The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

[Primrose Bolger]

The words and tears that her simple question had brought on surprised Ginger. She put down her bread and jam and got up quickly from her chair. Tim sat with his head in his hands looking as if he might bolt all together or burst into tears himself if she touched him or tried any words of comfort on him. Picking up her clean napkin, she went to Wren’s side.

Ginger put her hand round the girl’s heaving shoulders in a sympathetic manner. ‘Bree! Such a long way to have walked! No wonder you’re so worn out from it.’ She dipped the corner of the napkin in the small pitcher of cool water that sat on the table. Cradling Wren’s head against her shoulder, Ginger dabbed at the girl’s red cheeks where the tears ran. ‘Goodness, I’m in not yet in my tweens yet being just eighteen. And I’ve been hardly farther than the western edges of Hobbiton and the eastern edges of Bywater.’

She handed Wren the dry part of the napkin and told her to go ahead and blow her snuffy nose on it. The obvious question had been brewing in her mind since she’d first laid eyes on the two children. Big Folk or no, what were they doing wandering down the Great Road all alone it seemed.

‘Are you on your way to your folks, little one?’ Ginger asked gently. Then thinking that perhaps someone from the Inn could give the two a lift she inquired further. ‘Are they near?’

[Undómë]

Once they’d seated themselves, Teluyaviel shrugged off her cloak, letting it fall haphazardly over the back of her chair. Her eyes were bright with unfeigned interest as she looked about the room. ‘What an interesting place!’ she exclaimed, leaning forward to touch her brother on the arm.

Tindomion shook his head in agreement, knowing that if he were to give his real opinion it would elicit an argument until she felt he’d been brought to see her view. His eyes were on the other of the Elves who’d come to be at the Inn. ‘What brings them here to this rude place?’ he wondered to himself. ‘Where are they bound?’ his musings were brought to a halt as Telu patted him on the arm to gain his attention.

‘I’m quite hungry,’ she declared, looking to where the server who’d spoken to them had gone. ‘See if you can get her attention, Tindo,’ she went on, lifting her chin to where Ruby was hurrying back toward the kitchen. ‘Let’s see what they have to offer.’

Not one to resist a request from his sister, Tindo got up from the table and made his way toward the retreating Hobbit. His own stomach was wondering if the food would be edible.

‘Little Mistress!’ he called out, just a few steps behind her.

[piosenniel]

Ruby's poor impression on Tindomion

Ruby’s hand was on the door to the kitchen; her mind ticking off which table wanted what for breakfast. The voice behind surprised her; she had not heard the Elf’s light footfalls coming near her.

With a gasp she halted quickly and turned to see who spoke. The tray of dirty dishes wobbled precariously on her palm and tipped, sending plates, cups, utensils, and scraps of uneaten food careening toward the floor.

The latter unfortunately splashing on the toes of the Elf’s boots . . .

[Alcarillo]

Alcarillo ate his breakfast in silence, watching the visitors to the inn eat and talk. He spread some jam on his bread and munched on it thoughtfully, then moved on to the eggs and then the bacon. He sipped his tea, watching two other Elves find their seats near the fireplace. Alcarillo spread some honey on another slice of bread and thought of the quaint rustic-ness of the hobbits. Quite interesting creatures, he thought, and very kind and generous. I should visit this land again one day.

A clatter rang across the common room, and heads turned from their breakfast and towards the kitchen door, where someone had dropped a tray full of dirty dishes. Alcarillo saw an embarrassed Ruby standing with the mess spread about in front of her and extending to the feet of one of the two Elves who sat near the fireplace, now standing before her. Oh dear, he must’ve caught her unaware, Alcarillo thought, and she does seem a bit uncomfortable among Elves. Alcarillo recalled her ashamed expression when he introduced himself. Alcarillo took another bite of his bread and considered helping her clean the mess, if nobody else does, I will. For now he remained in his seat, feeling a bit of pity and compassion for the poor hobbit maiden.

[Larien Telemnar]

Larien slowly descended the star and peeked around the corner, feeling sheepish. She was usually awake and moving about much earlier than this, but the previous nights singing and talking kept her up late.

She cautiosly entered the common room and looked around, hoping for a glimpse of one of her newfound friends.

[Folwren]

“Are you on your way to your folks, little one?” Ginger asked gently. Then thinking that perhaps someone from the Inn could give the two a lift she inquired further. “Are they near?”

Wren could not answer. She just shook her head mutely and clutched the napkin that Ginger had handed her to her eyes. Tim hardly moved as he lifted his head slightly to speak.

“No,” he said, his voice dry and raspy, “No. They died, a while back. I’ve got to find work, but no one could take me at Bree and there was no place closer than The Shire. We couldn’t stay there with nothing for me to do to help survive. I’ve got to take care of her, you understand.” He looked up at Ginger, hoping that she did. “I’ll work to stay anyplace where it’s dry and warm and there’s enough to eat, but I won’t be given anything when I can do something for our stay and keep. I can work.”

He stopped, unable to go on for a minute both for lack of words and not wanting to overburden the kind hobbit lass. But after a moment, he went on. “If you knew of any place or anywhere we could go...I’d - I’d thank you a lot for it. We’ve been walking for a long time and Wren...we’re getting tired and I don’t think she could take much more.”

[Seth Cotton]

Seth was deep asleep in his feather bed and he snored lightly. He turned in the bed as the sun shone right at his face. A bird sang on the tin-plate of his window and he began to slowly awake. He was not sure what the time was, but it did not really bother him. He sat up, and the his sudden movement frightened the bird and it flew away.

He stretched and stood up, the wooden floor was still cold and felt really uncomfortable. He kneeled and fumbled with his hands udner the bed and pulled out his warm slippers. Seth went over to the window and gazed over the garden. The morning dew was still in the grass and as well on the leaves of the plants in the flower bed below his window.

It was a beautiful morning and he slowly went down the stairs and into the dining room where breakfast was being served. By the amount of people eating breakfast, Seth guessed that it was still pretty early. He got a hot bowl of some porridge, a piece of bread with some marmalade and a cup of tea.

He sat down by a table and began his meal. He sat in deep thought and enjoyed his meal and did not take much notice of what happened around him. He spilled some marmalade on his shirt, but was not really caring much about it. His thoughts went to the beautiful garden of Master Hornblower in Greenfields; he would truly miss all his duties there, but it was little he could do about it. . .