The Threat of the Trees: RPG

[Bêthberry]

Ithaeliel, Mattius, Brinniel and Auriel invite you to play their game, The Threat of the Trees.

* * * * *

Child of the Seventh Age's post:

Brethil, the Great Birch, was the eldest and wisest of the sentient trees that belong to the race of the Huorn. He lived within the sweet dales of Fangorn Forest. None knew his exact age, but his memories ranged back for hundreds of years. The other trees paid him respect, both for his physical prowess and his innate understanding of nature.

Like others of his race, Brethil?s strength was immense. His roots burrowed deep in the soil, and his limbs towered up to the heavens, bending and swaying with the wild music of the winds. Like his cousins and brothers, Brethil was ?limb lithe," and could move swiftly and surely from place to place while wrapped in shadow of darkness.

When enraged, the Huorn could be utterly ruthless, and Brethil was no exception. In the past, he had struck down Orcs and other evildoers who had dared set foot within Fangorn. Yet, towards others, Brethil had shown restraint and obeyed the dictates of the Ents, or tree shepherds, who urged the Huorn to let the travellers pass. Brethil was simple and primitive, his passions strong and direct, but he was not a creature of evil.

Now, all was changing, as older customs gave way to the new order of Men. The fading of the Ents deeply troubled Brethil, since the tree shepherds had always provided the Huorn with guidance. The Huorn could not understand why the Ents were going and blamed their departure on Orcs and Men.

For Brethil, the Age of the Dominion of Men only seemed to mean more travelers coming with axes and splitting mawls seeking wood to construct distant buildings and cities. Many of these Men came not from Isengard, but from Gondor and lands beyond.

Moreover, Brethil still had vivid memories of Saruman who had ordered the Orcs to murder trees. Unable to understand who Saruman really was, Brethil assumed he was another bad man, since he looked like one. While the number of Orc travellers had declined, men came in ever growing numbers. Brethil felt they often displayed an arrogance toward the land and a lack of respect for the trees.

Underneath all this, there was yet another reason for the Huorn?s rage, a great and sad secret which had only recently been revealed to Brethil. Brethil?s heart ached whenever he thought on it. But he kept his counsel hidden and would not reveal this thing to any outside his own people. It seemed too deep a mystery.

The end result of this was growing sorrow and anger. Like all the Huorn, Brethil was incapable of shedding tears and did not even know enough words to express his feelings. The only response open to him was to strike out physically in the manner of a small child. Unfortunately, he and the other Huorn wielded such power that any striking out was bound to bring innocent deaths.

As Brethil gazed about the woods, he saw Huorn after Huorn falling into savagery. Although Brethil himself had not killed any of the innocent travellers, that compulsion grew stronger every day. The Ents were gone, the old rules were gone, and there was nothing to take their place. He felt empty and angry and hungry for some kind of guidance and structure. It was only a matter of time until he could no longer resist the compulsion within his heart and would strike out with unreasoning hatred.


* * * * *

Mattius' and Ithaeliel's post:

Mattius laid down into the golden foliage with a sigh of delight. The fall and autumn leaves crackled under his weight as the elf put his hands behind his head. The little river sang close by and birds harmonised beside it. Opening his eyes he looked up at the streams of brilliant sunlight breaking through the naked treetops. He still liked the Golden Wood; even a thousand years after Galadriel had left, Lorien still had something magical and elvish about it.

He sat up and looked for Radagast, the wizard was a few feet away, kneeling down and filling up a flask from the small stream. The birds were dancing about him as he chatted back to them cheerfully. With a straining groan he pushed himself to his feet and the birds flew skywards. Mattius jumped to his feet but spun around when he heard horses hooves on the ground. Indeed there was a tall man dressed in the garb of Gondor riding a tall brown horse.

"Greetings!" Radagast said as the rider slowed his stallion and jumped down.

"Good afternoon to the pair of you," he replied, "I am Arthos, Messenger of Gondor." The man removed his helm to reveal his shoulder length black hair and shook hands with the elf and Radagast. "I travel to the Northern Kingdoms of the Dale and The Lonely Mountain but came to these woods to search for a river or stream where I may refill my water supplies."

"Then you have struck luck good sir," said Mattius leading him to the stream and helping him fill his flasks. "May I ask why you are heading so far north of Gondor, for it is a long ride."

"Indeed you may and indeed it is," Arthos said standing up to face the two travellers. "The King is in search of a hero, there has been problems in Fangorn." At this Radagast's mind sparked.

"Fangorn?" He asked in a calm voice.

"Yes I'm afraid so, people have been going in and are not being seen again. That wasn't so bad, people just tended to avoid it but just recently...." Arthos' voice trailed off.

"Yes?" Radagast said almost screaming.

"Well, bodies began to be found, ripped to shreds and now there are rumours of children being stolen from their beds during the dead of night. Things are looking really bad." For just a second Mattius caught the look in Radagast's eyes. Pure fear. "But I must be on my way, thank you for your help gentlemen." With that he put his helm back on, mounted his horse and rode north.

"What is wrong, Radagast?" asked Mattius.


The wizard looked up at the elf. "We need to go to Isengard immediately." Mattius nodded as Radagast began to walk south in deep thought. He would give Radagast time to speak his worries, one thousand years of being with him had let him know when to leave him be.

****************

It was dusk in Lorien.

The ever-darkening clouds loomed overhead, their grey mass turned different shades of pink in the wake of the sun. Far beyond, to the east, a vast canvas of sky gave off flaming auras of all the colors of a rainbow. Amid the painted wisps of cloud and air was an orb of dark gold, ever sinking further toward the deeps of the world.

It was on such an evening that Endereth walked through the woods of Lothlorien again, after many, many years. Only shortly after her escapades in the Blue Mountains had she even set foot in the land she had once called home. But long since then she was a ranger. She had no home.
In her travels she had descried many processions of her people on their way to Valinor. Her heart broke again and again each time she saw them, for she knew they would never have her among them. She was a lone wayfarer, never to find a home with the elves again. She had forsaken them for her own desires long ago.

Now, as Endereth walked through the Golden Wood, once great and lit with the magic of the Lady of Light, she was taken aback at the magnitude of its fading. No sunlight shone now through the trees, and the golden leaves of winter were not nearly so wondrous as they once had been. Still they fell in numbers at her feet as she wrapped her dark cloak tighter still about her chilled body. The whole wood seemed to shrink before Ender's feet as her clear, icy eyes beheld a land shrouded in dusky silver.

Ahead of her there was an opening in the trees, leading to the shining waters of the river Nimrodel. Beside it, a tall bey mare was leashed to a tree. She neighed and lifted her head slightly as Endereth approached. The ranger gave a wry smile and stroked the mare's neck. "Yes, I remember it too, Caeren. It used to be glorious, but no longer. Now, let us move on."

The elven ranger mounted her steed hastily and they made east, following Nimrodel upstream, as the last sliver of sun sank behind the hills. Its light still gave a golden hue to Ender's face as she left Lorien; for the last time, she thought. Her back turned to the forest, she was surprised to hear three voices speaking with serious tones. Sliding off of Caeren's back, Endereth ran to the source of the voices, though their persuns were hidden from view. As soon as she believed she was close enough, Ender gave a startled cry to see a messenger of the King of Gondor ride away quickly. Just a few feet away she heard the two remaining voices speak.

"What is wrong, Radagast?"

Ender stifled a gasp. Radagast? Was Radagast the Brown, wizard and bird-lover, truly here in Lorien?

"We need to go to Isengard immediately." It was the voice of Radagast. Endereth would know the commanding tone anywhere. And it must have been Mattius with him!

As Radagast appeared and began to walk southward, Endereth walked out from behind a tree, breathless, unsure of what to say. A strong-looking, fair-haired elf looked up as she appeared, looked down again, and did a double-take. "Endereth?!" he shouted.

Radagast whipped around at Mattius' cry, his eyes growing wide, and he smiled in spite of himself. "Why, if it isn't the ranger Endereth! Mae govannem, my dear."

"Mae govannem, my old companions," Endereth replied, still reeling from the shock of seeing the two there of all places. "May I ask you both... what has just occured that requires a venture to Isengard?"

[ April 16, 2003: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[DayVampyre]

The sun rose over the city buildings, but that was not what woke Avery from her revery. A sharp poking in the side of her ribs is what roused her into reality. She opened her eyes and saw a finely dressed man standing above her.

"Come on, now! I don't need you street rats in front of my place of business"

Avery scowled at the annoying man. She had fallen asleep on a wooden bench outside a store. Not that it looked like a store in the dark. She stood up and walked away. The rich man watched her until she was a safe distance away from his shop. Avery strolled down the city streets. The streets which she had called home for about ten years now. Soon, Avery would have to leave.

Being a thief wasn't easy. Avery was one of the best and up until recently had never been caught. A few close calls, everyone has them in the business, but Avery had gotten caught while trying to rob a bank. It had been a big job. But sometimes the fates turn on you and they turned on Avery. The judge had been about to sentence the seventeen year old to hang, but recieved a reprieve at the last minute.

"Or, if you so desire, you will travel to the Fanghorn, and try figure out why the Huorns are restless. Your, cleverness, might help you there"

Avery had agreed. She would have agreed to anything at that point. She had two days to leave Gondor. Avery was on the outskirts of the city when she noticed a stable. There was a sign next to the stables. What it said, Avery certainly didn't know, for she could not read, all she needed to know was that a stable had horses and horses meant faster travel. Avery smiled to herself.


With shouts of "STOP!" and "THIEF!", Avery sped away on a brown horse. She traveled about a day or so, gathering directions from locals and other wayfarers and she arrived at Isenguard by nightfall. She slowed the horse down from a gallop to a canter and then to a moderate walk. She stopped the horse at the top of a hill and looked down a sleepy village below. Smoke had begun to rise out of chimmnies and candles glowed from windows. A small kick to the horse's sides and Avery continued down the path.

She continued until she arrived at a small tavern. Being tired of riding and traveling, Avery rode the horse over to a small stable and after securing the horse, she walked back over to the tavern and entered...

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

“Ajada! Jaedyn! Wake up NOW!” Mistress Halena called from the bottom of the ladder to the attic. She was too broad to climb it and wake her husband’s two female writing apprentices.

Jaedyn rolled over in bed, and Ajada groggily got up off her bottom bunk. Climbing the small ladder to the top bunk, Ajada could only see Jaedyn’s mouse-brown hair through the mess of blankets. Shoving Jaedyn off the bed, Ajada prepared for the loud thump that followed as Jaedyn hit the wooden floor.

“I’m up! I’m up!” Jaedyn cried, though her voice was muffled through the covers. Ajada rolled her eyes and got dressed, pulling on her comfortable breeches and an oversized tunic, borrowed from Josham, another apprentice. This was the day that she would set out for Isengard. Somehow, the Master of the house, Leo, had found out about serious problems involving attacks from the forest. Master Leo had been given leave by the King to send someone to document the journey to straighten out everything. Leo chose Ajada, not only because her father had been close counselor to the royal family, but also because she was his best reporter.

Grabbing her pack, Ajada looked around the dark room, which was only lit by the slight rays of sun showing through the round window. She had everything she needed for the journey to Isengard and Fangorn: her pen, ink, papers, clothing, and extras of everything. She also brought the things needed to brew ink, though few would be used to the stench if she tried to make it on the trip. Dismissing the memories of all her ink-making days, Ajada walked back over to the heap of Human and blankets that was Jaedyn.

“I have to go now! Don’t forget to finish the report on the new Gondorian Sewer Systems! Leo will have a fit if it’s late by more than ten minutes!” Ajada said goodbye to the other girl, and in return received a smack in the face as Jaedyn rolled over on the wooden floor. Ajada sighed and rolled Jaedyn towards the floor-door that entered down to the attic-ladder and towards the second floor of the home. Shoving Jaedyn through the hatch, Ajada watched as the girl bounced off the ladder and hit the second floor with a deep, resounding thunk.

Going down the steps of the attic ladder was no problem for her, and she walked down the upstairs hallway of the Record Master’s home in Gondor, stepping carefully over a grumbling Jaedyn. Walking by the first open door, Ajada waved to Master Leo’s son Marlen and the scribe’s other apprentice, Josham. Walking into the room, Josh was writing something, and Marlen was looking over his shoulder.

“I’ve got to set out soon, I’ve come to say goodbye!” As Ajada spoke, both boys looked up from what they were doing. A sad look overtook Marlen’s face, and Josh got up to hug his fellow writer. In her four years of apprenticeship, Ajada had become quite fond of Josh in particular. Mar began to fold a parchment and handed it to Ajada when she and Josh were done giving goodbyes.

“What’s this?” Ajada asked, and was about to open it until Josh stopped her and shook his head.

“Don’t open it until you get on the road! It’s a poem, for you. Good luck, and bring extra paper, for you always run out!” They said farewell one last time, and Ajada left the boys and went to say goodbye to Jaedyn, who had just walked down from the ladder to the attic.

“Halena is going to yell at you when you get down there, so you may as well go and get ink ingredients. Leo has almost run out of blue ink and has no more black. I have to go though!” Ajada informed Jaedyn and the other girl sighed.

Then, Ajada said one more goodbye, to Leo, the man who had taken her in after her father and mother died, and expanded on the things her mother, a well-known Gondorian writer, had taught the girl. He was a kindly, middle-aged man of humbler origins than those of Ajada, and he regretted inwardly the need to send her on the ‘adventure’ of sorts.

Continuing on to the kitchen, Ajada was given a tight hug from Halena’s eight-year old daughter. Halena sent the girl off to do chores and to get Jaedyn and the boys to work, and then the sturdy woman gave Ajada some food for the road.

“Now, Ajada, we paid caravan of Rohirric entertainers a tidy sum to let you ride with them as they return home, since we can’t afford a horse. But once they stop in Edoras you need to walk north to Isengard.” Halena ended as she shooed the girl out the door.

Great. Ajada thought. A trip with old clowns.

~*~

The trip with the clowns and entertainers was not the best way to start off an investigation, but it was not as bad as I thought it'd be. I think I have developed a phobia though.

The words were neatly scrawled into an old notebook Ajada had brought. The clowns were too goofy for the writer's liking, and Ajada was paranoid of someone cutting her hair off after the incident with the mime...

Ajada had continued north towards Isengard after her relieved parting with the Rohirric entertainers. Ajada stopped all too often to write descriptions of her surroundings, and sometimes drawing messy pictures. When she finally reached Orthanc, Ajada encountered three guards.

"It isn't safe to walk alone around these here parts anymore, child. Yer gonna get hurt if you keep wanderin' bout like this." One of the men grunted, lending a sweeping motion of his hand to shoo her away.

"I've permission to be here. The King let my master send someone to document the happenings within Fangorm." Ajada replied, hoping it would do the trick.

"And who'd he decide ter send?" A second guard asked, lifting a hand to shade his eyes, pretending to search the horizon.

"Very funny. Now, let me in," Ajada demanded, and went to push her way by two of the men.

"Sorry, little miss. No one without permission,"

"Did I not just say I had permission to be here from my master and the King?" Ajada came close to yelling at the man, who, at her raised voice and temper, let the girl through. "Oh, and you'd better start using proper Westron, unless you want to go around sounding like a duncical, splathering imbecils for the rest of your illiterate, and undereducated life!"

The men stared at Ajada dumbfoundedly. Ajada rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in despair. "Do I have to use a first form vocabulary in order to properly disseminate with you people? Your lack of erudition amuses me!" Ajada then turned on her heels, and left the men to their job with their jaws dropped. The reporter continued on to explore Orthanc.

[ April 17, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Manardariel]

"Mistress, listen to this!" An exited apprentice came bursting into Anarya´s forge, almost making her drop the knife she had been working on.
"Buck! Don´t you ever do that again, you hear? I almost dropped this!"

He hastily apoligized, then started talking again, his tounge moving faster than even the fastest of the king´s horses could . Anarya let her attetion level drop to the barest minimum. Once again she wondered if it had been a good idea to make a boy this young her newest apprentice. Buck, who´s father was a poor craftman, spent ages telling her about the smallest happenings all aound the town. Suddenly, however, she thought she had heard the words "dissapeared" "swords" "work".

"Buck, what did you you just say?" she asked, tentively.

"I said, another child has dissapeared. And everyone´s sayin´ we should fight back, because the trees have gone to far. And that we should get to work and start makin´ swords and such, because everyone´ll want armour. That´s what I said, and now´ll be off, if you don´t mind, ma´am."

Thoughtfully, Anarya watched him dissapear. He was right, if there was talk about fighting, paople would turn to her. Anarya´s forge "The Red Forge", on the main street of Isengard, was one of the best of the town. For a moment, she thought of the trees´ victims. She knew one of them- Orodeth had been her nephew, only an infant, when he had been taken. Anarya forced her tears back. She needed to concentrate on her work. But while she heated iron for a sword she swore to herself:
"If there´s a way to get those trees under control, I will be part of it. I swear, I will."

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Manardariel ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

The light dappled the old beech, and the breeze gently blew its leaves. The old tree let out a groan. Anyone watching might have thought it was just the wind bending the branches, but it was the tree itself. There was a feeling of unhappiness and unease about the grove itself. Grudges built up for years and years, anger and bitterness. It was the huge beech that was at the centre of it all, just as his size overawed the smaller trees growing around it. Over the long years of his life he had kept a record of every time he had been burnt, hacked or damaged by a man. There was a vague recollection of better times, perhaps movement, even talking, communicating to the trees and…Ents. The word came to his head from the vestiges of old memory, back in the hazy past. It seemed to be an important word, something that meant something. He often felt this way, like there was a memory, a feeling, just out of reach. But it was all a long time ago. With another groan the tree settled down, but rage festered in his core, deep down.

[mark12_30]

The green-and-brown clad elf paced steadily across rock and stream and field, all the while eagerly studying the vast expanse of trees on his right-hand side. He really wanted to go through Fangorn Forest itself, but Songmaster's instructions had been clear, and LinGalad reluctantly circled the fringes of the forest and did not travel or sleep within it. He could not resist peering into the eaves, however, and occasionally stepping close to one of the more majestic, older trees.

He was weary of the open. He had been in the open since he left the very southernmost tip of Mirkwood, now Lasgalen; the RopeMaster had counselled him to avoid Lothlorien in order to make good speed, and he had obediently done so. He promised himself he would visit it on his way back home.

He longed for shady forest depths, and it irked and saddened him that he could not enjoy the ancient trees now passing by on his righthand side. As he marched through the long grass of Rohan around Fangorn, he sang, more to motivate his weary feet than anything else. Sometimes the trees in Fangorn rustled in the wind. Sometimes they rustled without a wind, and then he was glad he had heeded the Songmaster's warning, and not gone into the forest. LinGalad marched on for weary mile after mile, passing barren rocks and (to him) uninteresting hills and grass, and then he crested a large hill that jutted out from the southernmost roots of the Misty Mountains.

