The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Lalwendë]

Jinniver woke to the rich aroma of roasting lamb drifting up from the common room to her bed chamber. She rolled from the bed, and started to wash and dress in clean clothes for supper. Her clothes were grimy as usual, and she had more dirt than ever down her fingernails. She felt groggy and splashed her eyes with cold water, which made her start. The sun was setting and the fiery glow through the window lit up her loosened hair. She fluffed it out, pulling a face into the looking-glass, and then started to bind it back into tidy braids.

It had been a long day for her, in many ways, and when she had gone back to her bedchamber intending to wash, she had sat for a moment on the soft bed and had fallen asleep. She had met Mr Proudfoot in the morning, and then had been asked to plant a little garden for Derufin's bride to be. Then, of course, she had told the tale of her dark days in Bree. The telling of the tale had not been hard, it was the thought of telling it that was the worst thing, the fear of speaking those words aloud. And yet now she had related what happened all those years ago, she felt unburdened. She was no less angry about what had happened, but the anger did not grip her when she thought of it.

Jinniver felt as though a small part of her that was missing had been somehow returned, yet she felt a little worried that she may have frightened her new acquaintances with her story, even though many of those in The Shire would have much worse to tell; Jinniver was too wrapped in her own concerns to consider this. She grimaced as she thought of the good shire folk thinking her odd.

Once Jinniver had told her tale, she had taken an hour to inspect the garden beds which Derufin wanted planting. She had been surprised to find remnants of the old plants growing there, hidden in the weeds, and she had devised a planting idea which would use the existing plants, as she always thought it a shame to rip up a perfectly good, mature specimen. The soil was rich too, and she could see that there would be little problem in growing almost anything there.

After inspecting the garden and making her delivery to Mr Proudfoot's smial, where she had discovered Mrs Proudfoot was just as round and amiable as her husband, she had written to her father.

"Dear Father, I am well. I am staying at The Green Dragon Inn, a respectable place on the edge of Hobbiton. You might have heard tell of it before. My lodgings are clean and comfortable and the food is good, and the local folks are most friendly, not at all odd. I have been asked if I can plant up a little garden for some nice young folks who are to be wed, and so I must ask you if you can send me a selection of plants. I have written you a list and it is with this message. If you send them tomorrow, as soon as you have read this, then I will get them the day after. Ask young Ashwyn about them, she has these plants are ready in the nursery house. Let's hope you are not still abed when the messenger arrives.

“I will be staying for a few more days here, until I have finished this gardening job. I may stay longer if you will allow it, as I am getting lots of names and addresses for orders. Think of all you can do with what I earn here. That is as good as any of our fireside tales that you might be missing.

While I am away, tell Ashwyn to keep up her book-learning, and make sure to lock the kitchen door up fast. "

Jinniver felt as though she had been away from Bree for much longer than a couple of days, and when she thought of her father she felt nervous, hoping he was happy and safe. Still, she knew he would be glad to have her niece about the place, even if she was a little cheeky. And besides, she had reminded her brother to look in on them at least once a day. Pulling on her long tunic, she sighed, and then the smell of the roasting lamb and the thought of the good company downstairs took her out of the room.

[Nurumaiel]

Posco glanced at Marcho, and the latter nodded his head firmly and said, 'We'll be leaving tomorrow, like as not.'

Blanco threw back his head and howled dismally. 'So soon?' he cried. 'Oh, can't we stay longer?' He and Posco looked miserably at each other, at Lily, and back at each other again. Bingo gazed at them earnestly for some time, and then began to plead with Marcho. Marcho seemed to waver under Bingo's begging, but he said no more but that he would consider staying longer.

Peony had walked calmly out of the Inn, but as soon as the door had closed behind her she had flown to the window she had been looking at earlier, and her eyes searched here and there until she saw a hobbit lad leaning again the stable wall. With a little cry she sprang towards him, saying, 'Hal Brandybuck!'

