Eorling Mead Hall - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 10-06-2007, 10:36 PM

"Nothin' at all," answered Falco, smoke escaping from his mouth. "An' jus' what is that s'posed to mean, 'even I'll miss you, Falco'? Did you want ta see me off? Is that it?" Falco rose indignantly and faced Thornden.

"Maybe I'll just stay an' bother you, if me bein' here bothers you that much. Good day!"

Master Falco Boffin turned on his heel and stomped away from Thornden toward the Hall. He noticed Rowenna coming back around the corner.

"And tell the cooks that I'm expecting lunch as long as you're goin' in there with that bucket!" He gave another cold glance at Thornden and mumbled, "'Even I will.' Hmph!" He opened the door to the great hall and shoved it closed with a slam.

Rowenna had stopped to stare, brows raised. "What was that all about?" she asked.

Folwren · 10-07-2007, 07:26 PM

Thornden turned his head to watch Falco storm off into the hall. His eyes were wide with surprise and his mouth gaped open slightly. When he turned to face Rowenna, his expression was just as clueless as hers.

“What was all that about?” she asked him.

Thornden pushed himself up and rose to his feet. “I’m not rightly sure,” he said, walking towards her. “Evidently I offended him, though I certainly didn’t mean to. I only told him I’d be sorry to see him go and then I asked him about something. Evidently he doesn’t want to answer.” He paused, pondering it a moment in silence. “Eh, well,” he continued, looking at her and smiling a little. “It doesn’t matter. I can carry that water for you.” He extended his hand, offering to help.

littlemanpoet · 10-07-2007, 07:46 PM

"Save your gallantry for the maid you plan to marry," Rowenna said with a smiling mouth, and entered the kitchen carrying the bucket herself. She was not about to owe anyone anything.

She had overheard their conversation and found it odd that Thornden had decided that Falco had not answered his question about the pockets, for she had heard the hobbit say "nothin' at all'. But some people just couldn't hear others rightly, no matter what they said. It was interesting that Thornden and the Hobbit just did not get on well. She wondered if the Hobbit did it on purpose, or if Thornden did? Or did they merely stumble over each other badly all the time? The probably didn't understand each other at all. If the Hobbit truly was staying, that would be a valuable piece of information to keep handy. Even if the Hobbit left, it still could be useful to know that this Thornden sometimes said things he didn't realize he was saying, and that he sometimes did not hear things said to him at all. Not that the young man was a dolt or something, she supposed; maybe he just missed some signals. Not a good trait in an almbudsman. At any rate, Rowenna would of course keep her eyes and ears open.

She went to Kara and said, "I can continue to wash the floor if you wish, or is there something else you would rather have done?"

Folwren · 10-08-2007, 07:14 PM

He had only tried to be a gentleman…to be helpful. His extended hand remained there moment, alone in the air while Rowenna swept like a victorious queen into the kitchen, her head held high and her brown hair tossing. Thornden flexed his fingers as he drew a sigh and then he dropped his hand by his side and laughed.

“Save my gallantry for the maid I marry, eh?” chuckled he to himself. “If every maid told me so I guess I would never marry, for they’d all think I was bound to go after someone else.”

“By heaven, though,” he muttered to himself, sobering quickly and turning to the great hall door. “People seem easily offended today…and if not offended at least defensive. What did I say wrong to Falco, anyway? Can’t he take a joke?” Thornden knew he wasn’t witty…he never had been, but Falco often seemed to find amusement. That is, Thornden supposed, when he wished to. He made a wry smile. “Next the little fellow will be wanting me to apologize to him. Not likely.” And when he came through the great hall door, he was frowning with the thought.

littlemanpoet · 10-08-2007, 08:36 PM

Eodwine hoped that his morning's work would bring a possible innkeeper or two, or even three, to the mead hall, even during lunch. Now that he had resigned himself to making the move the king required, he was beginning to look forward to it, and wanted to accomplish the thing.

