Day …… (in Bree)
Fiontann woke up as the pain kicked in again, this time on the left side of his body, with a groan he pushed himself up and to his surprise, which momentarily suppressed the pain he saw that he could get up. But when he realised it he felt the pain again and fell back on the bed, bringing his hands on the wounded spot. He had no idea where he was or how long he was there, he vaguely remembered the moving of the wagon he was in and the faces that helped him. He looked around and found a jar and a cup on a stand next to his bed, slowly he reached for the cup and took some sips, water spilling from the sides of his mouths and to his chest. His thirst was quenched and the pain was now getting bearable.
Slowly he got up from the bed and walked to a mirror to look at himself, he was wearing trousers and half his chest was bare, the other half was covered in bandages, the right side of his face was bandaged too, as well as his left hand, his beard was long, reaching his chest. He was tempted to remove some to see his wounds, but reason prevailed and he didn’t, he walked to the only door of the room, then he walked along the rug on the floor, helped by a dim light and ended up in front of another door which he pulled open. A chilly breeze hit his face and body, a breeze which he welcomed as for a moment it made him forget his wounds. He looked ahead, he was somewhere out of the town, he could see the green grass and the trees, over them the sky that was getting dark blue from the black of the night. The stars were still clear in the sky that was getting slowly lighter. He leaned against the doorpost to enjoy the sight but once he put all his weight on his left side he winced and leaned on the right side. He was still weak and got tired, slowly he walked back to bed and slept.
(Days later)
It was just before the dawn and Fion was outside of his house in Bree-land, it was the ninth or tenth day that he regained his strength and was allowed to get back home. That family from Rohan helped him a lot, they carried him in their waggon all the way North to Bree, then they were kind enough to help him get stronger and now he was back home, all thanks to them and to Gaeded, who along with Phaewyn found him almost dead and washed up next to a river in the Entwash Vale. They bade the family take care of him and bring him home and here he was.
His steps supported by a crutch brought him not far from home, at the inn that he had opened for The Black Steel long ago, before they left Bree to travel South. Now he returned, and decided to run it himself, it was hightime to do it. He reached the inn and looked at the building once he stepped into the yard, he took some steps to the right, close to the water and looked into it, at his reflection. His beard was long, he kept it as it was, he thought it looked good with his eyepatch and long hair. But his body wasn’t what it used to be, due to being all day in bed for the past couple of months he wasn’t as fit as he was and in his plain armourless clothes he looked like a regular inkeeper.
-Maybe it’s time I take a rest, he thought and went into the inn.
Everything was as it was when he left but somewhat well-kept and clean, someone of the members of the Black Steel who stayed back must have taken care of it. But now it was his responsibility, he was no longer the leader of the company, he was FIontann, the father of the leader and a warrior who now needed rest. What’s better than resting behind a counter, sharing stories and ale by the fireplace and offering shelter to travellers? He grinned and walked behind the counter and into the kitchen and then upstairs. He nodded to himself as he looked at what the inn had and what didn’t have, then he found a parchment and a quill with ink behind the counter and made a list of what was needed to be bought and what has to be repaired. He walked out of the inn content.
In almost a week everything was ready, he had folk fix the things that needed fixing, the orders he made arrived, casks of drinks, bottles of stronger drinks. Fruits and meats, vegetables, a good amount of grain for wheat at the mill and agreements and contracts were made for the regular arrival of all those. At last he had a sign nailed above the door and paid two young men to nail posters about the inn around Bree. Everything was ready.
