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

Lilly · 11-13-2005, 12:08 AM

Lilly and her Aunt help out

‘Can Auntie and I lend you a hand,’ Lilly asked, watching Cook bustle about the kitchen. Ruby and Buttercup had come in from the Common Room and were now going about the tasks Cook had assigned them.

Lilly washed up her hands and plucked an apron from the pegs by the door. ‘I noticed you had a batch of cookie dough setting here on the counter in that big blue bowl.’ She picked up the bowl and brought it over to the table. ‘Auntie Violet and I can spoon these out onto the cookie pans if you’ll just show me where they are.’

Buttercup pointed to the bottom cupboard where the pans were stacked and Ruby fetched them each a couple of spoons. ‘They’re spice drops,’ she told them, as Lilly tied an apron on her aunt. ‘Make them about walnut size and roll them in this pan of chopped nuts and sugar.’ She was about to give further instruction when Lilly smiled and said she thought Aunt Violet and she could figure out what needed to be done. Buttercup came over and led Ruby away. ‘Thanks for the help. And don’t mind her,’ she said, nodding at Ruby. ‘Sometimes she gets carried away with her instructions.’

Lilly put the bowl of dough and the bowl of sugary nut bits near her aunt. She gave them each a pan to fill and started spooning the balls of dough into the nut mixture and then onto the pan.

Rose · 11-13-2005, 12:23 AM

‘Pleased to meet you. The both of you,’ Rose said, a smile of relief on her face. Her apology, it seemed, had been accepted. ‘I’d be more than happy to share a mug of cider with you this evening. A party you say? Oh, that should be fun!’

A few moments of conversation passed in which Ibun explained what had gone on earlier in the Inn’s front yard – the ale from a Master Fordogrim, the accident, the contest, and the group of players who said they were going to entertain.

Rose excused herself once he'd finished talking, saying she had some business to conduct within. ‘I’ll see you both later, then,’ she said, giving the two a smile and a wave of her hand as she entered the Inn.

Noinkling · 11-13-2005, 07:06 PM

Notch views the room

The small brown, notch-eared mouse poked his head out from the hole. The Green Dragon seemed busier, noisier than on previous days. The great oaken door banged open and another two-legged entered the Inn. Another of the littler ones, the barefooted ones that lived around here. At least in comparison to some of the others who now sat at the tables, the female in the reddish cloak was one of the smaller people. But she looked a giant to Notch as he stared at her with his glittering black eyes.

Two men were sitting together now at one of the tables, sharing ale he thought and a basket of fresh bread (he could tell by the smell of it even from a distance) and that good, sharp cheese the cook kept locked away in her pantry. He watched them carefully looking for any crumbs that might fall to the floor as they talked and waved their hands about for emphasis.

One of the men, the darker one, had flipped something shiny and small into the air to the girl that worked here. It was pretty as it tumbled in the light. He knew where the girl’s bedroom was and pondered how he might snatch the glittery thing for his own nest.

News from the kitchen traveled on the air each time one of the busy servers went in or out. Notch twitched his whiskers as he took in the savory aromas of lunch. Stew with rich gravy and chunks of vegetables and meats. Warm bread, cheeses, and what was that tantalizing smell that drifted out just now. Sweet and spicy! He nearly fainted from anticipation. Spice and nut cookies, to be sure.

Notched pushed himself back into his little burrow at the base of the common room’s hearth and rooted about in his little larder. An apple core, still fairly fresh, caught his attention. Holding it between his paws he began to nibble on it in earnest. His tiny belly was making its demands known with its grumblings, and he thought perhaps a bit of apple as a snack would tide him over til he could make the rounds of the room later, unseen and unhindered.

piosenniel · 11-13-2005, 09:58 PM

Notice of time moving ahead in the Inn

It's now noon or a little after in the Shire. Lunch is being served:

Savory mutton stew with vegetables, taters, and barley; warm rolls straight from the oven with sweet cream butter, jams, honey, cheeses; and baskets of big, nut & spice cookies to fill in any of the hollow spaces. Drinks of all sorts are of course available.

~*~

It would be nice to have some volunteers to take tables and chairs out to the front yard to set up for the party later this evening . . .

piosenniel · 11-13-2005, 10:00 PM

Cook speaks with Ginger

‘Now what were you wanting, Ginger?’ asked Cook, as she dropped in a last pinch of salt and added a grind or two of pepper to the mutton stew. ‘’Hand me that bowl of steamed peas, won’t you.’ She stirred them into the stew, saying how she preferred her peas a bit on the crisper side, not mushy.

Cook wiped her hands on the towel tucked into the apron strings that wrapped about her waist and tied in front. She took the blue dress from Ginger’s hands and took a good look at it. ‘Won’t take long at all to get this mended.’ Her eyes lit up as she handed it back to Ginger. ‘And won’t little Wren look lovely in it!’

She opened the heavy door to the oven and pulled out the last pan of rolls. ‘Here, now,’ she went on, placing the pan on a rack to cool. ‘You go ahead and lay the dress out on my bed. I’ll get the sewing basket for you once lunch is done and you can get it mended. The kitchen’ll be quieted down by then and we can heat up the irons.’

Cook looked closely at Ginger. ‘And have you given a thought yet as to what you’ll be wearing to the festivities? Will it need a bit of pressing, too?’

