Fellowship of the Dice

Wren looks at Varuthil and smiles, "It is indeed!" His eyes wander to the bow she was just gifted, "Very nice, perhaps you might join myself and Imnachar on our next foray into the woods. I have learned much from him, techniques very different from our own, but no less effective." Wren tries to gauge Varuthil's facial expressions, "Well that is if you have time...or even want to." Shaking his head, "What have you been up to these past few weeks?"

As he waits for a response, Pull it together! She is of your kind, at the very least I should be able to speak to her without stumbling all over myself...

"Perhaps," say Varuthil, her face stony and cold as it usually is. "It can't hurt to learn more woodcraft. I've been doing what you see me doing--helping out with the herb gardens, learning some things about what the Woodmen use in their medicine in the process."

She has also been studying the people she works with more closely. Her motivation in joining Wren in hunting is less to learn woodcraft, then to see how people think when they do it. Now that she has started looking more deeply into how people's minds work, she finds it fascinating.

Not expecting much as Varuthil's expression continues to be what he has always known it to be, stern, she catches him off guard and says perhaps. His eyes open wider and his smile returns, "Great!" Wren leans a bit and eyes Aerth continuing to work in the garden. "Well, I will let you get back to your work." Gesturing his hand toward Imnachar, "I suppose I should too. Enjoy the rest of your day."

Pipkin doesn't intrude upon the conversation with the envoy of the Elf King, though he's clearly interested. but he definitely lavishes some attention on Wren's new bow. "It's magnificent," he can't help saying. "I mean all of the elvish bows I've seen are extraordinarily nice. But this one takes the biscuit."

Varuthil smiles briefly at the hobbit, enjoying his honest, untutored enthusiasm. "Yes," she says, "it's a fine bow, probably the work of master bowyers. It's good to know that the king appreciates what we did in asking him to come out here. He can be ... proud sometimes."

The a few of the group takes to talking and soon are over with Aerth helping with the garden that Varuthil was working on. Weren waves good bye for now and helps Imnachar with their kill.

There is peace in Woodland Hall for many weeks to come, and little things are done, like planting herb gardens, hunting, training dogs, working on your swing or archery. Borir has set up shop among the Woodmen and the forge there rings out all day with his craft as he makes them nails, spades, shovels and other tools. Some days he works on arrow heads or the occasional knife. He's re-rimmed his own shield with some stout iron as well. You see him at meal times, or in the evening drinking in the mead halls. He talks of home, of Erebor often, but seems content to spend the summer just here on the edge of Mirkwood and the Wild.

---

July 25th, Summer, Woodland Hall

Word reaches you that Radagast the Brown is on his way to town and that he hopes to speak with your little fellowship. The Brown Wizard quickly returned to Rosgobel after the battle, he spent some time in council with King Thranduil, but then hurried off on some urgent matter saying he had remained in Woodland Hall for 'far to long'.

You make ready to meet with the wizard in Wuduseld, invited by Chief Ignomer as well. So on the evening of the 17th, a very hot and humid evening you find yourselves sitting around a table, with drinks and food half eaten waiting for the Brown Wizard. Pipkin has just finished telling a very humorous tale about a Took cousin of his that got himself into trouble with someone called Farmer Maggot for stealing mushrooms.

The door swings open and the silhouette of the pointed hatted man some called the Bird-Tamer is there leaning on his staff. "My, what a merry gathering, a shame I had to arrive so late." Radagast the Brown tromps into the room but not before removing his hat and hanging it on a peg near the door. "I am glad to see you all gathered."

Varuthil stands and says, quite formally, "It is an honor to be invited to meet with you."

Aerth remains silent, nodding simply to the arrival of Radagast. He respects the wizard unlike some of his ancient elven breathern. The half-elf leans against a pillar, crossing his arms over his chest as he waits for the old 'man' to address them.

Wren laughs as he listens to Pipkin's story, all the while chipping away at some bread and ale in either hand. "Farmer Maggot! You must tell me Pipkin, was that really his name? Seems his parents had it in..." He abruptly cuts his inquiry short as Radagast enters. Quickly finishing his bread and taking a final gulp of his ale, Wren wonders what will become of this meeting.

Borir is chuckling as well along with Wren. "Maggot is a terrible family name, as bad as Grubb, which I've heard is a Hobbit name as well." The dwarf has been drinking pretty steadily but doesn't appear too drunk. When Radagast arrives the group grows quite along with Borir.

The Brown Wizard leans his staff against a carved post and takes a seat. "Don't mind me, finish your story." When its clear the tale is over he pours himself a mug of ale, and takes a nice long pull from it to 'wash away the road' he says. Then dusting his hands off he peers about you. "How fare you all? We didn't get much time to talk after the battle last month, I wanted to make sure you knew I was pleased with your help and your actions. Mighty fine, mighty fine work for all of you. Its good to see elf and dwarf and hobbit all working together as one." He glances at Aerth with a moment of pause as if reading the Half Elf's heart, but he says nothing more about it. "The Wild has need of folks like you, and I may have need of folks like you as well." He finishes his mug then and hands it over to have it refilled.

"Are you planning to remain west of Mirkwood for a time?"