Disclaimer: I do not own Middle-earth. It belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.
Author's Note:
...WOW it's been a REALLY long time since I've been to this website. I've been caught up in school work, my art work, and everything in between... but here it is, finally! Erm... I suppose that's the only thing that I have to say right now. Oh yeah. I'm still pondering about a new title for this story. My poor brain went "fizzle-pop!"
Narcissus: Fizzle-pop! ^_^
Oni: ..............
Okee! Story time!
WIND AND FIRE
Chapter 4: Of Chicken Broth and Iruji?
The swinging kitchen doors of the Red Ivy Inn creaked at its hinges every time it swung. Narcissus ignored it as she usually did and stopped a yard from the door frame to take a right into a small alcove where several wooden racks sat under a single unlit candle. She was surprised to sense Oni still behind her; the first floor of the inn was pitch black, save for the lighted wax-and-wick in her hand, but she was able to navigate the decks by memory. It seemed amazing how he had failed to crash into any tables or trip over his feet in the dark, as she had done a million times in the past.
Not bothering to light the candle in the alcove, Narcissus reached down and grabbed a sheet of the thick parchment paper with the red and black ink scrawled across its rough surface. "Believe it or not," she said in a low voice, "I had to help write all hundred copies of this menu." She gestured to the scratchy quill marks that made out a long, elaborate list of items for eating. "It took the entire crew several days to write all of them completely and nicely."
"You could have established a single, large wooden menu instead," replied Oni with the usual scowl on his face. "It evidently would have been a lot easier."
"Master Gladseed said it wasn't fancy enough," sighed Narcissus. "He wanted a more sophisticated type of inn and bar - a unique, individual one."
"Feh. I've seen fancier."
As she still had her head facing the inside of the alcove, Narcissus felt her brow twitch - but she wheeled around and grinned widely instead, and handed him the menu. "So why don't you just take a look at this while I fix up some left-overs, eh?" She observed his studying glare at the menu for a moment before turning around and pacing towards the cellar, where, within its chambers, she picked up a few slices of leftover bread, cheese, and a quart of vinegar. "I hope you don't mind soup," she announced as she turned to close the door. "Tredure isn't exactly my specialty but it's the only thing I can think... what are you doing?"
To her surprise, Oni had already lit a fire in the grate under a small cauldron filled with what appeared to be leftover broth from a previous night. He had also lit several candles. "Where did you get the broth?"
"I found it lying on the mantelpiece," Oni replied simply. "Where do you keep your spices?"
Narcissus stood still at the cellar door, unsure of how to reply. If he was asking for spices, he could probably cook. He probably knew a lot about cooking. So why couldn't he help himself to some food? What if he used strange, evil spices? Like powdered human livers or halfling hairs? She pointed to the cabinet to the left above the washing tub. "Right there."
Oni was busy tending to the fire. "Good. Could you get tae-naga and..." he licked his lips in thought, "iruji?"
Tae-naga? Iruji? "What?"
Oni turned his head. "The Gods forbid -- do you know what iruji is?"
The waitress squinted in confusion. "I have never heard of it. Or that... tai-nagar thing you speak of."
"Sweetening," snapped Oni. "Do you know of the sweetening crystals?"
"Sugar?"
"If that's what you call it. Get some for me."
Huffing at his act of ordering her around like a mere servant girl, she lay her cellar items on the counter beside the mantelpiece and went to fetch the item, normally called sugar, from the cabinet. The small sugar bowl was a dark green, porcelain object, used only for the kitchen staff, while the customer sugar was kept in a large, tin barrel. When he took the sugar bowl from her grasp, she feared that he'd dump the entire thing into the pot, but instead, he took a spoon from the counter beside the fire, and using the tip, he scooped out only but a pinch and dumped it into the broth.
She could have sworn that she heard a slight "puff" from within the fire, as if the sugar had summoned the broth to explode. Yet, she smothered the thoughts and continued to concentrate on her guest's work. But he did nothing more than stir the concoction for a few minutes before lifting the cauldron off the fire and onto the counter. Narcissus blinked. Sugar and broth. That was it? He seemed rather pleased as he took a small sip with another spoon. Then, before he took a second scoop, he pushed the pot towards her. "Want some?"
Narcissus blinked again. She leaned over the pot, smelling the steam that rose above the surface of the broth. Although she was rather uneasy about the existence of the soup in its entirety, she mumbled an, "Okay," and drew another spoon from the drawer beneath her. Reaching up, she opened the cabinet and got two bowls. Silently, Oni picked up the pot and dumped a few of its contents into the clean bowl. Narcissus stared at a while before nervously dipping her spoon into the liquid and raising it to her lips.
Bitter? No! Sweet. Strong. Flavorful. Tangy! Sweet.
