The company was making final preparations to depart from Bree as the sun rose. Mounts and pack animals were being assembled in the courtyard before the Prancing Pony as Barliman glared from the stairs, Nob hiding behind his leg as if he wished to confirm that the band were actually leaving. The Innkeeper had made clear to Xanderian and Xandilif the night before that if any more damage or upset were caused by the travelers, he would have to put a large surcharge on their already considerable tab. Offended, Rian had paid their tab on the spot, including the threatened surcharge.
As they had moved back to their rooms, Xandilif the Banshee had paused..and inquired how much one of those bar stools actually cost. Surprised, Barliman had named a small sum, and the champion had nodded, dropped the coins on the bar, and casually smashed a barstool against the far wall, causing any number of patrons to dive for cover.
Yes, there was no love in Barliman’s stare as he watched the company prepare to mount up and ride out….and he was not pleased to see a raven suddenly fly into the courtyard, squawking loudly. The Raven honked and fluttered before flapping down onto the rim around the fountain next to Addiela and exclaimed in Westron, "Pray! Hold! Pray, hold, pray!" Then it warbled at her in its native Raven-tongue, whether Addie understood it or not.
Fortunately Addiela understood the raven and held out her hand to guide it up to her shoulder. "Aye we shall wait.. Your companion is Master Bild and you are Pock, then?"
The Raven Pock exclaimed happily, "Yes!" and chittered on at the same agitated volume right up by her ear.
The volume did not seem to bother Addie and she nodded several times toward the raven before looking toward the others. "Bild is coming..." she simply translated. After announcing that, she looked back to study the raven, this being her chance to truly study one of the great ravens from Erebor.
Calidis tilted her head to the side, watching. "Bild... As in one of the girl Finchley’s dwarves?" The Breeland girl, along with Xandilif and Ryn, was planning on meeting them just outside the city, after taking one last search through Begger’s Alley to see if she could meet up with Hawke, making sure he knew to come to Rivendell when he could.
Pock huffed, then fluffed up to twice the usual size before shaking out beak-to-feather, the equivalent of a relieved sigh... Pock was larger even than a usual raven, which is not a small bird, though smaller than the likes of Carc and Arcah.
Addiela nodded her head, mouthing to Calidis, "Pock here might think Bild is THEIR dwarf, not Finchley’s." Addie looked back over and smiled to the bird again. "It is nice to meet, Pock; I have heard much about the fame of your kin and even have a companion of my own from around the weather hills."
Pock made a friendly noise, which to those who were not fluent in Raven (that is, everyone other than Addie) sounded a bit like a croaking whine, then said in sing-songed Westron, "Pock at-your-service!" and dipped again, tail feathers fanning out cutely.
Nethrida watched, impressed by the size of the raven as Addiela was thoroughly enjoying having a moment to study the raven. It was a relief for the Gondorian to see Addiela being more herself after so much time spent in darkness. Bree and the dwarves had been just what she needed, it seemed.
Finally Bild came jogging up the path, hustling on his little booted feet, cheeks lightly flushed... "Oh! Ah! I made it...!" The Dwarf hurried up to Addie and his Raven, the latter of which hopped off Addie's shoulder and onto his Dwarf's head, chirruping some update down to him in Raven-speech.
Addiela smiled brightly at Bild. "I am so glad that you are here! I have left a package and note inside, but it is good to get a proper farewell! Pock is magnificent, I am glad I got to see him."
Bild beamed up at Addiela, taking a second to catch his breath, while Pock, pleased, preened himself. "Aye...! I'm glad I made it out tonight...!" The Dwarf looked over the others gathered. "You're leaving immediately...?"
Addiela nodded. "I am afraid so.. there are matters that we can no longer put off."
Bild nodded his understanding and actually bobbed in something of a curtsey to the company, as the Raven on his head wouldn't have appreciated him dipping it! "Bíld, son of Bóurr," he self-introduced first, and then in heavily accented, slightly stilted Sindarin he said, "I wish you a safe journey, under clear and starry skies."
