The Hobbit, Ch 7, Queer Lodgings
August 6th, 2949, The Third Age to March 4th, 2950, The Third Age
The days in Rhosgobel are done, summer is fading and autumn is on its way. Many hearts desire to return home, the longing is great in each of your. So you say farewell to one another and go your own way. Some travel together, such as those heading north to the Easterly Inn. Varuthil, Gerwald, and Glirion turn south. Along the way the three stop at the Kingstone.
Once, this land was part of the Kingdom of Rhovanion, the realm of the Northmen. This kingdom fell as all the works of mortals do, but some traces remain. The Kingstone is a small pillar of rock sitting atop a low hill overlooking the Anduin, facing west. On top of the pillar is the skull of a great beast — a Dragon, some say. Legends tell how all the princes and warriors of Rhovanion swore oaths upon the stone before embarking on adventures or wars. Other stories claim that the Dragon will roar when touched by hand of the true king of the Northmen. The touch of many hands has worn the skull smooth, for it is a tradition for visitors to put their sword-hand upon it for luck. The visit bring hope back into the hearts of those two, to see the great enemy defeated by men of old, and to know it can be defeated again.
Borir and Finn travel straight away to the Easterly Inn, there is much work to do there and the dwarf and man both have things they wish to accomplish. You find the Inn is not faring as well as you'd have hope. Travel in the region is down. Traffic through the Anduin Vale seems to have slowed down, rumors of a vile "Bloody Ghost" hunting and killing in the Beorning's lands keeps travelers wary to go out. The Woodmen are busy with their work to build the Black Tarn settlement, and more travel east into the East Bight, but not by way of the north roads. Still the hobbits are in good spirits, and with Borir's skilled metal work and Finn's songs and business skills things can perk up with some hard work.
Glirion has left the company after the Kingstone and returns to Lothlorien with messages from Radagast. He has family there, and a duty to return. For many months he stays there, and from time to time is sent back to Rhosgobel with messages and letters from Celeborn or Galadriel themselves. It seems he has earn himself a valued place among the Galahdrim. So he is among those who learns much of the abandoning of the Dwimmerhorn and fleeing of the enemy from the Gladden Fields. Eventually that news may be worth bringing north to Beorn and the Easterly Inn.
Gerwald and Varuthil after traveling to the Kingstone together turn north. The Beorning heads home, and eventually to the Carrock, while the Elf head home as well by way of the Easterly Inn. There she finds Borir and Finn and Hild and the Brandybucks in merry making, and enjoys herself, if only a little, before turning east into Mirkwood, a promise among old friends to meet up eventually in the spring. At home, after reporting to Thranduil all she knows of the enemy in the Gladden Fields, she throws herself into study and research on the Chain and the dangers found in the Dwimmerhorn, and puts a name to the shadow there - The Gibbet King.
Gerwald joins Beorn himself after a few months on a trip to see the Elven King. So the Beornings stop at the Easterly Inn and enjoy old friends, good company, and better food.
Fall turns to winter, and winter presses on...