Logs-Stories Retold inside the Constubulary

Dark Hallway(#23007Rato)
The Bree constabulary is simple, like the rest of town. Made up of a few rooms which are all reachable from this main hallway, the building's interior is constructed of a light, smooth wood, with paneling on the walls and your typical flooring. The ceiling is tall, and high enough to be out of range of people heads, torches are hanging on the walls with metal brackets, no doubt made by the town's metalsmiths. The ceiling comes to a peak, where at one end of the building there is a small hole to allow smoke to exit the building.
As one walks along the hallway, the rooms in the building are easily discernible, as each has a label on the door. Immediately inside the entrance, to the left is labeled "The Hard Work Room." Opposite this lies "Chief's Office." Just past that, on the right, and directly across, on the left, are matching jail cells, one labeled "Cell 1" and the other, "Cell 2." Both of these doors has a small rectangular hole cut into it about 5 feet from the floor, and a stepstool sits on the floor in the hallway nearby.
The door to cell number 1 is unlocked and the door to cell number 2 is unlocked.
The hallway ends in another room, the door of which reads, "Barracks." This last door is dusty, and if one were to hear it open, they'd cover their ears for the creaking.
Contents:
Sign(#29805h)
Obvious exits:
Training Room leads to Training Room.
Barracks leads to Barracks.
Cell 1 leads to Jail Cell.
Cell 2 leads to Jail Cell.
Chief's Office leads to Chief's Office.
Out leads to Great East Road.

It is late morning nearing lunchtime in Bree and the clouds and the snow falling from therein has finally disappeared, replaced with momentrily blue skies. The sun is weak still and not yet warm enough to warm the air- though, it is a slight improvement on days passed. The fact that it is not yet warm enough outside, means that the dark hallway of the Bree constabulary is bitterly cold and rather deserted.
Deserted, save for one figure, who now hovers worriedly inside the doorway as if torn between leaving and staying. Rust-red hood has been removed and curls are disshevelled and uncared-for. A shiver passed over her body and she retreats further into the constabulary- glancing hopefully along the hallway, again.

Presently, the door flies open, revealing Andrick, out of breath and red-faced. "Meg!" He cries, "Someone said as yer'd bin taken in, arrested if yer will. They said yer was up 'ere, what's bin 'appenin'?" He looks around, checking for others (or more specifically, guards) who may be watching, then kicks the door closed and walks towards Megan.

Bleary eyes are flicked upward toward the door, and a rather relieved look sweeps over Megan's face as she beholds Andrick. "I aint arrested.. but.. but, I had to come up and give my story, after all that nasty business outside the Pony just that other day.." Now the Breegirl gives a pathetic sniffle and wipes a hand across her eyes. "Did you hear what happened?"

A look of deep concern covers Andrick's features, as he asks, "But Meg, yer, well. I s'pose if yer not forced to be 'ere so much it ain't so bad, but what is it what 'appened yesterday what were so evil? No-one's said owt to me, 'cept what Mrs. Whitethorne said to me jus' as I were on me way back 'ome from seein' what the weather were like, she said yer was up 'ere, arrested. She started mumblin' about 'ow yer'd tried to 'urt some poor kid or somethin', I din't pay much attention, on account o' the fact I were in a 'urry to get up 'ere after that, an' she were plainly speakin' out o' 'er own 'ead any'ow."

Megan bites her lip and again shakes her head lighly. "No, I've just got to give my account of what happened.. I.. well no! I didn't attack no-one! It were.. well, we was all standing outside the Pony, and anyway, we got on talkin' about those Giant eagles- you know the ones we saw? And well, then they started sayin' there was no such things and they started to call me crazy for it, on account of no one believed me- and there was two men there and I didn't know them, they weren't from Bree... and they was causing most of the trouble.." and here she takes a deep breath, as if having to force herself to go on.. "And, anyway, Mr. Thorn- he's Tathar's friend, he was takin' me inside, and I fell over, and them two men started cryin' and yellin' to the guards to come, sayin' I attacked him, but all I did was fall over..."