"How could he have done it?" thought the waitress in shock. "Impressive," she said, taking another spoonful. "Very good!" Oni continued to eat his dinner in silence. "But I find something hard to understand.... How did you get sugar and broth to taste like... a much more complex dish?"
He sighed and proceeded to eat, but before he could answer, there was the creak of the swinging door hinges. In walked a long, scrawny boy whose freckles were lightened in the aura of the fireplace. His mop-like hair appeared to be jet black and ruffled from maybe two hours of sleep. "Evening, Junior," said Narcissus thickly after taking a tenth slurp.
"My name is Thomas," grunted the boy.
"Yes, after your father, Thomas Gladseed," added Narcissus. She glanced over at the pot and said to him, "Would you like some broth?"
"Is that what the commotion is all about?" yawned Thomas. "I woke up from the cluttering from the kitchen, so I came in to investigate." He trudged past the fireplace until he came to stand at Oni's side. Nudging his shoulder, he said, "So I see you've finally cooked something that hasn't killed the cat, Aoreth?"
Their eyes met sharply as Oni swiftly turned his head to look down at the lad. Thomas shuddered. The stranger's glare was so deep, he thought it could've stung. "Who are you?" he inquired abruptly.
"This is Mister Oni," stated the waitress, "who hasn't eaten anything all day long yet was gracious enough to cook his own meal."
Thomas stood still and shook his head rigidly as Oni turned away to face the edge of the counter. "I've never met a man with hair as long as his... I guessed that only elves grew it that long.... And a strange name, too!" He looked at Narcissus. "Just like you! Oh, maybe you're distantly related? Yes! If he's an elf then you can be part elf, too! Your names must be a sort of the Elvish tongue--"
The lid of the pot came down gently on his head after Narcissus picked it up. "Don't get any silly ideas, Junior."
"Only my mother calls me that!" retorted the boy.
"Then maybe you need another mother to keep you under control!" she mocked in reply. She began to laugh as Thomas hunched in contempt.
The swinging doors creaked again as a fourth figure entered the kitchen. It was the paling yet ever smiling Master Gladseed. His white face looked red in the firelight, the grinning curves of his face illuminating a rather frightening bunch of shadows upon his face. "Now, now, what's all the commotion?"
"Father," whined Thomas, "she's picking on me!" He pointed at Narcissus, almost poking her in the eye with a jab of his finger.
Master Gladseed only smiled wider as he paced toward them with the same, chronic congeniality in his air. He didn't say anything to Thomas, but he took care to peer into the cauldron to catch the scent of its contents. "It smells like a fine brew in there," he said jovially. "Would you mind if I tasted a small portion? A sip?"
Narcissus glanced at Oni. He was draining the last of the broth in his bowl. As he dropped his head after he swallowed, Narcissus took it as a "yes" and reached for another, smaller bowl from the higher cabinet. In moments, she emptied the last of the broth into the bowl and handed it to her master. With another grin, Gladseed accepted her offer and gulped half of it down with one swallow. Although it seemed impossible, his smile widened again.
"What excellent soup!" he exclaimed in delight. "Here, Junior, try some."
"Father, I can't eat when I try to sleep - I'll just wake up again--"
"You're already awake - you can afford what you've already purchased, can't you?"
Although he was hesitant, Thomas took the bowl from his father and tasted less than a teaspoon of the broth. "Not bad," he said, but he immediately shoved it back into his father's hands. "Well, jolly meeting everyone here but I'd best be off to bed by now! Have a good evening!" And with that he swept out of the kitchen through the swinging doors, quick like lightning.
"I think he's scared of you," whispered Narcissus to Oni, who had been silent throughout Thomas' entire visit.
"You can leave the pots and bowls and spoons in the tub," said Gladseed, "we will wash them in the morning when we can use the water." He took a step backward and began to turn towards the kitchen doors. "But in the meantime," he added, "I may have a proposition for you, Mister Oni."
"For giving you heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl?" suggested Oni dully. Narcissus covered a smirk as she gathered the dishes to take across the room to the washing tub.
"If that's all your cooking was," replied Gladseed, rising on his toes, "then yes, I do have a proposition for you. You won't have to pay for spending the night here."
"For giving you heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl."
"Yes, in exchange for--"
"Heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl."
"And any other dish you can come up with," chortled Gladseed. "Is it settled then?"
"For heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl. I consent."
Then, they shook hands, and Master Gladseed bid his employees a good night before finally exiting the kitchen.
"Can you find your way up to your dormitory?" asked Narcissus a few moments later, "which is now free of charge.... I'm going to stay down here to watch the fire go down."
"I'm capable of it," answered Oni, "...but I had the same plans for myself."
She smiled. "Then we can stay up together."
Finally she sat down on the wooden floor in front of the fire. He remained standing in the far shadows of the room. And that's how it was for the rest of the night.
