Another Arrival

[Gypzee]

Beauty had been settled in the stables, paying three days in advance. She figured that would allow enough time to recoup from the ride, and prepare for the trip further into Rhydin. The strap of the messenger bag rested over a shoulder and she beat the hat lightly against her leg to shed the bit of dust that rested there. She was looking forward to a hot bath and a comfy bed. Food would be good, too, eventually.

Steps across the porch to the door were muffled, and a gloved hand gave the knob a turn to allow entrance. As the door closed behind her, she paused a moment to look around. She had not spent much time here, so she couldn’t say one way or the other if it had changed. What counted is it was friendly and inviting. She continued on to the desk, giving the bell a slight ring. As she waited, she pulled slender fingers from their gloved encasement, and placed them inside a pocket of her bag.

[E'Lara]

•|•|•|E'Lara was coming out of the Lounge when the young lady rang the bell.  She turned in her steps and brushed her hands down her simple, blue, tunic dress.  A slight adjustment to her apron as she walked, or waddled depending on how you saw her motion, to the desk.

The portly, gray haired, elf stepped up to the desk.  "Ello young lady.  Welcome to the Tel'Ranaemyn Inn.  How can I be of service to you?"  She made note of the lady's attire.  She would be sure to send extra towels to her room if she chose to get one.  And also made note to send for her laundry as well.

[Gypzee]

Considering the span of time and distance she’d traveled, she was looking pretty good; just a bit of dust here and there. She noticed some movement from the corner of her eye, turning her head to catch sight of the Elf as she approached. Her lips turned up into a smile and she dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement to her.

“I’d like a quiet room with a view and a bath,” fingertips digging into a side pocket of her leathers for some coins. “I think I’ll start with three days and see how it goes from there.” As her stomach rumbled slightly, she added, “Is yer kitchen still open?” The tip of a pink tongue rolled across her lips as much from the thought of food as being parched.

[E'Lara]

•|•|•|E'Lara would have agreed.  She was looking pretty good for having traveled a long distance, but E'Lara would be unaware of her journey.  She simply knew that the lady had traveled as she carried some road dust with her.  It was a safe presumption that the lady would like a bath.  Her asking for a room with a bath confirmed as much.

The nod of acknowledgement was received with a smile as it was considered a sign of respect.  Not many young people had respect these days, yet, E'Lara seemed to meet many of them since coming to work at this Inn.

A smile was also given at the request for a room.  "I'm sure we have something that would be to the ladies liking."  She gently opened the ledger and slid a few pages over to find a blank space.  Then she reached under the desk and pulled out a few sheets of paper.

"Our third floor suites offer our best views of the gardens, and the surrounding areas.  Now, that room is four gold a week.  But, if you only want three days we can reduce that for you."  She Picked up a pen and passed it to the lady.

"This paper simply states that I'm giving you these papers, and that you intend to settle your bill before you leave.  There's a map of the area, a list of things to do in the area.  Also, there's a list of the things we have available to do within the Inn, and the hours that they are available.  Including our kitchen, which is still open, and our rules and regulations." She offered the lady a smile.  "All I need is yer name for the ledger and yer signature on that paper, then I can get you your key."

E'Lara looked around for signs of Oliver.  She wanted him to take the lady's bags up to her room.  As she turned to look for him, she procured the key for room three-eleven.  She set the key next to the ledger on the desk and poised the pen to fill in the name, when given.

[Gypzee]

“Hmmmm sounds like a fair price. I’ll go ahead and pay for a week.” Four gold coins were laid on the counter next to the papers. Grasping the offered writing instrument, she signed her name, Gypzee MacCarthy, in elegant script, then laid the pen next to the coins.

“Is it strictly dine in, or do they perform room service?” Slender fingers took up the papers and began glancing through them.

[Oliver T.]

As fortune would have it, Oliver wasn’t too far. The boy stepped through the side door - it was one of the entrances down by the front door which would take you straight the stables without having to go outside. One of the younger lads told him that this new lady had dropped off some money, and now Oliver was taking it to the deposit box at the front desk.

Money in one hand, he held a half eaten orange fruit in the other, the juices from it dripping down his fingers and hand all the way to his wrist. Might not have been the cleanest - don’t look at his dirty fingers - but it was his fruit and he didn’t see no reason why he had to be clean to eat it! Besides, there wasn’t none around to tell him to ship and look proper. Though, he should have expected that the lady would be at the desk.

It was this new person and E’Lara. Oliver was looking the older elf straight on and all he could give her was a crooked smile as he held up the hand that held the fruit and tried to wave. ‘Ey. And ‘ello Ma’am,” he said, addressing the lady whose back he was currently seeing. “You must be the one who paid her horse at the stable.” He didn’t get much from the stableboy, but this looked like her.

Oliver tried to be presentable, he did, with his patchwork jacket and knickers which were a bit high from his ankles. His hair could really use the work of a comb. He pocketed the money he was holding and put the fruit behind his back before E’Lara saw and looked for spots of fruit dropping on the floor.

