The next morning, the two gather up their new purchases into Rastellion's saddle bags and, after Immalaine carefully tidies up their room, head downstairs, where their landlady, leaning on her cane, is waiting to see them out. Immalaine looks down on the old woman, and smiles. "It was most kind o' ye to let us stay, an' I do 'ppreciate yer hospitality," she says, as she nods. "We weren't too much bother I hope."
The Widow Bader looks back up at Immalaine, her eyes still shrewd, but a small hint of kindness shines out from them as she gives the young woman a nod. "Young folk - hmph! You're always a bother. But I'll say this much, you two were less so than most and you paid your room timely. Can't say I wouldn't have you again, should you choose to return." She turns her head to give a sharp look at Rastellion, before turning back to Immalaine. "At least you two managed to stay reasonably quiet at night." she finished, with a thump of her cane on the floor. Rastellion manages a smile, looking only slightly embarrassed by her comment about noise. "We'll certainly remember you an' your hospitality, if we come back up to the festival next year," he promises. "An' tell all our friends in Bree about your rooms as well." He winks at Immalaine, with the eye the widow Bader can't see. After all, everything Rastellion has just said is true. The old woman peers at him suspiciously. "See that you do, then jus' don' be 'specting a discount," she says, lifting and waggling her cane at him. Rastellion's smile widens. "The thought," he says, sincerely, "never even crossed my mind." Then he saddles his shoulder-bags and looks to Immalaine. "C'mon," he says, "we've got a few folks to talk to afore we leave." Looking down the steps from their boarding house, he sees several of the town's beggars - the ones thrust out of their jobs by the mayor - standing about a small fire pit, warming their hands and pulling thin cloaks about their shoulders, preparing to set out to their accustomed corners. Across the way, Gareth and Daley are talking quietly to each other.
"How 'bout you give the workers the good news," he suggests with a smile. "Was mostly your doing, after all, that got us here. An' I'll just go have a quiet word with Daley." He pulls the accountant's ledger from under his cloak. "And give him this for safe keeping."Immalaine looks over at Rastellion and reaches up to kiss him, before running off to find the workers and share the news. Happily she whistles as she finds the first of the workers, talking to them in a hushed but excited tone, her hands moving rapidly in the cold as a cry of happy relief comes from the first worker. As the workers hear the woman's cry of relief, they start to gather around, soon forming a circle around Immalaine as she repeats the happy news to them. Soon, the small crowd is chattering excitedly amongst themselves, and Immalaine hugged several times, blushing wildly as one of the men lifts her off her feet and gives her a big kiss of gratitude, before setting her back down with a wink, to repeat the process to one of the female workers nearby. She chuckles and watches the happy faces, hers glowing with happiness to see the cheer amongst the group.
Rastellion strides across the street to where Gareth and Daley are talking. They break off as they see him approach, their expressions an odd mix of apprehension and hope. "There've been rumors flying," Gareth begins, glancing down the street to where another of the workers is reacting with happy excitement to what Immalaine is telling the group. "We had a little talk with the mayor, and he's agreed to hire back all those let go from the distillery and all." He hands the ledger to Daley. "You'll see why from what's recorded here - the mayor's little tricks, not just with the ale, but some of his other schemes as well. Long as you've got that, I doubt he or Archbluff will be getting up to their old tricks again, not when all this could come out. I'd suggest not telling too many folks about it, though; no point hurting the town's image. Just keep that safe, and all should be well." Daley stares at him for a moment, then accepts and flips through the first few pages of the ledger. His eyes go wide, much as Rastellion's had the previous night. He looks up, grinning. "Oh, I'll say; he wouldn't want this coming out." Daley turns to Gareth. "Things are going to be a bit different around here soon..."
Immalaine moves off to continue spreading the news to those workers that hadn't been nearby, passing by Daley and Gareth with a nod and a smile. Hurrying towards the fire, she finds another group, whispering excitedly to each other. "An' I hear everyone got their jobs back?" one of them said. Immalaine steps up, and interjects, "That's true," she says nodding, as the workers' eyes grow even more excited, and one of them races off to spread the news around. She shakes her head and makes her way back to Rastellion, wrapping her arms around his waist as she looks up at him happily.
"Couldn't have done it without your help," Rastellion says to Daley. "I stuck a note in there, just inside the ledger, detailing what the mayor and I agreed on last night. An' how to reach me in Bree, if you need to. Though as long as you've got that there ledger, I doubt you'll be having any trouble. Daley nods back, then reaches out his hand to pump Rastellion's hand vigorously. "Can't tell you how much we appreciate this. You let us know when you're coming back, and we'll set up a right proper party for you. Now, if you'll 'scuse me, I gotta go tell my missus the good news." He beams at them one last time, then hurries off toward a door at the far end of the courtyard, already calling out his wife's name.
