The Needlehole Mysteries [3]

Bluebottle wrote:I saw this and thought of you guys.

Norc wrote:I suddenly realized how long it's been since last time i did any needlehole-fan-farts... My style has defo changed..like just noe i drew six completely different ringos ...

Amarië wrote:-Fine! Growled Nora, in the way women do which means that things are anything but fine but you will die if you ask about it.
-Embassy it is! And your precious Amarië who can answer all things.

She spun around, her curls bouncing fiercely as she crawled to the front of the cart to grab the reins. Eldo fell over as Nora cracked the whip and the cart was swiftly get in motion. Eldo bounced about as the pony sped off while Ringo had the benefit of quick reflexes and several army courses in mud slide rock surfing and cod fishing with his grandfather as a little boy. He was not not quite sure which of the two had been the most risky. Nora's mumblings sounded a bit dangerous as well.

{{{*The name Admunholm is from the original NHM}}}


By the gates of the Dark Planet embassy the trio was met by a youngster dressed in the official Dark Planet colours. He bowed politely and offered to take of the cart and asked whether it was a short stay or if he should water and feed the pony.

That was a good question. The three Hobbits glanced up towards the embassy, past the grassy mounts containing the buried long ships and up the building which contained Amarië’s office and private study, her fan wall and the basement with the Fjordianland collection and Eru only knows what else. This could take a while, and the police station was next door in case they needed a quick getaway. Ringo had time to wonder what he might earn per hour as a pony parking attendant before Nora sighed.

-Water and food for the pony, please. And be careful! It’s a rental!
She turned on her heels and initiated a brisk power walk towards the entrance. The youngster nodded. Clearly he was smart enough to avoid rolling his eyes.

Their demeanour changed as they walked up to the door. They put their bickering a side for now and squared their shoulders. Eldo took the lead flanked by Nora and Ringo as they entered the building.

They were greeted by a woman with a broad, sickly sweet smile. She seemed to be wearing a dress which combined the Dark Planet colour scheme with various elements from the traditional Fjordian style.

-Good afternoon, how may I be of service?

-We wish to speak with the Ambassador, Eldo replied.

-I am sorry, the woman said while not looking sorry at all. I am afraid the Ambassador is not available.

-This is official police business.

Eldo spoke with great authority. The woman's smile still remained the same.

-I understand. Perhaps you would like to speak with the consul instead?

Pause.

-Yes.

-This way, please!

The three police hobbits had a wordless conversation behind her back, neither had heard anything about a consul. The woman walked to Amarië's office, knocked twice and opened the door just enough to peek inside.

-Three policehobbits to see the counsul, she singsonged.

She then stepped aside and let them inside.

Not surprisingly they found Amarië sitting by her desk. More surprising were the two men who came to stand on each side of her desk. The man on her left looked like he should be on display in one of Amarië's Fjordian showcases in the basement. He had blond, sun bleached hair and wore a red vest with mithrill buttons, black trousers which stopped just below the knees, long white stockings and a white shirt with puffy sleeves. The sandy haired man on her right wore a crisp grey dark planet suit which accented his well-toned physique
and strong upper body without being unfit or offending for a family friendly audience. Both were tanned and slightly sun burned, they couldn't have been office rats for long. Bodyguards? Trainees? Living mannequins?

-Miss Ambassador..., Eldo started only to be interrupted by the sandy haired man.

-The ambassador is available from 10 to 2. It is now ten past two.

-Yeah, added the blond man accusingly.
-Magnolia said you wanted to speak with the consul.

Amarië sat back and pressed her fingertips together to form a triangle.
-Use my name, please, dear Eldo. Let me intrudoce you to my new... colleagues. Here on my right is...

-Blue.
Ringo's voice was rather chilled and he squinted his eyes.

-Blue Bottle, yes. You know each other?

Blue leaped forward and shaking hands vigorously with RIngo. His strickt and formal pose forgotten in a burst of excitement.

-Bottél! It is Blue Bottél! Haha, Ringo! How lovely to see you! I knew you lived around here, imagine running into you so soon! Kult azz! Eldo, was it? Blue Bottél here, and honour to meet you. Yes indeed. And hello there?
Nora did her best not to blush at the shameless attempt – or success – at being charming.

-Nora Herring.

-Oooooh, any relation, you two, you know what I mean, ey?

He made a flimsy pointing movement between Ringo and Nora while wiggling his eyebrows.
In perfect chorus the three Hobbits stated:
-No relation.
Nora added 'whatsoever!
Ringo didn't seem very pleased.
Amarië seemed this was a good place to intervene.

-Blue <i>Bottél</i>?  

Blue seemed quite relieved that she said the name like he wished.

-Let the lady have her hand back, please, this is not a dating service. This is Hugh Fjuff.

Hugh shook their hands in a far more sturdy and firm manner, starting with Nora.
-Please call me Hu, that is short for Hugh.
Nora blinked at him while smiling brightly.
-Ahaa? Nice to meet you, Who...

Not much wiser the two lads shook paws with the man, and finally Amarië decided to share some more information.

-Mr Bottél here came highly recommended from the Fjordian legal representatives Blueman, Blueman & Bukkenmine, he is doing a comparative thesis on Fjordianland, Forumshire and Dark Planet rules and regulations or lack of thereof. And mr Fjuff... came highly recommended by his mum.

-Also, I have a boat!
Hugh beamed proudly.

Blue nodded and nearly bounced with excitement.

-We climbed two mountains and rowed from Fjord-strand-stad-vik to Admunholm*! We just came here last night!

-I am a good rower, Hugh jumped in. I am, as you can see, quite muscular! I could lift all three of you, I could, for certain - or at least two.

Blue nodded, finding no reason at all to object and instead kept talking.
-The weather was really good all the way, we had a little bit rain and a little bit of wind from the west which shifted to slightly northwestern and then turned south! Would you believe it? And the stars were really bright at night! And there was this cloud that really looked like a big sheep and there was one that...

-WOULD YOU SHUT UP ABOUT THE WEATHER!!?!!

Amarië's focus had drifted to Ringo's sulky manner. But now everybody stared at Nora, who cleared her throat and quickly added;

-We have more important things to discuss with am... cons... with Amarië.

Eldo received a quick kick from Nora and quickly thought through the events of the day and chose the one thing that she might find more interesting than cats and coloured mist.

-We suspect someone tried to kill us.

Amarië's expression darkened considerably.

-Blue, Hugh, please go help Magnolia with the mail. Now.