Summer festival

When I woke up it was long past breakfast, it could’ve been shortly before noon (I knew for sure I’ve missed my elevensies!). I looked out of my (dirty) window and although it looked like a beautiful summer day, the street in front of the inn was in pure chaos. Everyone was in a hurry to get somewhere, everyone carried something to some place, shouted at someone, rushing him to move quickly... I didn’t understand what was happening and deep down I hoped the people of Combe don’t live like this everyday... When do they make time for breakfast in grass? And what about a day-long lazy fishing? Merriment down in the town?

I took some of the clothes out of my backpack and put them into the small cabinet by my bed. I  got into my favourite tunic and started plucking up the courage to walk down to the inn. I didn’t  know how to begin this day... where shall I go, what shall I do? But I wasn’t really afraid. When I’ve survived a night at a strange inn with no door... nothing can scare me easily now! In this mood I made my way down the stairs (there were exactly 40 of them! I’ve been counting!) to the main chamber where there was already a a delicious smell of lunch. On the largest of tables lied a beautiful brown roasted hog, but Mrs. Lizbeth didn’t seem satisfied:

„LINK! Where is that ill-bred boy? I’m up to my ears in work and the helper is gone!“ shouted Lizbeth in anger while wiping the tables clean.

„Good morning.“ I peeped a bit insecurely.

„Oh, miss Auri! Morning you say?! I’m sorry, you’ve missed the beakfast and there’s no one to serve up the lunch, so much work and so little time!“ she kept on lamenting.

„I’ve noticed everyone’s busy... what is happening here?“ I couldn’t help asking.

„You really don’t know? The summer festival started yesterday! So many orders, so many deliveries! And where is Link, he should’ve been long back and run to the festival grounds with that pig!“ she started wailing. Suddenly a tall black-heaired man appeared from behind Lizbeth and started soothing her with a calm voice:

„You know him Liz, anything can catch his attention, he just sits down and starts to draw. He doesn’t understand haste.“ said the man.

„Oh Todd, what did I do to deserve such a helper! We won’t deliver all the food till the evening like this! What should I do, what should I do?? I cannot take care of the inn and the festival!“ she worried all in anguish.

„Hire another helper.“ shrugged the man and disappeared in a corridor behind the bar.

„Bah, another helper! We’re barely keeping our heads above water as it is now...“ she grumbled, not noticing my curious look.

„Mrs. Lizbeth...“ I started.

„Oh yes, your lunch! Uh... the errant boy will return sooner or later and then I’ll have time to serve it up, but until then-“

„No no, I wanted to ask... what do you need help with? I’ve just arrived from Frogmorton, I don’t have friends nor work... I could help you!“ I suggested enthusiastically.

„You.... but... I mean...“ she was taken by surprise.

„I know we don’t know each other yet, but give me a chance, please! I’ll help you with everything I can!“ I swore blind.

„Well, that is very kind of you miss, but... our inn has seen better days and I can’t afford to pay you. Even the boy works just for food and shelter!“ she admitted unwillingly.

„That would suffice! Why do you need money when you have something to eat and somewhere to sleep!“ I replied merrily.

„Well... there are two beds in his room... just like in any other room, after all...,“ she thought about it aloud,“but would you not mind sharing a room with Link? You don’t even know him!“

I hesitated for a while.

„No.“ I said firmly. What could happen? I‘ll have work and bed with food for free. Suddenly, life seemed a lot less uncertain.       

„Well... alright then. I have to admit I’ll need every helping hand during the festival and since you’re so willing... Hm, would you know the way to the festival grounds north of Bree with this pig here?“

I was rather startled. What grounds? Where? Am I to travel again? I haven’t even arrived properly! Luckily, at that very moment the door was flung open and a young cheery hobbit hopped inside.

„Hello Mrs. innkeeper! Farmer Grubb was overjoyed about your fruit basket and he told me-“

„LINK! Do you have any idea about the amount of work waiting for you?! Off with you to the festival and take the pig!“ Lizbeth  raised a dish towel to strike him.

„Ouch, alright, I’m going.“ he ducked his head down in time to avoid the hit.

„And you will take miss Auri with you, she’ll be helping out at the inn just like you from now on. Come and meet her – Auri, this is Linkrink, our long-time servant.“ I bowed down shyly, but he just waved at me and immediately tried to get hold of the heavy platter with food.

„You will go to the summerfest together, try to remember the way Auri, you might have to go alone next time. You will take the hog to Bernard Oaksey, you‘ll surely find him somewhere near the dining tables. Oh and Auri, please keep an eye on Link, don’t let him get engrossed in a conversation with anyone and come back as soon as possible! We have much to do in the kitchen!“ she saw us out.

„Alright, I’ll keep an eye on him.“ I promised, but she took me by the shoulder and said:

„One more thing. You can’t go dressed up like this, they would confuse you with a guest and not a helper. You’ll wear our dress.“ she said and vanished in the corridor behind the bar. I was a little confused, but I didn’t have the power to resist, I just wanted to do what seemed wisest at the moment. And this was wiser than arguing about clothes. In a moment she was back with a dress in her hands.

„There, try it on. It may not fit you perfectly, because our last waitress stretched it a bit, but it should be your size.“ she handed me a white-brown, front laced up dress. I dashed into my room and jumped into the dress quickly. To me it seemed alright, but I didn’t have any mirror to make sure and so I just ran down the stairs and waited for Lizbeth’s opinion.

„See, it fits like a glove! When you get back I’ll make some small adjustments, but it will have to do for now. Now off with you and hurry up!“ she pushed us out of the door along with a cooling pig on a plate.