He straightened his breeches and shirt as he prepared to leave his room, and thought upon the roles that would need to be filled at Scarburg. Frodides and Kara would cook, Modtryth and Rowenna would clean, Ginna would serve. Garstan would do stonework, Stigend carpentry, Thornden almbudsmanship, Leof ostlery, and his men at arms, not least of them Garwine, would do their duties. Trystan and Saeryn were long gone, but at least not together, Eodwine hoped. He thought that he could get one of the Smith brothers to come with him. What of a hostess? He still had no wife, nor knew any woman who remotely seemed right. So maybe the hostess role would have to go unmet.

He came down the stairs and almost ran into a frowning Thornden.

"What ails you, Thornden?"

Folwren · 10-09-2007, 09:20 AM

Thornden and Eodwine met unexpectedly just inside the door and at the bottom of the stairs. Thornden stepped back and looked at Eodwine apologetically.

“What ails you, Thornden?” the eorl asked at once.

Thornden’s frown deepened by the slightest degree. “Nothing, really,” he said. “Nothing of significance, that is.” Then his expression cleared almost entirely, and though he did not really smile, he was no longer frowning. “You may be interested to know that Falco is staying for a few days yet. I may have actually unwittingly talked him into staying for good...so that he could continue bothering me, as he put it.”

Kath · 10-09-2007, 10:10 AM

Kara had spent much of her morning since Eodwine's impromptu council had broken up in the kitchen with Cnebba, who had proved to be a most amusing companion. He'd sat himself on a stool and had been regaling her with tales of the adventures he'd had shearing the sheep in return for morsels of food, for he always seemed to be hungry. It was a worthwhile trade though, and Kara couldn't recall a more pleasant morning.

It was with good will then that she had begun to laugh after conversation between Leodern and Cnebba, in which Leodern clearly had the upper hand if Cnebba's face was anything to judge by. His confusion made him angry though, and as his little face began to turn red Kara quickly tamed her mirth and a meaningful look at Modtryth had her hiding her smile as well.

"What's wrong Cnebba?" She asked, facing the boy and passing him another chunk of cheese as a peace offering.

"Nothing." He replied moodily, kicking his feet against the stool.

"Oh? But you were so happy a minute ago and now you've gone quiet on me. Was it something that Leodern said?"

Cnebba shrugged, his eyes still resolutely fixed on the floor.

"Because if it was maybe you should think about what she said for a minute. I don't know what brought it on but it seemed to be that what she said was a good thing. She wants to be your friend! Isn't that right Leodern?"

Cnebba looked up for long enough to see the little girl nodding earnestly at him, her eyes wide and innocent, and some of the tension went from his shoulders.

"And if it was because we laughed, well, that was just because we were as confused as you! We weren't laughing at you Cnebba, do you know that? When people are in a good mood a strange thing can make them laugh, it doesn't mean anything."

There was silence for a few seconds as Cnebba seemed to work that through in his head. Finally his head came up and again he looked at Leodern.

"Well, I don't mind that you're a girl, you can still be my friend." The words were said in a challenging tone but they weren't cruel, and Leodern apparently gathered that as she broke out into one of her beaming smiles and clapped her hands.

"Come on then!" She cried. "Let's go play."

Cnebba looked at his mother who nodded her assent and the two children ran off together into the yard, with all the worries of the past few minutes forgotten.

Once they'd gone Kara and Modtryth glanced at each other and broke into laughter again.

"Poor thing." Kara said. "What a thing to say to someone. Though I suppose to Leodern it made sense. Where did she get the idea from?"

Modtryth explained what had happened in the market place as she began to put away her purchases from that morning, finding a good listener in Kara who joined in in all the right places. She had just finished when Rowenna walked in and had Kara so incensed by hearing of the rudeness of the man Modtryth had met that it took her a few moments to calm down enough to answer the girl's question.

"I can continue to wash the floor if you wish, or is there something else you would rather have done?"

"Something else? I don't know if there is anything else. There are few guests at the moment and oh! But there's something you could do. The rooms that aren't in use will need cleaning and airing before new guests arrive to use them. If you have finished washing the floor then that would be a good thing for you to do."

