Another Moot with the Woodmen tonight. I hope something lively happens. After spending a few hours standing in the Pony playing music for people who stare into their mugs, if anyone showed up at all, is life draining. Why go to a tavern if you dont want to eat, drink, and be merry? I swear, Bree takes up all my strength and sucks the happiness right out of you. I feel so....down. Maybe I'll skip the Moot and just go to bed. Alone. Again. I'm so lonely!!!
I live in a house with so many people and adorable little pups, I work at a busy mill, perform at a usually busy tavern, meet and flirt with so many people and I am STILL so LONELY!! What is wrong with me? I know I miss my family and the rest of the troupe, the excitement of traveling to new lands, seeing the world.....Here is nice though. Not Bree, but the Lodge with the Woodmen. Cozy even. Like it was made for me to fit right in. My room is perfect. The people are great. The Pups...so adorable! Why am I so down??
There's Tree-Walker playing with a pup. A large bundle of cuteness too. Aww! I want one! She looks happy...almost. Who could not be happy holding a pup as cute as that? I almost hate to interrupt her happiness, but I need to walk by and if I don't call out the dogs bark at me. I think they know I now have treats and am happy to spoil every last one of them rotten. Awww! Tree-Walker is talking back! Maybe she is warming up to me!!! Come on lass! Keep talkin'! Calm down, Leo. Don't go getting hyper and excited and scare her off. She is doing really great talking as much as she is. Don't you go ruining it by being....YOU.
The main hall smells so good!!! Not the pottage from the other moot. This....smells GOOD! My mouth is already watering. I didn't realize I was so hungry. Are those...mushrooms? I smell mushrooms....Oooooohhhhhh!!!! Who is conducting this chorus of culinary cacophony in my nose? The tintinnabulation that so musically wells in the SMELLS!! Come nose! To the kitchen!
Hound-Friend!!?? With potatoes...Ooooo crispy potatoes! Is that a cream sauce? YES! Pour that cream sauce all over those crispy potatoes! I feel swoonish. It should not be right for a man that ruggedly handsome to be able to cook and look that good doing it. I don't know which I want more right now; him or those potatoes? Tater Paprikask? Flatbreads...oooo crispy mushrooms!!! They are going to have to wheel me out of here tonight. Don't just stand there! Offer to help! Some guest you are. Drooling over the food, but not willing to work for it. Focus.
Hmm...Looks like I am not needed. Might as well watch the Master at work. Not every day I get to watch someone so yummy make something so yummy. Aren't I suppose to seek out Beauty in all forms? Can't do much of that in Bree, this whole place sucks the beauty out of everything. Come on now. Don't get all glum and grumpy, Leo. Focus on the entertainment. Don't think about how tired you are and how lonely and how you really wish right now he would look up and smile at you. That would brighten my day. I don't need a hound like Tree-Walker. Well, I do, but different kind of Hound. Wait....Do I...like him? Is that why I have been so boy crazy when he is around? Why I catch myself looking at him...why I want to make him smile more than anyone else? Hmmm. Interesting. Very interesting. Let's explore this thought process a little further Leo.
First help Wood-Sculptor with all those drinks. Oh! I get to bring one to Ljota and Hound-Friend! Ok. Focus on the mission. Ljota's cider delivery, done. With flourish! Got a smile! Nice! Now for Hound-Friend. Drink delivered...a smile!!! At me!!! Finish with a bow and sit without doing anything stupid that will make him not like you. DONE! Mission accomplished! Good job ladies. Well done. Sit next to Wood-Sculptor and act calm. Don't let it show you have discovered you like him. Don't swoon or look all dreamy at him. Stay calm. He is still the same Hound-Friend you knew before you discovered he make your heart all twitterpatted.