He turned, and his eyes lit up as he took the hands she held out to him. 'My dear Peony,' he said, bending forward to brush his lips against her cheek, 'what a pleasant surprise to see you here.' He was a little taller than her, with light brown hair and brown eyes, and a face that was slightly tanned from days in the sun. His hands were calloused, but they held Peony's own little white hands with a gentleness rarely equaled. He was dressed in the garb of most farmers of Buckland, though his overcoat suggested he had been travelling, and the mud on it signified that he had been travelling long enough to have ridden through the rain of the earlier day. Peony's eyes were shining as she gazed up at his, and his own displayed great warmth and affection.

'Is it really so great a surprise, Hal?' she asked, blushing slightly. 'I cannot think of what business you would have here... unless...'

'Unless it was to find you, you do mean,' said Hal. He turned and began to stroll towards the garden, and she slipped her arm through his own. His heart seemed to skip a beat at the touch of that sweet hand on his sleeve, and his eyes filled with adoration for the pretty lass at his side. 'To tell you the truth, Peony, I did come here to find you. I heard where you were going and I became afraid that you would not be coming back for some time.' He looked with boyish earnestness into her face.

She laughed lightly and her eyes twinkled. 'Silly lad!' she said. 'I am going home tomorrow, if the weather is fair. You did not need to ride so far to see me. You must have left before I did if you were riding in yesterday's rain. I am surprised I did not pass you on the road.'

'My pony has gone slightly lame and I did not want to put strain upon him by riding swiftly.' He paused, and then he patted the hand that held lightly onto his arm. 'Dear Peony, if I know your aunt you won't be back for at least a week. She'll take a fancy to having someone about to help her and amuse her, and she'll want you to stay longer. Of course you won't say no.'

'Maybe not,' said Peony, 'and I'm sure I will not now that you are here. Do you intend to stay at the Inn?'

'Yes:' said Hal: 'until you come home with me.'

'Silly lad!' said Peony again. 'I will go home with my brothers, more than likely. I can't go home with you, not until my father gives his permission.'

'I know,' said Hal, and a cloud of sorrow passed over his face. He turned and took both her hands in his, kissing them, and he said, 'Darling dearie, I have loved you for so long, and I have waited so long for you. How cruel your father is to keep us apart so!'

'Please, Hal, I would not have you make a scene,' said Peony, laughing in some amusement. 'Surely people will not be annoyed to see the face of you, but it would be humiliating for me. And... for my father's sake... he does not even approve of a kiss and a tender word of devotion.' She gently pulled her hands from his, and took his arm again. 'If it is to pass that we become each other's, it will pass. Father will change his heart and mind if it is to be. Don't worry, Hal.'

Blanco was standing at the window, and he saw Peony standing with Hal, and he turned a beaming face to his brother. 'Posco, look!' he said, when he was quite certain that he could call the attention of his brother and friends without causing Peony any embarrassment. 'Hal is here!' Posco's face lit up and he said, 'Let us go out and greet him.' He stood, pulled Lily's chair out from the table so she might stand easier, and said, 'Lily, would you like to meet Mr. Hal Brandybuck? He will probably be my sister's husband before too long.'

[Firefoot]

Lily arose from her seat, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ears. She was curious about the hobbit that had caused such a stir in Posco’s family. She was also quite confident she would like Hal Brandybuck, based on Posco’s descriptions. Out loud, she said, “I would like to meet him very much.” Their small group made its way outside, and Peony spotted them almost immediately. She waved them over, saying, “I thought I told you all not to bother yourselves.” She was smiling though.

“I saw you two through the window and we had to come say hello,” explained Blanco. Lily thought she saw the faintest hint of a blush on Peony’s face, but it may have just been the fresh air.

“Nice to see you again, Hal,” said Posco. “This is Lily. Lily, this is Hal Brandybuck.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Lily. Hal replied, “And you, Miss Lily.” The introductions having been made, they began to walk. She stayed by Posco’s side, and Hal and Peony walked together as well. Lily had known Peony for only a few hours and Hal a few moments, but it was evident to her that the two of them were meant for each other. Silently, she wished them the best of luck.

