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

piosenniel · 12-28-2005, 03:13 AM

‘Now hold on, Halfred,’ cried Cook, coming to her senses. ‘These fool lads were trying to catch whoever or whatever it was that broke into the smokehouse.’ She gave Gil and his companions a shake of her head. ‘And here I almost brained them! My golly, they scared me half to death!’

Minto and Mungo released the four suspects once Halfred had assessed the situation all round and come to the conclusion that none of them were the thief. Cook ordered the lads back to the Inn. ‘Let Halfred manage here,’ she said, giving Tomlin the poker to take back to the kitchen. ‘And we’ve a party to think of this evening. Best you lads lend your strong backs to getting it set up.’

Halfred, in the meantime had been inspecting the smokehouse while his deputies looked at the surrounding area. ‘Took some raw meat, whoever it was,’ said the Shiriff, noting the dried blood trailing out of the door and into the more forested area. ‘And two-legged, too,’ chimed in Minto, pointing to the scuffed tracks about the smokehouse.

Mungo, his father a locksmith from Hobbiton, stood looking at the broken latch. ‘Let me just ride to my father’s workshop. I’ll get that fixed up right as rain in no time.’ Halfred nodded and off Mungo went.

‘I’ll leave it in your good hands, Halfred, to find the culprit,’ Cook said as she started back toward the Inn. ‘Oh,’ she went on, turning back toward the Shiriff and his deputy. ‘Bring your wives to the Inn this evening. There’s a fellow in with some casks of ale he wants us to try out. There’ll be plenty of food and the drink to wash it down with. And dancing.’ Then she was on her way again and soon back in the kitchen.

Undómë · 12-29-2005, 12:57 PM

‘Well, then, we shall both have to learn to dance!’ She grinned at him and shook her head as they entered the Inn. ‘I doubt the Shire folk dance any of the steps I learned.’ She looked about at the Hobbits in the front yard. ‘They seem a merry folk. I’m thinking their tunes will be quite lively, their dances, too.’ She looked him up and down, then back at the more casual dress of the Halflings.

‘I think you might want to wear something a bit less formal for the party,’ she said, her gaze assessing his present clothes. ‘Something you’ll feel free to work up a bit of – sweat.’

The innkeeper set the two of them to different tasks. Farael was asked to help set up the tables and chairs outside. And haul the barrels of ale out and the racks of wine. Telu was asked to gather flowers for table decorations and to help string the little lanterns along the verandah and in the trees that bordered the yard.

The two went their separate ways, promising to meet that evening when the merriment began.

Valier · 12-29-2005, 01:57 PM

Penn looked up into the man Ciro's blue eyes."No apology needed good sir,for we are or were all travel worn at one time or another,your look does not startle me."
"Please have a seat."

Penn's attention was again wavering,for she saw a woman,possible from Rohan with the most gorgeous of auburn hair approaching the bar.I must greet her and ask her where she hails fromTurning to the dwarves and Ciro,Penn proclaimed shyly "Do you gentlemen plan on participating in the festivities?"

Penn's shyness was due to the fact she knew there would be dancing,and she could not dance well at all ,having never really been taught."I would excuse myself for a little while,I would like to see if I could help with the preparations."She smiled sweetly at Ciro and bowed to the Dwaves."you have both bested me ...for now on the ale,I dare say I will rejoin you in a bit?"

Penn stopped at the bar to see if she could offer her help for the party,and smiled at the woman with the auburn hair."Greetings! Are you coming to the festivities this night?I could not help but notice are you from Rohan?For I also hail from there,and it would always be nice to chat with another from our great realm."

Penn twisted her hair absentmindedly waiting for the woman's response.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 12-29-2005, 02:44 PM

Ciro sat down as Penn left. He thought her a nice girl; but he had no time to dwell on that. It was imperative that he concentrated on the Dwarf's question and that he mask his troubles.

"Here's to you fine Dwarves!" Ciro said politely, and drank long from the pint Ibun had offered him. The ale of the Green Dragon was fit for a King, and Ciro was eased within seconds of tasting it. He steadied himself.

"As to your question" Ciro said, "where should I begin? For I have arrived here from a broken road, always careering this way and that; and where I am bound I do not know." Ciro watched the Dwarves silently assessing his performance and, once again, considered exactly what he should tell them. Ciro now spoke in a quite low voice.

"I seek a man. He is scheduled to meet me at this here Inn. He is from the South, and East somewhat. He has information which I would hear because it concerns matters that are close to me. You may have marked my nervous entrance; well, this meeting has been rather a long time coming.

