Real time: Tue Jul 20 12:58:22 2004
Bree time: Mid Afternoon 2:54 PM on Mersday of Autumn - September 22,1432
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent Moon
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Breelands Weather
The mid afternoon autumn air is cool but pleasant around you. The day sky is
clear with only slight wisps of clouds overhead.
Bree Market - North
This section of Bree comprises Market North, on a street running north-south.
To the north is the Great East Road and the well-known Prancing Pony. South are
more shops and stores, as the market continues on in that direction. This area
is quite noisy from the many traders, vendors, and other folk about. The smell
of fine food drifts through the market, attracting more hobbits than Big Folk.
A boy trudges down the street, his gait stiffened to a slight limp. Brown curls
blow in a gentle breeze, first covering, then revealing jagged scabs across
forehead and cheek. And the fading remnants of a huge bruise still lurk yellow
and green below one eye.
His head is down, eyes on the ground right ahead of him and not on any of the
other people wandering through the market this afternoon. Brilliant sunlight
pours down from a clear blue sky and gives everything a cheerful cast; save the
lad himself, who appears to carry his own dark cloud of gloom with him.
Among the crowd that mills around the many shops and stalls of the market is a
tall man, clad with a grey, way-worn cloak. The cowl of his cloak is thrown
back, revealing a mane of raven hair and a pair of grey eyes which seem to look
attentively at everything that goes around him. This is one of the Rangers, and
many of the Breelanders give the man a wide berth when he approaches. Mutters
can be heard, and some fingers are pointed at him... fingers that quickly point
elsewhere when the Ranger's eyes falls on them. Henleg walks slowly forward, a
red apple in one hand with a large chunk chewed out... a chunk that is clearly
in the Ranger's mouth, since he's slowly chewing as he walks. He seems not to
see the gloomy boy, although the Ranger is straight in the boy's path.
Sitting on top a box, chatting with one of the vendors is Elias. Every so often
he looks around with squinted eyes, scanning the crowd. When he catches sight
of Toby, he hops down approaches the other boy. When he comes close enough to
see Toby's condition, he slows and cocks his head. His head whips about as he
spies the other man and he comes to a complete stop.
Toby doesn't see either the much-maligned ranger, or Elias. He lifts a hand,
opens the fingers and checks the pennies that reside there. Then with a sigh,
he closes his hand again and allows it to dangle again by his side. One limping
stride, a second, a third.. and with a crash, he bangs head-on into the ranger.
With a bit-off groan of pain, Toby reels backwards a step, jerking his head up
wildly.
The Ranger takes a step back as his eyes fall on the youth, a glimmer of anger
in them. "Watch your step, child", he says to him, and then advances a pace.
The anger disappears from his eyes, replaced by concern. "But... you're hurt, I
see. Have you gone to the healers yet, boy?", he adds, as he eyes the bruise in
the boy's face.
"No," mutters Toby, moving backwards a step in a stiff shuffling limp, then
adding with a flash of anger of his own, "I ain't a child." A familiar face
catches his eye and he jerks a nod towards Elias.
The Ranger chuckles. "Alright, alright", he replies to Toby, raising a hand
placatingly, "please do excuse me", he says, but then his face turns serious
again, for he now notices Toby's limp. "You should go to the healers then...
friend. That bruise looks nasty indeed, and I also notice you're limping.
That's not good.... not good at all".
Elias nods back, and moves towards the other boy, eyeing the man.
"M'fine." A swirl of crowd has moved apart, leaving the three in something of a
empty spot. "What d'you care, anyhow?" Toby asks bitterly.
"Well, I do care, friend", Henleg replies to Toby. "I care for folk who go
around bruised and limping, for that means that they might have gotten into
trouble. And keeping folk out of trouble is a... hmmmm, a hobby of mine", he
adds. If only this little Breelander knew what almost befell him and his
village-folk... but that will remain forever a secret, only ofr the Rangers to
know.
Elias chews on his lip, "He's right, you should go see a healer. You look like
a horse kicked you." Peering closer, he adds, "Twice."
Toby flashes a swift distrustful look at Henleg's face. "I'm all right," he
says again. "I... fell." His eyes dart away from the ranger to land
meaningfully on Elias. "Remember, Elias? Th'other day, on the road."
Elias winces, "That tumble did that? Except for the scratch, I thought you were
fine." His attempt at looking accusing is almost sucessful, "And I asked you
about your leg, and you said it didn't hurt much at all."
The Ranger watches the exchange between the two children... ahem!, young men
with an almost amused look. "Well, falling can be quite dangerous, young man",
he says at last to Toby. "I think you must follow your friend's advice, and
seek for a healer. After all, better to lose ten minutes of your time at the
healers, than to lose your eye or your leg, isn't it?"
"My leg doesn't hurt," Toby says. "It's my back. Where.." he stops himself,
sliding a wary glance at the Ranger. "I ain't going to lose my eye," he says
hurriedly. "Didn't even break my nose. Just bled all over." His clenched hand
goes to that appendage, touching it gently; the other arm remains held close to
his body - away from where anyone might jostle it.
"Well, you are limping after all, young man", the Ranger replies, giving an
appreciative look at Toby's leg. "But well... it's your arm, and your leg, and
your eye, and your nose", he adds shrugging. "If you don't want to go, noone
can force you to... but if you don't heal right, you'll have noone to blame for
it but yourself", he adds, his voice a bit stern.
"I'm gonna take 'im to the healer right now, Sir." Elias pipes in, "He told me
that it was nothin' and I believed him." He pushes his hair out of his face,
"'Suppose I shouldv' after he hit all those rocks, but it looked alright at the
time, honest."
"It's just bruises," Toby protests. "And wrenched muscles. Honest, he... An' I
got to get this stuff for Barliman; he's already mad at me fer getting drunk,
thinks I got in a fight or something." The swift change of subject mid-sentance
might not be noticed, the boy covers his slip so smoothly.
"I've got ta get ta the Pony too, Dunleaf sent me to get some of the empty
flour sacks." Elias glances at Toby, "So I'll walk you there, Jenny's stand is
on the way, an' she owes me a pie." Dispite his glibness, the lad's face shows
concern.
"Do as you wish, young man", the Ranger replies, shrugging. "It's not my health
which is at stake, but yours. As I said, I can only recommend you to go to the
healers. It's up to you to take this advice, or to reject it", he adds. "But
listen to your friend, he seems to have sound thinking. Go to Barliman's, and
then to the healers. What ill can come out of that?", he adds. The Ranger
frowns as he notics the change of subject, but he doesn't inquire further about
it.
Toby nods shortly, mouth still firmly shut, and edges around Henleg. "I need to
go there," he says to Elias as they move off, nodding towards a nearby shop.
Elias nods, and follows his friend.
Henleg shrugs as he sees both boys go to a shop. "Suit yourself", he says. He
then takes another big bite out of his apple and continues on his way.