Andrick points to a bench against a wall, and offers to take Megan's arm as he leads her there. "Let's sit yer down, eh Meg?" He says, gently, then asks, "So, they lied 'bout yer, fer 'oo knows what reason, jus' on account o' the fact that they was too blind an' deaf to see when them eagles cem 'ere. I don't reckon it'd be 'ard to clear up, after all, the guards are 'ardly goin' to take the word of a couple of robbers over the word of a respectable woman o' Bree, are they?"

There is a slight rustling from outside the headquarters of the guards, and a quick rapping sounds on the door, the solid clunk of wood contacting wood. A stiff cough follows, from a stern but not unkind voice.

Another sniffle, and Megan lets herself be lead to the wall, sitting down- "They did.. I just think they. I just think they wanted to make trouble.. And I know they won't, but I still had to come in and--" Megan is cut off as her attention is drawn to the door, and she tenses up -perhaps fearing it was 'them' again. She looks across at Andrick and gives him a gentle nudge; unwilling to move from the seat herself.

Andrick nods, and says, "That's what they're all at, ain't it, eh? They jus' come in an' try to worry an' scare enough folk so as next time they come, they can jus' walk in an' nick all our stuff, with the Guards occupied with silly little things like that." He smiles, and gives Megan a reassuring pat on her shoulder before calling out, "It ain't locked. Let yerself in." His hand strays beneath his waistcoat, as he watches the door.

In response, the door opens slowly, and the bearded face of Gandalf pokes through the doorway. Seeing the rest of the entrance clear he enters into the headquarters, his brows slightly raised in inquisitive worry. "I had heard from the local gossips of some of the trouble the took place after I retired for the evening. I came to look in on matters, and see how our dear Megan is faring this day."

"It is... I was just lucky that Mr. Thorn was there to stand up for me and tell the breeguards that I did nothin' wrong.. those men went off and up to the healin' house, sayin' they couldn't walk or anything even though I didn't-" she replies to Andrick, again cut off as the door opens, and tensed still until Gandalf appears, at which time a look of relief and delight washes over her features. "Hullo, Mr. Gandalf... I'm a bit shaken, and everyone keeps askin' me if I really attacked them," she sighs lightly, then adds hastily, "Which I didn't."

Andrick's hand retracts from his waistcoat, and he breathes a sigh of relief, and greets Gandalf, "Oh, s'you Mr. Gandalf sir, yer 'ad me worried fer a minute then, thought it were someone fright'nin' what with me Meg bein' 'ated by folk at the moment." He sniffs, then goes on, "Yer seem like a wise feller Mr. Gandalf, what d'yer reckon Meg ought to do, b'yond tellin' 'em the truth?"

"I would be happy to offer my counsel, but first I need to know what actually happened," Gandalf says, with a quick wink and a smile for Megan before regaining his composure. "The less... attractive of the strangers claimed to come from the south and east. I know of the lands that lie in that direction quite well, but I cannot say that I have ever seen a people that he would fit well amongst."

Another sigh from Megan as she prepares herself to retell the story, again. "Well, Mr. Gandalf, I suppose it's partially your fault that all this happened," she begins, though her tone is not entirely serious, nor angry, "Remember I said I'd talked to them eagles? Well, Andrick here can verify that.. but you said they weren't real, and then you left, remember? And, anyway... they're both talkin' to me, and then they start to say I'm crazy because they said there was no such thing, too, especially after you said it... and, then they were really terrible to me, Mr. Gandalf, and so Mr. Thorn he lead me to take me inside, and I fell on a raised stone- and they thought I was attacking them.. or, well maybe they didn't- but they started yelling and crying out like I'd just attacked them, and they called the guards.. and then they limped off to the Healin' house, sayin' that I'd injured one- not the uglier one, but the other one.. byt Mr. Thorn was there, and he told the whole story true, so that's why the Breeguard didn't arrest me there and then, I reckon."

Andrick nods, and sits silently as Megan recounts her tale, then says, "So yer jus' fell over an' they started goin' on 'bout 'ow yer'd 'it 'em? An', meanin' no offence, Meg, yer on yer own couldn't reduce two grown men to 'obblin' away to the 'ealin' 'ouse, 'owever much yer willed it." He sniffs, and stands, pacing to the other end of the room.