"But I have not long since been in the North and the East. It was around two years ago now when I was rather busy over in that direction." And now raising his voice, Ciro exclaimed "For this reason I have been lucky enough to mingle with a number of Dwarves. Tell me! where do you hail from?"

Ciro leaned back in his chair, feeling more comfortable despite the look of interest in the eyes of the Dwarves. He took some much-needed bread.

Koobdooga · 12-29-2005, 03:11 PM

Ibun looked at the man with interest, a certain curiosity growing in his mind. Ciro, or so he said his name was, spoke as if he walked upon the face of one of those compasses he’d seen the Rangers using at times to find their way. North and East! South and East! The fellow dissembled as if he meant to blur his trail as much as possible.

Now there was an interesting consideration. Someone was on his trail, perhaps. That man from the south and east? Or maybe it was Ciro who was the pursuer. Who could tell? The man was a nervous sort, glib talker, but his expression revealed nothing further to consider.

The Dwarf was feeling foolhardy enough, with plenty of mugs beneath his belt, that he pushed away the question Ciro had thrown at him and Fror. Plenty of time to get to where he was from, he had nothing to hide.

‘So,’ Ibun said, drawing out the word. He took a small sip from his ale, peering all the while over the top of it toward Ciro. ‘Let me just get this clear in my drink-fuddled brain. You haven’t been in the North and East for a while. You’re expecting a visit from someone from the South and East. Does that put you in the only two quadrants left as your starting point? Either some point northwest of here or south west?’ A sudden thought struck him. ‘Or way west, or north, or south, or east. It’s all so vague, it makes my poor head swim.’ He took another drink, this one longer.

‘I must say, I do like puzzles. Does the place you started from have a name or is near somewhere with a name? Something like . . . Khazad-dum, perhaps. Where I’ve come from?’

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 12-30-2005, 12:22 PM

Ciro smiled. He was feeling far more comfortable now. This old Dwarf, Ibun, was clearly an amiable companion; and Ciro was glad to talk and laugh with someone else. It had been so long since he had been in such a position. Still, he couldn't let his guard down. His new friend could, despite being slowed by ale and smoke, clearly see some things behind Ciro's eyes which had not been covered carefully enough. He had to fix his story.

"Khazad-dum!" he marvelled. "I have never been, though I have heard the glorious tales like any other Man of the West. It has been the Iron Hills where I have talked at length with Dwarves." He paused for a moment, and looked out the window. All he could see were green roads.

"I am from Arnor." Ciro continued. "But I travel extensively. I have contacts from numerous places in Middle-earth, and I am meeting this Southern Man here beside the Shire because our roads finally merge. We have business to discuss." Ciro took another drink and watched the hobbits hurry to and fro around the table. He thought to himself that he had handled this encounter well. Any mention of 'business' to a stranger was a sure-fire way of covering your bets. Ciro was in no way obliged to answer any questions about his 'business'.

"I come to you now from Rohan" he said. "More dangerous than I had thought it would be, down there. I was waylaid twice!" Ciro caught the glint in the Dwarves' eyes and knew that, with this promised tale of excitement, he had evaded the more piercing questions. He smiled at the memory of his adventures in Rohan.

Farael · 12-30-2005, 04:20 PM

...I could not help but notice are you from Rohan?For I also hail from there,and it would always be nice to chat with another from our great realm...

"From Rohan, eh?" Interrupted Farael as he walked by carrying a fairly big table by himself "well ladies, I hate to interrupt but I seem to have overestimated my own strenght... would you mind if I asked for a little help with this table?" He set the table he had been 'carrying' (more like dragging) down and smiled at the ladies from Rohan "I believe Penn alerady knows me. My name is Farael, from Gondor. I was stationed in your beautiful country once, while in the army" his mind now wondered to his mail now carefully stowed in his room after Telu's suggestion "and I must say, it is indeed a beautiful country, full of beautiful women. I also had the pleasure of seeing Lady Eowyn once, and of course hearing all she did for our people... no, for all the free people of Middle Earth. But I was wondering, would you mind showing me some of the strenght you Rohrrim women say to have and help me carry the tables outside?"

Farael grinned, finding his own joke quite amusign but the glare he received told him it might have not been the case. "In any case I would very much appreciate your help. If you want to, of course" Without really waiting for an answer, or expecting much help, he started struggling with the table again, towards the door.