In the middle of Nan Curunir rose a glossy black tower, thrust high into the air, dark and forbidding, cold and austere, and ending in sharp horns at the top. LinGalad's heart sank, and he stood for a while, glumly studying the tower and the ring of stone. He cast one more sad glance at the much more interesting forest, gave his weapons and his pack a cursory check and resettled them in place, and with a heavy sigh, turned towards the tower.

As he went he heard a wild, soft and natural music, and his pace quickened steadily til he broke into a joyous run. A river! That improved things greatly. He let the lure of the river draw him well off of his earlier course, and came to its bank with the excuse that his water bottle needed refilling. He topped off the bottle, sorely tempted to bathe in the beautiful river, but he contented himself with washing his face and his hands. The river, he reminded himself, ran down to the ring of stone. At least it could keep him company. LinGalad resignedly turned and followed it, and sooner than he wanted to, he had arrived at Isengard.

[ April 19, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Brinniel]

The sky was overcast and grey as Calentoliel brought her horse into a trot. She was headed for Isengard; her mind had been set on it for weeks now. The elf had hardly rested since she had left the Blue Mountains.

Since she had parted from her sister Rothallë, who had gone West, the Blue Mountains had been Calentoliel's favorite place to rest. The mountains and the forest that sat by it brought back memories; good memories of her friends that she had met and adventured with in that very place a thousand years ago. Save her sister, Calentoliel had not seen one of those friends since then. Faye Took and Olo Gamwich were long dead, but the others- Endereth, Mattius, and Radagast- still dwelled in Middle-earth and Calentoliel hoped one day she would see them again. The elf had grown lonely over the years. In fear that she would stand out too much, she rarely traveled into towns and cities and hardly spoke to anyone, save a friendly hello as she passed another by.

The motive for Calentoliel's travels to Isengard was the vision she had the night before she left the Blue Mountains. She had seen images of her friends; not images of the past, but of the future. She also saw new faces; those whom she did not recognize. Calentoliel wondered what this vision meant; perhaps a new adventure, she thought. Whatever the vision meant, Calentoliel had suddenly felt the urgent need to leave for Isengard. She called a horse, who was called Losthyando, and left the next day.

And now here she was, riding Losthyando, pondering over what the future would bring. Isengard was not far; tiny specks of building began to appear in the distance and Orthanc stood out particularly. Calentoliel was so into her thoughts, gazing out into the distance, she did not see what lay directly in front of her until she was nearly on top of it, her horse stopping suddenly.

What Calentoliel saw horrified her and brought back terrible memories. In front of her lay a human body, mangled to the point where it was unrecognizable. It took a moment for Calentoliel to register what she saw, and when she did, she slid off her horse with ease. The elf bent over the body, which now appeared to be a man, and observed him with curiousity. What had happened to this man? What thing could've possibly done something so gruesome? She had to know the answers.

Gently, Calentoliel placed her hands on the body and began to sing softly. She sang in the ancient tongue she knew, searching for the answers to her questions. The magic flowed from the elf and into the dead body. Images formed in her mind. The images were of fear, pain, and the presence of a hidden shadow. What was this shadow? Calentoliel also searched for this answer, but to know avail. The shadow remained but a shadow, clouded and vague.

Calentoliel stopped singing and relaxed as she felt the energy being drained from her. The man was from Isengard. Perhaps she could find out more about him and whatever had killed him once she arrived there.

Seeing no reason to bring such a mangled body into the city, Calentoliel buried the dead man, and marked his grave.

She mounted Losthyando and once again looked out into the distance. More than ever, she felt the need to continue for Isengard; there seemed to be more reason for it now. The elf looked even further into the distance, seeing a cluster of trees. The Fangorn Forest. Just looking at the forest caused a threat to grow in Calentoliel's mind. She had always feared that place. But now the fear had grown as she could feel the threat of the shadow. Whatever had killed the man had come from the Fangorn Forest. It didn't seem possible; how could the man been killed there and yet his body lay here? But Calentoliel knew it was so as the images of the vague shadow flooded through her.

Looking away, Calentoliel kicked her horse, and they took off in a gallop. Calentoliel would reach Isengard within the hour.

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Mattius, Endereth and Radagast walked along the lane and talked much.

They discussed what could be wrong in Fanghorn but as Radagast said more than once. "There could be no knowing until we have done some seeing." Eventually they conversation turned to what they had been doing for ten hundred years a piece. Endereth was particularly interested to know how Radagast and Mattius had remained friends trapped together in each other's company for so long.

Radagast smiled. 'We drift in and out of each others lives my dear. We have often gone our separate ways for a hundred years or more but something or other calls us back to each other. I fear our destiny's will always be linked and now I see you after all this time I presume Calontiel and Rothalle will be crossed upon this road sooner or later."

"Do you really believe so?" Mattius gasped.

"Certainly Firnlord. My wits are a little sharper than when first we met, although my skills still leave a lot to be desired. To be honest I am glad we are headed for Fanghorn. At least in the midst of nature I have some understanding. You, young folk I will never make sense of."

Endereth laughed, "I fear we are no longer young dear Radagast."

"Hmmm. I suppose some might be of that persuasion but you will always be very babes to me. Aha!" The ancient wizard stopped sharply. "Told you my skills were sharper these days. We shall be a considerable company indeed."

Endereth and Mattius stood at his shoulder waiting for further information, just as they had done on many an occasion in their previous time together. Just as it was then, the wizard said no more but began walking down the slope once again, oblivious of their consternation.

"I see his social skills haven't improved," Endereth said quietly to Mattius.

"Only with us. He still excels in conversing with creatures." He replied.

"That may be of great use to us in the great forest," she observed.

"I presume that is one of the reasons why fate brings us all together once more."

Endereth and Mattius quickened their pace to keep step with the wizard as he sang to himself. "Do you think he's right about us meeting Calontiel and Rothalle again?" Endereth asked.

"Is he ever wrong?"

"Frequently," she replied.

[Mattius]

Mattius allowed himself a little chuckle under his breath that broke Radagast's line of thought.

"What, me wrong? Well, okay sometimes yes..." he said before returning to his own mind.

The wizard was a particualry quick walker, something that had surprised others but what Mattius had got used to now. He was a couple of paces ahead of the two elves who, despite at times struggling with Radagast's speed, talked together of places they had been and specatcles they had beheld. Under the dwindling trees of Lothlorien Mattius spoke of his wanderings sometimes alone and sometimes with the Brown Wizard through the great woods that were once named Mirkwood, the heights of the Misty Mountains and man-made beauty of Minas Tirith.

"So much has changed in the world of men since the great war with Sauron Endereth. When I lived in the White City all those years ago it was a broken city. When I returned some three hundred years ago I saw its brilliance from miles off. The city is great again. I am also proud to say that I was able to witness a royal marriage there, it was all simply breathtaking."

"I remember Mattius," said Enderth, "when such words were used to describe the woods we now walk through." And a sad look was on the face of the ranger. Mattius offered her a drink of water which Enderth took.

"I understand your pain, but soon we will tread in new woods." Almost as he said this Radagast came to an abrupt stop in front of them. The two elves looked up. The woods had come to an end and in front of the three of them was rolling plains. Over the horizon they knew they would find Fangorn.

"Not far now," said Mattius. Radagast looked skywards, rain was on the way.

"We should make haste," spoke the wizard, "we don't want to be out on the plains in the middle of a thunder storm! Once we get to Isengard I'm sure I will think of something, perhaps there is a council of the people in Orthanc. At any length I am sure we will meet some people there who can give us information." With that Radagast was off, quicker even than his speedy walk. Enderth looked at Mattius who raised his left arm,

"After you dear ranger!"

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir urged the horse under him on. He could feel that the horse needed rest. Kalir, too, needed rest, come to think of it. He had been riding hard for a while now, trying to reach Orthanc as soon as he could. The events up until this point were still a blur, from the panic at the disappearance of his father and close friend to the actual discovery of their bodies. It had happened so quickly, and now there he was, farther from home than he had ever been, planning on doing who knows what to avenge the deaths.

Kalir slowed Baragalap to a trot as reached and pulled out the hide in which he kept water. He took a long drink and looked around. He should almost be there.

Urging Baragalap along, Kalir galloped over one last hill, only to rein up in surprise. There before him stood the great black tower. Kalir gaped in amazement. He had heard of buildings of this size, but he had never really believed they existed. Kalir proceeded carefully forward, trotting fairly slowly, taking in the new sights and sounds.

Kalir stopped and asked a villager to direct him to a stable. Kalir rode towards the great tower. Once he reached the stables, he left Baragalap in the youthful hands of a stable boy, but only after he gave the boy a bit of silver. One could not be too sure what another would do, given the opportunity and an available horse.

Who had said that? It was familiar. It was probably something Kalir's father once said. Kalir's thoughts went back to his mother and sister as he walked towards Orthanc. He hoped that all was well back at the farm. He also hoped they would not need Baragalap while he was away.

Kalir saw the guards as he moved towards Orthanc.

"What business do you have?" one guard asked.

"I have come about the recent killings...thought to be the work of huorns," Kalir said, tensing up, worried that he would not be admitted.

One guard sighed, "Well, get in line, then. They are going to discuss that very thing today, actually. You are in luck."

The guard moved aside, letting Kalir in.

Kalir moved through the tower. He followed the voices. He marvelled at the exquisite work around him.

He walked in on a council that was apparently already in session.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada continued on through Isengard, down the cobbled streets. Perhaps her extreme disappointment in the state of the city showed as she walked down the cobbled lane. Wives and mothers purchased goods in the small market, while the men and boys hung around the inns and pubs that dotted the village. Children ran around every which way, meandering through the crowds in a way only someone their size could.

Where is the action? The excitement? Ajada wondered, thoroughly displeased with the quiet, calm hush about Isengard. There was no uproar of angry citizens, no despair, and no hatred. Nothing was motivating in this town, to Ajada. She sincerely hoped that investigating Fangorn would change that. Otherwise, she would have nothing to report back to Master Leo.

As Ajada strolled along the lane, she decided to take a break and began to look for an inn or perhaps a pub. She had a few coins to spare, and assured herself that a drink for herself was a good reward after her traumatizing experience with the entertainers. Stopping in front of a little pub called The Salty Tear, Ajada smiled and gave the building a satisfied nod of approval. Before she could take a step towards the door of the pub, some weight came knocking into her, sending Ajada flying to the ground.

“What the?” Ajada began, in a loud voice that would have scared anyone not used to it. A girl, not much younger than Ajada, or perhaps the same age, had gone pummeling into the writer after turning a corner in a lighting-fast sprint. The redheaded human held a fruit in her hands, and a guilty expression covered her youthful face. From around the street corner, distant shouting could be heard, disturbing the peace that had originally engulfed all of Isengard.

“THIEF!” Ajada could make out that one word. Her gaze slowly and slyly shifted back to the red head, and Ajada gave the girl her coldest, unsurprised stare. Ajada, always the type to jump to conclusions (and not stop jumping until given proper evidence) immediately assumed the girl was the thief.

“Tell me, thief, what does that say?” Ajada asked the grinning girl, and both women’s gazes turned towards the parchment notices that had been pasted on walls and posts all over Isengard.

ALL thieves or street-dwellers caught will be prosecuted! This is the Law of the King, and no one is immune!

The girl shrugged. “I don’t know, what does it say?”

Ajada feigned shock as the other girl stared blankly at the poster. She...she CAN’T
read! Ajada raised an eyebrow, and was about to insult the uneducated animal (which she considered everyone who couldn’t read and write) in three different languages, until a nearing voice interrupted her.

“THIEF! FIND THE THIEF!”

“C’mon, don’t just stand there, let’s go!” The thief grabbed Ajada’s hand and dragged her into the pub. Once they were inside, the girl pulled Ajada to the bar, and set the blue-purple fruit on the bar table.

“You got a name?” The thief-child’s dialogue disgusted Ajada, and all the writer could respond with was a lifted brow.

“Ajada. Do you have a name?” Ajada returned the question, speaking slowly as if it would teach the animal how to speak in the correct accent and speech of a proper Gondorian.

“Avery. Now, why don’t we just order a drink or two, then we can slip out without anybody knowing,” Avery continued, and when all she received was a bewildered stare from Ajada, Avery jokingly punched Ajada in the arm. “C’mon now, we’ve got to have all our wits now!”

“Instead of the half-one you’ve got, thief-girl?” Ajada grumbled, and threw her hands in the air. “Honestly…you’re a bloody-minded savage, and I hope whatever is killing people in Fangorn kills you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had something to do with an assassination attempt on the king!”

Ajada was always making up stories like that. It was the only way to keep the circulation of her imagination flowing. This girl was a little too cheerful for Ajada's liking, especially in the times they lived in. Ajada refused to let this one girl break her long-standing stereotype about thieves, though.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad slowly walked towards the wall that encircled Isengard, and hesitated, thinking that once he went inside and started meeting people, he would probably meet a lot of people at once. He wondered how often elves came this way, and wondered whether he might not be as much of a novelty in Isengard as a man might be in Greenwood. And he wondered whether that might be fun, or just uncomfortable. The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable it sounded and the more his pace slowed.

But he entered the city anyway, and found that he remained relatively unmolested except for a few odd glances that were sent his way. In fact, he was basically ignored. He wandered the marketplace, and wondered who he should ask about Fangorn forest, and what to do. Finally, he turned towards Orthanc. Perhaps someone there might know.

Sure enough, the guard looked him up and down, and nodded as he gave his name and place of origin. As soon as he mentioned Fangorn, the guard waved him into the stone tower and gestured towards a large room. LinGalad hesitated at the door looking into the large council hoping for a friendly or familiar face, almost wishing he had been refused admittance. He wasn't the only elf there, was he? Fortunately, most of the people there were focused on the speaker and he was able to slip in to the meeting and hide in the back. He took a deep breath and made himself listen to the discussion, hoping all the while that he would find an elf to talk to. The large, dark, forbidding stonework that rose all around him made him feel as if he was somehow inside a tomb of men. He did not like the feeling.

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

“Instead of the half-one you’ve got, thief-girl?” Ajada grumbled, and threw her hands in the air. “Honestly…you’re a bloody-minded savage, and I hope whatever is killing people in Fangorn kills you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had something to do with an assassination attempt on the king!”

"Listen here," Avery said, becoming more serious, looking this Ajada right in the eye, "I have a name, it's Avery, and you'll do well to use it. Further more, if there had been a assassination plot against your precious king, he would have been dead by now. The only reason anyone saw me take that fruit was because I have a few drinks under my belt already." Avery finished taking a drink, still eyeing Ajada.

"So, what are you anyways, seeing as you're already familiar with mine line of work?" Avery said nochanlantly.

The pub around them was mostly empty, just a few of the dreggs had dropped in for their usual pint. A few hanging lanterns were placed sparsely around the tavern giving the place a smokey glase. The barkeep seemed to know how to keep himself out of other business and served up strong drinks in a oddly quick and efficient manner. There were a few rickey tables and wooden booths along the walls. There were about six stools but only three were unoccupied, seeing as Avery and Ajada were taking up space at two and an old, stubblely drunkard, draining away a pint down at the end of the bar. Avery was used to this and she had been in worse, but Ajada, she seemed to be ill at ease with the surroundings.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

“Well thie- Avery…I happen to be a very well respected writer and apprentice to the head record keeper and printer in Minas Tirith.” Ajada replied, looking about the pub and discreetly scrawling down descriptions on a piece of scrap parchment. “The only reason I am ‘familiar’ with ‘your line of work’ is because unfortunately there are several illiterate fools like you on the streets who steal things from people I know.”

“If we nick things from them, it’s only ‘cause they aren’t watchin’ themselves!” Avery cried in defense, and ordered another beer.

“I hope you know I’m not paying for that! What is ‘nick’?” Ajada couldn’t help but be appalled at the state of Avery’s grammar, and winced at every incorrect usage of the Westron tongue.

“You silly dictionary-girl! ‘Nick’ means to steal,” Avery rolled her eyes playfully, and Ajada wondered if Avery knew how foolish she sounded. Avery, after a pause, returned to the women’s conversation to answer Ajada. “I know you aren’t paying. That’s why I said we should just sneak away quietly. I’ve done it b’fore. No big thing!”

“What a grand world, when thieves think they can lecture a writer,” Ajada mumbled, and didn’t bother to think whether or not Avery had heard. “However unfortunately, you are what you were made to be. May the Valar save your soul.”

“You need to get over yourself,” Avery informed Ajada, and Ajada glared at the thief. No, Ajada glared at Avery. “Why are you in Isengard?”

“I’m here to report on the happenings in Fangorn. Since there have been so many killings that the King began to send out messages to people to gather and try to help. The man I am apprenticed to, Leo, pestered the King to let him send a reporter to record every step taken.” Ajada replied, not at all worried that this girl would use the information against her. Then realizing that the other patrons may have been listening in, Ajada became a bit paranoid and repeated loudly the phrase she often used, “Or so my sources SAY.”

Ajada noted the stare from Avery and any other person in the pub that had overheard, and smiled innocently. “Do you live in Isengard? Forgive me; do you live on the streets of Isengard? If so, maybe you could help me find the way to where the do-gooders are meeting, as soon as you PAY for your drinks.”

[Auriel Haevasawen]

They had encamped in a small spinney, occupying the space between several fields. Radagast muttered to himself and a number of wild creatures that had taken refuge with them. He sighed. "Am I forever to be paying for that one error of judgement?" He said to himself as he stood up straight and rubbed his back. A woodpecker flew up into the canopy. He watched it go and felt the heavy droplets of water that fell from the leaves above.

"Well, what news does your friend bring you?" Endereth enquired.

"Much of what we already knew about Fanghorn. Apparently the men who live in the shadow of Isengard believe it to be the work of renegade Hurons. I find it hard to believe such a fanciful tale but the Wood-Knocker thinks there may be more than a grain of truth in it. He is off to Fanghorn and will report back to us soon I trust."

"We will reach the settlement by nightfall I believe," said Mattius gathering cooking items together and kicking over the fire. Neither Endereth not Radagast helped him. Their eyes followed the path of the woodpecker even though it had long been lost to their sight. "Come on you two, I don't intend to do everything myself," he called out but good-naturedly, sensing their troubled minds.

"You are quite correct dear boy. Before the sun sets upon this day we will be in the streets that cling about the Tower."