[Gypzee]

Before the transaction could be completed, a voice rang out from behind her. She pushed from against the desk and turned slightly to gain a better look. “Aye, I am the one,” with an added nod toward the boy.

His appearance really didn’t seem to be all that different than most lads she had come across. But he did seem to be hiding something with that arm behind his back, and glancing around as he was.

“Is everything okay with the accommodations in the stable?”

Glance would bounce from him to the lady behind the counter, then back to the boy.

[E'Lara]

•|•|•|E'Lara smiled as she slid the coins from the desk top and put them into the box.  Seeing the name signed to the papers, she added the name to the ledger.  "A week it is then, thank you ma'am."  She passed the key to her for room three-eleven.  "Yer room is number three-eleven, it's on the top floor, to the right.  I think you'll enjoy the view." 

In answer to the question of the kitchen, E'lara nodded.  "I can arrange fer something to be brought up to yer room.  What would you like to eat?"  She was going to go prepare whatever the lady wished to have and then get it taken up to her.

Oliver would do good to remember that this old elf had a heightened olfactory sense.  She smelled him, and his orange, before he even entered the room.  She gave him a nod of her head when he greeted her.  And smiled as he greeted the lady as well. 

She would wait for Oliver to answer the lady's question about her horse before she would address Oliver herself.  But one he had answered, and provided that there was nothing wrong, she would then give him the instructions she had for him.  "Oliver, be a dear, go put your orange on a plate in the kitchen and wash yer hands.  Then come back here and carry Lady MacCarthy's bags up to her room, please."  She smiled at him again.  "You can come back for your orange after."  And some further instructions.  But that was for private conversation with the boy.

She really was rather fond of Oliver.  He was a good lad.  That was why she always spoke to him with kindness in her voice.  Even when there weren't others around.  Lady MacCarthy's room would have a sitting room, a bed room, a bathroom, and a small kitchen.  And E'Lara trusted Oliver to carry the lady's bags to her room and leave them in the sitting room for her.

[Gypzee]

She nodded to the lad as he assured her Beauty was just fine and settled comfortably in the stables. Her attention returned to E’Lara as she bade Oliver to wash his hands and carry her bags.

“I’ve only the one bag,” gesture made to it hanging by a strap from her shoulder. “But thank you,” a glance and smile given to Oliver before she turned back to the female elf.

“As for food, nothing elaborate … a cold sandwich of whatever you have – as long as it’s not liverwurst,” she made a face and shuddered slightly at the thought of it. “If you could just have whoever set it inside as I will probably be in the bath. Oh, and a pitcher of just regular iced tea if you have any.”

After scooping up the key to 311 and making sure she had all the papers she was given, she would pause a few moments for any comments before making her way to her room.

[Oliver T.]

“Oy, see!  The lady said she don’t be needing no help.”  That’s what Oliver said. No need to stop eating or go and wash his hands! Though he did wipe his free hand down on the top of his pants. Not like that really was considered cleaning. Since she already knew he was eating something there was no use in trying to hide it anymore more, was there? He brought his fruit out from behind his back and took a big bite.  Clearly he had forgotten about the floor.

Things were fine in the stable, nothing much to tell there.  “Less yer’ll be ridin’ ‘em, Miss, we take the horses out for exercise.” Oliver was always on hand for that time of the day. He liked horses and fancied that he’d become a talented rider one of these days. He had ridden every horse in the stable.  “But he’ll be in good hands.  Don’t you worry.”

He would put the money away once the newcomer was gone.

[E'Lara]

•|•|•|E'Lara listened to the exchange between Oliver and Lady MacCarthy in regards to her horse.  She smiled when she heard that things were fine in the stables.  And she knew that Oliver was going to enjoy riding a new horse.  That boy had a way with the beasts.  They seemed to like him.

When she spoke of not needing bags carried up, E'Lara nodded.  And she smiled at Oliver.  "Yes, Oliver, I heard her."  Spoken with a soft kindness in her voice that was reserved for those she was fond of.  Oliver reminded her of her youngest great-grandnephew.  They were both full of energy and enthusiasm.

Another smile and nod to the lady as she spoke of only wanting a sandwich.  No liverwurst, that made E'Lara giggle.  "Yes, ma'am, no liverwurst."  E'Lara wouldn't have touched that stinky stuff anyway. If Lady MacCarthy had ordered it, E'Lara would have had someone else make it.

When the lady picked up her room key, E'Lara considered the transaction finished.  So she took the coins for the room and smiled again.  She smiled a lot when checking in guests.  "I'll get your sandwich made and brought up to you ma'am."  The money was put away and E'Lara turned to leave from behind the desk.

As she began to make her trek to the kitchen, E'Lara walked past Oliver.  With a smile, she leaned down to whisper in his ear. "When you've finished you fruit, clean up the floor please.  I'll leave a treat out for you in the bar, but could you please go take a shower and wash up first?"  She rubbed the top of his head and continued to make her way to the kitchen.

[Sponsored content]