"We didn't want to take the bridge? More like the ponies didn't want to take the bridge. For some odd reason both of them shied away from it, and no amount of cajoling could get them over it. The little river wasn't very wide; a couple times my height at the most. So we heeled the ponies into the water, and wouldn't you know it but that narrow river had to be at least six feet deep! It just dropped off and suddenly there wasn't any sand under the ponies' feet any more. Then when we reached the other bank I nearly fell off Clover as he tried to scramble up the bank. By the time we were on firm ground again, we were positively soaked."

Now they were all laughing, and even Marcho had a few chuckles. Lily and Posco shared a look of common understanding. The others could laugh at their eventful ride, but only they had experienced it. There was a light in Posco's eyes that Lily had become familiar with over the course of their ride. When the laughter died down, Lily said, "Now you can tell them about the grumpy old farmer who set his dogs on us."

Envinyatar · 09-03-2004, 01:31 AM

Derufin had gathered his tools together along with the stack of shingles and the bucket of pitchy sealant he had been using on the roof. Only the roofing for the newly added room need be finished up on the morrow; for tonight he spread a tightly woven canvas over the new beams to protect the interior.

He was just coming down the ladder for the last time, the bucket of congealing tarry pitch in one hand, when he saw Miz Bunce come stamping up the narrow dirt pathway to the cottage, a look of determination on her face. Leaning himself against the ladder, he waved to her as she looked up at him. She nodded, the brim of her calico sunbonnet dipping up and down in acknowledgement of him.

But she did not stop at the foot of the ladder as he thought she might, to wait for him. Instead, she went directly into the cottage. And as he peeked through the window he could see her looking into the rooms as she called out in a questioning voice. ‘Master Banks? Are you here?’ A few moments later and he could hear the low pitched answer from Andwise and then the start of a conversation between the two Hobbits.

Ferdy came hurrying out of the cottage carrying his toolchest and began loading it into the small cart he had brought. Derufin secured his own materials and walked over to where the young man stood. ‘About time for supper, eh?! I was thinking I could smell the lamb roasting in the Inn oven while I was up on the roof.’ He cast an eye toward the cottage where Cook and Andwise were. ‘Shall we get them out here and walk over to the Inn with them?’ Derufin went on. The four other Hoobit lads had already gone on toward the Inn, their tasks done for the day.

‘I think we should go on and let them catch up,’ answered Ferdy. ‘Cook shooed me outside . . . said she had something of import to talk over with my Da. Business of some sort – she mentioned something about a cabinet in the kitchen needing fixing . . .’

The two plodded along slowly, leading the pony and cart along between them back toward the Inn. A cabinet! What cabinet was that needed repair? Derufin had been in the kitchen for breakfast just this morning. The cabinets as far as he could recall all looked to be in good working order.

Now, what was this all about . . .?

09-03-2004, 01:31 AM	#3
Envinyatar Quill Revenant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through the Downs..... Posts: 849	Derufin had gathered his tools together along with the stack of shingles and the bucket of pitchy sealant he had been using on the roof. Only the roofing for the newly added room need be finished up on the morrow; for tonight he spread a tightly woven canvas over the new beams to protect the interior. He was just coming down the ladder for the last time, the bucket of congealing tarry pitch in one hand, when he saw Miz Bunce come stamping up the narrow dirt pathway to the cottage, a look of determination on her face. Leaning himself against the ladder, he waved to her as she looked up at him. She nodded, the brim of her calico sunbonnet dipping up and down in acknowledgement of him. But she did not stop at the foot of the ladder as he thought she might, to wait for him. Instead, she went directly into the cottage. And as he peeked through the window he could see her looking into the rooms as she called out in a questioning voice. ‘Master Banks? Are you here?’ A few moments later and he could hear the low pitched answer from Andwise and then the start of a conversation between the two Hobbits. Ferdy came hurrying out of the cottage carrying his toolchest and began loading it into the small cart he had brought. Derufin secured his own materials and walked over to where the young man stood. ‘About time for supper, eh?! I was thinking I could smell the lamb roasting in the Inn oven while I was up on the roof.’ He cast an eye toward the cottage where Cook and Andwise were. ‘Shall we get them out here and walk over to the Inn with them?’ Derufin went on. The four other Hoobit lads had already gone on toward the Inn, their tasks done for the day. ‘I think we should go on and let them catch up,’ answered Ferdy. ‘Cook shooed me outside . . . said she had something of import to talk over with my Da. Business of some sort – she mentioned something about a cabinet in the kitchen needing fixing . . .’ The two plodded along slowly, leading the pony and cart along between them back toward the Inn. A cabinet! What cabinet was that needed repair? Derufin had been in the kitchen for breakfast just this morning. The cabinets as far as he could recall all looked to be in good working order. Now, what was this all about . . .? __________________ ‘Many are the strange chances of the world,’ said Mithrandir, ‘and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.’ – Gandalf in: The Silmarillion, 'Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age' Last edited by Envinyatar; 09-08-2004 at 12:03 PM.

09-02-2004, 04:31 PM	#1
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	It is late afternoon, edging onto evening at the Green Dragon Inn. Supper will be served soon, The fragrant scent of roast lamb with rosemary is in the air, to be served with boiled and buttered taters, and fresh, glistening peas from the garden. Apple pie is hot from the ovens and just cooling for dessert. The evening is a fair one . . . no chill breezes or hint of storm. Last edited by piosenniel; 09-02-2004 at 04:36 PM.

09-02-2004, 07:30 PM	#2
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Lily had barely gotten over the delight of remembering that poor old hobbit with the geese when Posco brought up the river episode. She fought with her own laughter as she began to tell the story. "We didn't want to take the bridge? More like the ponies didn't want to take the bridge. For some odd reason both of them shied away from it, and no amount of cajoling could get them over it. The little river wasn't very wide; a couple times my height at the most. So we heeled the ponies into the water, and wouldn't you know it but that narrow river had to be at least six feet deep! It just dropped off and suddenly there wasn't any sand under the ponies' feet any more. Then when we reached the other bank I nearly fell off Clover as he tried to scramble up the bank. By the time we were on firm ground again, we were positively soaked." Now they were all laughing, and even Marcho had a few chuckles. Lily and Posco shared a look of common understanding. The others could laugh at their eventful ride, but only they had experienced it. There was a light in Posco's eyes that Lily had become familiar with over the course of their ride. When the laughter died down, Lily said, "Now you can tell them about the grumpy old farmer who set his dogs on us."