Yuletide in the Shire

[Tolwyn]

((note: since Middle-Earth is said to have existed 7000 years ago, that would be about 5000 BC, hence no Christmas. But there might be a holiday simply to make the dull winter month better, right? enjoy ;D))

*A few inches of snow cover the ground, and among the bare trees of the forest are some evergreens. The Bywater Pool and the river are both frozen, with many hobbit tweens slipping and sliding on top of the ice. The Hobbits had made a tradition in recent years to make the dull winter landscape brighter, and, being hobbits who love parties, made it an annual holiday and called it "Yuletide" after the month.

*To celebrate their holiday, the hobbits make everything brighter with lanterns everywhere. On trees, outside homes, in the Marketplace... the hobbits also brighten their homes with flowers and berries, garlands of evergreen strung up in halls, and various other decorations.

*Besides just decorating, hobbits try to cheer each other during this bleak and cold season. Some gather in groups, go from hobbit-hole to hobbit-hole and sing old carols; some hold feasts for family and friends, or even the whole town; and everyone gives gifts. Small gifts, big gifts, all things in between, you name it and hobbits gave it to one another. They even brighted this part of the holiday by wrapping their gifts in colorful paper, or tying them up with bows.

*It has been a few years since she returned from a near-death in Mordor, and Rosa is very healed. She has been a barmaid at the Green Dragon since then, enjoying her job very much. This yule-tide, she is involved in many different things. The Green Dragon is going to host a party on the night 6 days before the new month starts, which the hobbits have made their day of feasting.

*It is a day before the party, 24 Foreyule, and Rosa has just finished work. She spent half the time serving ale, and half the time decorating the halls and goofing off. The Green Dragon is now lit up with lanterns along the walls and long garlands with holly-berries strung about. Rosa skips out of the door merrily, a sprig of holly still stuck in her auburn curls behind her ear. It is awful cold outside, and with the money she's earned Rosa got herself a warm coat a few weeks back. She wraps it around herself and wanders toward Bywater Pool, where many hobbit of all ages have nowed joined the 'tweens' in attempting to 'skate' on the pond.

*Rosa grins and leans against an evergreen tree, watching the hobbits. She glances up at the tree. It is huge, 10 feet tall at least, nearly in the middle of Bywater. Lanterns are hung on branches every few feet, red velvet bows tied on other branches. Rosa then looks up at the sky. Light now, but dark clouds on the horizon. Even though there are only a few light snowflakes fluttering around now, it should be blowing heaps of snow about, a near-blizzard.

*Rosa walks off towards where the hobbit-holes are. She goes to the door of a certain Ms. Goodbody, the local seamstress. Her new dress she ordered is finished. It is red velvet, with black lace in two rows down the length of the bodice, and short 'puffy' sleeves with the same lace on the sleeves. There are small bows of black velvet where the bodice meet the skirt, and along the hemline and the (rather low) neckline. There is a big black bow in the back (alongside the smaller ones between the bodice and the skirt) and an extra piece of red velvet that Ms. Goodbody gave to her to tie up in her hair.

*She tries it on and it is a perfect fit, nothing loose. She pays Ms. Goodbody and goes back to the marketplace. She still doesn't have a home, or any other family she knows besides Draco, and he is away. So after getting some gifts and gossiping with a few friends in the marketplace, she hurries back to the Green Dragon as the sun sets. It is, after all, an Inn, and she has been living in a room of her own since she began working there. Unbeknownst to her, several hobbit-eyes watch her as she discards her coat (revealing her new pretty dress) and walks back into the hallway where the doorways to the rooms are. The years she has been here, several hobbit-boys in their later 30's have had their eye on her, even tried to woo her, but Rosa (being the cheery and outgoing little half-hobbit she is) never took it for more than friendly conversation.

*Rosa changes into a plain white cotton nightgown and sits by her window, watching the snowstorm. It brings back memories of being a little girl and washing dishes at the Prancing Pony. Barliman was just beginning to like her as a daughter, and the night of the first snowfall she would always sit on his lap near the window and watch the busy little town of Bree slowly be covered by a blanket of white. That was where she learned her first yuletide carols, from Barliman and the travelers during the Foreyule month. And as she sits by the window tonight, watching the heavy snowfall through frost-covered windowpanes alone, she hums one of those carols to herself.

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
And days of auld lang syne, my dear,
And days of auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
And ther's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne."

[Tolwyn]

*Rosa wakes up the next morning, hair messy and eyes sleepy. She sits up then falls back again, covering her head with the quilts... then remembers. "It's the day of the feast!" she says to herself, and hops out of bed onto the freezing cold floor. After starting a fire to warm her room up, she grabs a towel and goes in the bathroom ((note- i guess they had bathroom back then, right? defined as a room with a bathtub in it)) and takes a nice bubbly bath.