"What will we do once we're there Radagast?" Endereth asked her old friend.

"We must see if the Council does truely meet at Orthanc. If it does not methinks we shall hold a convocation of our own. We are only a small part of this my child, there are others and whether they come by formal means or accidental ones we must make them welcome. They shall hold the key to all of this as much as we do."

"You're talking in riddles again Radagast," Mattius breathed gently.

"Really? I suppose so. Very little that I say makes sense to me. I grow old and fuzzy my young companions. I shall be relying on you, you know."

"These 'others' of whom you speak. Who are they?" Mattius asked.

Radagast bent down and picked up his own pack. He swung it up onto his shoulder and grinned at his friends. "Don't ask me, I probably won't even recognise them when I'm face to face with them." With that he turned and set off once more, leaping with an energy that did not match his mighty age, over the dry stone wall that encirled the spinny. "Come along you two. Isengard before nightfall!"

[Mattius]

Mattius continued to carefully place the cooking equipment in his pack alone whilst Endereth walked to catch up with Radagast. Rangers and wizards, he thought, the type of people you would want in a spot of trouble but just sometimes they would allow events to overtake them and forget the simple things. Mattius smiled to himself regardless, they were great friends nonetheless.

The three of them walked in single file silently for some hours as the red sun rapidly raced away from the half moon which could be seen vaguely against the darkning sky. Radagast spoke to a rabbit or bird now and again, Endereth wrapped her cloak around her tight and Mattius thought on the wizard's words. Others? Most likely men, or women for the town of Isengard was a habitation of humans. Mattius thought deeper. If the woodpecker's news about the men believing Hourns to be responsible was true then the situation could become extremly dangerous. Men were proud and in some it led to stupidity. He left it at that and picked up his pace so he was in line with Endereth who turned and smiled.

"Even in the gathering gloom of the night I can see the top of Orthanc from here," she said pointing west, "look Mattius, surely you can see it also!"

They both turned and indeed could make out the top of the structure. Only elven eyes would be able to see it, black stone against a grey sky.

"Your eyes must be somewhat sharper than mine friends," laughed Radagast, "but I will trust you. Come, let us make haste and we will get there sooner for I am keen to find what is happening."

With that the three of them began a quick march across the plains. Before them Orthanc loomed.

[DayVampyre]

“Do you live in Isengard? Forgive me; do you live on the streets of Isengard? If so, maybe you could help me find the way to where the do-gooders are meeting, as soon as you PAY for your drinks.”

Live on the streets of Isenguard? Do-Gooders?

Just because Avery was unable to read, she wasn't ignorant. She hadn't learned to read because perhaps she had been a little too occupied with not getting herself killed.

"No, I'm just as much from Isenguard as you are, Madame Scribe. And as for your
do-gooders if that's what you'd prefer to call them, if they are botherin' to meet, I don't know. You also need to lightn' up some...I can always manage to pay for what I drink, as hard as that can be for you to believe." Avery said stopping to take a breath and a sip of her drink.

"So where are you from then? Did they run you out of wherever it was you were?"

"No" Avery lied, but its not like she needed to know that Avery had almost been on the receiving end of a hangman's noose, "It doesn't matter anyways. So you seem to fancy yourself quite intelligent?"

"Quite" Ajada said, surprised at Avery's ability to use word that was more than two syllables. Avery noticed, but didn't say anything about it.

"Well, take a look around the pub, and tell me, Miss Ajada, tell me which one here is has the most money on him at the moment, let's see if all of your book smarts can tell you that?"

At first Avery though that Ajada wouldn't go for it. But she did, probably didn't want to appear less than divinely inspired to a common thief. Of the sparse people scattered amongst the tavern, three seemed to stick out. The drunk at the end of the bar, he was scraggly and was the owner of ripped clothes. A man that seemed to be dressed nicely enough, nothing overtly impressive. And an older man that sat in a booth behind them. His clothes appeared to be finely woven and antiqued. His hair though seemed to be oddly mussed up, a small flaw.

"The old man in the back, that's easy, Although it must have been quite an arduous task for your brain. That means hard."

Avery smiled at Ajada's overly confident statement.

"And you'd have gone home, with no money at all. The oldie's clothes, they're old, very old. He was very wealthy, then somethin' happen'd to him. Who knows what? But not anymore, that's all he's got left. The man dressed in the nice clothes, 'e's the one. See, nice clothes, defintly new, takes care of himself, probl'y has a nice cushy job somewhere. Get out of your books sometime Ajada, Oh and thanks for that handy explaining of that word, hate to go through life without knowing that..."

[Auriel Haevasawen]

It was dark when the three companions wandered through the gate of Isengard town. The place was bustling enough, despite the happenings in Fanghorn that overshadowed all that happened there. They found themselves jostled in the street and forced to grab at each other's sleves or hands to prevent their separation. Eventually in the angle between two buildings Radagast pulled them together.

"There's quite a flow upon the streets Radagast. Are they all here for the Council?" Mattius asked.

"Indirectly many will be so. For every titled Council member there will be quite a retinue of 'hangers on' you know. Then there are those who live like Magpies, feeding on every scrap that falls their way and steeling that which doesn't."

"Where shall we stay? I can't imagine there's a single room left in the place," said Mattius as an over-laden horse pushed him into Radagast's chest. Endereth and Radagast rocked him back upright. Perhaps in other, less urgent circumstances they may even have laughed.

"If these folk are merely part of other men's households we have nothing to fear. They will be quartered in encampments either outside the town wall or within park about the foundations of Orthanc. The streets may be full but I presume the inns are almost empty." Radagast used his height to his advantage and looked over the heads of passing men. "Let us try that hostelry opposite to begin with." He marched purposefully straight through the flow of traffic to the doorstep of the inn he had indicated. Endereth and Mattius did not find the journey so straightforward and were aggressively jostled for several minutes before they were reunited with him.

Once inside the taproom the noise of the street was left behind them. Radagast's hunch seemed to be correct. The room was empty save for three men spaced about the room and two young women talking intently at the bar. "This will serve us admirably!"

[Mattius]

Mattius looked around the inn; The Salty Tear the sign had read outside before he hustled himself in. A few lanterns hung about the smoky oak room. There were three stools free near to where the two women sat. One of them turned around and Radagast smiled at her, perhaps thinking of the future. The woman frowned and turned back to her companion. The barman walked over to them whilst half cleaning an empty glass.

"What will it be?" He asked.

"Do you have any spare rooms?" Replied Endereth from under her hood.

The barman eyed all three of them slowly up and down. For the most part Endereth's face was hidden from view, Mattius' blond spikes of hair flopped down half over his eyes but he did not hide his face. He had learnt the ways of men and could be mistaken for one. The barman looked at Radagast the longest, who eventually said,

"Well?"

"Yes," the barman finally spoke before beginning to clean his glass again; "a room for three will cost you one piece of silver a night."

He expected the three of them to complain about the price, it was extortionate to say the least but Mattius reached into his inside cloak pocket and tossed him a gold coin.

"Take it out of this and also fetch us three ales and whatever those two want as well," he said pointing to Ajada and Avery who had been (poorly) pretending not to eavesdrop on the three immortals. Enderth gave Mattius a frown. "Perhaps they will know something about the going ons here," he said to her. Radagast grinned widely as the pints arrived and began to sip his down.

[DayVampyre]

Avery was pleased to see that some more friendly folk had come into the bar that night, and was still more pleased when another draft of her strong drink came around. They seemed to be a bit mis-matched with their surroundings, but Avery didn't mind.

"Sorry about listening in, its just a bit dead in here tonight." Avery said looking at the man who had already started in on his drink.
"And thanks for the round of drinks!" She said looking up at Mattius.

"Think nothing of it. So, you're from around here then?" He said sitting down on a stool.

Avery took off her coat and pushed some of her red hair out of her eyes "No, just rode in by horse a few hours ago."

"Probably stole that" Ajada muttered under her breath, most likely thinking that Avery hadn't heard, but she had.

"This sad countenace next to me is Ajada, the Great Scribe of Gondor, you've heard of her, no doubt. She has graced the pub with her presence tonight, so enjoy it while you can." Avery said smiling, the mocking sarcasam dripped off her words...

[Auriel Haevasawen]

"And you are Avery my dear for I at least have heard of you also," Radagast said softly.

Avery rose and backed away from the wizard. "What kind of foolery is this? How do you know my name yer old demon?"

Radagast smiled and supped a little more of his ale. "I have to say I take great offence at being called an old demon my 'fleet-of-hand' friend. I am Radagast the Brown. Sit back down dear child. You have nothing to fear with us."

Avery sat down upon her stool with caution. Out of the corner of her eye she could feel Ajada smiling at her discomfort. Radagast merely continued to drink.

"Caution Radagast, remember how drink got the better of you in Edoras. Bethberry still cleans the contents of your stomach from her floors to this day if I am not mistaken." Mattius whispered.

Endereth said nothing. She watched their new companions and took in every detail of their appearance. Were these two women those that Radagast had mentioned would join with them? She longed for Calentoliel to be with them once more. She was a person she knew and trusted, not these mortal strangers.

[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Auriel Haevasawen ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada, however mildly grateful for the free drink offer from a group of strangers, refused to take another ale. But it did not escape the writer that Avery had a fine time with her drink, and the reporter was sure the thief enjoyed the hospitatlity of the newcomers. Ajada was never one to discount the details of anything seen, and scribbled down a few descriptions of the new strangers.

"I see it is a night for the immortal kind, eh?" Ajada mumbled, studying the three companions with careful, intrigued eyes. They said nothing in return, at least nothing to Ajada. Next to the scribe, Avery let out a loud, horrendous belch that led Ajada to wonder if it caused the room to shake.

"Honestly! Avery, you pig! If you must let out such nasty, foul, unseemly, scatologically disgusting noises and smells, do it in a direction opposite of me!" Ajada cried, waving a hand slightly as if to waft away bad air. Avery rolled her eyes, looked Ajada straight in the face, and belched once more. Ajada, always one for dramatics, leapt off her stool in a flourish, and pretended to half-faint in the process. Then the writer got up and sat back on her stool, and eyed Avery with submissive astonishment.

"Sir Radagast...the Brown, is it?" Ajada spoke again, now facing the elderly chap. He nodded, and Ajada nodded back matter-of-factly. Then she turned to his companions, both were startlingly Elvish in appearance, but the man could've easily passed a fool and be thought a human. "Avery and I...well, I have not been graced with the extreme, drastic, extravagant pleasure of knowing what you are called."

"I am called Mattius," the man began, and Ajada ignored his half-mocking tone. "and this wonderfully quiet woman next to me is Endereth."

"I see. And why in Middle-Earth would you be passing through Isengard? I myself have been sent here by atrocious, excruciatingly painful means involving clowns and mimes to help record what some group of ambivalent heroes will do about the current situation in Fangorn," Ajada continued on rambling until she finished her elaboratley sophisticated question.

[Mattius]

"Clowns?" Mattius asked with a strange look in his eyes. Ajada nodded back. "They are a strange breed and no mistake," he continued before shaking his head and sipping on his pint. Ajada waited tapping her foot for him to answer her original question.
"Well?" She asked.

Mattius looked up from under his glass and raised an eyebrow but said nothing. It was Endereth who spoke for him.

"We have come to try and investigate the situation regarding Fangorn as you do but the difference is that we are going to try and remedy it."

"Now now," Radagast broke in, we are all friends here Endereth, "or at least the time will come when we will be." He said the last part in only a whisper and Mattius just caught it. "What about you Avery, why do you find yourself in Isengard at such times?" Radagast pushed for her answer that he knew would unite them all on common grounds.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad listened uneasily as story after story was related. They all followed a pattern: mysterious disappearance followed by gory discovery. He heartily wished he was back in Lasgalen among friendly elves, tying boring knots in a ladder under tall, leafy trees-- nice, friendly, dependable trees that wouldn't eat him or anybody else. He shuddered.

And he had yet to see any elves. Men were all very nice, he supposed, but their customs were rumored to be very odd, he dreaded accidentally offending them, and he desperately didn't want to be the only elf involved in this-- mission? Quest? Problem?

Problem, he nodded. Definitely a problem. How does one convince a tree not to eat people? He grimaced, and glanced at the great stone doorway that had yet to produce a single elf.

He forced himself to listen to the speaker... another grisly story. He shuddered, and wondered when they would adjourn the meeting for a meal, or fresh air, or... blue sky.

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

Avery had gone silent after her little annoyance of Ajada. She had turned back around on her seat holding her head in her hands, massaging her temples. The new drink did not taste quite right. Maybe she had had too many. She had blocked the conversation out until she heard the name.

She turned in her seat to face Radagast, pushing some stubborn hair out of her face and sucked in a breath.

"Well, I was sent here by the court. They wanted me to try and find out why there was violence in the Fanghorn." She said sighing heavily at the end of her sentence. She turned to the barkeep, "A thing of water, when you get the time" she muttered to him as she turned back to Radagast.

"really?" he questioned
"I doubt it, why would the court send an illerate fool like her" Ajada said, and Avery would have knocked her right off the barstool, had she not been so light-headed at the moment. She let it slip

"It wasn't exactly the deal I wanted, but it beats being at the wrong end of a looped rope" She said, rounding on Ajada.

The barkeep slid the glass to Avery and Avery took a drink. The water was a refreshing change and washed down the bitterness of the drink. Avery felt her eyes now to be a bit watery, but she blinked it away and chalked it up to nothing.

"I know, it certainly isn't the most noble reason to be goin', but, its the only reason I got. List'n, the air in here is gettin' to me, don't think I'm not grateful for your company, but I think I'm goin' to have a seat outside for a while. I'm a bit, I dunno, dizzy, I suppose. I should be back in a bit." She said, standing up and giving a nod in Radagast's direction.

Avery headed out the door of the Salty Tear an over to a small forge just across the way. There was a splintery bench, and it being the only one around, Avery had seat. She bent over holding her head, taking in a few deep breaths trying to clear out her head, which had been getting cloudy. Then she sat back, resting her back and head against the stone wall of the forge, head upward looking into the sky. It was calming, the cool breeze played in her hair and Avery had almost drifted into a peaceful sleep when she heard

"Hey, too nice a night to be out alone, mind if I have a seat?"

----
OoC: I threw that in should anybody want to use it, I don't have anyone particular in mind, I hope thats ok
----

[mark12_30]

LinGalad sat down beside the girl, and looked up gratefully at the night sky overhead. The council had not stopped, not for lunch nor dinner and apparently not for mannish bedtime either. But LinGalad had heard enough gory stories, and longed for fresh air. Here, he had it, and apparently something else.

Out of the corner of his eye he studied Avery hesitantly, even as he congratulated himself on the sentence he had just delivered in one of the local mannish dialects. He wasn't sure what "hey" meant, but he had heard it sprinkled around liberally in the marketplace. And he didn't understand why the sentence subjects were so often implied when they could be stated just as easily. But no matter; the mannish girl had apparently understood his intent perfectly well, and sitting down beside her and looking up had saved him from having to compose another one of those awkward mannish sentences.

"I missed the sky while I was... inside. It's too bad that these buildings hide the sky so completely. Forests don't do that."

Avery gave him an odd look. "It didn't go anywhere while you were inside, did it? It's still here. Same old sky."

LinGalad didn't know how to answer, so he gave a slightly awkward smile, and waited.

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

Avery smiled and turned her head toward his.

"Aren't you a funny character?" She said and her tone was gentle. "Where were you hiding, so that the sky was stolen from your view?"

She was feeling better, apparently the air had done her good. There was a muffled tinking of metal on metal from the forge behind them.

"You're not from around here, are you? What's your name, friend?"

She gave the visitor a glance up and down. The garmets he wore reminded her of trees and vast forests. Even his green eyes seemed to be filled with the greeness of trees. Comprehension of what this man was came to her. Avery was not familiar with his race and had seen precious few elves in her time. She said nothing of his orgin though just studied his form while she waited for his answer

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Ajada sat making notes and feeling uncomfortable sitting at the table with people who were in all sense and purposes strangers to her. The landlord wandered over and collected the empties. They whispered and she could not make out what they said despite straining her ears.

"Mattius, go and seek Avery. That young lady has a liking for spirits that needs to be watched."

"A bit like your taste for Edoran ale then old friend?" Mattius joked as he rose.

"No, dear boy. This is a serious matter. She must be as clear of mind as she is of heart to continue."

"I think you're mistaken if you think Avery is clear of heart, sir." Ajada snapped peevishly. "There goes someone who is quite the opposite."

Radagast sighed. "You pride yourself on your linguistic skills child. My skills are with nature itself. My friends here joke of my communicating and understanding birds. Stop for a moment Mistress Erudite and think about your friend's name.

Her destiny is with us."

Ajada was rendered silent while she considered what the pompous old man said. Mattius got up to leave as instructed. "If you are so in tune with her Radagast where will I find her."

"Who knows, use your tracking instincts boy!" Radagast made a hurrumph noise and returned to what remained of his pint.

[Mattius]

"Tracking instincts..." Mattius mumbled under his breath as he made for the door, "maybe if I didn't spend all my time cleaning up after Endereth and you I would aquire some tracking skills!" He was sure he could hear Endereth laugh as he opened the door to the streets. The ranger's hearing was still second to none then he thought.

On the cobbled streets the movement of people had slown down considerably, the starry night sky resembled a back lit canopy with holes punched in it. Here and there a few street sellers packed up their stalls for the day. Over the road outside a forge sat Avery with an individual clad in greens of the forrest. Mattius made his way over to them.

"Feeling any better?" He asked her. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Yes thanks, the air has helped clear my head." She turned to Lingalad who stood up. "And this is..."

"I am Lingalad and, unless my eyes do decieve me, you are of my kindred are you not?" Lingalad bowed low.

"Indeed I am. I am Mattius Firnlord" Mattius returned the bow. "I can fool men into thinking I am one of them but not one of my own race! I did not think I would see any more elves here in Isengard, I thought there were no more left than those I am aquainted with." A sombre look passed over Lingalad's face at these words.

"There are few, far too few of us left." His spirits picked up though when he thought of what else Mattius had said. "Your aquainteses, none of them happen to be here do they?"

"There is one in the tavern, Endereth the Ranger once of Lothlorien as was I."

Through all this Avery stood in awe, two elves were convercing in front of her as she sat watching. Mattius looked down at her on the splintered bench.

"Avery," he began, "if you feel better then I beg you to take Lingalad inside and introduce him to Radagast, Endereth and the Great Scribe of Gondor. Ask the barkeep for another room or two." He tossed her a silver coin which she put between her teeth and bit down on. "Its real don't worry."

