Lesson from a Thane

Breelands Weather

The mid morning winter air is cold and dry around you. Snow piles on the ground around your feet.

Common Room

This large and rectangular room serves the purpose of Common Room for the Prancing Pony. Large windows along the western end of the room peek out over the Great East Road which runs outside the Inn. There are long tables with bench seats for the patrons in the centre of the room. Nestled into the wall is a large fireplace with several bundles of wood piled next to it. Sunlight streams through the windows to mingle with the smoke that floats above the ceiling beams, and provide an odd sort of illumination that, even in daylight, doesn\'t quite reach the corners. The lamps which hang down are presently unlit.

Type PHELP for help using the menu at the Pony.

Contents:

Keldean

Braldor

Dart Board

Obvious exits:

Out

[Braldor(#30149)] It is a fine day in Bree... if you like snow for indeed, there is a heavy snowstorm that covers the whole town with a white mantle. The air is cold and dry, and it\'s no wonder that the common room of the Prancing Pony is quite crowded. Big and little folk alike sit besides the tables, merrily speaking about the day\'s events and about the hope of spring coming soon. But not only the kindly Breefolk gather at the Pony, for indeed there is one who belongs to neither Big or Little Folk: he has a long beard, black as onyx, which is conveniently tucked under a golden belt, long black hair falls past his shoulders, and he is richly dressed, with a golden chain and a very nice wooden pendant. Neither Man nor Hobbit, this is a dwarf, and an important one by the looks of him, although it seems that he has left Important Business ofr another moment, and now he leisurely smokes near the fire that crackles merrily in the hearth. For a change, no dwarves surround Thane Bundazanul, and he seems to enjoy the experience quite a lot, as he makes smoke rings and watches them drift lazily.

[Frarin] The Thane is not the only dwarf to enjoy the busy atmosphere of the common room this morning, for it is only a short time before another enters upon the chamber. This one is much less richly dressed than Braldor, clad in only a plain green tunic and belt of black leather rather than gold, and he limps upon his left leg. Frarin shuts the door of the common room behind him, nodding a distant greeting to a few of the regulars he is acquainted with, and raises a hand towards the barman.

When the silver merchant is acknowledged, he turns to look about the room for free seats. No tables are currently available, but Frarin espies an empty chair near to the fire, one of several that surround Braldor as it were. Carefully weaving his way through the gathered Big and Little folk, Frarin comes at last to the warmth of the hearth and shakes fresh snow from his beard. \"Good morning, lord,\" he says respectfully, bowing to Braldor. \"Might I join you for a time?\"

[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor looks down slowly, for he had been watching a particularly splendid smoke ring as it drifted up towards the room\'s ceiling, and his dark eyes settle on Frarin. \"Ah, good Master Frarin... please, do sit\", he says, as he nods towards an empty chair. \"I wonder what brings such a notorious merchant to the Pony today, instead of to the market\", he adds, with a slight smile on his lips.

[Frarin] Frarin gives a nod and seats himself, throwing off his heavy cloak with its thin speckling of snow. He leans forward, warming his hands by the fire and watching the melted snow from his boots make puddles upon the wooden floorboards. He cocks a brow towards the Thane as Braldor gives a slight smile, but Frarin responds with a shrug and an absent frown.

\"Notorious indeed, but not for my wares, I assure you,\" he rumbles, still leaning towards the hearth. \"I am fond of Bree, but there is not much market here for silver. I spend much of my day here at the Pony. But I see at least that you have found some peace at last, lord.\"

[Nob(#16122)] A door slams somewhere in the long hall-way beyond this room the sound muffled by the closed door. There is the sound of running feet, then silence.

