Authors Note: I would like to thank:
axara2
amethsyte
For following/favoriting my story! It really means alot! Please review, Im getting quite desperate. Although Im not gonna be like "no reviews, no updates" it makes me feel like im doing a bad job at writing this stuff. But I shall continue onwards!
I hope you like it!
Emberlyn opened her door and window to let in the cool breeze. The small shop could get quite stuffy in the afternoons and she didn't want to pass out from the heat. The young maiden was grateful for the life provided for her here. While the food and housing conditions were usually poor, the company never was. Aggy and the other various women made sure she felt welcome in Bree and the men treated her like well, a man. So she always belonged here in Bree, but she felt as if it was but a lie. Deep down, Emberlyn always knew that nothing could feel like home like Minas Tirith did.
She missed the vendors that she could easily call friends and the multiple children that ran across the busy streets. She missed Rorrarent, and his very obvious attempts to court her. She missed being able to look out of her bedroom window and see, what seemed like, the whole world. Then at night, when it was quiet, Emberlyn would walk the empty corridors in the light of the moon and stars. The stone walls would glisten and she would trace her hands along it, feeling the cold seep through her fingers into what felt like her very soul.
When Emberlyn snapped back into reality, the sun was hovering lower in the sky then she remembered it being. She hurriedly grabbed a new tunic, trousers, and a bar of soap before heading to the gate.
"Where you be headed, Ms. Emberlyn?" asked Harry, the gatekeeper. He was a rather unattractive young fellow, only in his 17th years at the most.
"That is none of you business now is it, Harold Goatleaf?" She snapped at him as he opened the door. His beady eyes widened and he backed off.
"Yes, Ms. Emberlyn. I'm just doing my job ma'am." The nervous boy stuttered. Emberlyn then continued my journey to the small creek, about 20 minutes from the hamlet. The forest was quiet and I appreciated the silence. She quickly bathed in the cold water of the creek, the water turned black from soot and dirt. Her skin felt raw by the time she stopped scrubbing all the dirt off and her hair was cleaned. She then got dressed and grabbed her dirty clothes and washed them in the creek.
By the time she got back to Bree, her hair was curling and the sun was low in the sky, almost below the horizon. She stopped by her small shop/house and hung her now drying clothes on a rafter before putting her hair in a loose plait down to her lower back. She walked over to the Prancing Pony to meet Aggy, Barli, and Eddie for dinner. The pony was full of rowdy men harassing the barmaids and waitresses serving them. Suddenly there was a flash of gold and a pair of little arms wrap around her legs with a little squeal.
"Emmy!" the child called "Are you going to tell me stories, Emmy? Are you?" Little Barliman's blue eyes lit up.
"Stories?" She questioned him "Now, why would I tell you stories?" She laughed picking him up and setting him on her hip. There was a mischievous glint in the young ladies eyes, as she teased the young boy.
"Oh, please, Emmy! I haven't heard one of your stories in ages!" cried the little boy, dramatically.
"Well…" Emberlyn pretended to hesitate "I suppose ONE story couldn't hurt."
"Oh, Thank You Emmy!" the small child yelled gleefully. "Can you tell me the story of how you beat those Men in Rohan, or the time you slayed those goblins in the Misty Mountains or-or-or when you fought those orcs in Dunland!" He said excitedly bouncing around.
"Barliman Butterbur! Stop patronizing Miss Emberlyn and eat your supper! She will tell you a story later!" Aggy called from behind the bar, her eyes firm.
"Yes mama." Barli pouted and went back to where his supper lay, waiting for him to eat.
"How are you, my dear?" Aggy asked cleaning a mug.
"Quite well. Now where is this ghastly handsome dwarf you speak of?" Ember mock her from our early conversation. The tiny blonde narrowed her eyes at her dark companion.
"He is not down here for supper yet. I trust you will not start a brawl in my pub, while you wait, am I clear?" her maternal tone came out and she pointed her chubby index finger at the blacksmith. Said blacksmith, laughed and nodded. The barmaid then handed her a pint of ale saying it was 'on the house'.
Emberlyn slowly took a sip of the bitter ale, as she surveyed the room around her. She saw Hank, the baker, Tom, the butcher, and Eddie, Aggy's husband and the owner of the Prancing Pony, all getting very drunk. Eddie Butterbur was not the most handsome creature in the world. Very far from it actually. He had a balding head with only the slightest bit of thin brown hair and a rather large beer gut. He was also a horrible drunk. Then there were the two waitresses, Liza and Mary. Liza had long red hair that was vey curly and a button nose, and Mary had mousy brown hair that seemed to be constantly frizzy but she always had a large smile on her face. There was a few characters she did not recognize, but that was normal for many travelers pass through Bree. There was one extremely odd fellow though, who stood out from the rest. He was an old man with a long graying beard and a tall pointed grey hat. He was sitting by himself by the fire and he seemed to looking at a piece of parchment.
"Aggy!" Emberlyn called "Who is that strange man by the fire? He is quite unlike anyone I have ever seen before."
"That, my dear, is Gandalf the Grey. He is the wizard I told you about. Very cheerful fellow, he is. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you introduced yourself. Seems to love to make new acquaintances." She said, nodding her head over to him.
"Isn't he the one traveling with the Dwarf?" Emberlyn queried. The barmaid confirmed the blacksmith's suspicions. Said blacksmith, finished her pint in a few quick gulps before slamming it down on the bar and walking over to the Wizard.
"Hello, sir. I'm Emberlyn. I couldn't help but notice that you are not a usual customer here at the Pony."
"Well, it's a pleasure Miss Emberlyn. No, this is indeed my first stay here at the Prancing Pony. Would you like a seat?" the kindly wizard inquired, with a warm smile on his face. Emberlyn gratefully took the offered seat.
"So, excuse my bluntness, there is a rumor going around Bree that you travel with a Dwarvish Prince. I was just curious if it were true." Emberlyn said as sweetly as possible batting her eyelashes, trying to seem innocent.
"Why, yes, it is true." Said a deep baritone voice behind me. The rugged maiden tensed and turned around slowly to see a pair of striking blue eyes staring back at her.
So did you like it? Let me know what you think in the box below! I love constructive criticism, as it makes me feel like I can connect with you guys. Also, sorry for the long wait! I meant to post last night but I got sidetracked with unpacking and getting ready for school (yeah :/)