"What about you Firnlord?" Asked Lingalad recognising Mattius' elvish name.

"I must visit this forge before it closes, I have blades in need of sharpning. I will join you all soon."

As Avery and her new friend made their way across the street to the Salty Tear Mattius pushed open the door to the forge to be greeted with a blast of hot air. He approached the front desk and a pale looking woman with a dirty face and braided hair greeted him.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad gestured to Avery to lead the way back into the tavern. Radagast! He knew there were more than a few tales about him, and he wished he had heard more of them. Had Songmaster known that the Istar would be here?

LinGalad smiled and shot Endereth a glance of sheer relief, and bowed low to her. Even Avery and Ajada saw him visibly relax. Endereth smiled, and raising one eyebrow, bowed slightly. Here, she thought, is an impressionable youngster, nervous, shy, and very out of place. I haven't seen an elf this young in quite a while.

He guessed at her amusement, understood it, and didn't care, so relieved he was to have met the second of the two elves. He briefly met her gaze again, and this time she laughed, and he joined her. She waved him on, and Avery continued the introductions.

"This is Ajada." LinGalad bowed again. "You then are the Great Scribe of Gondor?" He asked, very politely, and was horrified to see her bristle with indignation. Radagast chuckled, Endereth smiled, and Avery burst out laughing. LinGalad stuttered. "I'm sorry, I thought-- Firnlord said--"

"Oh, sure, " Ajada snapped. "I can see that you've all arranged this in advance while you were outside just to make a fool of me! Nice. Very nice!"

"Oh, lady, I assure you I meant no offense, " LinGalad panicked.

Endereth came to his rescue. "Of course not, LinGalad. And now this is Radagast, whom you have perhaps heard of before?"

LinGalad turned towards the esteemed wizard with a crimson blush, wishing he could have made a better impression, and feeling that Radagast must think him stupider than a rabbit.

Radagast eyed him. "Now, then, Lad, what's your business in this city?"

LinGalad turned to look behind him with a puzzled expression.

Radagast snorted.

Endereth said softly, "Lad means young man, or boy. He was talking to you, LinGalad."

"Yes, sir!" LinGalad fumbled again. "I, er, I was sent by the Songmaster of Lasgalen to aid in the problem with the trees of Fangorn Forest, sir."

"Eh. Humph, " Radagast said, stroking his beard. "Heh. Haven't seen him in years. How is the old fellow?"

LinGalad blinked. "The Songmaster is an old fellow?"

"How is he?" snapped Radagast.

"I-- I don't understand."

"Radagast, if the Songmaster is an elf then they don't get sick or old. If he's alive, he's fine, " Endereth said patiently.

"Of course. But how IS he!" Radagast snapped. "Happy or sad!"

"Happy, sir, except that he misses his friends who have left, " LinGalad replied, thinking that now Radagast must imagine he had the intelligence of a mouse, or perhaps a flea.

Radagast ran a hand over his forehead, and then glanced at Endereth and yanked his thumb towards LinGalad. "Ask him what he knows about Fangorn, and then translate it for me, will you?"

Endereth smiled at LinGalad, and winked. LinGalad turned gladly back to her, wishing he was a thousand miles away, or the wizard was, or both... He took refuge in Endereth's elvishness, and told her, "All I learned in the council was that there has been a steady sucession of mysterious disappearances and finding of bodies. They have made few plans, aside frmo a few reckless suggestions to burn down the forest. Some liked that idea, and others replied the wood was needed for other uses. They are trying to understand why the trees are attacking, but they do not know. They have asked where the ents have all gone, and many say that they have gone to sleep deep within the forest."

"That's it?" Radagast snorted.

"I found it rather uninteresting, " LinGalad apologized.

"I'll say, " Radagast muttered, and idly turned to Ajada. "Well, Miss Intrigue, what do you think this council needs to set it moving in a constructive direction?" The question was clearly rhetorical, and he resumed absently stroking his beard, and sank into a thoughtful reverie. She glowered at him, and then at each of the others in turn. LinGalad blushed yet again, but Avery nudged him with her elbow, and Endereth winked at him again, and that helped him to relax just a little.

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada rolled her eyes at the group, minus one elf, with a look dripping contempt. It was obvious, at least to Ajada, that these people had no respect for things which they did not understand. Avery was a walking, talking ignominy that Ajada simply considered a flagitious anomaly. Radagast seemed excessively sarcastic and a bit impractical and caught up with the nature of things and beings. This LinGalad boy was a little queer, and irritatingly nervous around Radagast...the elf was a little too worried about impressions for Ajada's liking. It hardly mattered though; few people catered to Ajada's liking in the first place.

"Meliorism seems to have been unheard of by this garrulous council if what you say is true, Master LinGalad. Time perhaps will make things better. Even if such is not the case, impatience will not help in this situation. If they want to know what the problem is, but they do not know what the problem is...would it not make sense to go and find out what the problem is?" Ajada spoke up, feeling a stroke of brilliance as she wrote her own quote down.

"Ajada, how dense can you possibly be?" Avery wondered, questioning the sanity of the scribe momentarily. "I think if people wanted to get chopped up by trees they would go out there and find out the problem!"

"If they can't recognize the situation, they won't be able to fix it. Besides, if this were a book, the hero would go despite the certain fear and seemingly certain death." Ajada retorted.

"This isn't a book, Ajada!" Endereth calmly pointed out, and Avery may have felt the sudden urge to slap the scribe, whose ramblings had no apparent end or point.

"Well the way I see it..." Ajada began again, lifting her forefinger to silence Avery for a moment longer. "We have Radagast with us who tells me his...skills...are with nature. And since everyone else seems to extremely enthusiatic about solving this meticulous puzzle, I say you should all give it a go!"

And I hope if Avery goes with you, she doesn't come back! Ajada added silently, as she plastered on a mockingly fake smile towards the thief.

[DayVampyre]

Avery ignored Ajada smiling facade. She walked over to a small table close by Radagast and had a seat. He was far more interesting and didn't seem to be so on himself.

While she sipped her water she noticed that LinGalad was standing rather aloofishly close by. She smiled and pushed the chair opposite her out with her foot.

"you might as well have a seat. No use in standing like a statue in the middle of the bar." She said as he sat down. "Sorry about that whole scribe bit. Didn't mean to make you feel silly. Can't say she didn't deserve it though."

"What would make you say that?" LinGalad asked.

"If you stay here long enough, you'll find out for yourself." Avery said, laughing lightly as she finished her sentence. She settled back into her chair "So who's this Songmaster Lasgalen? He sounds interesting."

She asked, and LinGalad seemed to brighten up at the question.

[ May 09, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[mark12_30]

"Lasgalen is the name of the forest. Songmaster is songmaster of the forest. But his name is Celeblin, Silver-song."

"That's a nice name. Silver-song, " Avery replied.

"It is also fitting. I have never heard anyone who can sing like him."

"And he sent you here?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He heard that there was trouble with the trees deep in the forest, and he convinced the Master Rope-Maker to let me come here."

"So that's who you work for? The Master Rope-Maker?"

"Well, " LinGalad said modestly, "Only during the daytime."

Avery shot him a very puzzled glance, and Ajada smirked, and Endereth glowered at Ajada and said, "Don't jump to conclusions. LinGalad, who do you work for at night?"

"I work for the Songmaster at need. He sends me out whenever someone requests a song that I know. Otherwise, he oversees my studies."

"Don't you ever sleep?" Avery asked.

"Sometimes, " LinGalad replied.

"In other words, " surmised Endereth, "you're not such a bad singer yourself."

LinGalad shot her a grateful look, and a gentle, modest bow. "I am only beginning to learn."

Endereth nodded. "We'll put you through your paces when we get a good chance."

She certainly knows how to put him at ease, Avery thought. "So what do you think of Isengard?"

"Stony, " LinGalad said. "It needs more trees. Do you like it here? And have you always dwelt here?"

[ May 09, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

"Just for about three hours" Avery laughed, "Though I think, I'll be moving residence soon."

Avery ran a hand through her hair and looked over to the lady elf.

"So, what kind of elf are you?" Avery said slowly and then picking up on an error she may have made, furrowed her brow as her eyes snapped shut "Sorry, I meant, as in, what forest...you are...from?" Avery said looking back up toward Endereth.

"It's just, you know, one doesn't see elves walking all over the place, and I've never been around so many at once."

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir listened to those that remained in the chamber that evening, determined to pick up any information that was known. Various people of every race, or so it seemed to Kalir, came in and out of the chamber. He gazed in awe at the tall beautiful Elves that frequented the room for most of the Council.

Finally, realizing that everyone had begun to repeat the tales he had already heard to the various curious participants in the Council, Kalir quietly slipped out of the room. He had not previously had the courage to speak at the Council, so he figured he would not be missed.

Kalir made his way quietly through the city. He looked for a nearby Inn. He entered a particularly merry looking one, only to be confronted by a fairly large group of Elves and what appeared to be Men and Women. He silently went to the bar, too afraid to speak, and asked for a drink. He turned around and watched the Elves and Men from his place at the bar, wishing one would come and speak to him.

[ May 11, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[mark12_30]

LinGalad cleared his throat while Endereth was considering Avery's question. Endereth raised one eyebrow.

"That man," LinGalad gestured with his drink, "is watching us, but trying to act as if he's not."

Endereth shrugged. "So go talk to him."

LinGalad's eyes popped. "Me?"

"You introduced yourself to me, didn't you?" Avery said, bemused.

LinGalad cleared his throat, set his drink down, got out of his chair, and nervously approached the strange man. "Good evening, sir."

Kalir looked puzzled, glanced behind himself, and realised the elf meant him. "Hello. Good evening."

LinGalad stared, not knowing what to say next. Kalir shifted in his seat and stared back. Finally, LinGalad looked back at Endereth, who was laughing, and LinGalad began to laugh too.

"What's so funny?" Kalir snapped, feeling self-conscious.

"My lack of social skills, " LinGalad replied, chuckling. "I've already offended several people without meaning to. I hope I haven't offended you too. What would a man say next?"

"I don't know, " Kalir shrugged. "How about, Join us for a drink?"

LinGalad blinked. "Join you and who else?"

Kalir gave him a blank look. "I meant, if you wanted to know what to say next--"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, of course, you've left the subject out of the sentence again, and I am to understand that it is implied. My mistake. Er, may I ask your name?"

"Kalir."

"And my name is LinGalad. And now, good Kalir, would you care to join me and my newfound companions for a drink?"

"All right, " said Kalir, actually none too sure about this clueless elf, but his curiosity helped him out of his chair. "And how do you know that I am good?"

LinGalad stopped in his tracks, and a look of consternation crossed his face. "Yes, I did forget to ask about that, didn't I?"

Endereth bent double with laughter, and LinGalad smiled, blushed, and laughed. "Well, perhaps if Endereth is laughing, then she is not overly worried about your moral character at the moment. You are good, aren't you? I do hope you are."

Endereth laughed so hard she ran out of air; Avery was half bemused and half stunned. Ajada was busy taking notes, thinking that LinGalad's naivete was a clever method of hiding some sinister plot. And Radagast simply sighed, hoping that it would not take too much time or effort or mentoring for this silly young elf to adjust to the hard, cold and puzzling world of men.

Kalir looked around. "Hello. My name is Kalir..."

[ May 11, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Radagast looked straight across at Mattius his old, tired eyes suddenly bright. The Firnlord thought for a moment it was the ale that made them sparkle but as soon as he saw the smile of old he knew he was not.

"It begins dear boy, it begins."

He then settled back to take in all that went on in the taproom of the Salty Tear.

[Manardariel]

Suprised, Anarya looked at the stranger. It was certainly not a common thing to see a stranger in Isengard, and least of all places in her forge!

"Greetings, Sir. Can I help you?" She approached him unsurely. There was something quite... extraordinary around him. He seemed not quite human, and full of light. Maybe he was one of the king´s folks. Or maybe even an elf?

"Greetings" The man said. "I understand you keep the best forge here in town?" Proudly, Anarya nodded. "Good." He didn´t say more. Just "Good." Then he gave her a knowing, challenging look. She felt that he was looking right through her. Like he was expecting her to already know what he was going to tell her. This was getting mysterious, and out of hand. Anarya decided to end it. Buisisnesslike, she put her hands to her sides an looked back at him.

"What do you need? I can make you about anything, but you do have to tell me first." She looked at him, waiting for an answer.

[ May 11, 2003: Message edited by: Manardariel ]

[Mattius]

"No no I do not need anything made, I am afraid I don't have the time and I would not think you have the resources," Mattius said. The smith looked angrily at him and Mattius read it. "Sorry I meant no offence but I carry ancient blades of the Elves of Lothlorien."

So he is an elf, thought Anarya.

"So what can I do for you then?" She asked. Mattius drew out his sword Angmarth from behind his head and laid it out on the front desk. It bent slightly and was a beautiful piece of weaponry. The handle was golden with tinted green jewels and the blade itself shone sliver and was as cold as ice.

"This," began Mattius, "is Angmarth, Iron Doom. It has not had a good sharpning for many a century and I was wondering if you would do me the honour." Mattius also took out a couple of Elvish daggers and two Dwarven tomohawk axes. "These also if you would be so kind." And as he spoke he flicked the girl a silver coin.

Anarya took Angmarth in both hands and admired it fully as it shone of its own light in the darkning room. She placed it on the front desk and began walking into the backroom to find the sharpner. As she went out of sight Mattius shouted a question to her.

"Do you know anything of what is happening in Fangorn?"

[ May 12, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Manardariel]

"Do you know anything that is happening in Fangorn?"

Anarya heard the question, but for a moment she pretended she hadn´t. She needed to sort her thoughts. Fangorn... so that was his mission. Fangorn- and those trees. Remebering her vow, she suddenly started to get exited. This was her chance to avenge Orodeth. She grabbed the sharper, and reappeared behind the counter.

"I´m sorry, Sir, what did you say?"

He repeated his question. Anarya looked at him. What should she tell him?
"I don´t know more then any other civillian. But-" she added smiling "I, unlike others, know all rumors that have yet circled the town. My apprentice Buck makes sure of that. All I can tell you is that the trees -if they really are trees- are out of control. They take innocent children and grown men alike, and they kill them viciously. They- they must be stopped. That´s what everyone in this town thinks and says."

He eyed her thoughtfully. "And you?" She looked back. Proudly she drew herself up. Please, let my voice not shake. "I agree. Furthermore, if there was a way to stop those trees, I would be proud and glad to be part of that mission. I vowed that to myself the day They took my nephew."

He was still studying her. It seemed to her he was reading her face like a book. Anarya thought she could just barely trace a hint of understanding, and of approval.

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: Manardariel ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada had been fervently taking notes, describing the newcomer to the group. As she wrote down the details, she elaborated almost to the point of unreality.

His name is Kalir. His hair is dusty brown and his eyes are misty grey, like the sea after a storm. Kalir's clothing is simply, though it probably covers the sheaths to swords and daggers. This man is most definitely planning something...a conspiracy! He is in league with the strange elf LinGalad! I knew it! Ajada scrawled down, looking up every now and then at the man and elf.

"And you, sir? You are a denizen of...?" Ajada asked, waiting to get the piece of information from this...Kalir man so she could transfer it onto her parchment.

"Just a little out, near Isengard though," Kalir replied, rather ominously and portentous in Ajada's expert opinion.

"Really?"

"Yes...really."

"Are you certain? You haven't...been smuggled into the country of Gondor by any chance?" Ajada prodded, sensing that this man was hiding something.

"I'm positive. I was born here, raised here, just outside of Isengard." Kalir answered confusedly.

"I see." Ajada murmured. "Denial. It's the only explanation."

"Where has the troublesome Elf friend of yours gone?" Ajada asked Radagast the Brown.

[DayVampyre]

Avery leaned foward in her chair toward a befuddled Kalir.

"Please excuse this annoying girl, she seems to have a natural detestment of anyone other than the King himself, even then I wouldn't be surprised." Avery said, noticing the piercing glance that Ajada had given her,

"And you can just go about your writings Mistress of the Quill, what business is it of yours to know where the other elf went to?"

"Well, I hope and pray that he went to fetch the City Guard on you, so that we can finally be rid of your ignorance! I think the rope would have been a fitting end to you. " Ajada said.

Avery stood up so fast that she knocked her chair over and she made for Adaja, hands balled into fists and she was ready to pummel Adaja, until LinGalad intercepted Avery, holding her arms and pushing her back. Ajada had fled the stool and braced her hands to the farside of the bar.

"Peace, young Avery! Here is not the place for such mischief!" Said Radagast, still sitting. His voice resonated with command without yelling. Avery still resisted against LinGalad.

"What? Am I to put up with that mouth that she so loosely runs?" Avery said, glaring at the now cowering Adaja.But she finally allowed LinGalad to win the struggle and she sat back down.

"And if you think, for one moment that I will apologise to that...that..."

"woman" Radagast carefully inserted.

"Fine, I won't." Said Avery, folding her arms and leaning back her chair on two legs.

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Brinniel]

The sun was setting when Calentoliel began her walk through the streets of Isengard. She had given Losthyando to a stablehand for the night and wandered off to explore the city before retiring.

Even in the evening, the streets were crowded with all sorts of people. No elves in sight, though. Calentoliel received many stares and felt tempted to draw up her hood, though she did not.

As the day grew short, many of the small businesses were beginning to close, and soon only one remained open. Calentoliel could see that it was a forge and whoever owned it was a fine craftsman. Curious, Calentoliel decided to enter the forge and have a browse.

Calentoliel was examining a long sword when a boy who had not quite reached his manhood approached her.
"Are you lookin' for something?" he asked, politely.
"Oh, no," Calentoliel responded, setting the sword down gingerly. "I was just browsing."
"Oh." Calentoliel could see that the boy was trying not to stare at her Elven features.
"Say, has anything strange occurred here in Isengard lately?" the elf asked. "The city seems unusually crowded."
She hoped this question would lead to an answer for all her questions. Calentoliel wished not to speak of her discovery earlier. Fortunately, the boy seemed quite happy to answer the question.
"Why, haven't you heard?" he said excitedly. "The news has spread all over. There have been disappearances lately; of both men and children. Some men have turned up, their bodies mangled beyond recognition." The boy lowered his voice. "They say it is the trees that are causing all this."
Calentoliel frowned. "The trees? From Fangorn, you mean?"
The boy nodded. "But anyways," he continued. "Many have come all over to find out what's really happenin' and perhaps even fight back."
So that's why Calentoliel must have felt the sudden urge to head for Isengard. She could always sense when something was wrong. Memories of the mangled body she had found earlier flashed through her head as the boy spoke. It grieved the elf deeply to think of what happened to all these victims and she couldn't help but wonder herself what the cause was. But the elf wasn't sure if she was willing enough to go on another quest.
"Are you the owner of this forge?" she asked the boy.
"Oh, no. I'm only the apprentice. She's the forger." He pointed to a woman, who was conversing with another, though she could not see whom.
Calentoliel smiled. It was not often one would find a female forger and the elf liked the fact that they did exist. She believed that female forgers did the job best.