*Rosa emerges later with clean, healthily-glowing skin that smells like her namesake ((rose)). She dries off and changes carefully into her new dress, then combs through her hair, mumbling "Darn curls, never straighten," the whole time. She pulls part of her hair pack and ties it with the red velvet-ribbon, and tugs on the big bow in the back of her dress.

*Next, Rosa puts a little color on her cheeks and lips and dabs some perfume on her neck. She checks herself over in a rather largish looking-glass that is in the corner of her room. "Ah, perfect," she sighs. She is supposed to sing to the customers around noon (there are various entertainments in the GD all through the day), then go caroling in the afternoon, and come back just in time for the main feast in the evening.

*Rosa puts out most of the fire (her room has been nice and toasty) so there are only a few embers left, and exits her room. Her bare feet don't make a sound on the wood floors as she goes to the Common Room of the Inn, where the bar and tables are. She actually woke up late- it is only 10 minutes to noon now! She serves ale for a few minutes, nervous as a jackrabbit in a wolves' den. Finally the innkeeper takes over the bar, and with an encouraging wink points her to where she will stand.

*Rosa clears her throat, and with no introduction, begins singing in a lush, rolling alto voice to the crowd:

"Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"

*Indeed, it has been snowing through the night, and it still is, though with not as much darkness and wind. Through the windowpanes can be seen piles and banks of snow, and paths cleared of it where hobbits walk slowly to wherever they are going. There are still some foolish 'tween' boys on the frozen Pool, the Tree in the center of town has all the lanterns lit, and the falling snowflakes glitter like little stars.

*Rosa continues singing in a persuasive, desirous voice:
"It doesn't show signs of slowing
And I've got much ale a-flowing
The lanterns are burning low
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

*Rosa smiles sensuously at the crowd, getting starry-eyed as she sings:
"When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm!

Well, the fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"

*Rosa smiles again as everyone claps, and some of the hobbit-lads whistle and hoot. At this she blushes and makes her way back to the bar. She resumes work for the next hour or so.

((to be continued... hey hey, anyone want to join? like, say, Draco? any hobbits? hmm?)) ;D

[PrinceLegolas]

((Note: BTW Tolly, ancient religions used to celebrate the winter solstice as the magical time of the year when the sun started to come back during the daytime. Just a quick historical note ))

[Draco]

(You so stole that song. Nice hobbit version though )

Draco stares down at the busy hobbits, sitting in the snows of a hill, a corncob pipe in his mouth blowing little puffs of smoke into the cold winter winds. Eden chews on a small tuft of grass that amazingly hasn't frozen. Draco considers going down to the town, but he knows that generally hobbits are nervous around him, and he has no desire to ruin the holidays. Still, it was good enough for him to simply watch the festivities and smile, proving that once and for all happyness does exist in Middle Earth. Draco begins to hum a Gondorian tune to himself, one that was usually saved for the Gondorian Feast of Winter. A seperate holiday that happened on a different day, but still had the same exact effect and reasoning as Yuletide did for the hobbits. Draco would have sang in his warm tenor voice, but he had forgotten the words years ago. Still, though singing was something he could do, he usually prefered humming the tunes.

As Draco sat in the snow with his pipe, humming the his song, Eden came up and whimpered, nudging his stumpy shoulder with her nose. Eden knew Draco well, and it was obvious to her that Draco wanted to go down to the festivities. But Draco simply whispered warmly to Eden.

"Hobbits don't like me very much. I scare them. So, I shall stay up here and enjoy watching the fire. Besides, it's not that cold."

That was, of cousre, a blatant lie. It was freezing outside, but Draco would suffer for the time, loving the holiday feeling that Bywater had around this time every year. But as Draco's incredibly green eyes scanned the town, Eden nuzzled his arm again, still beckoning him to go down. If anything, Eden knew that Rosa would love to see him.

"By the Valar you are a stubborn horse."

Draco snickered as he stood and patted Eden on the muzzle, stroking her main.

"Fine, if you insist. Who knows, maybe the holiday spirit will make the hobbits a little kinder towards me."

Draco mounted Eden and rode down to the festivities, deciding to take his trademark hood off, just to keep the hobbits from worrying. His sword would still freak most hobbits out, but Draco refused to go anywhere without his sword.

Thus, Draco of Bree rode down to the hobbit Yuletide with a smile on his face, warmth in his eyes, and joy in his heart. Despite everything Draco had seen, true happiness was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced.