10-08-2007, 07:14 PM	#4
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	He had only tried to be a gentleman…to be helpful. His extended hand remained there moment, alone in the air while Rowenna swept like a victorious queen into the kitchen, her head held high and her brown hair tossing. Thornden flexed his fingers as he drew a sigh and then he dropped his hand by his side and laughed. “Save my gallantry for the maid I marry, eh?” chuckled he to himself. “If every maid told me so I guess I would never marry, for they’d all think I was bound to go after someone else.” “By heaven, though,” he muttered to himself, sobering quickly and turning to the great hall door. “People seem easily offended today…and if not offended at least defensive. What did I say wrong to Falco, anyway? Can’t he take a joke?” Thornden knew he wasn’t witty…he never had been, but Falco often seemed to find amusement. That is, Thornden supposed, when he wished to. He made a wry smile. “Next the little fellow will be wanting me to apologize to him. Not likely.” And when he came through the great hall door, he was frowning with the thought. Last edited by Folwren; 10-31-2007 at 08:52 AM.

10-06-2007, 10:36 PM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	"Nothin' at all," answered Falco, smoke escaping from his mouth. "An' jus' what is that s'posed to mean, 'even I'll miss you, Falco'? Did you want ta see me off? Is that it?" Falco rose indignantly and faced Thornden. "Maybe I'll just stay an' bother you, if me bein' here bothers you that much. Good day!" Master Falco Boffin turned on his heel and stomped away from Thornden toward the Hall. He noticed Rowenna coming back around the corner. "And tell the cooks that I'm expecting lunch as long as you're goin' in there with that bucket!" He gave another cold glance at Thornden and mumbled, "'Even I will.' Hmph!" He opened the door to the great hall and shoved it closed with a slam. Rowenna had stopped to stare, brows raised. "What was that all about?" she asked.

10-07-2007, 07:26 PM	#2
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Thornden turned his head to watch Falco storm off into the hall. His eyes were wide with surprise and his mouth gaped open slightly. When he turned to face Rowenna, his expression was just as clueless as hers. “What was all that about?” she asked him. Thornden pushed himself up and rose to his feet. “I’m not rightly sure,” he said, walking towards her. “Evidently I offended him, though I certainly didn’t mean to. I only told him I’d be sorry to see him go and then I asked him about something. Evidently he doesn’t want to answer.” He paused, pondering it a moment in silence. “Eh, well,” he continued, looking at her and smiling a little. “It doesn’t matter. I can carry that water for you.” He extended his hand, offering to help.

10-07-2007, 07:46 PM	#3
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	"Save your gallantry for the maid you plan to marry," Rowenna said with a smiling mouth, and entered the kitchen carrying the bucket herself. She was not about to owe anyone anything. She had overheard their conversation and found it odd that Thornden had decided that Falco had not answered his question about the pockets, for she had heard the hobbit say "nothin' at all'. But some people just couldn't hear others rightly, no matter what they said. It was interesting that Thornden and the Hobbit just did not get on well. She wondered if the Hobbit did it on purpose, or if Thornden did? Or did they merely stumble over each other badly all the time? The probably didn't understand each other at all. If the Hobbit truly was staying, that would be a valuable piece of information to keep handy. Even if the Hobbit left, it still could be useful to know that this Thornden sometimes said things he didn't realize he was saying, and that he sometimes did not hear things said to him at all. Not that the young man was a dolt or something, she supposed; maybe he just missed some signals. Not a good trait in an almbudsman. At any rate, Rowenna would of course keep her eyes and ears open. She went to Kara and said, "I can continue to wash the floor if you wish, or is there something else you would rather have done?"

