Inside the South Gate
 
The Great East Road enters and leaves Bree here, through an opening in the high
hedge that surrounds Bree. Where the road meets the hedge, a large stone wall
has been erected, of well set stones. Under an arch of stones is a wooden door,
with two small windows: one high, one low. On the west side of the road, near
the door, is the gatekeeper's lodge. On the eastern side of the road stand a
few houses. The Great East Road winds its way north, around the western flank
of Bree-hill. The air is cool but pleasant and the ground is somewhat cool but
becoming greener.
 
The sky is clear and the sunlight shines brightly. The early evening spring air
is cool but pleasant around you.
 
Obvious exits:
 SouthEast leads to Outside the South Gate <GER>.
 Stone House leads to Bill Ferny's House.
 West leads to Gatekeepers' Lodge.
 North leads to GER: Centre of Bree.
 
================================== Bree Time ==================================
Real time: Thu May 20 00:53:21 2004
Bree time: Early Evening <6:39 PM> on Mersday of Spring - March 22,1432
Moon Phase: New Moon
 
 Breelands Weather
The early evening spring air is cool but pleasant around you. The sky above is
a glorious pale blue/
===============================================================================
 
[Juliana(#26974)] The last heavy rays of the afternoon sun have finally begun
to sink below the western horizon, bathing the land in a brief champagne-pink
and gold. It is almost a feeble effort by the sun to remain shining, warming
but eventually it succumbs and allows the nights inky-blackness to creep over
the town, dulling it down to less vibrant tones. So evening has fallen- a place
between neither day nor night, and the air of spring lingers and cools in
response to the fading light.
 
 There has just been the last afternoon rush of Breefolk to enter or leave the
town on the way to their various homes, or dinners, or parties and so the gate
grows silent and still. There isn't much that announces the approach of a young
and slender woman from the south- along the road, except for the slightest
shift in light as she casts a pale shadow upon the ground, and a quiet but
merry tune upon her always-smiling lips. Basket on her arm, hair pulled back
she nearly skips; life-adoration burning bright within her eyes this night, a
flower tucked behind her ear she now brushes herself off with one hand- the
purple pocket of a concealed skirt revealing itself briefly as she fixes
herself for entrance into the town.
 
A figure leans against the eastern edge of the gateway, watching the comings
and goings and soaking up the last of the sun's red-gold rays. The aged figure
of Hugh Bramblefleece has his eyes closed as he rests against the roughened
stone, and his mouth has fallen partly open. His breathing is deep, and rather
loud, cutting across the woman's merry tune with disharmony - now, the old man
wouldn't have dozed off, would he? Beside him rests his crooked staff, the end
of it sticking out into the roadway. Deep breath. Grunt. Another deep breath.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] On skips Juliana, and nearly does it look like she'll stop
and call out G'evening to the sleeping man. That is, until she realises he's
sleeping.. and, that were things able to be left the way they are, a
potentially dangerous situation could develop! So, she stops- bright and cheery
smile on her face and she clears her throat. "Excuse me? 'Scuse me, mister?
You've left your staff sticking out, and I was just thinking..." The girl
pauses, peering across with her large doe-brown eyes to see if he'll wake
before she continues.. Enter Juliana Green- Protector for the Good of the
People.
 
With an enormous snort, Hugh's head jerks up, and in case that wasn't wake-up
call enough, the staff clatters loudly to the ground - it's now lying across
the path of anyone wanting to enter or leave Bree. "What? Where? Who did it?"
the old fellow mumbles, eyelids blinking blearily at the world around him.
Which has changed since the last time he looked - there's a Person standing
before him now. A wide yawn overtakes him (and he doesn't seem to have the
manners to raise a hand to cover his mouth, either) but then he takes a deep
breath and attempts politeness: "Good afternoon to ye, Ma'am. Fine springlike
day, isn't it? Or was ... gettin' a touch chilly now." He shivers dramatically
as the evening shadows make themselves felt.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] Amused does Juliana's smile turn now as he wakes, and she
giggles quietly to herself but waits patiently to be noticed. "No need to worry
sir, I was just pointing out that.. G'evening! Yes, I was just po-- Yes, well,
it's getting a bit late in the afternoon now! You should probably be heading
inside! I was just saying, that you've left your staff there lying across the
road.. Could be dangerous, you know! Let me get that for you!"
 