Watching the man rush off to find his wife, the grin on her face widens as her eyes glowed with joy seeing everyone's good cheer restored to them. Turning back to Rastellion, a tear of happiness wells up in her eye and she hugs him tightly. "I'm really glad we could help these folk," she said to him, her voice barely heard beyond them over the excited din in the courtyard. "It means a lot t' them, probably th' best Yule present they've gotten in a long time! An' ye made it happen!" She takes his face into her hands, and standing on his toes, gives him a kiss. "I love you Rastellion," she says quietly.
Rastellion puts an arm about her. ''Was your kindness as made it all possible,'' he says, reaching up to brush her hair from her face. ''I love you too. Now, we'd best be off if we're to catch that morning caravan back down to Bree.'' He waves at their well-wishers and starts down the snowy street toward the town's main gate. They've just reached the upper plaza when they're stopped by a voice calling to them. Turning, the two see the artist - Freddie - hastening up the stairs toward them. "Couldn't find you two after we delivered the ale yesterday," he says, puffing slightly. "But I made a sketch anyway, just like I promised." He offers it to Rastellion. "Word on the street's that you've done a good turn to folks around here, so I'll give you thanks as well." Rastellion unrolls the parchment and smiles. "Why, this is fine!" he exclaims, then hands it to Immalaine. "Take a look."
Leaning over, Immalaine's eyes widen in delight at seeing the sketch. "This is quite a fine drawing," she murmurs, looking up at the artist with a smile. "Ye did right well on this, and I thank ye. I've the perfect place t' hang it too, when we get home."Rastellion shakes the artist's hand, and the man smiles at them, then, with an "excuse me," hurries off to start offering sketches to the early morning tourists out appreciating the eastern light on buildings and snow. He turns to say something to Immalaine, but stops as he sees Mayor Goodnough an his wife approaching, the mayor looking rather chastened. Carolyn comes right up to Rastellion and extends her hand. "I want t' thank you, young man," she says, without preamble. "Winston promised me last year he'd stop with his schemes an' trickery, but from hearing your conversation with him last night, I can tell he's gone back on his word to me. Again." She turns and gives Winston a severe look; the mayor glances away and scuffs his shoes on the cobbles. "Well, I can promise you I'll be keepin' a closer eye on him from here on out, mark my words. As for that slimy Archibald character, he's packing up right now. Isn't that right, Winston?"
"Yes, dear," mutters the mayor, dejected. "Though where I'll find another accountant..." Carolyn looks appraising at Rastellion. "I don't suppose you want a new job, do you, young man?" Rastellion laughs and shakes his head, "Thank you, no ma'am. I've got a good position already, back in Bree. An' I may yet have t' move back to Trestlebridge, to take care of my pa." He shoots a quick, worried glance at Immalaine as he says this, then returns his attention to the mayor's wife. "But I know a few folk in Bree as might be interested; I'll pass the word around." Carolyn nods. "My thanks then." She turns to Immalaine. "And was lovely to meet you, dear. I hope we'll be seeing you both again next year?"
Immalaine smiles and reaches out to take the woman's hand. "I do hope so," she says happily, with a nod. "It's been quite fun here, an' I would love t' come see everyone again sometime." She is surprised when Carolyn leans in to give her a hug, blushing and returning it, before stepping back against Rastellion. "At any rate, I've had more fun here than I've had in a long while, and I'll remember it always!" Carolyn smiles back to her, before looking up at Rastellion. She smiles warmly at them both,before turning to jab her husband in the ribs.
Winston steps forward, slightly flushed in neck and jowls. "I, ah, wish to present you with this, ah, token of our gratitude," he says - sounding anything but grateful. "Mara?" He gestures his aide forward, and the grinning hobbit offers Rastellion a wrapped gift. "Winterberry cordial. We only make a few cases each year. But after your... services to our town," he manages to grind out, stepping away slightly from his wife's elbow, "it seemed only fitting to give you one from my own stock." He steps back and adds, a bit sullenly. "I trust you'll have a safe trip home." His wife rolls her eyes slightly at Immalaine, then hooks her arm through her husband's. "Then let's not delay our new friends any longer," she says. "Come along."
"Yes dear," Winston mutters, and starts with her down toward the town's main square, to greet the tourists and citizens enjoying the last morning of the festival. Rastellion laughs. "Alright, alright. Best we get going b'fore someone else stops us and we're stuck here until tomorrow. Although," he adds, as they start toward the gate, "I was wondering ... you know, those snow-beast cloaks they were selling, the ones supposedly from those creatures off in the woods? We only ever saw two or three of them... do you really think all those hides could be procured locally, like they claim?" Immalaine chuckles and tugs on Rastellion's arm, as she drags him to the waiting caravan. "Rastellion!!" she grins wildly, shaking her head. "Come on, let's get out of here afore ye find anything else t' ponder on!" Her voice is filled with humor and love however.
Rastellion chuckles. "Yes, dear," he says, mimicking the mayor's recent intonation, and he strolls with her back toward the caravan, to head back from Winter-home to Bree.
(Credits and love go to Rastellion, who provided the voice of the male characters in this story. *Blows kisses to Rastellion and grins widely*)