Eat something. Oh! The whole meal is meatless!!! I can eat all the yummies!! He is so considerate. Oh! The mystery lady I don't know the name of is here. Good! Maybe someone will say it so I don't have to go up and ask her. That would be really awkward. Em!! Her name is EM!!!! Aha!! It's all coming together. Ok, my turn to get food. Play it cool. Small helping. Save some for Em. Follow Hound-Friend's example and dip the flatbread in and....YES!!! It is just...so good! The cream! The potato! The mushroom!!! I want to cry, but not before finishing every last drop in that pot and licking it clean!!! Maybe this is why people think I am part Hobbit?
These folks really do not like outsiders. So fearful. If it were my family I would want to protect them too. I remember being wary of outsiders when I was in the troupe. WAS! You did it!!! Good job Leo!! That reminds me of this story Dalidaris told me about the elves of Gondolin...Stop it! You are rambling on. This is their Moot, not your story time. Later. Although, that story dealt with an Orc invasion too....Yeah. Don't mention that one. It didn't end well for Gondolin.Not the best to bring up when an Orc invasion is on the horizon. Think Leo! Get it together.
Tree-Walker is making her report. They are deciding on whether to let Jess live in the house. He is looking at me. I like it when he looks at me, but what is the look he is giving me? He looks like he wants me to say something. What does he want me to say? I should have been paying more attention to what he was saying and less on how his eyes.... Stop it!! Thank goodness for Tree-Walker. They want my opinion on the Jess-Lodge situation. Hmmm. I don't think I should. I live here, but as a guest. I shouldn't really have a say who comes in. I also don't know Jess as well as everyone else. Then say that you dolt!! Ok! Hey! That seemed to go down well. Nice! And he is smiling at me again!!!!!!
More reports...Oh! I should give mine! I finally moved my stock of salves and supplies to the Lodge. My room now smells of herbs, but I should be set for a big battle. I made more bandages and I am working on more salves. Soaking more bark in various medicines. I should be all set. He liked my report! HE LIKED HIS TUNIC!!! He is wearing it and is showing it off!! I am going to die, right now, right here, over a rugged man in a tunic. Worth it.
Looks like they are going to be doing some weapons training soon. I should sit in on that. It has been a while since I trained. I've also never used a spear before, so I should probably learn. Em is going to help me get better at the sword and shield. Nice of her! Wood-Sculptor is leaving. Now they are asking me about training animals to help with medical problems. That is an interesting thought. I bet animals of all kinds could help with many medical issues. Focus on the conversation Leo. This is getting good.
Looks like everything is winding down. I should probably offer to help clean up since I didn't cook. Probably should go to bed soon. I am so tired. Ok! Wash some dishes and then to bed!! Looks like Hound-Friend has the same idea, an early bed. I would like to go to bed early with....Stop it!! He is a kind man who let you stay with his clan when you had nowhere else to go. Show some respect and quit oogling him. Even if he does make you feel all twitterpatted. He smiled at me again!! Ah!!!! Twitterpatted.
Focus on washing dishes! What has gotten into you lately, Leo? You never went all boy crazy over Andrass. Of course, his smile never drew you in until you wanted to see more...to be the cause of him smiling. Andrass never smiled much. He was obsessed over Orcs and duty and a quick fumble when he was home, then off again. How could I have been so blind? Wait....isn't that the words to a song? Maybe if I hum a little....I think I am getting it...
"Living without you....Living alooooone! This empty house seems so cold...Wanting to hold you.....Wanting you near! How much I wanted you home!" Sings louder and with more feeling, "But now that you've come back! Turned night into day! I need you to stay!"
"So now I come to yooooou! With open arms! Noooothing to hide! Belieeeeve what I say! So here I am! ---"
Oh! Tree-Walker needed something...Hee...Oh, bless her! She wanted to know if I needed help! Sweet lass. She thinks I'm lonely....Oh darling! You break my heart and fill it up at the same time. She noticed! I could hug her if I knew she would welcome it. I should get to bed before I start crying and hugging her. That would drive her away for sure. Did I just make a friend, you think? I hope so.