10-08-2007, 08:36 PM	#5
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Eodwine hoped that his morning's work would bring a possible innkeeper or two, or even three, to the mead hall, even during lunch. Now that he had resigned himself to making the move the king required, he was beginning to look forward to it, and wanted to accomplish the thing. He straightened his breeches and shirt as he prepared to leave his room, and thought upon the roles that would need to be filled at Scarburg. Frodides and Kara would cook, Modtryth and Rowenna would clean, Ginna would serve. Garstan would do stonework, Stigend carpentry, Thornden almbudsmanship, Leof ostlery, and his men at arms, not least of them Garwine, would do their duties. Trystan and Saeryn were long gone, but at least not together, Eodwine hoped. He thought that he could get one of the Smith brothers to come with him. What of a hostess? He still had no wife, nor knew any woman who remotely seemed right. So maybe the hostess role would have to go unmet. He came down the stairs and almost ran into a frowning Thornden. "What ails you, Thornden?"

10-09-2007, 09:20 AM	#6
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Thornden and Eodwine met unexpectedly just inside the door and at the bottom of the stairs. Thornden stepped back and looked at Eodwine apologetically. “What ails you, Thornden?” the eorl asked at once. Thornden’s frown deepened by the slightest degree. “Nothing, really,” he said. “Nothing of significance, that is.” Then his expression cleared almost entirely, and though he did not really smile, he was no longer frowning. “You may be interested to know that Falco is staying for a few days yet. I may have actually unwittingly talked him into staying for good...so that he could continue bothering me, as he put it.”

10-09-2007, 10:10 AM	#7
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	Kara had spent much of her morning since Eodwine's impromptu council had broken up in the kitchen with Cnebba, who had proved to be a most amusing companion. He'd sat himself on a stool and had been regaling her with tales of the adventures he'd had shearing the sheep in return for morsels of food, for he always seemed to be hungry. It was a worthwhile trade though, and Kara couldn't recall a more pleasant morning. It was with good will then that she had begun to laugh after conversation between Leodern and Cnebba, in which Leodern clearly had the upper hand if Cnebba's face was anything to judge by. His confusion made him angry though, and as his little face began to turn red Kara quickly tamed her mirth and a meaningful look at Modtryth had her hiding her smile as well. "What's wrong Cnebba?" She asked, facing the boy and passing him another chunk of cheese as a peace offering. "Nothing." He replied moodily, kicking his feet against the stool. "Oh? But you were so happy a minute ago and now you've gone quiet on me. Was it something that Leodern said?" Cnebba shrugged, his eyes still resolutely fixed on the floor. "Because if it was maybe you should think about what she said for a minute. I don't know what brought it on but it seemed to be that what she said was a good thing. She wants to be your friend! Isn't that right Leodern?" Cnebba looked up for long enough to see the little girl nodding earnestly at him, her eyes wide and innocent, and some of the tension went from his shoulders. "And if it was because we laughed, well, that was just because we were as confused as you! We weren't laughing at you Cnebba, do you know that? When people are in a good mood a strange thing can make them laugh, it doesn't mean anything." There was silence for a few seconds as Cnebba seemed to work that through in his head. Finally his head came up and again he looked at Leodern. "Well, I don't mind that you're a girl, you can still be my friend." The words were said in a challenging tone but they weren't cruel, and Leodern apparently gathered that as she broke out into one of her beaming smiles and clapped her hands. "Come on then!" She cried. "Let's go play." Cnebba looked at his mother who nodded her assent and the two children ran off together into the yard, with all the worries of the past few minutes forgotten. Once they'd gone Kara and Modtryth glanced at each other and broke into laughter again. "Poor thing." Kara said. "What a thing to say to someone. Though I suppose to Leodern it made sense. Where did she get the idea from?" Modtryth explained what had happened in the market place as she began to put away her purchases from that morning, finding a good listener in Kara who joined in in all the right places. She had just finished when Rowenna walked in and had Kara so incensed by hearing of the rudeness of the man Modtryth had met that it took her a few moments to calm down enough to answer the girl's question. "I can continue to wash the floor if you wish, or is there something else you would rather have done?" "Something else? I don't know if there is anything else. There are few guests at the moment and oh! But there's something you could do. The rooms that aren't in use will need cleaning and airing before new guests arrive to use them. If you have finished washing the floor then that would be a good thing for you to do."