Help-Everyone-Juliana now bounds forward to pick up the staff. "Do you need
some help to get home? I can walk you there if you'd like, unless it's over in
Combe, in which case I'd suggest staying in Bree for the night if I were you!
It's a long walk, and it /is/ getting quite cold.." Away chatters Juliana-
happy to babble almost nonsensically, now standing to hold out the staff with a
bright and wide smile.
 
And what is an old man to do but smile back? Hugh blinks in bemusement at the
flow of words, and it takes him a moment to get his thoughts together enough to
respond. "Why, that's very helpful of ye, ma'am!" he exclaims as she bends to
retrieve the offending staff, and he reaches out his own hand to take it back.
"An' come to think of it, these old joints are feelin' a bit stiff - are ye
headin' up toward the town? I stay there, with me daughter Sally and her folks,
ye know." He nods at this as though it were the most logical thing in the
world, and then his snowy brows crease in a frown. "Or mebbe ye don't know -
are ye a visitor to town, ma'am? I've not seen ye afore." Of course, it could
simply be that old Hugh's getting a little forgetful of Breefolk faces.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] A bubbly and almost childish laugh erupts from Juliana at
Hugh's first words, shaking her head quickly- "It's no problem, I assure you!
Better to have me pick up the staff than to have a group of children run
through and fall and break their legs!" The staff is freed from her hand and
followed with another dazzling smile (one stangely dazzling like Megan's own,
when she tries hard enough..). Almond eyes look up the road toward the town,
"Yes, I'm heading back home right now, but it would be no problem to walk you
wherever you need to go! My Darcy can wait! Oh! I'm glad you've got somewhere
to stay! I would have offered a room in our house, but it's a tad full at the
moment with my brother's family visiting!" Another laugh; she is too full of
life and energy, glowing with a particular joyful life as she speaks- eyes and
hands animated.
 
 "No! Oh no, not a visitor! Though, I spend a lot of time in Combe.. Never seem
to be here or there, as it is! I'm Juliana Green, pleased to meet you!" One
slender hand is stretched out to shake.
 
Hugh's own hand is clutched firmly around his staff, and he regards Juliana
dubiously for a long moment before grudgingly shifting the staff from right to
left to he can return the handshake. "That's ... eh ... very kind of ye, Mrs
Green," he mumbles, peering at the babbling woman as though she had taken leave
of her wits - after all, what sort of person invites complete strangers home
for the night at their first meeting? A friendly one, judging by that dazzling
smile of hers ...
 
The smile does its work, in winning the old man round if not in jogging his
memory, and it's not much longer before Hugh is offering his own name in
return. "Hugh Bramblefleece here. Shepherd, retired. An' very pleased to meet
ye, of course. Though I hope ye weren't suggestin' I'd wish any harm on the
childer?" His puzzled brown eyes disappear under brows creased in a
disapproving frown, then he adds defensively, "Likely it was childer as left
the staff propped up ready to fall across the gateway like that." And not a
sleepy old man, oh no.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] Perhaps Juliana sees the hesitation, senses the suggestion
that she's lost her wits and so quickly continues her babble: "Well, we're like
a guest-house sometimes, though mostly family, I wouldn't turn an elderly man
away on a cold night and force him to sleep at the Pony, oh no! Of course," She
giggles lightheartedly, "I wouldn't go about inviting complete strangers home
for the night after I've only met them once!" Another bright smile and she is
practically glowing..
 
 "Well, Mr. Bramblefleece! It certainly is a pleasure to meet you! Are you not
a resident of Bree proper then? Combe, or Archet? Perhaps you know my family,
or my Darcy's family!?" A pause, and again she laughs loudly. "No! Oh no, Mr.
Bramblefleece! I wouldn't suggest anything of the sort! No! I'm certain the
staff fell by accident, and I wouldn't blame the children! There's only a few I
know who'd think to do such things and none of them are out at this time of
night anyway!"
 
So many questions! And Hugh has to think about them all ... his brows remain
furrowed for a while, then he volunteers, "S'pose I'm a resident of Bree these
days, if ye care to call it that. I'm a Combe lad born and raised, mind ye.
Stayin' in town for a year or two doesn't change that." He nods firmly, banging
his staff on the ground for emphasis. "Can't say I recall a Mister Darcy,
ma'am, though this old head's not what it used to be. Things keep slippin' me
mind, so to speak ... is he someone Important-like? A Town Councillor,
perhaps?" Unspoken goes the inference that if Hugh's expected to know this
person, of course he must be a Man of Note!
 