Calentoliel's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a large crash come from behind her. She turned around to find the apprentice had just spoken with franticly picking up tools and other odds and ends he had spilled.
"Buck!" the woman shouted. She had also turned around to see what the boy had done, and was not at all too happy.
With forger's head turned, Calentoliel could now see whom the woman had been conversing with, who was now staring directly at her. Calentoliel stared back in sudden surprise. Though the face was one she had not seen for 1,000 years, it was one she had not forgotten. Calentoliel gave a small smile.
"Mattius," she said, quietly.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad studied Avery, and glanced at Endereth several times, and then at Radagast, who scowled at him. LinGalad sighed, and glanced at Kalir, and back to Avery, and then Ajada, and Avery.

"What?" Avery snapped.

"Well, I don't think that Kalir is very comfortable, and I'm quite certain that I'm not," LinGalad began tentatively.

"If you want comfort, try plugging that flapping mouth," Avery snapped.

Kalir and LinGalad exchanged glances, and Kalir began to laugh. "Well, you did say newfound Companions, and not newfound Friends," Kalir said softly.

"They are very newfound, and I didn't know that they weren't all friends. Perhaps your social skills are further developed than mine, " LinGalad said hopefully.

"Friend? Whowever said she was my friend?" Avery snapped again, and Ajada scribbled madly on her parchment, muttering, "Friend. I should think not. How I got mixed up with such societally tasteless drips and dregs is beyond my appreciation."

Endereth and Radagast took solace in each other's glance wondering what was keeping Mattius. Radagast snorted while Endereth stifled a sigh.

Kalir elbowed LinGalad. "Next time a fistfight breaks out, maybe you should let them settle it between themselves."

"Ah," replied LinGalad seriously.

"That was a joke, " Endereth prompted.

"Ah, " replied LinGalad.

Avery and Ajada glared at each other.

[Mattius]

"So Radagast was right I see," said Mattius making his way over to his old comrade. "He said you would come."

"Radagast!" Exclaimed Calen, "He is here?"

Mattius nodded to her,

"Aye, and Endereth too nonetheless. It is good to see you again!" The two elves embraced each other before drawing back. Mattius breathed in heavily. "I assume you are here for the same reason as we are," he asked her in a whisper. Calen seemed to read his mind and simply nodded. "Then you will find welcome coversation over the road at The Salty Tear then! For there is Radagast and Endereth as well as some new people for you to meet. I will be over there shortly, order me another ale and tell the landlord to put it on my tab will you!" With that Calen smiled, it certainly was Mattius, he seemed so much older and wiser but the enthusiasm still burnt brightly in his icey blue eyes. As Calentoliel made her way across the street Mattius turned to the female blacksmith. She handed him back his weapons which he stored accordingly.

"You just visited me in time," she hinted, "I am about to close up now."

Mattius raised an eyebrow and followed her mind.

"You are welcome to come over to the inn and help us if you would like, I know how it feels to loose a family member to murder. Vengence can drive you further than any other thing." He paused and thought of his dead parents before looking back up at the smith. "I am Mattius Firnlord good smith."

"And I am Anarya," she said simply.

The two of them with the help of Buck closed up the shop and as Buck wandered off home Anarya and Mattius walked across to the inn. Inside they were greeted by their numerous group.

LinGalad was scratching his head whilst conversing with Kalir who seemed to be having to spell out every word to the elf. Radagast talked in whispers with Endereth and Calentoliel whereas Avery and Ajada must have had another confrontation as they sat with arms folded like gargoyle statues, except when Ajada would suddenly write a short sentence on her paper in emphatic fashion.

"A strange group..." said Anarya.

"And people wonder why Rangers enjoy travelling alone." He turned to her, "what will you have to drink?"

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir wondered what Ajada wrote so fervently on the paper that she carried around with her, but he figured it best not to ask. It seemed that all the girl did was come up with conspiracy theories, as she hinted out loud. Anyway, Kalir was much more engrossed with LinGalad. This Elf nearly made Kalir forget his infatuation with the fair kindred through his lack of social ability. LinGalad brought to Kalir a new belief that Elves were just as fallible as Men.

Kalir saw Ajada suddenly look at LinGalad and give a horrible scowl. She did not look away for some time, so Kalir decided to comment on the situation.

"LinGalad, your lover wants a word with you. At least it appears that way," Kalir said, nodding to Ajada.

"Lover? Her? But Ka-" LinGalad began.

"I was making a joke," Kalir quickly broke in. He turned to Ajada, "What shall you write about that, fair one?"

Ajada's scowl deepened and she started scribbling like mad on her paper, muttering undistinguishable words under her breath as her pen scratched away. She wrote so furiously that the tip of her quill broke. Kalir tried to keep from laughing to no avail as he watched her try to find another quill, then set about writing again. She shot him a scowl then went back to her note-taking.

Kalir, still chuckling, turned back to LinGalad. He was beginning to relax a bit in the new company, as he was finding out that they were nearly as quirky as he was, if not more so.

"You could have some great fun playing with that girl's mind," Kalir said, catching his breath after laughing. He raised his voice a bit, just to be sure that Ajada would hear his next comment, "You know what I like about these places? You can pick a new identity. You can be whatever person you want to be. No one knows if you are lying or not."

He looked over at Ajada, who, with a shocked expression, was still scratching away at the paper. She had begun to breathe heavily with this new-found excitement. He looked back at LinGalad, who looked quite confused at Kalir's words.

"You are not who you say you are?" LinGalad asked.

"No, my friend, I am," Kalir said, "But she," he continued, pointing to Ajada, "Does not need to know that. Nor does she want to, it seems. So," Kalir said, turning more serious, "Can you tell me any interesting tales of your homeland?"

[mark12_30]

"I'm not very good at telling tales, " LinGalad apologised, modestly.

Kalir blinked. "No?" he said, disappointed.

"He sings them," whispered Endereth to Kalir, and then returned to Calen, Mattius and Radagast's conversation.

Kalir blinked. "Ah. Well, LinGalad, could you sing something for us?"

LinGalad, rather pleased at the turn of events, nodded and considered the tabletop for a moment. "Well, it's hardly news, and it's rather brief, but you might enjoy this, and somehow it seems rather appropriate, although I'm not sure why..." After a sip of his drink, he very softly began the song of the Ents and Entwives.

When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and
sap is in the bough;
When light is on the wild-wood stream,
and wind is on the brow;
When stride is long, and breath is deep, and
keen the mountain-air,
Come back to me! Come back to me! and
say my land is fair!...

Although he sang quite softly, the noise around them began to steadily die down, table by table, as folk listened. The song was over after a handful of verses. But when it was done, nobody was arguing anymore, or angry or even tense. Ajada had put her pen down, and was looking rather thoughtful. And Radagast was wearing the beginnings of a smile.

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Manardariel]

Anarya leaned against the wall, listening to the Elf´s song. Enchanted she listened to the words, filling the Inn with a distant magic. When he ended, the silence ringed for a moment. Then a man about her age, grey-eyed and tall smiled at the elf.

"Thank you, LinGalad. That was very beautiful."

Another name... Anarya hope she could remember them all. Mattius, Calen, LinGalad... and there had been the one Mattius had spoken of... Radagast She looked around couriusly. A girl in a corner was bent over a piece of paper, scribbeling away madly. Another girl, the same age, was next to her, looking a bit suspicious. Another she-Elf sat next to LinGalad and the man who had spoken first. Suddenly, the woman felt very lost. They all seemed to know each other. Who would even want to tlk to her? But because losing her spirit was a thing Anarya did, she just leaned forward and listened to the conversation.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad looked around at the now-quiet table, and let the silence linger for another moment before he bowed and softly answered Kalir.

"Thank you, Kalir. The song did not come from Lasgalen, but in a way, it could have. Lasgalen is a quiet place. You might call it sleepy. Little happens, except that we long for those who have left us and moved on. In our way, we also plead, Come back to me. But we sing it sadly, for they will not return to us again from across the sea."

He looked around the faces at the table, and his glance rested on Anarya. "My forest tells few tales in these waning days. But you have scented its distant fragrance, and caught a glimpse of its soul."

Endereth watched. The lad was in his element; no hint of confusion or fear or even of youth was to be seen in him, and she sensed that his heart was far away, and his mind was running through the groves of his home.

Although he spoke to all at the table, LinGalad's eyes still held Anarya's. "And now, who will continue? Who next will tell us all of your own home, and show us its heart and soul?" He waited.

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Manardariel]

Although he hadn´t said a name, Anarya was more then sure LinGalad had adressed her. Once more she had he queer feeling she was being read. The woman cleared her throat and spoke.

"I am Anarya. I am from here, from Isengard. I have no songs to sing, nor tales to tell. All I have is this town. This small, bustling town with it´s loud squares and quiet corners. With it´s bittersweet smell, and the sound of walls wispering of older days. For you, hat have travelled wide and far, it may seem small, sleepy or even boring. But to me, it is my home. I´ve never left it, and I never meant to. But now something has aroused my home. And I will have to leave it to defend this beautiful city, that I love as much as few things. This town is inchanted, and if you don´t see it, I must pity you. That´s all I can say."

She smiled, waiting for someone to smile back.

[DayVampyre]

"Well, it's about time more locals came to join us." Avery said looking back toward Anarya. "come on closer and have a drink, I'd join you in one, but, if I have one more, I think I'd be liable to collapse" Avery added.

"What about yourself?" Anarya asked, pausing for a minute so that Avery could fill in her name.

"It's Avery. And this is the first time I've ever been out of the city. Can't say that was entirely my decision."

Ajada sitting in her corner was getting ready to spit a bit of venom, but a look from Radagast quickly stopped her.

"However, should we figure out how to stop these attacks, I will be able to go back to the streets of my city." Avery said, taking a drink from the glass of water.

"If you all don't mind, now that I've got my head back on straight, I think I'm going to go for a walk around the neighborhood." She said, rising from her seat and exiting out the door.

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir smiled back at Anarya, not really knowing what else to do. The others encouraged him to tell his story after Avery left, but he was not sure. He had such a simple story, and he had lived such a short time, he did not want to sound petty and naive in comparison to these other travellers.

"Well, I lived a simple life. I am the son of a farmer. His father was a farmer before him, as well and, his father...well, I guess you get the picture. Erm...well, I guess the only excitement was when this business with the deaths began happening. They - uh - they found my brother and father mangled, and I came to see what was...happening."

Kalir's voice cracked a bit at the last sentence, but he hoped that no one noticed. He saw sympathetic smiles, and he felt a few pats on his back. He took a small breath and sat back.

"Does anyone else have an interesting story?" Kalir asked merrily, once more happy to be amongst these friends, and trying to forget his young sister and older mother at home, alone on the farm.

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Mattius]

"I share an interesting story from a millenia ago but it is a far too long one to tell now I am afriad!" Laughed Mattius as he looked at Radagast, Calentoiel and Endereth. "But in my extremly early years I was adopted and raised as one of the men in Minas Tirith, at the time of the War with Sauron. Since the episode with the Beast of Fear some one thousand years ago in the Blue Mountains I have spent my life in travel, sometimes with old Radagast here to a whole variety of places- and now here I am."

Kalir looked on in wonder at the elf's long life and story of travel to distant lands. Mattius walked over to him and sat by.

"But I envy you," he whispered to the farmer, "a simple life is what I desire, yet I fear it is not my fate."

Kalir cracked a smile and Mattius returned it likewise and patted him on the back.

"I should think if you were a farmer you would grow tired of it after a thousand years Mattius!" He said.

"Aye perhaps I would Kalir but a thousand years of travel has led me to the same conclusion as old Bilbo Baggins himself- it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life!"

"Wise words from the merry hobbit folk," added LinGalad half thinking to himself.

It was now late night and as the moon watched the city of Isengard, The Salty Tear remained open, due to the generousity of its guests. Outside walked Avery and high above all loomed Orthanc, darker than the black sky. The Council was comming to an end and people began walking home, avoiding to look in the direction of the trees. The trees; in the night they looked most threatening of all, a sea of twisted wood and branches. The Council itself had achieved nothing, only poured fuel on the fire of suspicion and fear. The real decisions and actions would come from a group of men, women and immortals drinking in one of the many inns of Isengard.

[DayVampyre]

"I don't know why we don't burn the lot of 'em" Said a large man to his group of companions, "Get rid of those hunks of wood once and for all," The pocket on his cloak was open and the silver coins within temptingly gleamed. Her own pockets were nearly empty and this would be easy enough.

Avery slinked behind the group of four and silently went about her trade.

A few minutes later, the men were going their separate ways and Avery's pocket was now a good deal heavier than before. Smiling like she had just been let in on a really good joke, Avery went back to the tavern. Not quite ready to surrender the night sky of the wooden interior, she sat down on a few wine casks that had been left by the door and being weary fell asleep.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad sipped carefully at his drink. He was much more relaxed and comfortable in the presence of Mattius, Calentoliel, and Endereth than he had been since he left Lasgalen. They were strangers to him, but still, they were elven strangers, who would correct him and guide him, and he feared his social clumsiness far less with such guidance surrounding him.

He had studied most of his newfound companions as the evening wore on, and now he studied Kalir. When a lull came in the conversation, Kalir could no longer ignore LinGalad's stare, and raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Kalir, there is much that I don't understand about the world of men," LinGalad began. "I know many songs about sad partings when an elf sails west. And I have learned songs about death in battle. But since I was born, no one has left Lasgalen to sail west; neither has anyone died in battle. So I truly do not know what parting or death is like."

Kalir waited, his stomach sinking.

"Can you please tell me?" LinGalad asked.

Radagast's face remained carefully neutral, and he watched the mortals around the table. Some of the mortals were tempted to get angry; some looked defensive; but all of them expected Endereth to rebuke LinGalad.

They were all surprised when neither Calentoliel, Endereth, nor Mattius rebuked him. Mattius laid a hand on Kalir's shoulder, and Endereth sighed a little; but after several moments, all four elves were turned to face Kalir.

"Kalir, if you could tell us about your loss, we would be grateful," said Endereth gently and carefully.

Kalir studied their faces, and wondered whether he was willing, and where to begin.

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir took a breath and looked at all the deathless beings, wondering to himself what it must be like to not know personal death. He also wondered what the Elves of old had thought in the time when there had been a great many deaths of mortals near to them. Imagine knowing so many generations pass away before you.

Kalir looked up, trying to figure out how to phrase the loss of death for the crew watching him.

"What I believe," he began, "is that - wait. First you must realize that I do not speak for my whole race."

The others nodded and he went on, "Well, death is like...what is a good analogy? Death is like an eternal sleep, I suppose. It can either be a peaceful sleep or a dreadful nightmare, from which you can never awake. You never know what it's going to be like, so you should not go searching for it. Does that explain it better?"

"But what does it feel like to have one close to you die?" LinGalad asked.

"It feels...like losing part of your heart," Kalir said, "I cannot describe it in any stronger fashion."

He lapsed helplessly into silence, wondering if they understood. When he looked up, he saw that even the little busybody had stopped her writing and was considering what he said for a second, trying to figure out what it would feel like. They all looked sorrowfully down, and Kalir had to smile to himself.

I suppose they now understand, he thought to himself.

When they looked back up, Kalir continued, "Now you must tell me of what it is like to live for so many ages and see so many passings of seasons."

[Manardariel]

Anarya studied the man with respect. She would have never thought someone could discribe the feeling of death so well. Her heart recalled the feeling she had had at her father´s death. This helplessness, this feeling of being utterly alone, this void inside her- it had never quite left her, but she had learned to get along with it. Kalir had spoken well of it as "losing part of your heart".

She looked around, studying the beautiful, mature, yet not old faces of the Eldar. If they do not know what death is, do they truly cherish life? She suddenly wondered. Could they understand the gift of life, if they weren´t familiar with it´s fading away? Anarya had seen many people being born -her youngest sister, two of her nieces, Orodeth, Buck´s baby brother- and she had seen people die. Maybe she had an experience these learned men and women that had seen so much hadn´t. She had seen life being given, and she had seen it being taken away. Anarya suddenly remembered something her mother had always told her when she was small: Life is too short not to live it.

"If I may add a question," she said out loud, turning to the elves. "What keeps you going today and tomorrow if you know you may well be here for the next century?"

[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: Manardariel ]

[mark12_30]

LinGalad studied the older elves one by one as they considered the question. Kalir watched LinGalad long enough to realise that LinGalad didn't know the answer to that question, either; in elvish terms, he was too young.

For a moment, Kalir felt more confortable around LinGalad than he had yet. Their eyes met briefly, and they waited together for the wisdom of the elders.

[Mattius]

Mattius opened his mouth to answer the questions given to him by the mortals but the loud cough of the landlord stopped him.

"Well I would tell you," said the elf, "but it seems we are keeping people up- perhaps in the morning we will discuss such matters, after we have discussed Fangorn of course."

"Yes," said Radagast speaking for the first time in a while, "we must not forget why we are here."

"We have rented a room out, we will pay for more of you to stay if you so wish," said Enderth.

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir looked at Endereth, perking up at the suggestion. He realized that he had not put much thought into where he would stay. Kalir sighed inwardly, realizing how inexperienced he was in the large world outside of his farm.

"I would greatly appreciate taking up that offer," he said, "I feel guilty about forcing you to pay for my room, though."

"Do not worry," Endereth said, "We have money to pay."

Kalir smiled, "I thank you. I promise you that, when I have the resources, I shall find a way to pay you back."

**********

Once Kalir entered his room, he put his pack on the bed and looked around the room. It was not a very large room, but it was clean and comfortable, at least.

Kalir pushed the clothing and other supplies off the bed and just climbed in, without changing or preparing for bed, and was asleep within a matter of seconds.