[Witch_Queen]

"He should be here anytime now." Adu looked around and realizing that she was searching for someone she knew wasn't there was just a waste of her time. She had nothing to do and only time to waste. Adu dropped her gaze. She had nothing now and no one to even care about her. All her life was going to be spent loosing those around her. Everyone would abandon her when she needed them the most. "Fáinu, what do I do now? Perhaps Hama has forgotten about me. Do I just stay here and spend all my days waiting for him when I don't even know if he is still alive. Please help me." Adu realized that she was crying but it didn't even come out in her voice. She looked up and the sun light glinted off of the tears on her cheek.

I feel so alone and yet I'm not. Why can't I just forget about everything and just leave this life behind me. Adu's heart was breaking and yet it was still whole. She couldn't tell whether or not what she was doing was right. After all her years traveling with Hama and Durian she figured that her heart would be stone by now. Instead it was breaking and she couldn't do anything to stop it.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Fáinu felt very sorry for Adu. his history was painful, he perceived that hers was even more so. Revenge he had sought, and found not, now he had nothing to look for in life. But Dwaline's words of dark shadows and of servants of evil still wandering the world made him think that time may show forth yet something.

For a time the both sat in silence, Fáinu was deep in thought; his eyes seemed glazed as if he was looking at something far off. He blinked quickly and looked back at Adu, then stared into his mug, the ale did not seem so appetising as it once did.

"Do not fear, Aduthondiel." Fáinu said "Aid I have given to many,” even though seldom have I received it myself, save from Elrond, and he is gone. "but to none more needy as thee" he looked her in the eyes and saw that she wept. "But what aid would you ask of me? For my strength lessens and the pain of my wound grows as the power of the elves wanes."

Why should she seek my aid? All my life I have done nought to great avail. Cursed by Dragons, cased out by my own brothers, Worthy of nothing, not even revenge that I sought.
He shook his head and regained his thoughts, Nay, Perhaps in this, I can achieve something, giving my aid to one I know, but a little.

[Amanaduial the archer]

As Aman moved around to the front of her horses to lead them into the stables, the large black one who she had been riding tossed his head a little and stamped his hooves a few times. Merrimac, despite all his keenness with horses, stepped back a little out of pure common sense. As the horse tossed it's head again, Aman, now standing in front, subconciously mirrored the action as she shushed him quietly, her hand coming up slowly to his nose. The horse narrowed beautiful, slanted eyes at her, regarding her, then nuzzled into her fingers affectionately. Beside it, the other horse, Rochfalmar, seemed to roll her eyes. Aman grinned at Merrimac excitedly, looking across at him as her hands moved across the side of the horse's oddly angular face.

"Isn't he beautiful?" She said delightedly. "Taydoch said the Haradrim breeders were coming, and told me they might even have been breeding with the Rohirrim steeds, I didn't believe it, of course, after all they'd been through together, the Haradrim aren't naturally forgiving-"

"Woah, woah..." Merrimac held up both hands against Aman's chattered onslaught. He flattened his palms slowly as if slowly pressing down an invisible briefcase in the air as he frowned at Aman comically. "Could...could you explain that one more time - tcha tcha tcha!" he cut her off as she opened her mouth again, and made that odd flattening motion again. "Slowly. Sensibly. And so someone who until a few years ago had never seen a horse bigger than the dumpy ten-hand ponies you see wandering the Shire with straw hats." He glanced nervously at the horse again and jerked his head towards it. "'Cos that is definitely no straw hat pony!"

Aman grinned again but calmed down, taking the reins of both the horses and starting towards the stables, her hands fiddling with the leather and often straying up fondly to one of the other of the horses' faces or manes. "Sorry, sorry, I'll try again. The last few days, I was at the horse market, on the Great East Road, you know?"

Merrimac gave a small, dry smile. "Aye, you just about mentioned it before you raced off to meet your fancy man there."

"'Fancy man'?!" Aman stared incredulously. "What, Taydoch? I've known him for years! He's not-" she stopped, and apparently considered some mental image. "Well, actually, I mean, when you say it like that, Taydoch wouldn't be at all bad, you know, he's a-"

Merrimac coughed politely.