Addiela takes her bag off of her back and started to dig through it as Calidis blinked and then smiled, responding in Sindarin. "And may your own path be peaceful and sure." She inclined her head. "I am Calidis, formerly of Ost-in-Edhil and, now, well….Tol Lochul. It is an honor to meet one that Finchley speaks so highly of."
Blid turned his smile to Calidis, very warm and friendly, though with the bittersweet sigh that the name of that city naturally evoked for a Longbeard. He answered in Westron, "And I am honored to meet more of Miss Finchley's friends and protectors, and to be able to thank them, and bid them a safe journey."
Addiela brought out a small pouch of fruits, oats and nuts- a variety that was her Raven Morn's favorite- and she offered it over to Bild for Pock, not wanting to feed the raven herself right now since it was on his head. "Did I hear right that you were to be attending a wedding soon at Thorin's halls?"
Bild accepted the pouch, peering at it but looking up to Addiela, since there were more pressing questions than what it might be... "Ah, aye... delayed a little from the original plan, since the preparations are taking longer than expected... but nevermind that! Do you need anything for your journey? Do you need gold??"
Calidis shook her head. "The only thing I worry for running out of is food to fill Finchley's stomach with."
Bild nodded, 'Aye, well... If there is anything the sons of Bóurr prove able to do for you, pray do not hesitate to ask...! We are going to Thorin's Hall at some point, but send a message to Bree-land and it will be forwarded to us by our friends, if need be...!'
Touched by the open handed generosity, Calidis smiled, 'Likewise, son of Bóurr, if there is aught we can do for you, even from afar, you need only to ask. It is the least we can do for a friend of Finchley's.'
Blid pressed both his hands, one over the other, to his chest, saying sincerely, "Only to return soon, and safe, and well...!"
Addiela 's smiles was starting to falter as she knew she was soon going to have to say goodbye. "And if there is anything you are in need of, please do not hesitate to send a message our way. I do believe our final destination will be Belfalas in Gondor, the House of Three Graces." She looked to Xan for confirmation and the elleth nodded firmly. "This time.. I shall be sure to write."
Bild looked a bit fretful and worried but put a heartfelt smile over it. "Then I shall await your message. Messages! And we must all sit down together again soon! I did not even get to sing the Song of Durin-Tater!"
Addiela smiled brightly. "Perhaps you could give us a line or two as a farewell parting?"
Bild rested one hand on his cheek, blinking his wide and long-lashed eyes. "Ah... Well, I don't know how much sense 'twould make without its context, but..."
The entire company grew silent, having heard of the legendary song recounting Finchley’s discovery of her pet potato, and how she came to be the Overlord of all Shire Potatoes. As the dwarf prepared to begin, Eduwiges led the last of the loaded pack animals over. She was about to ask what was happening when Nethrida shushed her.
Bild folded his hands together and recited, rather than sang, though with an old formal cadence that matched one of the popular settings of this great Longbeard song.
'The spring was young, the spuds not green,'
'No blemish on their skin was seen.'
'When Shire to Bree young Finchley came,'
'With one great tater; Durin his name.'
Calidis smiled a little wider and the gleam of amusement appeared in the depths of her eyes. Nethrida took a deep breath to brace herself against any outbursts though she did seem thrilled to hear the song. Eduwiges made no such effort and whooped out her approval as was the way of her folk.
Addiela was delighted in the lyrics and clapped. "All hail the mighty Queen of Taters."
Bild left it at that, blushing ever so slightly as he chirped, "Of his acquisition Miss Finchley may tell you on the trip; the rest of the Song must wait until later...!"
Eduwiges checked the last straps and harnesses holding all the gear down…bedding, food, supplies, arms. When all was seen to be well, she patted her horse and fed her an apple, growing a bit impatient as they were burning daylight…and old Barliman was looking less and less happy about their delay by the minute.
Xanderian cleared her throat and Bild then turned to the huntress and inclined his head low, out of reflex. The two had met several times, but were mostly known to the other by reputation and mutual friends.