[Manardariel]

Slowly Anarya walked home. The night air was cool and and cresent, and she didn´t feel tired. Reluctant to return to her forge, she went on a stroll through Isengard. The whole city seemed asleep, dreaming. Anarya stepped on to one of the little towers of guard. A fresh wind, blowing from the east pushed her hair out of her face. It seemed to carry the smell of the wood with it, the dark, brooding, vivid smell of Fangorn Forest. Anarya took a deep breath. Deeply inhaling the woody smell, she stood there for another moment. She then silently and swiftly walked home, and went to bed. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

In her dream, it seemed to her she was standing behind a grove of beech trees. Behind her, she heard familiar voices. One of them was Buck, babbeling along happily. Suddenly he was before her eyes and seemed to shrink, and was an infants size. And he held on to her knee and said "I´m only food, food for the trees. Only food, Mistress! Only food!" The miniature- Buck started laughing and laughing, shaking himself. Anarya tried to frab him, to shake him, but she couldn´t grasp him. He seemed like thin air...

Anarya woke up. She was sweatty and panting. She rolled on the other side of her bed and when she fell asleep again, she had already forgotten that dream.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

As Ajada was ushered towards an empty room in the inn, the investigative reporter scribbled down every little detail she saw. The tubby man who led her to the dusty wooden room, the fraying carpet of mix-matched colors, the bed Ajada was too scared to sleep in due to the thought of when the last time the sheets were washed.

Ajada walked silently into the room, and the tubby man slammed the door behind her. Wary of the dirty bed, Ajada merely plopped down on the ground to write. Every day she tried to make a survey of sorts, summarizing all she had done and everyone she had seen.

Day One Of Investigation for Leo

Traveled to Isengard with a motley band of mimes and Rohirric entertainers, who were extremely quiet and yet...outgoing. I think one of the mimes liked my hair.

Was run over by an obscene, vulgar, ribald, improper little...thief. Then I visited an inn, called the Salty Tear. There I became more aware of the illiterate, filthy, foul, indecorous, disgusting, loathsome, repulsive, repugnant scumbag that was the thief. I think her name was Avery, but I prefer to address that particular riffraff by her...profession. She is a thief, and a horribly gruesome one at that.

I met at the Salty Tear next two elves and a wizard. A quiet elf named Endereth accompanied a talkative elf who could pass for a man, who was called Mattius. The Istari who traveled with them was called Radagast the Brown, and perhaps he did not mean to be so excessively chime in on the fights between the thief and me, but he did seem as though he tried to be a peacekeeper of sorts.

Then I ran into another elf. This one was quite young, at least in the standards of elves, apparently. He is most definitely hiding a plot to take over all of Middle-Earth, but I highly doubt any of the other beings today would be able to comprehend such seemingly unreasonable and foolhardy accusations.

I met a farmer, who is unambiguously in cahoots with the Elf. I will not fall for his game, playing the innocent farmer boy. I'm on to him and his evil plans to thwart the society of Gondor as it stands today. His legion of dark minions and his league with the Elf will not stand for long!

There may have been other people I met this night, but they are most definitely unimportant at this point.

This report was brought to you by Ajada.

Ajada folded the parchment she had hastily written down, and nodded vigorously to herself. Nothing got past her...nothing. A satisfied Ajada went to sleep uncomfortably in a quaint little rocking chair instead of the bed that had been provided in her room.

[Brinniel]

Calentoliel eagerly took up the opportunity to share a room with Endereth that night. Both spoke in quiet, excited voices, catching up with each other on what they had missed in the past 1,000 years. Neither of them were willing to sleep.
"Where is Rothalle?" Ender suddenly asked, changing the subject of their conversation. "Why is she not with you?"
Calentoliel sighed. "Rothalle made a decision that I could not stop her from doing," she responded softly. "She has passed west with the other elves. Only ten years has my sister been gone and I still miss her greatly."
"I'm sorry, Calen," the other elf consoled. "I know you love Rothalle very much and it must have been difficult to see her go. But at least you will see her again someday."
Calentoliel nodded. "I suppose." Feeling sadness sweep over her, the elf made an attempt to change the subject. "Right now, my mind is focused on the happenings in Fangorn," she stated. "I do not know much about these troubles, but I cannot stop thinking about them."
"Aye," Ender nodded in agreement. "I have been the same. That is why I have decided to help try to solve this problem. Will you do the same?"
Calentoliel shook her head. "I do not know, yet," she said. "I have been quite content these past 1,000 years on avoiding danger rather than walking into it. I nearly died in the Blue Mountains. You should know I've never had the spirit of a warrior. But then again, knowing that men and children are being killed by the day breaks my heart. I feel that I must help."
Endereth nodded, understanding. "I do hope you come along with us, though. You may end up being quite useful to us. And, I would enjoy your company." The ranger smiled.
Calentoliel returned the smile. "I know you are thinking of my songs, Ender," she said. "I really do hate to use my magic often, but if it's necessary.... I will think on my descision tomorrow."

But as she went to sleep, Calentoliel knew she already made her decision.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Brethil turned about and swayed slowly in the wind. The great huorn watched from afar as a distant caravan turned off and slowly wound its way along the single rutted track. He suspected it was the same visitors who had come to them before, speaking silken words of assurance and friendship, or so it had seemed to Brethil and his younger kin.

The trees stepped back, bowing their leafy crowns down towards the ground, and leaving a clear path for the wagon and the men on horseback to wind their way ever deeper into the woods. Brethil looked and waited for the men to draw closer to him and share more secrets, as they had done several times before.

Through the whispering sighs of the wind, Brethil could hear a tune ring forth, accompanied by a simple harp:

All who love the Ents draw near,
For something wonderous you may hear,
Entwives soon will rule the wood,
If the Huorn do what they should.
So listen closely to this song,
That we may right an ancient wrong.

Brethil stood and waited for the man with the harp to approach.

[Mattius]

Radagast and Mattius walked the corridor of the upper level together. They saw Endereth and Calentoliel talk together before retiring.

"It has been a long time since I was among so many good people Firnlord," said Radagast turning to the elf, "almost a thousand years!"

Mattius smiled at the bent man, his ancient age visable only fully in his eyes. The elf began to speak but was cut off when Radagast winced in pain and tightly closed his eyes.

"What is it Radagast?" Said Mattius getting ready to catch the wizard should he fall over. Eventually he opened his eyes and relaxed.

"I fear something terrible is happening in Fangorn Firnlord, and even further afield," he said.

"This goes outside Fangorn Forrest?" Asked the ever inquistive elf, always battling with Radagast's riddles.

"Nothing is certain, time will tell us Firnlord."

Mattius' face softened and he placed a hand on Radagast's shoulder.

"Clichés roll of your tongue as consitently as usual old friend!" The elf laughed before opening Radagast's door and wishing him goodnight.

"Be ready early Firnlord, we will meet in the common room to discuss matters." Radagast squeezed in before the elf closed his door. The youth of today, always rushing about. He rubbed his head, the pain had gone from earlier but he could clearly remember it.

Mattius saw the bed in the corner of his room and crashed onto it with a satisfying sigh. It was not the greatest matteress and frame ever but it beat the cold plains of Rohan.

[DayVampyre]

*******************************************


Day broke over the village and the sky seemed to hold a dusky glow. Slowly but surely the village woke up to a new day. The small side shops and groceries opened, and mothers with tiny children in tow began to barter back and forth with wry store vendors. And to this Avery awoke, having spent the night outside. She got up to her feet surprisingly refreshed. She stretched out her limbs and the usual bones cracked. The tavern windows behind her were dark as she looked in, then she noticed her reflection in it. She frowned at the messy ponytail and fixed it more tightly back. The rain barrel beside her was about half full with clean water and Avery reached her hand down and splashed the cool water across her face and then patted it dry with her sleeve.

Avery paced around for a little bit, trying to wake herself up a little more. Her hand seemed to be straying more and more toward her sword. It been a while since the tired blade had be freed from its sheath. She drew it out and worked her way through a few little paces that she had made up on her own and a few that she had borrowed from others that she had seen.

"Keep swinging that piece of rust and you'll put your own doltish eye out!" A voice came from behind Avery. She lowered her sword and whirled around to see who it had been. But as soon as she saw who it was, she wished that she had kept it raised.

"Oh, its only you, sleep well scribe?" Avery asked

"Better than you did,thief, what were you doing anyway?" Ajada said walking over.

"Just practicing, and this is no bit of rust, it's very old and I've taken the best care of it so mind your mouth."

"So, if you can fight with a sword, I assume that it is a simple enough skill."

"Ha," It was an indignant 'ha', "I fear that you are very wrong in that, Scribe. Here," Avery said, taking out her smaller shorter sword, "But, I can be sure that you won't believe me so," She handed the sword to Ajada who gripped at it awkwardly, "It's not going to bite your hand you know, here now just wrap your hand around like this, look...see my hand?"

It was very plain that Ajada had never touched a sword before and seemed to persistantly want to hold it like a quill.
"No, no don't swing it like that, you'll wind up slicing you ankles!"
Slowly Avery was able to get Ajada to master a lunge move that was of her own creation, but that was by no means easy. Then a little defense,
"Wait, see here now, hold yourself so that only your side faces your enemy, you keep trying this full frontal thing, and all you'll wind up being is a pink pinchusion, alright?"

But Ajada was no dim ember, she picked things up after a little repetition. And soon they broke for a water break.

"Well, Scribe, still feel the same as you did earlier about the ease of using a sword?"

"Well, it's pleasant to know that occasionally you speak truthfully." Ajada said. Avery laughed.

"You know, now that you have a sword you're going to need something to keep it in."

"What do you mean? I don't have a sword. This is yours"

"I can always pick up another," Avery said standing up, Ajada followed suit, "here, stand still for a minute," Avery took the sheath from her belt and fixed it on to Ajada's belt. "There, it shouldn't come off since its been fixed there properly. Come on lets see if you still remember anything."

Avery redrew her sword and Ajada stood ready, clutching the sword's handle as if her life depended on it. Avery took it slowly and Ajada was able to block away most of Avery's moves. Avery increased the speed of her attacks, calling out encouragement to an increasily frustrated Ajada. Then her sword arm dropped and Avery fell to a knee. Ajada pulled back and sheathed the sword. Avery breathed in quite hard, she had dropped her sword by her side and held her forehead in her hand. Her vision seemed to be a bit blurred.

"Avery?"

She sucked in another painfully bought breath and then it went away, as if released from a spell, it cleared up and nothing remained to ail her.

"Avery?" she heard Ajada call her again and she stood up.

"I'm fine, I must have just caught a bad breath, I'm fine, I could do with a bit of water though," Avery said picking her sword back up and putting it into her sheath.

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir arose and quietly and made his way downstairs. He had a quiet breakfast alone then decided to wander around a bit.

"I'm fine, I must have just caught a bad breath, I'm fine, I could do with a bit of water though," Avery said as he came upon Avery and Ajada.

"Is everything all right?" Kalir said as he approached. Ajada looked suspiciously at his sudden arrival, and Kalir gave her an even stare right back. "This trouble-maker is not attacking you is she?"

Ajada gave a startled gasp of indignation at Kalir's accusation. "I am not a trouble-maker," she said under her breath.

Kalir nodded, mocking disbelief at her statement. He turned to Avery. "You are all right, though, yes?"

"Of course," she nodded. Kalir could not tell whether she was feigning assuredness or not, but he did not press her. He looked around, but did not see any of the others anywhere. He guessed they had not arisen.

"May I travel with you today?" Kalir said, "For I do not know the city well at all."

"All right," Avery said, "But let us now go and await the arising of the others."

Kalir nodded and they silently went back inside. Once inside, Kalir treated himself to another breakfast. He was not used to such amounts of food at his disposal at home, so he decided to treat himself whilst he was not at home, at least for that day. He sat eating, chatting with Avery and sometimes Ajada, and awaiting for the others to arrive.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

When Kalir followed the two girls back into the inn and seats were taken, Ajada was fully able to consider what had happened outside with Avery. Ajada nearly hyperventilated at the thought of her and Avery even having some sort of mutual respect for each other. Calm down, this doesn’t mean you’re her friend, Ajada reassured herself.

Kalir spoke heartily to Avery as the three waited for others to wake up, and hardly a word was said to Ajada. She had taken to staring out into…nothing, and apparently nobody wanted to bother her. However, when Ajada did return to reality, she lent a hard, cold look towards Kalir. He was the one Ajada most suspected of being LinGalad’s evil farming minion in taking over Middle-Earth.

“If you have had any illegal liaisons or questionable contacts in the past, I'm warning you now that I will terminate our acquaintance once they come to light,” Ajada suddenly informed Kalir, who stared back at her, stunned.

“Alright then. That’s…nice.” Kalir said, and returned to his food and his little chat with Avery. Suddenly, it dawned on Ajada that the thief, Elf, and farmer might be in one big group readying themselves to overthrow the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth! Ajada stood, gasped, pointed at Kalir and Ajada, and opened her mouth to speak.

“I should have known! You’re in on their sinister plan as well, aren’t you Avery? Well, I won’t fall for it any longer! You plot treason towards not only the society of Gondor, but you have aligned yourself with such barbaric miscreants as Kalir and LinGalad! You have become one of their lowly sycophants! I hope when one of the high authorities discovers you, you…you…well I’m not sure what I hope happens to you but I hope it is bad!” Ajada finished her accusation with a stammer. She’d make a good lawyer. When she noticed the stares being given to her, she blushed. “Well then, I think I’ll go and wake up our lazy friends.”

Ajada rushed out of the inn’s common room and ran quickly and nimbly up the stairs. Coming to the door that she remembered from the night before as Mattius and Radagast's, she knocked on the door harshly.

"Wake up you lazy, lackadaisical, languid featherbrains!" Ajada cried loudly, continuing her loud banging of the door. She heard something hit the door from the other side with a muffled thump, and Ajada, assuming it was a pillow or something to that extent, cheerfully moved on to the next door.

Ajada continued on down the hallway. She rapped on every door and called out rude names, all variants of the ones used on Mattius and Radagast, whether the room held one of her company or not. Everyone in this inn should be up now anyway, Ajada reasoned.

When she was done waking the whole inn, she skipped back downstairs and sat next to Kalir.

"They'll be down shortly," she assured Kalir and Avery.

[ May 27, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[DayVampyre]

Kalir turned to Avery,

"Is she always this looney?" he asked

Avery, in the middle of drinking her water, looked at him from around her glass, shrugged her shoulders and made a sound that communicated the basic message "I don't know." Then having finished off her water, put her glass on the table.

"If she keeps it up though, she libel to be left off in the woods!" Avery said.

Kalir laughed, and Ajada believed the statement only to be a furtherment of her point.

"Are you goin' to eat any breakfast at all Ajada? I mean, what with all of our decietfullness that you're goin' teh have to see through, your goin' to need all the energy you can get." Avery said.

"I don't see you ordering any nourishment at the moment." Ajada said.

"No, like I said outside, I just wanted a bit of water." Avery said back.

"What were you two doing anyway?" Kalir asked

"The Master Scribe, here, had never used a sword before, and if we're to go into a dangerous forest, I don't think that her stabbing at trees with her quill will save her from much if anything."

[Manardariel]

It was morning. Anarya was woken by the cries of the ravens outside her window. She rolled out of bed, blinking and squinting in the light. She dressed in a usual day gown, and then, fom her closet grabbed her sword. Carefully, almost gently she hilted it at her side, and proudly drew herself up. The other travellers had better respect her! She walked down into thhe forge and called Buck, already there, to her.

"I´ll be gone for the day." And for the next few weeks!she added silently. "Can you tell the others to work off the orders in the red book first?" He noddded, looking important. She left her forge and crossed the street.

Anarya entered the Inn. She turned around a corner and walked right onto Avery and Ajada, squabbeling as per usual. Kalir was standing by them, looking very amused.

"Hello," the smith smiled at him. He looked at her.

[ May 28, 2003: Message edited by: Manardariel ]

[mark12_30]

Empty handed and damp-haired, LinGalad strode happily through the gate of Isengard and turned towards the Inn and his friends.

The previous night as people dispersed to their rooms, he had put his things in his room. But he had no desire to sleep. Restless, he had wandered back outside under the stars, out of the city and up the river, and gone for a swim. Refreshed and relaxed, he had been tempted to linger there, but he lectured himself about responsibility and duty, and turned back down the hill and returned to the city.

LinGalad approached the Inn surprised at his own eagerness. He was looking forward to seeing his new friends again. These people were odd, but they were... well, friends. He liked them. Even Ajada, although he was far from understanding her, and he didn't exactly want to be alone with her if he could possibly help it. But they were all very interesting. He was happy around Kalir, and interested in the other men-folk, and he liked the elves, and... well, he was fairly comfortable around everyone but Ajada and the intimidating wizard.

As he entered the Inn, he was glad to see Kalir, Avery, Ajada, and Anarya. There was no sense of peace or harmony between them, and LinGalad hesitated; but there was no outright hostility either, and he approached carefully, glancing from eye to eye.

Kalir grinned at him. "Hi, Laddie-Boy."

Ajada scowled suspiciously at LinGalad. Out all night, eh? Off conniving and plotting about his outrageous, insidious scheme to subjugate Middle-Earth. I'd better not take my eyes off of him. Except that I also have to watch Kalir. And now Avery. Rats! She suspiciously muttered, "Hello."

Avery glared at Ajada, and then said, "Good morning, LinGalad, how are you today?"

Anarya shot Ajada a puzzled glance and then met LinGalad's eyes. "Hello, LinGalad."

"Good morning, and hello," he replied, veering slightly away from Ajada and towards Kalir. "I am fine, thank you. Are we training this morning?" he said with a mix of eagerness and reluctance. "I could use the practice, although I hesitate to display my lack of skill."

He uses his false modesty to camoflage his insidious and evil activities, Ajada reminded herself.

Kalir laughed. "Looks like you just got clean. Are you sure you want to exercise now?"

"Oh, I don't mind swimming several times in one day, " LinGalad replied hastily. "I'll go fetch my blade, if this is practice-time." He looked around, waiting for an answer.

[ May 28, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

"Go and get your sword then my good Elf, it would be nice to practice against someone compitant for a change." Avery said, standing up and rested her hand on her sword.

LinGalad smiled but then Ajada interjected,

"Yes, well good for you, I hope you don't fall on your sword." Avery ignored the remark and went outside. LinGalad came out a few moments later along with Kalir, Ajada, and Anarya.

Avery drew her blade as did LinGalad. Avery had no idea what she was getting herself into, although she didn't realise it at the time. Even if LinGalad was not skilled, he was still an Elf. Avery had never sparred off against an elf and didn't know any of the techniques that they used.

Thier blades clanged together and Avery put forth a good effort, but LinGalad was the one who had the upper hand. By the middle of the fight, Avery was exhausted. She dodged behind crates and leapt over the rocks, but LinGalad always seemed to be a step ahead of her.

Finally she called it off.

"That's...it...you...win." She said in between breaths looking up at LinGalad from the ground.

He smiled and gave her a hand up.