[Tolwyn]

*Rosa, after working a few more hours and blushing more than possible for one hobbit-lass, asks the barkeep for a break. She is granted one and wraps her coat aronud herself (not bothering to put her arms in the armholes) and shuffles outside. It's windy, but not so much it's troublesome, and the falling snowflakes 'stick to her nose and eyelashes' and in her auburn curls.

*Rosa wanders back near the Tree and watches the teens on the Bywater Pool again, laughing merrily when they slip and fall. Her laugh is melodious, all is good with the world, etc.

*Rosa is silent a bit as she thinks No, not all is right... Draco isn't here... and frowns slightly. She reaches up and tugs on her red hairbow, out of boredom, and leans against a stray bare tree, still watching those on the Bywater pool.

[Draco]

(Well, then we shall have to make everything all right

Draco rides down, trying to ignore the hobbits staring. It was not as bad as it would have been in Hobbiton, Bywater hobbits being generally nicer, but the stares still made him wonder if he had made the right decision.

"It will all be alright when I see Rosa's smiling face," Draco thought to himself, continuing to ride toward the Green Dragon, assuming that Rosa would be working their. She always seemed to be working nowadays, but that wasn't necassarily a bad thing. Draco was glad that Rosa had things to do to occupy her time from remembering her rather painful past. He had checked in on her some, but without her knowledge. Draco had over the years snuck down to Bywater to make sure Rosa was okay, and it seemed that she was. Rosa was growing into a fine young hobbit lass, and he always saw how the young hobbit lads would stare. "As the protective older brother I am, I will have to make sure they don't cause any trouble either." Draco chuckled lightly, speaking only in his head, knowing that his deep voice always generally made hobbits nervous. Being born in Mordor did have it's disadvantages.

As Draco neared the Green Dragon he stopped at a nearby stable to put his horse away. After tieing his horse down and making sure Eden was in a warm spot Draco went to find the owner of the stable. When he found the man he began to take some coins out of his pouch, but the old hobbit just held up his right hand, pipe still in it, and smiled his warm elderly hobbit smile.

"Don't worry about it ranger. During these holidays times all may allow their horses to stay without charge." The man spoke in a genuine and kind tone, not showing the general xenophobia that hobbits were famous for. To return this gesture of good will, Draco bowed low, dropping to his knees, being on the same level as the elder hobbit, shocking the old one and bring a brighter smile to his face.

"May the light of the Valar shine brightly on you for your good will." Draco smiled at the man and bid him farewell, looking for Rosa. He saw her sitting outside the Green Dragon, looking happy, but also in thought. Draco had learned to read her expressions well, and right now he could see a hint of boredom on her pretty young face. He thought about sneaking up on her and scaring her, and then decided to go with this plan. Something about making her jump always made him laugh. He thought, "I am a mean brother."

Draco crept quietly around to the other side of the Green Dragon, his hood over his face. The hobbits payed him no heed, not knowing that they did not due this on their own free will. A little trick Draco had learned over the years was how to make people not notice you. He crept up silently behind Rosa, keeping his shadow behind him. Each step he made was silent, not wanting anyone to hear. He crept, waited, bent real low, got right up close to Rosa's ear, and.............

"HAPPY YULETIDE ROSA!!!!"

[Tolwyn]

*Rosa jumped at least a foot in the air, letting go of her coat in the process, her red dress contrasting greatly against the white snow. She turns, angry, thinking it is one of those troublesome tweens again (she was so surprised she didn't recognize the voice.) But her expression quickly turns to a shocked-but-happy one when she sees the oh-so-familiar man.

"DRACO!!!!!!!!!" She screams merrily, jumping up and throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh, big brother, it's so wonderful just to see you again!!!!!"

[Tolwyn]

((I thought of something- Rosa's new dress is red and black. The same colors as Mordor. I didn't plan it that way but that's how it turned out. Neato, eh? Showin some father-country spirit ))

[Draco]

(Hmm, I didn't know Mordor had specific colors. I have never seen the Mordorian National Flag

Draco squeezes Rosa tightly but gently, spinning her around in circles, overjoyed to embrace her. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, considering his lack of another arm, but he managed. A few of the hobbbits were staring, but Draco didn't really care. He wasn't worried about xenophobic hobbits or anything at the moment. He was with his sister in a time of peace, and that was all that mattered.

After spinning Rosa around he put her back down and looked at her, smiling brightly, not really fitting into his rough look.