"Actually, I never doubted a word of your tale, my dear, nor did I ever say that you were crazy," the old man says with a smile. "But tell too many tales like that, and you'll be labelled as a disturbance to the peace, or worse, and that would just be your friends," he says, shaking his head. "Then there are the unsavoury characters out there, such as the two we encountered. To them, such tales can be dangerous. They are up to no good, and no good can come from bad men knowing about talking eagles, or where wandering old men choose to travel."

Megan nods quickly to Andrick, "No, not how I'd hit them, how I'd attacked them- with my nails, and then the ugly one was asking the other if I'd broken his leg and all kinds of nonsense, and I know I can't do that! And, well I know you didn't say I was crazy, Mr. Gandalf... and well, I didn't mean to disturb any peace! Honestly, it's just that, well I did see them- the eagles that is, and... well," now she lowers her eyes and bites her lip (looking again rather pathetic and sad-and-sorry for herself.) "I'm sorry, Mr. Gandalf.. I didn't mean to cause any trouble, or do anything wrong, you know."

Megan, and then nods in agreement, to both the others, "Aye, I saw 'em too Meg, an' yer know I saw 'em talkin' to yer," These words, while spoken to Megan, are addressed to Gandalf. "So I know yer ain't crazy, but I ain't told no-one. At best they'll think yer mad as a march-'are, an' at worster, as Mr. Gandalf says, they'll try an' lock yer up fer disturbin' the peace, an' yer'll get rangers an' the likes accusin' yer of things yer din't do."

Gandalf nods hastily in agreement with Andrick as he adds to his own comments. "Indeed. That the Eagles would speak in front of you shows some sign of trust on their part, and no small honour for each of you. But I've often found those of... less worth to be put off by such things. Think of what most people think of rangers, or even the tales of Mad Baggins. In time, it might be possible that folks in these parts would be speaking of Mad Megan, who talked to animals and had all sorts of unnatural adventures."

Megan nods, looking very much the little obedient Breegirl, determined not to get into any more trouble ever again (like that will ever happen). "Oh, well they talked mainly to Eustace, because he threw rocks at them... they didn't really even say anything much to me, Mr. Gandalf... But.. Oh! Oh, I certainly don't want to be called that.. I won't talk about them again, I promise! It's just, well, I haven't seen anything like them before.. and, well... I won't talk about them again, Mr. Gandalf," Megan pauses on the edge of uncertainty, as if wondering if she could actually keep this promise. Brown eyes flick upward to regard Andrick, and then Gandalf and she gives a little nod: "Not if it's goin' to get people into trouble."

Gandalf says, "As for those men, perhaps I should have a talk with them before I leave town. If they're determined to cause trouble, I'm sure there are those would not hesitate to see them set on the straight and narrow path. With that, he turns his gaze slowly to Andrick and says, "And you, sir? Have you any news of charges or problems that have come up from those two hooligans?"

Andrick shakes his head, slowly, and says, "Nah, not me." He thinks for a moment, then says, "Well, actually, Sir, Mr. Gandalf, I did 'ear a rumour of a pair o' rangers runnin' round 'avin' folks' vegetables out their gardens, an' even 'avin' trinkets out o' open windows an' doors, when folk are out in the days." His yarn is weaving itself intricately as it goes, and is now in full flow, "An' I even 'eard as they kidnapped a pair o' poor 'obbits, tryin' to scare 'em into payin' 'em money." He stops abruptly, then says, slowly and quietly, "Yer know what them rangers are like, eh, Mr. Gandalf?"

Megan nods enthusiastically to Gandalf at his words. "Good idea, Mr. Gandalf, make sure they don't cause no more trouble in Bree, pickin' on defenceless girls and what-not." another sharp nod follows this and again she's looking rather pleased with itself, though says nothing at Andrick's tale- but listens quietly, her tiny smile falling into a gentle frown; one of faint puzzlement and confusion and so- in order to dispel this, she looks to Gandalf and awaits his reply.