...Stupid Thomas....
Author's Note:
...WOW it's been a REALLY long time since I've been to this website. I've been caught up in school work, my art work, and everything in between... but here it is, finally! Erm... I suppose that's the only thing that I have to say right now. Oh yeah. I'm still pondering about a new title for this story. My poor brain went "fizzle-pop!"
Narcissus: Fizzle-pop! ^_^
Oni: ..............
Okee! Story time!
WIND AND FIRE
Chapter 4: Of Chicken Broth and Iruji?
The swinging kitchen doors of the Red Ivy Inn creaked at its hinges every time it swung. Narcissus ignored it as she usually did and stopped a yard from the door frame to take a right into a small alcove where several wooden racks sat under a single unlit candle. She was surprised to sense Oni still behind her; the first floor of the inn was pitch black, save for the lighted wax-and-wick in her hand, but she was able to navigate the decks by memory. It seemed amazing how he had failed to crash into any tables or trip over his feet in the dark, as she had done a million times in the past.
Not bothering to light the candle in the alcove, Narcissus reached down and grabbed a sheet of the thick parchment paper with the red and black ink scrawled across its rough surface. "Believe it or not," she said in a low voice, "I had to help write all hundred copies of this menu." She gestured to the scratchy quill marks that made out a long, elaborate list of items for eating. "It took the entire crew several days to write all of them completely and nicely."
"You could have established a single, large wooden menu instead," replied Oni with the usual scowl on his face. "It evidently would have been a lot easier."
"Master Gladseed said it wasn't fancy enough," sighed Narcissus. "He wanted a more sophisticated type of inn and bar - a unique, individual one."
"Feh. I've seen fancier."
As she still had her head facing the inside of the alcove, Narcissus felt her brow twitch - but she wheeled around and grinned widely instead, and handed him the menu. "So why don't you just take a look at this while I fix up some left-overs, eh?" She observed his studying glare at the menu for a moment before turning around and pacing towards the cellar, where, within its chambers, she picked up a few slices of leftover bread, cheese, and a quart of vinegar. "I hope you don't mind soup," she announced as she turned to close the door. "Tredure isn't exactly my specialty but it's the only thing I can think... what are you doing?"
To her surprise, Oni had already lit a fire in the grate under a small cauldron filled with what appeared to be leftover broth from a previous night. He had also lit several candles. "Where did you get the broth?"
"I found it lying on the mantelpiece," Oni replied simply. "Where do you keep your spices?"
Narcissus stood still at the cellar door, unsure of how to reply. If he was asking for spices, he could probably cook. He probably knew a lot about cooking. So why couldn't he help himself to some food? What if he used strange, evil spices? Like powdered human livers or halfling hairs? She pointed to the cabinet to the left above the washing tub. "Right there."
Oni was busy tending to the fire. "Good. Could you get tae-naga and..." he licked his lips in thought, "iruji?"
Tae-naga? Iruji? "What?"
Oni turned his head. "The Gods forbid -- do you know what iruji is?"
The waitress squinted in confusion. "I have never heard of it. Or that... tai-nagar thing you speak of."
"Sweetening," snapped Oni. "Do you know of the sweetening crystals?"
"Sugar?"
"If that's what you call it. Get some for me."
Huffing at his act of ordering her around like a mere servant girl, she lay her cellar items on the counter beside the mantelpiece and went to fetch the item, normally called sugar, from the cabinet. The small sugar bowl was a dark green, porcelain object, used only for the kitchen staff, while the customer sugar was kept in a large, tin barrel. When he took the sugar bowl from her grasp, she feared that he'd dump the entire thing into the pot, but instead, he took a spoon from the counter beside the fire, and using the tip, he scooped out only but a pinch and dumped it into the broth.
She could have sworn that she heard a slight "puff" from within the fire, as if the sugar had summoned the broth to explode. Yet, she smothered the thoughts and continued to concentrate on her guest's work. But he did nothing more than stir the concoction for a few minutes before lifting the cauldron off the fire and onto the counter. Narcissus blinked. Sugar and broth. That was it? He seemed rather pleased as he took a small sip with another spoon. Then, before he took a second scoop, he pushed the pot towards her. "Want some?"
Narcissus blinked again. She leaned over the pot, smelling the steam that rose above the surface of the broth. Although she was rather uneasy about the existence of the soup in its entirety, she mumbled an, "Okay," and drew another spoon from the drawer beneath her. Reaching up, she opened the cabinet and got two bowls. Silently, Oni picked up the pot and dumped a few of its contents into the clean bowl. Narcissus stared at a while before nervously dipping her spoon into the liquid and raising it to her lips.
Bitter? No! Sweet. Strong. Flavorful. Tangy! Sweet.