"He's pretty good, oh, Ajada why don't you show off your great skills?" Avery said, not meaning it to start an arguement, but more of a joke.

Ajada was not amused.

"I think you should give that elf a try, shame not to use that sword you've got there" Avery said addressing Anarya. "although he may put a few unwanted nics into it." Avery finished sitting down on a nearby box. "LinGalad, I think you're going to have to teach me some of your skills if you want me to practice with you again and be anything of a challenge."

"Oh, don't think this little demonstration of yours has thrown me off any!" Ajada burst, apparently unable to contain herself anymore. "I don't quite completely understand your motives yet!" she was clearly going to carry on, when Avery quickly said,

"The reason why you don't understand us is because we're talkin' in English, and you're listinin' in Dingbat!"

[Mattius]

"Okay okay that will do for now!" Jeered Radagast as he made his way outside to where the group stood. Mattius slowly walked behind him with his dark cloak wrapped all about him. He was focused, Radagast had told him to be so, for now he was over a thousand years old people would look to him for help and guidence.

"Have you all eaten well?" Asked Endereth as she walked out of the door followed by Calentoliel. Everyone nodded except for Ajada.

"I do not feel the need to eat at present, perhaps later I will pick up a..."

"Go and quickly grab something to eat Ajada," cut in Mattius calmly, "it could be the last decent meal you have for some time."

"Whatever do you mean by for some time?" Asked the bemused scribe.

"Well if we decide to spend at least a night in Fangorn you will need to have your energy levels up."

Ajada looked about at the people around her, LinGalad seemed to be pleased at the words of his fellow elf. Avery did not seem to mind either. The others kept straight faces.

"Fine!" The scribe grumpily as she made her way inside. She scrambled some toast and fruit into her pockets and as the group made their way towards Fangorn she ate her breakfast.

[Child of the 7th Age]

The singing ceased as abruptly as it had begun, with the caravan grinding to a halt just a short distance from where Brethil stood. Two figures emerged from the rear of the wagon and strode purposefully towards the giant beech.

The smaller of the two, a woman of middling years and striking appearance, with black curls cascading down the middle of her back, wore an intricately embroidered gown that seemed more sutable for a king's palace or hall than the depths of Fangorn Forest. She still carried the jeweled harp, now slung gently over her shoulder, and a long veil and cloak that was half draped about her frame. Her companion, a tall warrior with straight black hair and grim visage, had a scabbard strapped about his waist with a curved blade of fine workmanship.

Both the pair had soft brown skin, but it was the woman whose sparkling black eyes revealed an air of cold calculation and superiority. The two had stopped by the edge of the grove to exchange a few hurried confidences. Leaning down towards his smaller companion, the man earnestly intoned "Prophetess Saelonia, do you think it wise to approach them so soon?"

The woman drew herself up to her full height and scowled, pulling the cloak hastily about her shoulders. "So soon? So soon, you blithering idiot? Did you not read the missive that the Khan has sent to us? He already begins to gather an army of warriors such as has not been seen since the time of the Eye. In a short time, we will be ready to strike at Gondor to demand our fair share of the wealth they now withold from us. And they will bow their knee to the Shadow, just as we have done."

"But none of this is possible, unless we have allies. And these huorn, though dim of wit, are capable of doing great damage."

"They will hit hard at Isengard and the West, and keep the eyes of Gondor's King turned away from the East from which the real danger will eventually rise. Without the brute strength of the huorn, we will never succeed in our plan. Are we not descendents of the mighty Easterlings who stood firm in the ranks of Lord Sauron? Do not ask if we act too soon! Instead ask why we have suffered so long and have not acted before now."

With this, Saelonia turned and quickly paced up the path that led to where the huorn stood waiting.

[ May 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

As the little band made its way out of the city, out into the green fields and toward the forest, LinGalad's spirits steadily rose. This was teh best of both worlds-- he had his new friends with him, and they were out of the stony hard places, and heading for trees. He hummed happily. Endereth, sensing his relief, shared a smile with Mattias. It would be good, she thought, to have one more member who is at home among the trees; so few of the men-folk were. The elves were a little worried about them.

"What are you so happy about?" Kalir muttered at LinGalad.

"For one thing, " LinGalad replied, "I'm glad to be less worried about potentially offending an entire town full of people."

Kalir chuckled at that.

"And for another, I can taste the river on the air," LinGalad smiled.

"You're an odd one, " Kalir said.

"No," Calentoliel said. "He just talks freely about what the rest of us all feel."

"Oh," Kalir said.

"Can't you smell the river?" Mattius asked.

"A little, " Kalir shrugged.

"Men, " LinGalad smiled.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Lim stood silently, thoughts that were little more than dreams passing slowly through his head. Faded memories and ideas, vague hopes and feelings. There was little difference between them now, and little reaction to them.

Faintly, as if from far away, a sound passed through the gently swirling thoughts to the little consciousness left in him.

All who love the Ents draw near,
For something wonderous you may hear,
Entwives soon will rule the wood,
If the Huorn do what they should.
So listen closely to this song,
That we may right an ancient wrong.

The song got stronger and stronger as it continued. One image crystallised from all the rest and remained steady to Lim. Movement. Slowly, hesitantly he began to move in the direction of the song, then got faster. Within a few minutes he had arrived to a gathering of trees. Not trees, the thought burst into his head with unusual clearness, Huorns.

Between the Huorns stood...men. Dark men. One had been playing the song, he had something Lim recognised as a music maker. They were approaching a huge birch tree. With his new observativeness Lim could sense the age and power of this...Huorn. He moved closer.

[mark12_30]

Avery came up beside LinGalad. "Sing something, " she said.

He shot her a smile, very pleased. "In the common tongue?"

"No. Something we've never heard before, if you don't mind."

LinGalad thought a moment, and then very softly began a wistful tune. Mattius, Calentoliel, Endereth and even Radagast joined in, Radagast's voice husky but in-tune, the other elves harmonizing freely.

The song lasted for half an hour, and the men-folk were glassy-eyed when it softly finished. Nobody asked what it was about. Several were yawning, half-dreaming or daydreaming about a maiden who was enchanted by a stream-- or was the stream enchanted by her?-- and her lover who was lost at sea.

"Who was she?" Avery murmured.

The elves waited, and Radagast answered. "Nimrodel. And her lover was Amroth."

They had veered toward the river Isen, and washed their faces and filled their water bottles. Kalir glanced mischeivously at LinGalad, who realised that Kalir was tempted to push him in.

LinGalad unbuckled his sword and set aside his bow, arrows, dagger, and pack, and then said, "Come, Kalir, you will not find it easy."

"We don't have time for this, " groused Radagast.

"They'll have to catch up," smiled Mattius, and they headed toward the forest, leaving Kalir and LinGalad sparring on the riverbank.

LinGalad, looking forward to another swim, only resisted for about five minutes, and Kalir knew he had given up too easily. "You must like to swim. Isn't it terribly cold?"

"Glacial, " LinGalad replied through chattering teeth as he gathered his weapons and pack. "I'm glad our friends have a head start. I'll give you one, also; a hundred paces. Go."

"Arrogant, aren't you?"

"I'm very sorry, I certainly don't mean to offend. Please, pardon me! Perhaps you are swifter than the average man?"

"Oh, stow it, " said Kalir, starting off. LinGalad watched him go and counted a hundred paces, rueing his generosity; he should have given him fifty paces. He did not quite catch Kalir before Kalir joined the others.

Ajada had her notepad out, certain that she had witnessed yet another conspiratory meeting, and wondering what mysterious part the river played in their plot for world domination.

[DayVampyre]

Avery was glad that they had found the river. Her own bottle had been empty for some time and she felt herself getting weak again even at times a bit dizzy. But now that she had a full bottle of the cold water, she was feeling better and continued on keeping fair pace with the rest. LinGalad's song had been quite beautiful and it had made Avery forget the dangerous tramp that they were on. Just as Ajada had pulled out her blasted quill again, Kalir anf LinGalad had come running up.

"Where were you two? I though we had finally lost you." Avery said.
"We were enjoying the river a little bit more, you alright?" Kalir asked.
"Yes, why woudn't I be?" Avery said a bit puzzled.
"Well, its probably nothing then," Kalir said, seeming to want to take back what he had said.
"No, what is it?" Avery asked again.
"I just though you seemed a bit paler that you did before." Kalir explained

Avery furrowed her brow.

"Oh, its probably just from all this open country walking, I'm more used to the city, where the walks are shorter, just give me a few days, I'll be fine." Avery said brushing it off.

"Look at that, she writting again," Kalir said rolling his eyes.
"More hidden plots, I'd wager" Avery said.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Water, water, water. Ajada scribbled down. What could water have to do with LinGalad and Kalir's secret plot? How was Avery mixed up in all of it? Ajada squinted at Avery's little 'sickness' of sorts, and every idea went trickling back to one thing...water. "Water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink," or so the saying went. That was it!

"Drink! Drink!" Ajada wailed, and grabbed Avery by the arm to take her to a place where no one could hear Ajada's hushed whispers. "Avery, they poisoned you! That is why you are all in cahoots together! Kalir and LinGalad, they are the chief masterminds...but they've got you now! It was the water! The water you drank earlier after teaching me to sword fight! It was poisoned by Kalir and LinGalad! Come back to the light, Avery! Even if you're just a filthy, sceaming thief to begin with, you still shouldn't be poisoned!"

By the end of her exasperated speech, Ajada had taken to grabbing Avery by the shoulders and shaking her. Avery looked as if the added tremors would send her flying with her in an already dizzy state, but Ajada continued to jostle and jar the girl, until Avery practically collapsed to the ground.

"Avery! It was the poison!" Ajada cried, making a scene that even the other travelers could hear. They came over, and Kalir and LinGalad helped Avery to her feet.

"What happened?" Kalir asked, his face of mock concern obviously masking a smile.

"Ah. You've poisoned Avery!" Ajada accused, not quite answering the question. Kalir rolled his eyes.

"That's ridiculus, Ajada." Endereth murmured, handing Avery a canteen of water. "Now what really happened?"

Ajada felt like a child. They were all accusing her of something that wasn't her fault, and then repeating questions as if she were...dumb. Ajada's eyes widened, and she frantically searched through her mind for an excuse, but nothing came to her.

"It was you!" Avery yelled, voice cracking as she regained strength again. "Why were you shaking me like that? You've lost your mind!"

"Come now! We can't waste much more time!" Radagast intervened, and Ajada was momentarily thankful that the old man was a peacekeeper. "Are you alright, Avery?"

Avery nodded, glaring at Ajada. Ajada was still mumbling something about poison and Middle-Earth domination as the group got back to walking towards the woods. Avery avoided Ajada even more than usual, but Ajada didn't mind. She needed to figure out what the master plan for LinGalad and Kalir was.

"I don't understand what is so special about water. Smelling water, swimming in water..." Ajada mused, writing down the incident with Avery. "I mean, you can smell that one stream from the printing and recording shop when it is on the other side of town."

"That's because its full of sewage!" Avery murmured, overhearing Ajada's musings. The scribe rolled her eyes, and scrawled down Avery's words, hoping to maybe quote her in her final report for Leo.

It is just one huge conspiracy. Better be careful about the water I drink while in such company, Ajada thought, eyeing LinGalad and Kalir suspiciously.

[ June 04, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[mark12_30]

Kalir put the rest of the company between himself and Ajada, and LinGalad unconsciously joined him. Mattius and Endereth were glad that some friendships were forming, but Ajada concerned them. Mattius joined her, and tried to make small talk. She forced herself to be polite, but she wasn't interested, and kept one eye on LinGalad and Kalir.

LinGalad looked back at the friendly river several times, wistfully.

Kalir chuckled more each time. "What is it about you and water?"

"I wish it came from the forest, and we could follow it there, " LinGalad sighed. "I hate to leave it. I love its song, its shine, its fragrance, everything about it."

"It's glacial, " Kalir said. "It smells cold, it feels cold, it looks cold. And it tastes strange."

"It has the taste of the mountains it came from, " LinGalad said. "Speaking of mountains, we must now either go over or around them, and I wonder which it is to be. "

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir looked at Ajada, who kept her eyes on LinGalad and Kalir the whole time they walked. Kalir wondered if maybe he and LinGalad were in on some secret plot for world domination that he was not aware of. He looked at Radagast walking a bit ahead of them. Kalir suddenly realized that he did not know of what they would face on the way.

"It has the taste of the mountains it came from, " LinGalad said. "Speaking of mountains, we must now either go over or around them, and I wonder which it is to be."

Kalir looked at LinGalad, considering the statement. "Well, I certainly hope we shall go around them," he finally said, "Going over the mountains would be a daunting task."

"To you, it may be," LinGalad said, "I, personally, think that it would be much easier to go over. And it would be quicker."

Kalir snorted, and looked at the mountains, "For you, maybe, Lord of the Mountains, but for me, it would take at least thrice as long. If I even lived through the ordeal."

"Why do you not ask Lord Radagast as to which road we shall take?" LinGalad suggested.

Kalir moved up, ignoring the suspicious look that Ajada gave him as he moved. He hoped she would not shout out, claiming that he was about to assassinate Radagast, but, luckily, she kept her throughts within her own head. Kalir came up beside the wizard, who turned and looked at Kalir curiously.

"I was wondering," Kalir said, "What road we would be taking? Shall we be going over or around the mountains?"

Kalir saw many of the others perk up as he asked. He saw that he was obviously not the only curious as to what their path and plan was.

"And, after we cross the mountains," Kalir added, fueled by the support he seemed to have in his questioning, "What exactly are we going to do?"

[DayVampyre]

Avery didn't say anything about the course that they should take. Whichever path they decided on would suit her, though if the mountains were faster, all the better. If the 'poison' she was given didn't kill her, Ajada's rashness certainly would.

Honostly the very idea that either would try that. Avery, feeling rather parched again, took a drink from her bottle. She wondered if Adaja had written that down.

And what had Kalir meant by her looking pale? He must have been wrong. She felt fine. Seeing as LinGalad had taken to avoiding Ajada as well, Avery went over to him. She liked him, he seemed more light-hearted than the other elves and made for better company.

"Drink down any poisoned water lately?" Avery asked, having to look up at him.

[mark12_30]

"The only poison I'm aware of is a certain suspicious attitude, which I fear will work little harmony into our companions. Except it be in unifying against it, which would be a sad turn."

Avery looked up at him, startled. It was such a solemn thing to say, and she had expected him to be more light-hearted than that. He cocked an eyebrow, and considered her surprise.

"However, " he continued earnestly, "having noticed the side effects of the suspicion, I have been most careful to avoid drinking any of it."

Avery nearly laughed out loud.

"I would suggest that you be equally cautious, " LinGalad continued. "I do not know the dosage required for a bad case of poisoning. Please be certain you avoid it completely."

"Good idea, " Avery giggled. "I'll be careful. Quite careful."

"I am glad to hear it, " LinGalad replied with perfect seriousness. Kalir and Calentoliel looked curious, but Mattius and Endereth smiled, and Radagast smoothed his moustache.

"Which way to the forest would be the least suspicious, I wonder? Across the mountains or south of them?" LinGalad asked Avery.
"What do you think?" Then he turned to Anarya. "Can you guess which way our leaders will choose?"

Anarya gave him an odd look. "Guess? Why?"

LinGalad shot a glance at Endereth, which she did not miss. "It has to do with osanwe, or I suppose you might call it hearing thoughts. One way to practice it is to try to listen, and then see if you are right." Endereth smiled, waiting. "But then, sometimes the person you are trying to listen to knows that you are trying to listen, and then they can mislead you."

Anarya gave Endereth a startled look. "Why would she do that?"

"Why would anyone fool someone in their company? For a good joke. And since I am naive, I suppose that makes me an easy target."

Kalir chuckled. "Poor LinGalad, the naive elvish laddie."

LinGalad smiled. "Laddie? Is that your name for me?"

Kalir laughed. "You want a nickname?"

LinGalad shrugged.

"I think he does!" Anarya replied.

"Lin-Ga-lad. Lad-Ga-Lin. LadGalin?" Kalir chuckled.

Mischievously, Avery said, "Lin-Gal-Ad; LaddyGal."

A burst of laughter followed. "LaddyGal! LaddyGal? Oh, that's good, " Kalir roared.

"Oh, but you don't mean it, " Anarya said, defensively. "That's hardly... No, no."

LinGalad shot a glance at Mattias, who shrugged, chuckling; and then he studied Kalir. Kalir and Avery were pink-cheeked and gasping with laughter.

"LaddyGal... oh, my." Radagast shook his head. Calentoliel and Endereth exchanged glances. but LinGalad did not object. Mattius, with another hidden smile, suspected that the nickname just might stick.

[mark12_30]

"What are you thinking?" Anarya hissed at Avery.

"Oh, he'll get over it. He doesn't care. Look at him. He even likes it."

"I can't believe-- no, it's not right. It's not nice," Anarya protested again.

LinGalad glanced from Anarya to Avery to Kalir and back again, and wondered why Anarya was upset. Finally he veered over to Mattius. "Why is Anarya upset over my new nickname?"

Mattius smiled, but shrugged. "Ask her."

He did so.

"Because," Anarya replied indignantly, "I for one don't think that elves are sissy at all. And I think you're nice. And I don't think that's a good nickname for you."

"Sissy?" LinGalad frowned.

Poor Anarya tried to think of a way to explain it, glancing from Mattius to Calentoliel to Endereth and back to LinGalad. She couldn't think of anything.

Finally Kalir said, "It's because your braids are too pretty, and so is your face."

"Jealous?" countered Avery, teasing.

LinGalad relaxed, and turned to Anarya with a smile. "Don't worry. I think everybody knows that I'm not a girl, and whether they realise it or not, I'm not really particularly attractive for an elf. I think Kalir knows that I can hold my own against him in a fair match. And I suppose if among men-folk my braids are good for a laugh, then I'm back to my normal social status. I'm often the center of humor, since I'm so young. It doesn't offend me."

"Maybe you should just call him Laddie, " Anarya told Kalir.

"Oh, sometimes we will, " Kalir grinned.

Avery suddenly changed her mind. "Wait. How about Lindy?"

Anarya was very relieved. "Lindy. Oh, that's much, much better."

"Lindy, " LinGalad repeated, quite pleased.

Kalir still looked mischeivously unconvinced, and Calentoliel guessed that the LaddyGal nickname would surface at the most inopportune times. But Avery and Anarya were quite pleased with "Lindy".

Ajada took notes, wondering whether this latest development was of any importance, and whether LinGalad and Kalir were about to try and involve Anarya in their plot as well. She watched like a hawk to make sure that neither LinGalad nor Kalir offered anyone a sip of water.