12-29-2005, 12:57 PM	#2
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	‘Well, then, we shall both have to learn to dance!’ She grinned at him and shook her head as they entered the Inn. ‘I doubt the Shire folk dance any of the steps I learned.’ She looked about at the Hobbits in the front yard. ‘They seem a merry folk. I’m thinking their tunes will be quite lively, their dances, too.’ She looked him up and down, then back at the more casual dress of the Halflings. ‘I think you might want to wear something a bit less formal for the party,’ she said, her gaze assessing his present clothes. ‘Something you’ll feel free to work up a bit of – sweat.’ The innkeeper set the two of them to different tasks. Farael was asked to help set up the tables and chairs outside. And haul the barrels of ale out and the racks of wine. Telu was asked to gather flowers for table decorations and to help string the little lanterns along the verandah and in the trees that bordered the yard. The two went their separate ways, promising to meet that evening when the merriment began. __________________ Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost, her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night . . .

12-29-2005, 01:57 PM	#3
Valier Twisted Taleswapper Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: somewhere between sanity and insanity Posts: 1,706	Penn approaches Naria Penn looked up into the man Ciro's blue eyes."No apology needed good sir,for we are or were all travel worn at one time or another,your look does not startle me." "Please have a seat." Penn's attention was again wavering,for she saw a woman,possible from Rohan with the most gorgeous of auburn hair approaching the bar.I must greet her and ask her where she hails fromTurning to the dwarves and Ciro,Penn proclaimed shyly "Do you gentlemen plan on participating in the festivities?" Penn's shyness was due to the fact she knew there would be dancing,and she could not dance well at all ,having never really been taught."I would excuse myself for a little while,I would like to see if I could help with the preparations."She smiled sweetly at Ciro and bowed to the Dwaves."you have both bested me ...for now on the ale,I dare say I will rejoin you in a bit?" Penn stopped at the bar to see if she could offer her help for the party,and smiled at the woman with the auburn hair."Greetings! Are you coming to the festivities this night?I could not help but notice are you from Rohan?For I also hail from there,and it would always be nice to chat with another from our great realm." Penn twisted her hair absentmindedly waiting for the woman's response. __________________ grand return?........ Last edited by Valier; 12-30-2005 at 12:26 PM.

12-29-2005, 03:11 PM	#5
Koobdooga Animated Skeleton Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 33	Ibun looked at the man with interest, a certain curiosity growing in his mind. Ciro, or so he said his name was, spoke as if he walked upon the face of one of those compasses he’d seen the Rangers using at times to find their way. North and East! South and East! The fellow dissembled as if he meant to blur his trail as much as possible. Now there was an interesting consideration. Someone was on his trail, perhaps. That man from the south and east? Or maybe it was Ciro who was the pursuer. Who could tell? The man was a nervous sort, glib talker, but his expression revealed nothing further to consider. The Dwarf was feeling foolhardy enough, with plenty of mugs beneath his belt, that he pushed away the question Ciro had thrown at him and Fror. Plenty of time to get to where he was from, he had nothing to hide. ‘So,’ Ibun said, drawing out the word. He took a small sip from his ale, peering all the while over the top of it toward Ciro. ‘Let me just get this clear in my drink-fuddled brain. You haven’t been in the North and East for a while. You’re expecting a visit from someone from the South and East. Does that put you in the only two quadrants left as your starting point? Either some point northwest of here or south west?’ A sudden thought struck him. ‘Or way west, or north, or south, or east. It’s all so vague, it makes my poor head swim.’ He took another drink, this one longer. ‘I must say, I do like puzzles. Does the place you started from have a name or is near somewhere with a name? Something like . . . Khazad-dum, perhaps. Where I’ve come from?’ __________________ Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read. -- Groucho Marx

12-30-2005, 04:20 PM	#7
Farael Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In hospitals, call rooms and (rarely) my apartment. Posts: 1,538	Farael tries to recruit Penn and Naria's help. ...I could not help but notice are you from Rohan?For I also hail from there,and it would always be nice to chat with another from our great realm... "From Rohan, eh?" Interrupted Farael as he walked by carrying a fairly big table by himself "well ladies, I hate to interrupt but I seem to have overestimated my own strenght... would you mind if I asked for a little help with this table?" He set the table he had been 'carrying' (more like dragging) down and smiled at the ladies from Rohan "I believe Penn alerady knows me. My name is Farael, from Gondor. I was stationed in your beautiful country once, while in the army" his mind now wondered to his mail now carefully stowed in his room after Telu's suggestion "and I must say, it is indeed a beautiful country, full of beautiful women. I also had the pleasure of seeing Lady Eowyn once, and of course hearing all she did for our people... no, for all the free people of Middle Earth. But I was wondering, would you mind showing me some of the strenght you Rohrrim women say to have and help me carry the tables outside?" Farael grinned, finding his own joke quite amusign but the glare he received told him it might have not been the case. "In any case I would very much appreciate your help. If you want to, of course" Without really waiting for an answer, or expecting much help, he started struggling with the table again, towards the door.