[Braldor(#30149)] The slamming of a door seems to go unnoticed by Braldor, who stares now at the Silver merchant with his dark eyes. His lit pipe seems also forgotten, as the Thane nods to Frarin. \"Indeed, some peace at last. It seems that the snow slows down even the most bothersome of our friends and cousins, and I have a small respite from their constant bickering and pleading\", he adds, as he puffs now on his pipe. \"But I have heard\", he adds, as he regards the fire now, although a sidelong glance is given to Frarin for a moment, \"that ye have become quite notorious not only because of yer bargaining ability... or so i have heard\".

[Frarin] The silver merchant stares still at the flicker of the cheery flames, their light casting both an orangey glow across his face and deepening the shadows upon it as well. But as Braldor pauses, then ventures another subject, Frarin\'s gaze falls to the floor and he rubs his hands together in thought. \"Have you?\" he rumbles quietly, deep voice almost blending with the hum of gossip that permeates the air. \"Nothing ill, I hope?\" And yet despite his words, Frarin\'s tone implies that he knows very well what the Thane has heard.

[Braldor(#30149)] \"Oh, nothing ill, I think\", the Thane replies, as he casts another sidelong glance at Frarin, \"at least, if things are done the proper way, mind ye. because there is ONE way of doing a thing right, and several of doing it worng\", he adds, as he leans back to puff some more on his pipe.

[Nob(#16122)] The door to the Common Room swings open, and Hazel bustles through, carrying a tray piled high with bread and cheese. \"Now who was it wanted this?\" she says to herself, looking around the room, and continuing to grouse. \"Silly girl anyways, go and get sick just in the middle of an order... ah.\" A table surrounded by hobbits waving at her catches her eye and she hurries towards them. \"Here you be,\" she says, slapping the tray down. \"Sorry for the wait.\"

[Frarin] This time Frarin does glance up, casting a sidelong glance to echo Braldor\'s own. He frowns yet more, then leans back and settles into the fullness of his chair. The fingers of his right hand drum upon the arm of the comfortable seat. \"The proper way...\" says the merchant absently, clearly thinking more than he says. He glances over his shoulder as the over-worked Hazel bustles in and calls aloud for the owners of the bread and cheese to make themselves known. But then Frarin is looking back to the Thane.

\"I see,\" he says, checking for any unwanted eavesdropppers. \"And, from what you have heard of my notoriety, lord, would you say it was being done properly or nay?\" The words are more guarded this time, more probing, and even very slightly defensive.

[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor chuckles slightly as he puffs a huge smokering, yet his attention is soon diverted back to the fire... and to Frarin. \"Well, ye ask the wrong person, lad\", comes his reply after a bit of reflection. \"For this question should be asked to the proper person... and also ask the proper way\", he adds, as he now turns his head a bit to regard the Silver Merchant. \"If ye take part o\' a lad\'s treasure wsithout \'im knowing, he\'s sure to come after ye, and not be very happy about the whole issue... if ye catch my meaning\".

[Nob(#16122)] ...Treasure! The hobbits stop talking for a moment and stare at the two dwarves as one word of that conversation sifts into their own. Then they begin talking again, at a great rate their heads drawing close together and frequent \"Hsss!\" and \"Shhhh\"s audible. Now and again, one will glance over towards the dwarves, then back again.

[Frarin] \"Aye my lord, I do,\" says Frarin with a nod, leaning back again at about the same time as the rapid whispers of a group of nearby hobbits becomes rather more noticeable. The silver merchant glances at the hobbits with a dark look, though it is soon relieved by the arrival of a mug of beer, borne by one of the inn\'s young lads and delivered with nary a drop spilled. Frarin gratefully accepts the drink, plunking a few coins down onto the lad\'s tray before sending him on his way.

\"And tis fair enough, I would feel the same,\" Frarin continues, tugging at his beard as he stares at the fire. He pauses, glancing sidelong before going on. \"But...if that treasure does not belong wholly to a lad, if it has a will and mind of its own, surely that should be reckoned as well, if not moreso.\"

[Braldor(#30149)] \"Truly ye speak\", Braldor says, nodding to his fellow dwarf after casting a dark glance towards the eavesdropping hobbits. \"Yet, as i said, even if it is so, there\'s a proper way a lad should behave. Remember that our people are called headstrong by some, and perhaps rightly so in some things\", he adds, chuckling a bit, \"yet tis our way. And old ways die hard, or so tis said\".