[Juliana(#26974)] Almost impatient should Juliana be as Hugh takes so.. long..
to.. answer, yet as his answers come, she is pepped up and ready to bubble on
again. "Oh! Well, perhaps you'd know my brother- James or Zachary, or my Papa
Jacob.. they're all Tasselberries still, of course, but me and Clover aren't
any more. Well, we are- like you said, born and bred! But, Clover is a
Greenthumb now, and I'm just a Green!" Another explosion of laughter as she
makes the connection, then continues on, "Oh, no no! He's not a Councillor! Not
at all! No, he's a hunter, used to be a hunter over in Archet, but I suppose
that if you were from Combe you wouldn't know much about Archet families!.. But
I'll tell you somethin' Mr. Bramblefleece- My brother Zachary and his wife Fern
have just had their first child! I'm ever so excited! Haven't got none of my
own yet, but Fortune is crawling already! Oh! Silly me! You must know all about
it already- you're staying with your daughter Sally! We'd best be getting a
move on, come to think, 'else we'll start our bones to freezing standing around
out here!" Apparently Juliana isn't yet slipping details, and now makes the
slightest move, but is unwilling to continue on without the man's consent and
agreement that they should, indeed leave.
 
"Ain't got no kin in Archet, no," Hugh mutters, his reticence in direct
contrast to Juliana's ebullience. He raises his free hand to scratch at his
head, as the magic name is mentioned and finally the old man makes the
connection ... "Tasselberry? I know a James Tasselberry, right enough, he's
married to that sensible woman now ... wait. I remember the youngest
Tasselberry girl was that dreamy lass, always looked clean daft to-" The words
cut off abruptly, to the accompaniment of a session of throat-clearing, and a
moment later Hugh is suggesting uncomfortably, "Ye're right, it's gettin'
colder. Time to be shiftin' these old bones." He shuffles after Juliana,
remembering to add politely, "Oh, an' I'll remember to tell Sally about yer
brother startin' a family. Congratulations, an' all that ..." Though unlike her
father, Sally's likely up to date with the latest gossip already.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] "Nice place, Archet. It's a nice place." Juliana comments
absently, now pausing a moment to think and catch her breath before she plunges
into speach again. "Ah! James is my brother! Older brother! Married Rebecca he
did! She's lovely! Makes lovely cakes, she does! Always good for a story,
though I wouldn't trust half of what she says about everything!" Again, that
excited and purely joyful laughter. "But, I don't remember Megan ever being
dreamy, or daft! Maybe you mean little James, but you couldn't! He wasn't a
Tasselberry girl! He was dreamy though, I suppose..." A shadow passes over the
face of Juliana- a stark constrast to her nothing-but-love-and-joy expression
of before. It passes. "Oh well! There aren't any daft Tasselberries I don't
think!" NOw Juliana takes off, though not so fast the man can't keep up. "Oh!
Well that's kind of you! I'll have to meet your daughter one day! Zachary is
over the moon, my yes! I'll tell him you said so! He's visiting tonight you
know!" Much too rwapped up in her own family matters, though trying to appear
polite and allowing Hugh his own time to butt in with important family news,
Juliana moves forward and up into the town.
 
Of course, to someone who's seen sixty winters the passage of time is regarded
a little differently ... Hugh's wise enough to know when he's been let off the
hook, though, and says no more about 'daft Tasselberries' for now. "Ah, my
Sally's a sensible girl. Member of the Bree Ladies Club and all that - wait,
that's Lucy, that is. Sally's out in Combe these days ..." Suddenly he stops
dead in the middle of the road, clutches at his head and groans. "Forgettin' me
daughters' right names! I'd forget me own head if it weren't attached. Ye
know," and his tone turns thoughtful, "I reckon standin' out there at them
gates fer so long has given me a funny turn. All dizzy an' the like ... think
ye can give me a hand up the hill?" He reaches out a hand toward the bubbly
Juliana's arm, looking faintly worried.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] Concerned do the loving eyes of Juliana turn as Hugh admits
his fault. The lips are pursed, and those doe-shaped eyes quickly check him
over, after all, she's not exactly inexperienced at looking after the elderly,
nor with healing- both of which could come in useful here.. "Oh! Nothing to
worry about, Mr. Bramblefleece! We're all a bit forgetful every now and then!
Some days I walk out of the house without shoes, or forgetting to say Goodbye
to my Darcy!" Obviously these are both rare occurances! "You're probably just
tired and hungry, yes? We'll get you home quick smart, no problems at all!" Her
own arm is held out for Hugh to take without hesitation, and she's ready to
move off. "No worries, Mr. Bramblefleece- you just stay with Juliana and we'll
get you back in no-time, and I'm certain your daughter will have something
warming up on the stove! That's just what you need!"
 
