Settling Down by Himring

Settling Down

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.

Chapter End Notes

If you like, you can decide for yourself who was among the departing guests and who had fought alongside Beorn to gain this small victory.

Originally written for tolkien100, for the prompt "well-deserved rest".

2 x 100 words in MS Word.