Keldean enters the Common Room through the open doorway.

Keldean has arrived.

Keldean heads into the common room, once again stuck with the arduous duty of hauling wood to the various hearths. It wouldn\'t be so bad if there weren\'t -so- many rooms to see to. The lean youth labors under the weight of a load that\'s just a trace too heavy for him, sweat on his face as he carries the logs slowly across the room towards the fireplace. When he reaches it he dumps the armfull with a dull thud, barely jumping back out of the way before the heavy wood crushes his toes.

[Frarin] Frarin breathes deeply as he watches the fire, thoughtful and yet also apparently unhappy, for his frown and dark look remain. He cradles his mug of beer in both hands, sipping from it only occasionally. \"I do not seek to dishonour our ways,\" he rumbles quietly, acknowledging at last his part in whatever strange conversation the two dwarves are having. \"But neither do I relish the thought of having my actions dictated to me. If we are headstrong in our traditions, then we are equally headstrong in our will, would you not agree, lord?\"

[Frarin] As the question leaves his lips, though, Frarin notices the approach of Keldean as the youth struggles with his heavy burden. The silver merchant clears his throat, failing to give the teen his usual greeting.

[Braldor(#30149)] \"Here, let me help ye with...\". The Thane has barely stood up when Keldean dumps the armful of wood. \"Well, yer a strong lad, it seems\", Braldor says to the youth, as he sits again. Turning to Frain, he adds, \"Indeed, our people\'s will is also string, and rightly so, for our will is what has seen us through many difficult spots. Yet beware, for a strong will can also bring many problems, Master Merchant. I think that, in this particular issue, ye\'d better tread softly... very much so\".

[Nob(#16122)] \"Yipes!\" It is a yelp of surprise from one of the hobbits, who has been so deep into busy gossip that he didn\'t even notice the boy come in. The dropping wood startles him enormously, and he directs an accusing glare at Keldean.

Keldean sighs, panting slightly from the effort. He takes an extra moment to pick up each log, stacking it more neatly next to the hearth. Then the youth sits down on top of the pile, wiping his brow with his sleeve. He gives a faint nod towards Braldor, the only acknowledgement of the compliment. The hobbit is offered a sheepish smile of apology as Kel lifts his shoulders in a shrug.

[Frarin] A slow, deep breath is sucked in through Frarin\'s nose and he leans still farther back into his chair. His mug he brings to his lips, but over its rim his dark gazes grows darker, with just the very slightest tinge of building anger. But he is well practised in the art of keeping his temper in check, it seems, for he stays his tongue for several moments before giving reply.

\"A strong will can indeed lead to trouble, my lord,\" he says carefully without looking at Braldor. \"But I speak of a free will, and that is what I have striven for all my life, for myself and for others. I tread softly always, lord, but not because it suits others. I do not seek to displease, be assured, but I will not rearange my mind for the sake of others. But in any case, my lord, you need not worry...she has pledged no answer and will give none until her family is consulted.\"  The last words of the merchant\'s are especially soft, barely above a mutter.

Keldean can\'t help but overhear some of what the dwarves are saying, though he doesn\'t seem to be paying terribly close attention. When Frarin mentions \'free will\' he glances up, but it\'s difficult to make out most of what\'s being said in the noisy room. He frowns faintly as he sees the seemingly dark look on Frarin\'s face and quickly averts his gaze again, waiting to catch his breath before he goes for another load of wood.

[Nob(#16122)] One of the hobbits has given over entirely on pretending he isn\'t listening to the dwarves, and nearly falls off his chair trying to hear what Frarin\'s last words are. By his disappointed expression, one may presume he was not successful.