Hugh's still got that faintly worried look, but he allows Juliana to guide him
on. "Dinner's just what I need," he agrees amiably, features brightening. "That
must be it. I'd never forget somethin' as simple as who I was livin' with or
where I was stayin' - what were we talkin' about again?" He stares down at the
woman who's helping him, brown eyes once more clouded by bemusement. "Somethin'
to do with Tasselberries? Somethin' about that young Megan, maybe? Such a nice
lass, ever such a nice lass, not like them good-for-nothin' boys ..."
 
[Juliana(#26974)] "Yes yes! I'm certain your daughter will have fixed up
something for you! Or if not, she'll be able to make something up quickly I'm
sure! No worries, Mr. Bramblefleece! Like I said- we all forget things every
now and then!" Carefully does Juliana guide him along like a piece of something
precious and breakable- especially in his current forgetful condition, it's
best to be as gentle and reassuring as possible.. Another dazzling smile finds
her as she is looked upon, and then resumes conversation cheerily, "Ay-yes!
Megan! She's lovely! Though a trouble-maker, she can be! Settled down recently
though, I think! Haven't seen her /or/ her brothers in some time, and, Mr.
Bramblefleece, those Tasselberry boys aren't as bad as their reputation makes
them out to be! I've known them since we were all young and I've never seen
them do any wrong!" Well, obviously- for one, she's likely to be only a few
years older than the twince, and secondly, no one ever saw them create trouble,
and if they were caught, Megan would always lie them out of the trouble.
 
"Then ye've not been lookin'," Hugh responds to that last remark. "I tell ye,
those boys love makin' trouble like a duck loves swimmin'. Always causin'
problems for an old man, like ... like ..." The words fade into silence, and
eventually he confesses, "I don't remember right now. It'll come back to me, it
will." A few more plodding steps onward, then he turns to ask Juliana
plaintively, "Are we nearly there yet? Gettin' kind o' dizzy ..." Indeed, he's
starting to waver alarmingly - better hope that the young Breewoman is able to
support his trembling frame.
 
[Juliana(#26974)] Again Juliana laughs, "See! You can't even remember! It's all
just stories, Mr. Bramblefleece! There's certain members of Bree society that
don't seem to like young boys running about having fun and games, as boys are
meant to do, and so they make up stories about 'trouble' and what-not, and the
poor twins haven't done a single thing wrong the whole time!" She pats
reassuringly at his hand, though those eyes turn concerned once more at his
last comments. "Oh.. well I don't know exactly where you live- I was just
heading for the stone houses.. Perhaps you'd like a rest? I have some berries
here in my basket, maybe a bit of food would help you. Just don't worry now, if
you need to sit down we can have a quick rest- I just want to get you there in
one piece is all!" Juliana is fully prepared to catch the man, or at least
lower him slowly and steadily down to the ground. There's not a waver of fear
in her voice, but absolute calm and confidence in her skills..
 
Hugh's legs seem to be having trouble supporting him, for he totters
alarmingly. At Juliana's suggestion, he obediently sinks down right there in
the street, groaning in protest. "Don't know what's ... what's ... come over
me," he mumbles, taking deep breaths and lowering his head to rest on his
knees. "An' I live ... I live ..." Who knows what confused tale he's about to
spin? He never gets the chance, though, for at that moment a piping voice
sounds from somewhere up the street. "Granda? Granda? Where /are/ you? Ma said
I wasn't to come back without you, and I'm hungry!"
 
[Juliana(#26974)] "Alright Mr. Bramblefleece, no worries, just that's it..
carefully to the ground.. We'll just sit a minute to catch our breaths!...
Would you like some berries? Maybe as a quick snack before you get back, to
find your energy and everything?" Cheery Juliana begins to fish through her
basket- searching for the berries, but the voice distracts her, and those brown
eyes seek out the source.. "Is she looking for you, Mr. Bramblefleece? We
should probably help her, even if she's not- it's not right to have children
wandering the street without full stomachs! Excuse me! Over here! Come over
here! This way now! Are you lost?!"
 