11-13-2005, 12:23 AM	#2
Rose Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Playing to the tide with Uncle John Posts: 49	‘Pleased to meet you. The both of you,’ Rose said, a smile of relief on her face. Her apology, it seemed, had been accepted. ‘I’d be more than happy to share a mug of cider with you this evening. A party you say? Oh, that should be fun!’ A few moments of conversation passed in which Ibun explained what had gone on earlier in the Inn’s front yard – the ale from a Master Fordogrim, the accident, the contest, and the group of players who said they were going to entertain. Rose excused herself once he'd finished talking, saying she had some business to conduct within. ‘I’ll see you both later, then,’ she said, giving the two a smile and a wave of her hand as she entered the Inn. __________________ (`'•.¸¤¸.•'´) »~:¤.•º`•.Rose.•´º•.¤:~« (¸.•'´¤`'•.¸)

11-13-2005, 12:08 AM	#1
Lilly Haunting Spirit Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 65	Lilly and her Aunt help out ‘Can Auntie and I lend you a hand,’ Lilly asked, watching Cook bustle about the kitchen. Ruby and Buttercup had come in from the Common Room and were now going about the tasks Cook had assigned them. Lilly washed up her hands and plucked an apron from the pegs by the door. ‘I noticed you had a batch of cookie dough setting here on the counter in that big blue bowl.’ She picked up the bowl and brought it over to the table. ‘Auntie Violet and I can spoon these out onto the cookie pans if you’ll just show me where they are.’ Buttercup pointed to the bottom cupboard where the pans were stacked and Ruby fetched them each a couple of spoons. ‘They’re spice drops,’ she told them, as Lilly tied an apron on her aunt. ‘Make them about walnut size and roll them in this pan of chopped nuts and sugar.’ She was about to give further instruction when Lilly smiled and said she thought Aunt Violet and she could figure out what needed to be done. Buttercup came over and led Ruby away. ‘Thanks for the help. And don’t mind her,’ she said, nodding at Ruby. ‘Sometimes she gets carried away with her instructions.’ Lilly put the bowl of dough and the bowl of sugary nut bits near her aunt. She gave them each a pan to fill and started spooning the balls of dough into the nut mixture and then onto the pan. __________________ “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” – Gimli, Fellowship of the Ring

11-13-2005, 07:06 PM	#3
Noinkling Wight Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Bird and Baby Posts: 109	Notch views the room The small brown, notch-eared mouse poked his head out from the hole. The Green Dragon seemed busier, noisier than on previous days. The great oaken door banged open and another two-legged entered the Inn. Another of the littler ones, the barefooted ones that lived around here. At least in comparison to some of the others who now sat at the tables, the female in the reddish cloak was one of the smaller people. But she looked a giant to Notch as he stared at her with his glittering black eyes. Two men were sitting together now at one of the tables, sharing ale he thought and a basket of fresh bread (he could tell by the smell of it even from a distance) and that good, sharp cheese the cook kept locked away in her pantry. He watched them carefully looking for any crumbs that might fall to the floor as they talked and waved their hands about for emphasis. One of the men, the darker one, had flipped something shiny and small into the air to the girl that worked here. It was pretty as it tumbled in the light. He knew where the girl’s bedroom was and pondered how he might snatch the glittery thing for his own nest. News from the kitchen traveled on the air each time one of the busy servers went in or out. Notch twitched his whiskers as he took in the savory aromas of lunch. Stew with rich gravy and chunks of vegetables and meats. Warm bread, cheeses, and what was that tantalizing smell that drifted out just now. Sweet and spicy! He nearly fainted from anticipation. Spice and nut cookies, to be sure. Notched pushed himself back into his little burrow at the base of the common room’s hearth and rooted about in his little larder. An apple core, still fairly fresh, caught his attention. Holding it between his paws he began to nibble on it in earnest. His tiny belly was making its demands known with its grumblings, and he thought perhaps a bit of apple as a snack would tide him over til he could make the rounds of the room later, unseen and unhindered.

11-13-2005, 09:58 PM	#4
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Notice of time moving ahead in the Inn It's now noon or a little after in the Shire. Lunch is being served: Savory mutton stew with vegetables, taters, and barley; warm rolls straight from the oven with sweet cream butter, jams, honey, cheeses; and baskets of big, nut & spice cookies to fill in any of the hollow spaces. Drinks of all sorts are of course available. ~*~ It would be nice to have some volunteers to take tables and chairs out to the front yard to set up for the party later this evening . . .

11-13-2005, 10:00 PM	#5
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Cook speaks with Ginger ‘Now what were you wanting, Ginger?’ asked Cook, as she dropped in a last pinch of salt and added a grind or two of pepper to the mutton stew. ‘’Hand me that bowl of steamed peas, won’t you.’ She stirred them into the stew, saying how she preferred her peas a bit on the crisper side, not mushy. Cook wiped her hands on the towel tucked into the apron strings that wrapped about her waist and tied in front. She took the blue dress from Ginger’s hands and took a good look at it. ‘Won’t take long at all to get this mended.’ Her eyes lit up as she handed it back to Ginger. ‘And won’t little Wren look lovely in it!’ She opened the heavy door to the oven and pulled out the last pan of rolls. ‘Here, now,’ she went on, placing the pan on a rack to cool. ‘You go ahead and lay the dress out on my bed. I’ll get the sewing basket for you once lunch is done and you can get it mended. The kitchen’ll be quieted down by then and we can heat up the irons.’ Cook looked closely at Ginger. ‘And have you given a thought yet as to what you’ll be wearing to the festivities? Will it need a bit of pressing, too?’