"You look absolutely lovely." Draco bends down on one knee, getting at Rosa's level. In Draco's mind it was disrespectful for him to speak with Hobbits on a higher level. The polite thing to do was kneel. "It is so wonderful to see you Rosa. It's been far to long." Draco smiles warmly, his usual rough and fierce look replaced with a look of caring only a brother can manifest.

(You don't know how cool it is to rp as an older brother. )

[Tolwyn]

((yeah for someone who only has a younger sister and no other siblings... it's cool to HAVE a virtual older brother ;D))

*Rosa grins back in the usual cheery-hobbity way. Then she starts to assail him with questions. "How long will you be here? Do you want to go to the Green Dragon? I'm going caroling later, do you want to come? How is Nolamere? Where's Eden? Do you need me to rent you a room? Are you tired? Did you see my new dress? Were you here earlier to hear me sing? Am I annoying you, big brother?"

[Draco]

(The difference is that I really am an older brother in real life, and I just use the way I care for my younger bro in my rping. It's so cool to actually be able to relate to my life to what I am doing. Okay, now to answer that slew of questions )

Draco looks stunned at all the sudden questions. He had forgotten how long it had been since he had been there, and how inquisitvie hobbits could be.

"Um, uh, okay. I don't know a particular time line to stay, but I should be getting home in a few days. I'm sure it's warmer in the Green Dragon. Charoling sounds good. Nolamere is great, though the lack of my left arm is was a bit of a shock to her. Eden is in the stable over there. I was hoping you I could stay wherever you live. Wide awake, it's to cold to be tired, and to jolly. It's a lovely dress, though why you wear the colors of Mordor is uncertain to me. Still, it looks nice on you. You sang earlier?! I wish I had seen that. Never!" Draco reaches out and hugs Rosa with his right arm again, planting a kiss on her cheek. He was pretty sure he answered all the questions, but he still kept running them through his head, making sure he had answered every single one.

"So, shall we go to the Green Dragon or what? I am freezing out here." Draco smiled calmly as he let go of Rosa.

(Man that was hard. Not so many questions. I am only one single armed man )

[Tolwyn]

((just being a hobbit ;D))

*Rosa takes his hand and leads him to the merry Inn, humming a tuen to herself. She makes sure Draco sits on one of the little bar-stools so she can talk to him, because she is going back to work. Rosa pours a nice pint of 1420 ale for Draco, laughing suddenly at a joke she overhears. She leans on the bartop and starts to chat with Draco, but soon she's called to a table by some thirsty traveller.

*Rosa gets a couple of pints ready and goes over to the table. It's a couple of reckless Tooks on their way to the Brandywine river. She ignores this fact and smiles sweetly at them as she serves the ale. One makes a comment, she giggles and blushes. The other Took motions for her to come closer, she bends down to listen, but instead of just whispering something in her ear the hobbit-lad sneakily kisses her cheek. She blushes red as a strawberry and walks back to behind the bar, the two lads watching her the whole way. Then they resume their conversation, and she resumes leaning on the bar and talkign to Draco about life.

*"Anyway, as I was going to say, I don't have a home, so I just use one of the rooms here. They just take the renting fee out of my weekly pay. I do make some money... but not enoguh to get a hole with. I spend it on clothes. Besides, even if I did have enough, I wouldn't get a home. It would only be me, and that would be so lonely... here I have the company of the other Bywater hobbits, and many travelers besides that.."

[Draco]

Draco sips his ale as he listens to Rosa. He had kept an eye on her, but it seemed like he had missed a few things. She was living a happy life, but she was very poor so it seemed.

"If you are having some financial troubles I can help. Just ask." Draco was worried about his sister. She didn't deserve a hard life after everything she had been through. Draco was living a fairly decent life, having gotten quite a few benefits from the Necro war and also made a decent wage from all the trips he took. Every time Draco left home, or almost every time, he usually was accomplishing some task, like clearing out remaining wargs or something. So, if Rosa needed help, he would help easily. "And if things are really difficult, you can always come with me."

[Tolwyn]

*Rosa gets a little annoyed. "Draco, I already said I wouldn't want my own smial if I had the chance. Don't worry about me, I like it here. Enough to keep me busy and comfortable." She smiles assuringly at him and goes back to drying cleaned mugs and dishes as she listens to the murmur of conversation around the room.

[Draco]

"Well, if you insist." Draco sat back and enjoyed his ale in the warm room. He pulled out his pipe and filled it with Bree tobacco. A few hobbits glared when the smelled the inferior tobacco, probably being used to Old Toby themselves. Draco simply returned their snears with a smile and a smoke ring.

Draco decides to stay in the Green Dragon until Rosa decides is off work. She had said something about caroling, and any chance he had to spend time with his younger sister would be great.