"Hmm?" Hugh stares blankly up at Juliana, his eyes not tracking the source of
the shout. That source, however, skips merrily forward towards Juliana, ginger
pigtails bobbing behind her and young features stretched in a beaming smile.
Betsy exclaims in a pleased voice, "You /found/ him! And I've been looking
everywhere ... Granda, Ma's going to be very cross that you're late again, you
know." Her words take on a scolding tone, and with her hands planted on her
hips, she's doing a fair imitation of 'concerned Lucy'. Only for a moment, for
looking back to Juliana again the child wonders, "Why's he sitting in the road
like that? Isn't it cold on the bottom?"
 
[Juliana(#26974)] Juliana is much distracted by the pigtailed child now- eyes
becoming more excited and loving by the moment. "I did! He was outside the
south gate, asleep! Maybe you forgot to look there! We were just on our way up
to Lucy's house now! Is that your Mama? Maybe you can show us the way?" Midly
concerned is her voice for Hugh's condition, though quickly she must respond to
the questions, "Because he got a little tired, and a little dizzy and had to
have a quick sit down. I'd imagine it's cold, but don't worry! We'll be up and
going soon so he can get some good hot dinner into him! How are you feeling,
Mr. Bramblefleece? Reckon you can get up, or would you like me to fetch your
daughter for you?"
 
Hugh blinks at his granddaughter, clearly at a loss for words. "I were just ...
just restin'," he tells her. "Took a dizzy turn, an' all that. Sally sent ye
out to look fer me?"
 
The child shakes her head impatiently. "Aunt Sally's not here, it was Ma who
sent me out," she informs him with a touch of exasperation, then nods to
Juliana in confirmation. "Ma's name is Lucy - and we live just up that way."
She points toward the Stone Houses. "Who are you? Are you a healer?" Without
pausing for answer, she reaches out a hand to Hugh and starts tugging. "Come
on, granda, get /up/!" Faced with that, what can Hugh do but comply? He
staggers groggily to his feet, staring dazedly at his two concerned companions
and murmuring sullenly, "A man can't even take a rest these days."
 
[Juliana(#26974)] "Your Granda just needs to get a bit of food into him, he's a
little forgetful tonight is all." Juliana beams, popping a single red berry
into her mouth. "Well, yes, I'm a healer, but only in Combe! Which remind--"
Well, the girl can't disappear off into story again, for the girl appears to be
tugging /much/ too roughly at her poor grandfather's arm.. "Now, be careful!
He's a little unsteady on his feet, don't pull him so hard or he might get
hurt, and then you'll /never/ get home! Carefully now!" Juliana hovers
anxiously- overseeing the proceedings with wide eyes. "Alright then? Well I'll
let you be on your way, my house is just over here and my Darcy is probably
worrying by now! If you need anything Mr. Bramblefleece just grab a hold of me
or Megan if you see me around!"
 
Hugh takes a few more deep breaths, but allows the tugging Betsy to lead him
away - slowly. "It was nice meetin' ye, Miss Greenthumb," he mumbles in
response to Juliana's anxious farewell. "An' I'll tell Sally - what was it I
was to tell her?"
 
"Never mind that, granda, lets get you home." Betsy pats Hugh's hand rather as
though he were a well-trained puppy and starts to guide him off in the
direction of dinner and - one assumes - a concerned Lucy. "Goodbye!" she calls
out cheerfully in Juliana's direction, the lack of a name to call this new
adult not worrying her one bit. "Thankyou for finding granda, I'll tell Ma that
you helped. Have a nice dinner, too." Soon old man and little girl are well on
their way.
 
 
=== Juliana's DESC ===========================================================
A lean woman and one who has seen hardship at least once in her relatively
short life. She is of average height with pronounced cheek bones, and the
cheeks themselves often glow with a life-pink, a joy-pink, akin to the energy
and attitude that constantly surrounds her generally-smiling form. She is one
who loves things needlessly and too much, and this is easily expressed through
doe-brown eyes and crinkled skin from too much laughing. Equally brown and
straight hair is most often pulled back into careless pony-tails or loose
plaits. Her skin is fair, though lightly freckled, hands are pulled into fine
and definite points and frequently cradle a basket, bag, flowers or someone
else's child.
 
 Juliana Green is a simple woman, and so dresses suitably simply: homespun
cotton skirts, or wool in the winter of blues, browns and the occasional faded
green, she adds the sporadic bright pocket or patch sewn somewhere
inconspicuous, but obvious when she turns 'just so.'
 
 For Juliana's history, please try +display Meg/Juliana_history
==============================================================================