"How could he have done it?" thought the waitress in shock. "Impressive," she said, taking another spoonful. "Very good!" Oni continued to eat his dinner in silence. "But I find something hard to understand.... How did you get sugar and broth to taste like... a much more complex dish?"
He sighed and proceeded to eat, but before he could answer, there was the creak of the swinging door hinges. In walked a long, scrawny boy whose freckles were lightened in the aura of the fireplace. His mop-like hair appeared to be jet black and ruffled from maybe two hours of sleep. "Evening, Junior," said Narcissus thickly after taking a tenth slurp.
"My name is Thomas," grunted the boy.
"Yes, after your father, Thomas Gladseed," added Narcissus. She glanced over at the pot and said to him, "Would you like some broth?"
"Is that what the commotion is all about?" yawned Thomas. "I woke up from the cluttering from the kitchen, so I came in to investigate." He trudged past the fireplace until he came to stand at Oni's side. Nudging his shoulder, he said, "So I see you've finally cooked something that hasn't killed the cat, Aoreth?"
Their eyes met sharply as Oni swiftly turned his head to look down at the lad. Thomas shuddered. The stranger's glare was so deep, he thought it could've stung. "Who are you?" he inquired abruptly.
"This is Mister Oni," stated the waitress, "who hasn't eaten anything all day long yet was gracious enough to cook his own meal."
Thomas stood still and shook his head rigidly as Oni turned away to face the edge of the counter. "I've never met a man with hair as long as his... I guessed that only elves grew it that long.... And a strange name, too!" He looked at Narcissus. "Just like you! Oh, maybe you're distantly related? Yes! If he's an elf then you can be part elf, too! Your names must be a sort of the Elvish tongue--"
The lid of the pot came down gently on his head after Narcissus picked it up. "Don't get any silly ideas, Junior."
"Only my mother calls me that!" retorted the boy.
"Then maybe you need another mother to keep you under control!" she mocked in reply. She began to laugh as Thomas hunched in contempt.
The swinging doors creaked again as a fourth figure entered the kitchen. It was the paling yet ever smiling Master Gladseed. His white face looked red in the firelight, the grinning curves of his face illuminating a rather frightening bunch of shadows upon his face. "Now, now, what's all the commotion?"
"Father," whined Thomas, "she's picking on me!" He pointed at Narcissus, almost poking her in the eye with a jab of his finger.
Master Gladseed only smiled wider as he paced toward them with the same, chronic congeniality in his air. He didn't say anything to Thomas, but he took care to peer into the cauldron to catch the scent of its contents. "It smells like a fine brew in there," he said jovially. "Would you mind if I tasted a small portion? A sip?"
Narcissus glanced at Oni. He was draining the last of the broth in his bowl. As he dropped his head after he swallowed, Narcissus took it as a "yes" and reached for another, smaller bowl from the higher cabinet. In moments, she emptied the last of the broth into the bowl and handed it to her master. With another grin, Gladseed accepted her offer and gulped half of it down with one swallow. Although it seemed impossible, his smile widened again.
"What excellent soup!" he exclaimed in delight. "Here, Junior, try some."
"Father, I can't eat when I try to sleep - I'll just wake up again--"
"You're already awake - you can afford what you've already purchased, can't you?"
Although he was hesitant, Thomas took the bowl from his father and tasted less than a teaspoon of the broth. "Not bad," he said, but he immediately shoved it back into his father's hands. "Well, jolly meeting everyone here but I'd best be off to bed by now! Have a good evening!" And with that he swept out of the kitchen through the swinging doors, quick like lightning.
"I think he's scared of you," whispered Narcissus to Oni, who had been silent throughout Thomas' entire visit.
"You can leave the pots and bowls and spoons in the tub," said Gladseed, "we will wash them in the morning when we can use the water." He took a step backward and began to turn towards the kitchen doors. "But in the meantime," he added, "I may have a proposition for you, Mister Oni."
"For giving you heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl?" suggested Oni dully. Narcissus covered a smirk as she gathered the dishes to take across the room to the washing tub.
"If that's all your cooking was," replied Gladseed, rising on his toes, "then yes, I do have a proposition for you. You won't have to pay for spending the night here."
"For giving you heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl."
"Yes, in exchange for--"
"Heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl."
"And any other dish you can come up with," chortled Gladseed. "Is it settled then?"
"For heated chicken broth and sugar in a bowl. I consent."
Then, they shook hands, and Master Gladseed bid his employees a good night before finally exiting the kitchen.
"Can you find your way up to your dormitory?" asked Narcissus a few moments later, "which is now free of charge.... I'm going to stay down here to watch the fire go down."
"I'm capable of it," answered Oni, "...but I had the same plans for myself."
She smiled. "Then we can stay up together."
Finally she sat down on the wooden floor in front of the fire. He remained standing in the far shadows of the room. And that's how it was for the rest of the night.
...Stupid Thomas....