"Yes, I do know what rangers are like. I have encountered them before on the roads, and here when they chose to visit this township. The actions you describe are hardly the things I would attribute to rangers, but in these days, I suppose anything is possible," Gandalf says, shaking his head with a frown.

Andrick looks shocked, and says, plainly, "But Mr. Gandalf, sir, ain't yer seen 'em? They all come in an' sit about in the Pony, plottin' on 'ow to bring about folks' downfall. An' I 'eard from Timmy Pickthorne ('im what used to watch the gates) that sometimes 'e'd catch 'em nippin' over a top late at night, when it's all dark. That ain't what good an' normal folk do, whatever yer say." He nods and grunts, "That's what Rangers is really like."

Megan glances between Gandalf and Andrick, before finally deciding to speak up-rather meekly. "Andrick, I know you worked at the Pony and all, but I.. well, I don't reckon they're all bad, for a start.. and also, I don't reckon these men were rangers, either.. I aint seen so many rangers, and I en't old enough to recognise straight away what is and what isn't a ranger, but I don't reckon these were... And, well if they climb over the gate, I reckon it's only on a count of the guards won't let 'em in, and obviously they don't want to sleep outside the town in the snow and cold all night..but.. I probably don't know what I'm talkin' about as much as you two."

"I can't rightly say what those men were up to, or who they were unless I were to meet them. I'm not much of a gambler, but I would expect a safe bet to assume the men you speak of are not rangers," Gandalf says, leaning heavily upon his staff and momentarily stretching out his neck. "But I suppose if I am to check into young Megan's antagonists that I had best get to it, lest they slink back into the hole they crawled up from."
First looking Andrick over with an weighing glance, Gandalf then turns back to Megan. "I cannot promise much, my dear, but if it is in my power, the men who troubled you will not do so again, and will be dealt with appropriately for their efforts. And you must come to visit me again at the Pony. I have a gift of thanks for your kindness and hospitality these last few days, though I have forgotten to bring it along with me."

Megan nods gratefully to Gandalf, "Thank-you, Mr. Gandalf..." And, at his words about having a gift for her, her eyes widen and she draws in a sharp breath of surprise (as if she had forgotten all about the gift promised to her the other day- which, of course, she hadn't). "Oh! A gift? Why, thank-you so much! I'll be certain to stop by and.. Oh, you are heading west soon?" a thoughtful pause.. "My mam is in town for a few days, Mr. Gandalf, and she used to be a baker in Bree, and well.. Do you think you might like her to bake you some things, for the road and your travels?"

Gandalf smiles, then shakes his head. "I wouldn't burden her with such work, though if she wishes to resume her career in Bree, I would proud to be her first patron. In the meantime, I am afraid there are other errands in Bree I still must see to. But you must come to visit. I'm quite certain you will find what I have for you to be quite a blast." He bows to Andrick, then the girl, and turns to make his way out of the guard station.

"Oh, well she'd be happy to bake you some things, if you'd like them. She's still a baker, but only, she lives in Combe now so she wouldn't be workin' in Bree; that'd be silly." Megan nods matter-of-factly. "I'll bring you somethin' when I come to get my gift," she says- excitement barely contained behind her voice and delighted smile. "G'bye, Mr. Gandalf, until later!" one hand is raised to wave, and it may be noticed now that Megan is certainly much cheered up from when she was first found by Andrick moping about the hallway.

Andrick, clearly glad to see the change in Megan, says after Gandalf, "Thank yer Mr. Gandalf, sir." He then turns to Megan, and says, "Well, d'yer reckon that's more or less settled then? D'yer want to go 'ome now, or wait 'til one o' the guards comes to see what yer've to say?"

Megan reaches out to take Andrick's hand, standing herself up and waiting for him to follow. "Lets go home, I already told them a bit, but they didn't come back, so maybe they don't want anythin' more from me now.." she begins to lead him out of the constabulary- closing the door again behind them- chatting away about something like: "That Mr. Gandalf's a nice fellow, don't you think?"...