Disclaimer : No characters from «The Lord of the rings» belong to me and I don't want to earn money or fame in any way thanks to this fan-fiction.
Meg Ishiro: I know at the moment this fan-fiction does not seem to have any links with LOTR, but it is soon going to change. I just needed to use the first chapter to place a few things before truly starting the story. I am glad you enjoyed it though
Second chapter:
She woke up at the noise of horses hooves close to her. Making sure she would not be seen, she roused from the ground where she had been sleeping and approached the road, only to see six riders pass by who were total strangers so there was no risk for her to be recognized. She sighed with relief and climbed back on the small hill where she had settled her camp the day before. There was a little stream nearby and several edibles plants grew close by, so she didn't eat dried meat for breakfast and contented herself with small fruits and roots. She also saved some other roots and nuts she put in her bag. After that, she washed her face enjoying her newly freedom and continued her road.
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Her journey went on like this, without any peculiar incident since she avoided all the persons she met on her way to Bree. When she finally arrived, she had just finished her supplies and was tired.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
She arrived at the Gate of the town while the sun was setting down, several weeks later and headed for a well where she filled her flask. Afterwards, she made for the Prancing pony inn where she ate her first real meal for days. She ordered a dish of boiled beef with vegetables, some soup and a pint of beer. Estimating the cost of her meal, she tried to take the burse hanging at her belt only to realize it had been stolen from her.
Becoming conscious of this, she wormed her way between the clients of the inn to the door, in the shadowy and smoky atmosphere. She only had one last meter to cover when she felt Butterbur's hand on her shoulder.
If the inn keeper had seemed really pleasant to her at her arrival in the establishment, he now looked rather scary. His eyes were now like two tiny black balls and he made no efforts to dissimulate is angriness. «Trying to leave without paying, eh? », he said softly. His whispers seemed to be loaded with menaces. « No! Not at all! You see, I have a high esteem of all the inn keepers, having been one, but my purse has been stolen and I hoped to be able to retrieve the thief so I would be able to pay my bill here.», she answered as she started to panic slightly. » Well, you see young lady, you won't have to go and chase the person who stole you. », he said after a few moments of reflection. « I know how you can pay back your debt here. Please follow me…»
Since his last sentence looked more like an order than a suggestion and Jade feared his reaction if she dared not to obey, she followed him. He leaded her to the kitchens where stood an important amount of dirty glasses and dishes ready to crumble and break. Seeing her astonishment, he explained her:
« You just said you already worked in an inn, didn't you? If that is truly the case, then you are familiar with washing the dishes. To pay back your meal at the Prancing pony, you will have to work here for a week. »
« A whole week ?», she exclaimed.
« Exact. And you are pretty lucky since we are presently in the most stocked period of the year. Enjoy your stay here.» Saying that, he left her and she turned back to face the piles of dishes.
«Enjoy my stay?» Yeah, right… I stopped being the slave of the kitchens at Elekhin, only to become the fairy of the dishes at Bree. Damn thief! Why did he had to steal my purse ?» o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Author's note: Thanks to ones who are going to take some of their time to review my story!