LOTR: The problems with Thursday - Merry Brandybuck FF

Across the bar - Chapter 1

Alora was sat on the bench outside her house, the gentle breeze making her curled hair dance. The sun was just rising above the tree's, pouring a warm glow over Alora's hobbit hole. The time was about quarter to seven, on a summers morning in July. She breathed in the warm air and then sighed loudly. Only a few days before had she lost her mother to a painful disease. Alora's mother was her inspiration, mainly for how she behaved and her writing. Her mother was the only one who would let her out the house on her own, for her father no longer approved, even if Alora was 23 years old! She was slowly letting go of her mother, learning to cope with the loss.

Alora picked up the book on the bench next to her, it was her mothers book. Her mother had been writing a novel about a journey. A long journey invloving five boys. Human boys. Alora opened the book to the first page, but just as she began to read, her father stepped out the door.

"Alora dear, I was wondering" he started. Her father had changed with age, his once pure black hair was lined with grey an his deep green eyes had faded from their once vibrant colour.

She looked across her shoulder to him and smiled, "yes dad?" she asked.

Her dad sat down next to her on the bench and looked at her, "I was just thinking, Well... seen as your mother would've wanted it, I was going to let you go to the party in the Green Dragon later... only if you want to" he said, smiling widely.

Alora's face lit up, then she flung her arm around her father and hugged him tightly, " I would love to! thank you, thank you, thank you dad!" she said, over come by the fact he was letting her out on her own.

Her father looked down at her, still hugging her, "I thought you deserved to go out, seen as the past few days have been hard for us both." Alora stood up and thanked him again before heading back into the house, slowly shutting the red door behind her.

Throughout the day, Alora spent her time finishing chores and house work. At around lunch, she picked up her mum's book. She managed to read the first chapter before she had to help her father with something, but within that time, she had found out that the five boys were named Josh, Max, Dan, Matt and Chris. Alora loved the weirdness of the names and tried to read on, but she simply had too much to do if she was going to go out without anything lingering in the back of her mind. She worked hard in the day, leaving her little time on her own. She spent this time reading maps, looking at famous journals and drawing imaginary characters, which she like to create in her mind during the day. Although she didn't leave the house often, she knew more of outside world than people would know. She did love and respect her father, but despised the fact he never let her out on her own. She was 23 now, she couldn't live with him forever; no matter how much he wanted her to.

That night, Alora spent a bit of time getting ready, as she hadn't been out in Bywater since before the death of her mother. Alora was hoping her friend Tilia would be at the Green Dragon that night, purely for the fact she hadn't visited her in what seemed like an age. Alora slipped on a very pale and simple green dress and curled her hair even tighter so it hung in small ringlets. She was ready. Alora took a small satchel, which contained her mothers novel, just incase she got bored.

As she was going out the door, her father stopped her. "Alora, I haven't seen you looking so beautiful in a long time..." he hugged her, "have fun tonight, you deserve it. But remember, It's Thursday, so you have to get up early tomorrow for work. And don't leave Bywater!" Alora nodded to him, smiling before she began to walk down the path.

The air was crisp and a little bit cold, but the moon was bright and its light glowed on the river known as 'the water' which ran through the centre of Bywater as it did Hobbiton. The grass along the side of the gravel path whistled and the trees rustled as Alora neared the centre of Bywater, the Green Dragon Inn was just in sight. 

 Alora pushed open the door of the Green Dragon as if it was the door of a troll hoard. She cautiously peered round the room, but soon she began to smile like everybody else in the room. She continued to walk around looking for Tilia, just to see if she was actually there. After a few moments, eventually Alora spotted her across the room. Tilia was stood at the bar talking Rosie, the barmaid. Alora quickly hurried over to them, a huge smile on her face at the sight of her best friend.

"BOO!" she shouted as she stood behind an unexpected Tilia, who nearly jumped out of her skin.

"ALORA! oh my goodness! i haven't seen you in ages!" Tilia cried, hugging her tightly, "does your dad know you're here?" she asked her. Alora nodded happily and explained what her father had said. Tilia pulled up a stool next to her and let Alora sit down next to her and then called Rosie over to talk.

The three girls began to talk about everything you would expect; clothes, hair and guys. Alora had never really talked to anybody she liked before, she was shy at times, but good at making friends.

"who do you like Rosie?" Alora asked, resting her head on her hand.

"well.." Rosie began, but was interrupted by somebody shouting her name. "hang on a second" she said before she went to attend a customer.

As Rosie moved, Alora looked up. She scanned around the room with her eyes, trying to see if she recognised anyone. Across the bar sat a Hobbit of just a bit older than her, with curly blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a white shirt and a bright yellow waist coat which had brass buttons running down the left side. Alora felt like she knew him from somewhere, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She continued to look at him, racking her brain. Usually she was good at recognising faces, but this was proving harder than she thought it would.