Night had well and truly set in by the time
Goldi, Faramir and Pippin saw any sign of the end of the Downs. In fact, they did
not even notice that they had come to the end until they were actually walking
along part of the East Road.
“We’re through!” cried Goldi, suddenly breaking
the miserable silence that had lasted for many hours.
Her voice broke Faramir and Pippin out of their
tired trances. All three of them quickly forgot their fatigue, as the thought
of an inn, with a fire burning, and a hot meal filled their minds. They started
running, and did not stop until they came to the West-gate of Bree. It was
shut, but they expected that, just as they expected to see the tired-looking
gatekeeper lazing in the doorway of his lodge. He heard them coming, and
suddenly became alert.
“Good evening, young sirs,” he greeted, then,
seeing Goldi, added, “and young miss. How may I help you?”
“He’s very friendly,” Pippin murmured to Goldi.
She smiled back.
“We have been travelling all day, and are
looking for an inn to spend the night,” Faramir replied.
The gatekeeper regarded Faramir for a moment.
“You’re Faramir Took, aren’t you? Thain Peregrin’s son!”
“Oh…yes…I am.”
“Come in, come in, Master Took.” The gatekeeper
opened the gate, and allowed the three hobbits to enter. “What brings you to
Bree?”
“No reason. I just wished to show my two friends
here what a lovely village Bree is.”
“Ah, yes. Well, I’m sure you know the way to The Pony. I do hope you’ll enjoy your
stay here.” With that, the gatekeeper returned to his lodge, and the hobbits
continued on their way down the streets of Bree.
“Well, that was easy enough,” stated Pippin. “I
was afraid that we would not be let in!”
“That gatekeeper is no Harry,” laughed Faramir,
referring to the gatekeeper who had been present when their fathers had passed
through. “I have met him several times, coming to Bree with father, and
Meriadoc. A very fine-spoken gentleman – especially for one of the Big People.
Now hurry. This way to The Prancing Pony.”
Faramir was able to lead them quite quickly to
the inn. Aside from a recent re-painting, The
Prancing Pony looked how it had always looked – three storeys high, two
wings running out to the back, and a large archway leading to the front door.
The three hobbits smiled at the wooden signboard that was swinging in the
gentle night breeze: The Prancing Pony by
Barliman Butterbur.
As the walked towards the door, Goldi said: “Do
you suppose Mr. Butterbur is still the owner?”
“I doubt it,” answered Faramir. “I did not come
to the inn last time I was in Bree, so I do not know who owns it, but Mr.
Butterbur would be too old by now. Most Big People don’t live as long as
hobbits, remember.”
They felt the warmth of a fireplace as soon as
they were inside. Merry voices could be heard talking, laughing and,
occasionally, singing a few lines of a song or two from a room further inside
the inn. A short, plump woman came from this room. She stopped short when she
saw them.
“Hullo, there. Have you been waiting long? Half
a moment and I’ll be with you.” She went through another doorway, and returned
almost as quickly with a young hobbit in tow. “Go and see to the guests in the
common-room!” the woman ordered. The hobbit nodded, and plodded through to the
common-room. The woman smiled at Goldi, Faramir and Pippin. “Welcome to The Prancing Pony. I’m Ellouise
Butterbur. How may I help you?”
“Butterbur!” exclaimed Pippin. Faramir elbowed
him in the side, to shut him up for at least a moment.
“Ah, yes. Beds for three.”
“I’m sure we can manage that. Any ponies to be
stabled?”
“No.”
“May I ask your names? You are Shire-folk, am I
right?”
“Yes, we are. I am Mr. Took, this is Mr.
Gamgee, and Miss Gamgee.”
“A Took and two Gamgees!” Ellouise exclaimed.
“I expect my uncle will be wanting to talk to you. He is always talking about
you Shire-folk.”
“Your uncle?” Goldi asked.
“Yes, Barliman Butterbur! I assume you know the
name, seeing as this young sir cried out when I said it was my name.” Ellouise
motioned at Pippin. She smiled broadly. “Follow me.”
Ellouise led the three hobbits to a small room.
The door was open, but she knocked anyway.
“Yes? Is that you, Lou?” a male voice inquired.
“Yes, uncle, it is,” Ellouise replied. “I have
someone to see you.”
They entered the room. An elderly man was
seated on a large armchair in front of a fireplace. On a small table next to
him was an empty plate and beer mug. The gentleman himself had a bushy brown
moustache, shot through with much grey. His blue eyes shone in the dim light, as he looked
at Faramir.
“Master
Peregrin? Is that you?” he whispered.
Faramir
shook his head. “Peregrin is my father. I am Faramir.”
The
man started laughing. “Peregrin’s son! Fancy that. Are you the only one? Are
your companions also children of Master Took?”
“No.
They are Pippin and Goldilocks Gamgee, children of Master Samwise. Two of
thirteen, I might add.”
“Ah,
no surprise there. I always thought that Sam a bit of a ladies’ man…or hobbit
if you’d rather. And by the looks of the young Miss, he found himself a lovely
girl to marry.”
“Rosie
Cotton – one of the Shire’s fairest hobbitesses,” Pippin stated proudly.
“Of
that I’m sure. Well, now, I’ve forgotten to introduce myself, though I’m sure
you all know who I am. The name’s Butterbur, or Barliman if you’d prefer.”
Butterbur smiled warmly. “I’ve also forgotten my manners. Take a seat, my young
friends.”
The
three hobbits found places on the floor. Ellouise excused herself, and returned
to the common-room.
“So,
tell me, Master Faramir, what brings you to Bree? Without your father, I may
add,” Butterbur asked.
Faramir
lowered his voice, like one who is conspiring. “We are going on an adventure,
Pippin, Goldi and myself. Following the paths our fathers took on their way to
Rivendell.”
“Faramir!”
Pippin cried out. “You were not supposed to tell anyone!”
Butterbur
laughed. “Fear not, young Master Gamgee. I won’t be telling anyone. No doubt I
will have forgotten by tomorrow morning. My memories going in my old age.”
Goldi
laughed to herself, not wishing to hurt the kind man’s feelings.
Faramir
proceeded to tell Butterbur the details of their journey so far. Butterbur
listened as intently as he could, murmuring “You don’t say?” more than once.
The
night wore on. Butterbur dozed off several times while Pippin and Faramir told
him of recent Shire events. Of course, he fiercely denied even closing his eyes
when they told him he’d fallen asleep. Eventually, Ellouise returned.
“Sorry
to interrupt,” she said, “but I think it may be time for my uncle to go to bed.
I have made up your bedrooms; there’s some supper and washing basins waiting
for you also.”
Faramir,
Goldi and Pippin thanked her. They said goodnight to Butterbur, telling him
they probably would not see him before they left, because they planned on
leaving quite early.
“Well,
all right, young ones,” said Butterbur. “But do come and visit again. Bring
your fathers along. And Master Merry as well. Good night.”
Ellouise
took them to the room that had been prepared. Before shutting the door, she
thanked them. “I have not seen my uncle so happy and full of life. I do hope
you visit again, like he requested.”
“We
will,” replied Goldi. “I have never met a more polite nor kind gentleman.”
* *
* * * *
Sorry
that chapter took so long to write. I had the biggest case of writer’s block imaginable!
The next chapter won’t take nearly as long – I promise!