12-28-2005, 03:13 AM	#1
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	‘Now hold on, Halfred,’ cried Cook, coming to her senses. ‘These fool lads were trying to catch whoever or whatever it was that broke into the smokehouse.’ She gave Gil and his companions a shake of her head. ‘And here I almost brained them! My golly, they scared me half to death!’ Minto and Mungo released the four suspects once Halfred had assessed the situation all round and come to the conclusion that none of them were the thief. Cook ordered the lads back to the Inn. ‘Let Halfred manage here,’ she said, giving Tomlin the poker to take back to the kitchen. ‘And we’ve a party to think of this evening. Best you lads lend your strong backs to getting it set up.’ Halfred, in the meantime had been inspecting the smokehouse while his deputies looked at the surrounding area. ‘Took some raw meat, whoever it was,’ said the Shiriff, noting the dried blood trailing out of the door and into the more forested area. ‘And two-legged, too,’ chimed in Minto, pointing to the scuffed tracks about the smokehouse. Mungo, his father a locksmith from Hobbiton, stood looking at the broken latch. ‘Let me just ride to my father’s workshop. I’ll get that fixed up right as rain in no time.’ Halfred nodded and off Mungo went. ‘I’ll leave it in your good hands, Halfred, to find the culprit,’ Cook said as she started back toward the Inn. ‘Oh,’ she went on, turning back toward the Shiriff and his deputy. ‘Bring your wives to the Inn this evening. There’s a fellow in with some casks of ale he wants us to try out. There’ll be plenty of food and the drink to wash it down with. And dancing.’ Then she was on her way again and soon back in the kitchen.

12-29-2005, 02:44 PM	#4
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Ciro sat down as Penn left. He thought her a nice girl; but he had no time to dwell on that. It was imperative that he concentrated on the Dwarf's question and that he mask his troubles. "Here's to you fine Dwarves!" Ciro said politely, and drank long from the pint Ibun had offered him. The ale of the Green Dragon was fit for a King, and Ciro was eased within seconds of tasting it. He steadied himself. "As to your question" Ciro said, "where should I begin? For I have arrived here from a broken road, always careering this way and that; and where I am bound I do not know." Ciro watched the Dwarves silently assessing his performance and, once again, considered exactly what he should tell them. Ciro now spoke in a quite low voice. "I seek a man. He is scheduled to meet me at this here Inn. He is from the South, and East somewhat. He has information which I would hear because it concerns matters that are close to me. You may have marked my nervous entrance; well, this meeting has been rather a long time coming. "But I have not long since been in the North and the East. It was around two years ago now when I was rather busy over in that direction." And now raising his voice, Ciro exclaimed "For this reason I have been lucky enough to mingle with a number of Dwarves. Tell me! where do you hail from?" Ciro leaned back in his chair, feeling more comfortable despite the look of interest in the eyes of the Dwarves. He took some much-needed bread.

12-30-2005, 12:22 PM	#6
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Ciro smiled. He was feeling far more comfortable now. This old Dwarf, Ibun, was clearly an amiable companion; and Ciro was glad to talk and laugh with someone else. It had been so long since he had been in such a position. Still, he couldn't let his guard down. His new friend could, despite being slowed by ale and smoke, clearly see some things behind Ciro's eyes which had not been covered carefully enough. He had to fix his story. "Khazad-dum!" he marvelled. "I have never been, though I have heard the glorious tales like any other Man of the West. It has been the Iron Hills where I have talked at length with Dwarves." He paused for a moment, and looked out the window. All he could see were green roads. "I am from Arnor." Ciro continued. "But I travel extensively. I have contacts from numerous places in Middle-earth, and I am meeting this Southern Man here beside the Shire because our roads finally merge. We have business to discuss." Ciro took another drink and watched the hobbits hurry to and fro around the table. He thought to himself that he had handled this encounter well. Any mention of 'business' to a stranger was a sure-fire way of covering your bets. Ciro was in no way obliged to answer any questions about his 'business'. "I come to you now from Rohan" he said. "More dangerous than I had thought it would be, down there. I was waylaid twice!" Ciro caught the glint in the Dwarves' eyes and knew that, with this promised tale of excitement, he had evaded the more piercing questions. He smiled at the memory of his adventures in Rohan.