"-but you don't want to know about that. A-anyway... the titbit that Taydoch used to really entice me - well, con me - into coming to the horse market was some information he had that some Haradrim breeders were coming. And don't look at me like that, master Merrimac, not all of the Southrons are complete savages. They're fine horsemen, when they put their minds to it - second, of course, to my people - and the creatures they produce..." Aman looked up lovingly at the huge sable horse. Merrimac eyed him warily. "You mean creatures like that thin- like him?"

"Ah, no, you see, that is where the genius comes in. Obviously the Rohirrim were there as well - a horse market wouldn't be complete without a few of us - and along with bringing the purebreeds from the Southrons and the Rohirrim...there was one breeder who brought a few cross-breeds. And that, dear Merrimac, is where my very lovely new steed comes in: one of the first in Middle Earth - whether there will be more, I don't know, but a fine beast this is, a fine beast!"

And a fine beast it was, even to the doubtful Merrimac: the horse must have been about eighteen hands, but was sleek rather than stocky, built for speed as well as strength, and would have been verging on gaunt was it not for the hints of the muscle depth that moved beneath beneath. His black fur shimmered as a muscle twitched in his shoulder, and the sable ripples that followed gave whole new tones to the colour black. His raven neck arched up elegantly in a fine curve and the head was held proudly, far more sharply boned and angular that the horses of the United Kingdom. From the sharp, angular face, the kohl rimmed eyes that looked down at you were rather slanted, black and narrowed as if against the wind or dry sand of Harad, just like the eyes of the horse's breeders. And what's more, they were intelligent: they seemed to be regarding Merrimac with a rather crafty sort of amusement.

The hobbit stared back, then raised a hand to the horse's nose, edging forward boldly although he felt anything but bold inside. The horse looked at him with those slanted, laughing eyes, then tossed his head against the stablehand's small fingers. Aman smiled. "By the West, Merrimac, I think he likes you."

Merrimac tried to look disapproving, but couldn't help a small, bashful smile, his dark cheeks reddening slightly. "Aye, well. Shall I settle them in?"

"Oh, Merrimac, you're brilliant. He won't be any trouble - why, 'Falmar and he are already getting on better, even if she seems to disapprove of such a wily colt," Aman grinned at the dappled grey mare companionably, as if they were two girls discussing a naughty but rather dashing boy.

The hobbit nodded and took the two pairs of reins, before stopping and turning back. "Oh, wait - 'he'? Have you not given the horse a name?"

"Nay given the horse- why, Merrimac, how can you suggest that!" Aman's mock outrage slipped and she nodded more soberly. "Aye, I called him after the friend I went to meet, my 'fancy man'." She rolled her eyes. "His name is Taydoch."

"Tie-dok?"

"No! Tay as in...well, think hay, but with a 'T'."

"Tay-dok?"

Aman winced at the hard ending the hobbit put on the name. "Try to soften it. Roll the 'ch' in the back of your throat, like...like..." she demonstrated, rolling the 'h'*. Merrimac tried. Aman made a face and demonstrated again. They went on for a few moments before realising how ridiculous they sounded and bursting out laughing. Aman shook her head and held up her hands, chuckling as she backed away to the Inn. "Fine, fine, have it your way, TaydoCK it is!"

Turning, she walked through the darkness into the comforting light of the Inn, where the smells of supper and the delighted call of Buttercup Brownlock greeted the Innkeeper back to the 'Dragon...

~*~*~

* the 'ch' at the end of Taydoch is said like a Hebrew/Yiddish 'ch', such as at the beginning of 'Channukah'.

[Witch_Queen]

Adu looked as if she was lost in the world. She knew where she was but then again she didn't. Adu figured her mind was playing with her. "Fáinu, I don't like to be alone. Setting her watching everyone else and their companions only make me long for company that much more. I don't know when Hama will be back and then again I don't know if he will come back. I need a friend right now and your the only one that can understand what I'm feeling." Adu wiped the tears from her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she cried like this.

I have cried myself to sleep many nights but never was it like this. Always it was for my homeland and my family. Yet they have forgotten about me. To them I am no more than a shadow. That is the way it will be..... Aduthondiel the Forgotten. She sat there staring into his eyes. She didn't know why but for some reason she didn't feel alone anymore. Realizing what she was doing Adu turned her head away from him. She could feel her cheeks burning and she knew she was blushing.