A Well-Deserved Rest: Settling Down, by Himring

[hhimring]

Author : Himring
Fandom : The Hobbit
Rating : General
Warning: none
Characters : Beorn and his animals.
Disclaimer : Beorn and his animals, and Yule celebrations in Beorn's hall, are all Tolkien's. But this is set in an earlier year that Tolkien did not write about.
Summary : It is deep winter. Beorn and his friends settle down to a well-deserved rest (2 x 100 words)

Beorn watched the last of his Midwinter guests disappear towards the forest and heaved a sigh from the bottom of his deep chest. It had been a magnificent Yule, with plenty of good cheer, mead and story-telling, and no worse for doubling as celebration of a victory, comparatively small, but the best kind, without losses. Now, however, his wintry mood, suspended for the duration, began to return. He sniffed the air. Yes, more severe weather was on its way, with snow and wind and frost. His guests would get home safely, but it was time for a good long rest.

With the help of Beorn's animal friends, soon the remains of the feast were cleared away. Torches were doused, one by one. Beorn banked the fire himself. He gave a rumbling, snorting sigh, clambered onto the large low bedstead in front of the hearth and curled up. Two of his dog friends joined him. All over the homestead, his friends made their own sleeping arrangements.
Outside, dusk had long fallen. The first snowflakes drifted down out of the rapidly darkening sky. Everyone in Beorn’s Hall slumbered, down to the motionless bees in their hives; nothing stirred, not even a mouse.

Comments

[apachefirecat]

Well done! I don't recall this particular character (which doesn't really say anything, tbh), but I really like the scene you painted here. It just goes to show, yet again, that so many who are mistreated by the world at large find solace and companionship in their animal brethern.

[hhimring]

Thank you very much!
Yes, indeed.
This character in particular has a very close relationship with his animals brethren, because he is a kind of were-bear and can communicate with them very effectively. He is also, at that time, the last of his own kind (although he later gets a family).
But of course it would be true even without that!

[adafrog]

Sweet.

[hhimring]

Thank you!

[lferion]

This is great. I really like how it starts with party-energy and steps comfortably down to everyone sleeping, even the mice and bees. I did laugh at the last line.

[hhimring]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it and that you were amused by that last line!

[shirebound]

This really makes me smile. We don't usually think about winding down after the aftermath of a Big Event like Beorn getting so many interesting visitors.

Dear Beorn and his animals settling into a well-earned slumber, even the mouse. :)

[hhimring]

Glad you liked it, shirebound!
It is good to be able to wind down, in the aftermath. Even more so when the daylight hours are short!

[liadt]

Aw, enjoy your sleep animal friends:)

[hhimring]

I am sure they all enjoyed their snooze! Thank you!

[fredbassett]

That's lovely! I like the bearlike sigh he gives.

[hhimring]

Thank you!
Glad that sigh sounded bearlike to you, that was what I was trying to evoke!