'Friend Bild....would you convey a message from myself to your kinsman Maurr, and the rest of your company?' Xanderian spoke softly, her tone filled with courtesy as Addiela looked at her, curious.
Bild turned his solemn attention towards Xanderian. "Aye, of course...!"
Pausing for a moment, to collect her thoughts, the elleth began. “It was with dire purpose and great trepidation that we made our way back into Breeland...and I was most unsure of what the outcome for many of our company might be...'
Bild nodded, listening and Addiela 's expression became more serious as Xan continued speaking.
'Your kinsman Maurr thanked me, upon our parting but a day past, for tending to Small Finchley and Addiela as they were most dear to his heart..and I told him I feared I had far more to do with placing them in danger then in seeing to their safety...he, quite politely as is the way of your folk, did not state the agreement I saw in his eyes. However, spending time in your fellowship has done much to relieve the spirits of both of my sisters, Finchley and Addiela, and for that, I am ever in your debt and will happily aid you and yours at any time, in any pursuit to which I may prove useful.”
Xanerian knealt before the clearly surprised dwarf. Behind her, Nethrida, Eduwiges and Calidis all nodded their agreement and saluted the dwarf, each in their own way.
Watching this, Addiela felt a lump in her throat, not only over her affection for Bild and his fellows, but that her comrades should so value her happiness. She looked back to Bild and added. "Aye, I cannot thank any of you enough for your friendship." She looked to her comrades, that band of misfits as they had been called. "And that goes for all you all as well."
Bild folded his hands together in front of himself and tipped his head down... body language deferential and polite, yet he, like Maurr, did not protest Xan’s view that she did more to cause danger than safety…they were a very peace-loving group of dwarves after all. However Xanderian's subsequent pledge made him lift his chin and his smile returned, warm and gentle. "Madam, I would say such is unnecessary; any kindness and cheer from us comes surely from willing fondness alone, and needs no pay. Miss Finchley, and Miss Addie, and Miss Nethrida are all Women we care for, and wish only joy for...!... Yet... your sentiment I truly appreciate. I do not think any of us would ask anything, only to be as safe and careful as you can, not only with them but with every one of yourselves. And if anything more... only to remember what we sons of Bóurr cherish most, which is amity and peace among all Free Peoples, and do what you can to preserve it in years beyond our limited ones.'
Xanderian bowed again, 'May it be ever so....'
Bild bowed his head again and Pock let out a quiet, solemn "Murp."
Calidis turned away, moved, and then looked to Eduwiges. "Are the horses ready and well fed?"
Eduwiges nodded, relieved to have all prepared before being asked, 'Indeed Cal, they are ready to go.'
Bild looked up at Calidis and Eduwiges and inhaled a long breath, letting it out in a shorter sigh through his nose. "Then... The time is now to bid you good stars...!"
Xanderian looked sadly up at the morning sky for a moment. 'Indeed we must be about it...and turn our path to a place I have even more misgivings about returning to then I did Bree'
Calidis looks somewhat troubled and nervous for a brief moment, taking Xanderian’s hand. The pendant about her neck glimmered ever so faintly and she nodded, seemingly to no one in particular and looked more resolved.
Addiela looked to the raven and then back to Bild again, her eyes holding much sadness. She only nodded for fear of her voice choking up,
Bild gave Addie a warm smile, covering up any sorrow and fear with the appearance of optimism. "We will meet again before long!"
Eduwiges grumbled, 'Well lets get it going then, the sooner we face it, the sooner we get it over with. We need to collect Finch and Xandilif and then we are for the road. And I promise you friend dwarf, Rivendell or no Rivendell, anyone hurts any of this company and by bema they will pay!'
Addiela nodded to Eduwiges and this time attempted to speak, though feared her voice still catched. "Aye, we shall meet again soon….Until then."
Bild nodded encouragingly, saying no more but watched then depart with a peaceful expression before his eyes grew worried once they were out of sight. He sighed and dismissed dark thoughts, clinging to the fact they were only going to Rivendell, after all.
However, if he had known what awaited them, he would have been even MORE concerned.