[ June 05, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Mattius]

Mattius walked steadily behind Radagast who mumbled words to himself just out of the other's hearing range. Although leading them, the ancient wizard had no plan on which route to take, across the plains to the southern part of Fangorn, or across the mountains and enter the woods westerly region. In his mind he relied much on the other immortals, Mattius, Endereth and Calentoiel. To an extent he relied on LaddyGal... No! For the love of the elves don't call him that, thought Radagast.

Mattius looked up at the looming southern mountain, storms were at work on its highest peaks. The path would be difficult yet it could be done very quickly if done correctly. This was the thought of the other elves too. Now slowing his pace, Radagast peered over at the mountain. The previous night he had felt that something terrible was happening in Fangorn, it had come from deep inside the woods, a path across the mountain could get them there quicker. Slowly he stopped and turned around to look at them all. He could not force this on them, they would have to make up their own minds.

"We have reached our first point of choice," he said in such a strong voice that even Ajada lowered her writting hand. "We could head across the plains and into the southern edge of Fangorn. Or," he said slowly raising his hand to the mountains, "take the ancient mountain paths and reach Fangorn in the west. Persoanlly I think that the mountain path would be quicker in reaching the place we seek."

"And where is that then?" Asked Ajada in a sarcastic voice. Avery punched her in her arm whilst the others frowned at her. 'Ow!' she mouthed as Radagast replied.

"I know not where. I feel it, I felt it last night, something has happened in Fangorn in the past twenty-four hours." He paused before continuing. "From here on in things could and probably will get dangerous, if you wish to return to your homes now is the time."

The elves stood still, unblinking whilst the humans shuffled uncomfortably on their feet. Avery especially, it wasn't her choice to be here. Nevertheless she vowed in her head to see it though.

"Good," Radagast smiled, "now you have decided to continue we must vote on which route to take, mountains or plains. I cast my vote to the mountains."

"I also do Radagast," said Mattius as he looked over at the peaks.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad smiled eagerly as Mattius spoke up for the mountains.

"So you vote for crossing the mountains?"

"Oh, I shouldn't vote before my elders, " LinGalad replied hastily. "It's not polite."

"But you do like the thought of going over instead of around?" Radagast persisted. LinGalad nodded, but said no more til the other elves had spoken.

[ June 06, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

Avery did not speak. Although she would have said to take the pass through the mountains. She was leaning against a nearby tree and slowly slid down it until she was sitting quite comfortably on the ground, her back resting against the rough trunk of the tree. She listened to what the elves said through a kind of dream like haze, not really paying attention.


"I wonder which way it will be" a voice said next to her, rousing Avery back in reality. She looked over and it was Anarya.

"I don't know, I hope for the mountains,"

"Why?"

"Cause, it'll get me away from her sooner." Avery pointed half-heartedly pointing towards Ajada.

"You two should not be so angry at one another, it's not healthy" Anarya said.

"she's the one going around here, like there's a crown on her head, not me. Ever since she found out I can't read--"

"You can't?" Anarya asked in surprize,

"no, but that shouldn't matter, I've learned other things that she hasn't, how to hold a sword." Avery said and was clearly going to say more, until she looked up and saw Radagast and the others looking down at them. Avery smiled

"So, the mountains, good sir?"

[ June 09, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada took careful notes on the voting process, listing into a chart who voted for what and with what tone of voice. In coming from Gondor with so prestigious a job as scribing, Ajada knew quite a lot about politics. However, something in the back of her mind told her this was a tad different. This was, of course, far less important than say the election of who brews the next barrel of ink, but it was still worth jotting down.

“And you, Almighty Scribe of Gondor,” began Mattius, who had come over to Ajada. Ajada hardly took note of his sarcastic, cynical tone, and merely waited for his continuation with a raised brow. “Which path do you prefer?”

“Well,” Ajada mused in response. “I do suppose that, ‘every vote counts’, does it not?”

Mattius nodded.

“In that case, I-" Ajada paused just in time to hear Avery decide that she wanted to go over the mountains. Now, Ajada was not one to get too terribly involved with the scientific interactions and decisions made by her reported-on specimens, but Ajada did so like to get on the last nerves of the thief girl. “I choose to go around the mountains.”

[ June 09, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[ June 09, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[DayVampyre]

"I choose to go around the mountains..."

Avery mimicked in her head.

"Stubborn writer, can barely hold a sword, much less defend herself with one. She'll probably get herself lost in the woods once we get there."

Avery sighed and tried to clear her head. Why waste her thoughts on that annoying writer?

Avery stood up and leaned against the tree.

"No offense, or anything, but what is the point of running around the mountains, when it'll take twice as long? Won't more people die the longer we take?" She said taking a drink from her water bottle.

"I mean, this is silly, lets just climb the mountains and get it over with." Avery finished, letting the bottle drop back into place and resting her hand on the hilt of her sword.

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

The chanting and swaying of the huorn continued as the priestess and her companion approached the outer circle of trees. Saelonia leaned over and whispered conspiratorially to her companion, "We have nothing to fear. A missive came this morning. We have eyes and ears even within the King's camp. The fools cannot even agree on which path they should follow. If they are so divided, unable to decide on such a simple thing, they will never stop us!"

Saelonia tilted back her head and laughed, until the echoing sound of her own voice came ringing back in her ears. "We will triumph. This King will wish he had never set eyes on the people of Rhun. No longer will our royal Khan bend a knee to the heirs of Aragorn."

Walking along the forest path, she proudly turned to Brethil and purred out a silken greeting, "Huorn, mighty prince of Fangorn, my companion and I extend good tidings to you and your kin. The mighty Khan will soon send an army to strike down these evildoers on two legs. It is they who have chased away your beloved Ents. It is they who are responsible for those who come into the sacred wooden groves carrying axes on their shoulders. We share your grief and rage against these Men of Gondor. Join now with Rhun! Together, we will bring the King of Gondor to his knees."

Brethil eyed the woman warily, uncertain whether or not he should trust her. Did she not also go on two legs? Was she truly different from the Men with axes? And how could he be certain that the Men of Rhun had not played some part in driving away the Ents? Still, he wanted to believe her. He wanted a path to follow, some clear way to channel his outrage. He almost willed it to be so.

"Fair Lady, I wish to believe you, as do my kin. But I do not know. You have come here before and spoken words like these. How can I trust you? How do I know you say the truth?"

Saelonia fixed a steely eye on Brethil, nodding her head, "You are right to question for you do not know me. But would you believe if an Ent came to confirm that I speak the truth. Or, perhaps.....perhaps not an Ent, but an Entwife."

The birch leapt convulsively so that his very roots tore loose and came spilling out from the earth. He turned his massive body and took one step forward, bending until his mighty branches almost touched the woman's face. "Do not jest about such a thing. No Entwives have been seen for long ages past. They are gone....gone." Brethil's voice sounded sad and distant. "Only the eldest of us even remember them."

Saelonia hissed back at the huorn, "I jest not. Nor do I lie. Tomorrow night, I will come here to this circle and bring an Entwife with me."

A low and excited murmur swept through the circle of trees that stood in the clearing. Brethil looked towards the others who nodded back to him. Their branches swayed in the cold night air, and a sound like the wind passed between them, as if they were talking to each other in some unknown tongue. Then Brethil turned again to Saelonia, "If you will do this, if you will bring an Entwife here who will vouch for your words, we will follow you until the ends of the earth. Our people will rise up and leave these quiet woods. We will march to war against the Men of Gondor."

With that, Saelonia and her companion nodded respectfully to the trees. "Tomorrow then. We will meet here and bring our friend." Then they turned and left the gathering, making their way back to their horses, quickly disappearing into the black haze of the night.

[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir grimaced at the suggestion. Sadly, the others seemed to agree. The idea also made sense.

"I suppose it is the best idea," Kalir said. The others looked at him, surprised. It seemed as thought his silence caused them to nearly forget his existence.

Kalir continued, "I may need aid, of course, as I may not be the best candidate to traverse the mountains with you."

LinGalad laughed, "You are not traveling alone, funny Human! We are all with you. Do not act so somber!"

Kalir looked at the Elf, losing his fear by seeing his friend so strong. He supposed it was rather immature to fear the mountains. A chuckle escaped from Kalir as he blushed at his former fear.

"Then it is settled: we will take the mountain pass?" Kalir asked, hoping they would take this path, as he had broken himself of his worries about crossing the ominous range.

[Mattius]

"I guess it is so, if Calen and Ender agree to it." Mattius looked over at the two who nodded in time with each other.

"And not a moment too soon!" Radagast exclaimed as small bird sat on his shoulder and chirped away. "Something is happening in Fangorn, there is movement there."

"The trees!" Shouted Ajada in such hysterics that the entire group stared at her with glaring eyes for a few moments.

"Something else too, men and women are there. Very strange, very strange indeed," said Radagast turning around and beginning to lead the off towards the mountains, not thinking about discussing matters with the group.

"He has a rare talent indeed Firnlord if he can talk to animals," said LinGalad to Mattius.

"I agree with you my friend, its just geting him to talk to men and elves that is sometimes the problem."

[Ithaeliel]

As the company began to head into the cold, looming mountains, everyone seemed a little more tense than they had been before. They all seemed to be grasping the magnitude of what they were undertaking now, and the trek through the mountains wasn’t about to do much more good for their morale. Kalir was fearful of not being able to make it through, but Endereth was constantly behind him, giving him encouragement. “You are the hero of your land in these times,” she told him, “and you are valuable to us as well. These mountains will be no match for you, Kalir,” she jested. Looking ahead, she saw Radagast moving steadily upward while a bird chattered on his shoulder. The Maiar listened intently as he led the company onward. Calentoliel ran up beside Ender. “What do you think it’s saying?” she whispered.

Ender watched the wizard for a moment more as the bird began to change its twittering to a seemingly more urgent tone. Radagast’s expression and stance did not change, however. The ranger sighed. “It’s probably telling the wizard the rest of its tale. Birds do observe much more than one might expect, and this one has obviously seen much. Though,” she added, “I would advise anyone here not to ask Radagast what the bird has told him. He’ll explain when he believes we are ready to hear it.” The bird flew away almost as soon as Endereth had finished her sentence. Calentoliel, understanding her friend completely, fell silent.

The company trudged on over the mountain, the humans growing ever more tired, and the elves ever more irritated. At one point Ajada called for a break. “This trek is so utterly dull that I have no more to write about!”

LinGalad climbed nimbly upon a boulder to sit as his eyes caught a flash of the sun. Turning his head back in the direction they had come from, the elf’s expression changed to one of wonder. “Feast thine eyes upon the view, my friends,” he said. “We’ve come quite far over the timberline.”

All heads in the company turned in unison to see a vast stretch of green treetops. As one turned their gaze southward, there could be seen a spire of blackest obsidian surrounded by small, cheery-seeming villages, while several miles away northeast rested a large and solitary group of shorter, darker trees. They seemed to leave a trail of blackened earth behind them.

“Huorns,” muttered Avery darkly. “Scourge of the forest and of Isengard.”

“No; all these events are not the fault of the Huorns,” Endereth replied calmly. “There is a greater force behind their wrongdoings, I’m sure of it. They would not act this way of their own accord.”

[ June 16, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

[DayVampyre]

Avery always had liked the high places of the world. She remembered the time, back in the city, when she and a friend had climbed to the top of the wooden ramparts on the far side of the city. They had spent the night burglaring some of the city's houses and the sun was just coming up.

Avery sat down on one of the rocks, not noticing the company beginning to move on. She was tranfixed by the view, but a few minutes later she noticed they were some ways off, but not too far that she couldn't catch up. She was just getting up to follow them when she felt a tickle down in the back of her throat. It made her want to cough or clear her throat.

*cough*
*cough**cough*

Avery sucked in a deep breath and went for her water.

*cough*

She grabbed the leather bound bottle and took a long drink from it. She paused for a minute, and the odd cough seemed to go away.

She grabbed her coat off the rock and began to catch up with the rest. She noticed something wet running into her eyes. She stopped and swept her hand across her forehead. She frowned, it was sweat. She must be more tired than she thought. With a coat sleeve she patted her face dry, took another drink from her bottle and went on.

The higher they went, the colder it seemed to get. Just when she was getting worried that she had lost them, she caught a glimpse of the ever familar LinGalad. She increased her step to catch up to him.

"Tryin' to lose me?" She asked with a friendly smile.

[Child of the 7th Age]

A wagon stood in a forest clearing underneath the mighty oaks and maples that towered high above. The grey tree trunks were of mighty girth, but their height could not be guessed. There were no sentient trees here. Whatever consciousness these trees had once possessed was now gone as they slipped back into a trancelike sleep. The driver of the wagon had found his way to this remote spot by following the tracks of a dried up river bed. If any travellers passed by, which was quite unlikely, they might simply think that a trading expedition had strayed from the main path and was waiting for sunrise to retrace its route.

The vehicle looked like a drummer's van, the type used by prosperous merchants for distributing goods to stores and markets. Like most wagons of this type, it had high wooden sides and a tall roof, all painted with brightly colored pictures so that it was hard to see what was inside. Ornate gilt scrolls, also carved from wood, decorated the four corner posts of the cab. The back of the wagon was securely latched with an elaborate lock that required two separate metal keys to gain access to the interior. Several iron chains were wrapped around the rear as an extra precaution to prevent the gate from unexpectedly flying open even if the locks should fail.

Such wagons were a common sight on the streets of Minas Tirith. The vendors usually made their deliveries in the earliest hours of the morning just as the sun was rising. The only thing different about this particular wagon was its enormous size. The wheels were some six feet high with thick iron tires that made broad ruts in the roadway as the cart rumbled along to wherever it was going.

In the dim light of the fading moon, armed men with blazing torches and long metal rods with hooks advanced towards the wagon and formed a circle around it. They gradually drew the circle tighter until they stood within arm's length of the vehicle. These soldiers wore a kind of armor and insignia common to men of Eastern lands.

Saelonia and Azunel stood before the wagon's rear gate, inching ever closer. The latter held a firebrand in his right hand and a prod in his left. The priestess approached the cart and removed two keys from her vest pocket inserting them in the locks and throwing open the heavy door.

A pitiful wailing rose from inside the van, a beseeching cry for help that echoed untold depths of torment. At the same time, a long arm or limb extended from the inside of the truck, limply touching the wooden slats of the door, then reaching outside the van. Saelonia instanty shot forward and grabbed Azunel's firebrand, shoving it within an inch of the outstretched arm. Whatever was inside instinctively pulled back to avoid the pain that was sure to follow.

Reassured by this show of submission, the priestess climbed into the dim confines of the wagon, holding the firebrand out in front of her. Her lips curled in cruel triumph as she saw a figure of considerable mass crouched miserably in the corner.

"Please, please," the thing begged. "I must have some sun today. And a bit of water. I grow weary beyond all measure."

"Sun?" bandied Saelonia, arching her eyebrows upward. "You will most certainly see the sun tomorrow, if you will but do a small favor for us tonight."

"We must walk to a group of friends a short distance from here. You will come with us. Azunel will stand behind you and whisper the words to say. Then you will repeat them. Every one!"

She smiled slyly at the Entwife, and pulled on one of the chains, clucking and shaking her head. Then she turned around and snapped at the soldiers, "Take these things off. It will not do us any good if the huorn see her in chains."

"But maam...," one of the men protested. "She's sure to take off into the woods."

"Take off? I do not think so. Peachblossom knows what will happen to her people if she runs away. She loves her sisters dearly, and I do not think she wishes to see them die. I have only to send out a message by my great hawk Thrash, and he will wing his way homeward, ordering the plantation owner to strike down one of her sisters."

Saelonia glared back in the direction of the Entwife who contritely hung her head. Her branches and leaves quivered slightly, then hung down flat and limp. She had lost all will of her own or an ability to resist the demands of her master. She trudged along compliantly behind Saelonia as the group made its way towards the agreed upon meeting place.

[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Lim stood, once agin immobile in the cool silence of the forest at night. It seemed that nothing had changed as he waited, ancient and unmoving- but somehow everything had changed. He had been stirred by the voice of a two legged person. He had moved a great distance. He had communicated with others. He had acknowledged the leadership of Brethil. He had been told of the Entwives.

The feeling raised by the last idea was something akin to the rising of sap, the natural quickening of life in spring. Vague memories swam through Lim's consciousness, too vague and unclear to give any definition to the term "Entwife" but he knew that the very idea had changed him.

The thoughts in his brain were faster now, and closer to the surface. He could feel more acutely the power of others of his kind as they stood around him, silent and unmoving as he. Yet they were there, he knew it. Oak, ash, beech and birch. There was a life in them that Lim hadn't even known he possessed until the two-legged one had come.

There had been two-leggers before, who had come with their implements to bite and chop, or burn. Lim barely knew what had happened to them, just that they had disappeared. Whether he had done something, or others like him, he hardly knew.

They were not the only ones who came to the forest, of course. Sometimes Lim had felt a presence beneath his branches, but if they did not come to cause pain he had barely noticed them. He had not then had the awareness he had now.

Lim felt life stir in him, and he revelled in it.

[ June 21, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[DayVampyre]

"I looked behind for you several times. I was watching for you," LinGalad assured her. "If you hadn't been making steady progress, I would have returned for you. But I could see that you were gaining ground. Why were you coughing?"

"Coughing?" Avery replied blankly.

"Coughing, " LinGalad persisted. "A sudden exhale caused by a contraction in the muscles of the abdomen,"

"Oh, you--"

"That was what you were doing, wasn't it?"

"I guess I did, a little, " she grumbled. "Its nothing."

"Come, we are lagging behind, " he said, offering her his hand. She took it, and they ran foward up the hill. He helped her along quite a bit, but still, she was winded when they caught up.

"There, you are coughing again, " he said, worried.

Ajada rolled her eyes. "Oh, we wouldn't want that now, would we, " she muttered, taking notes.

Kalir silently offered Avery a drink from his water bottle.

"Probably why she's coughing in the first place, " Ajada muttered.


Avery had heard Ajada's comment plainly enough though.
If she had had the energy for it, there would have been another arguement right then and there...

[Mattius]

As the group had made ther way over the mountain pass the sun had quickly suck in front of them, leaving an outline of the tallest trees in Fangorn. Radagast had pushed them to go faster, the mortals were surprised that someone who looked so old could move at such a pace. Every so often he would mutter to himself about how he had been so foolish to not come to Fangorn earlier.

"It won't be long now," Calen said to LinGalad.

"Until what?" He asked innocently.

"Until we reach Fangorn," she replied frowning.

Mattius quietly laughed shaking his head whilst he rubbed his eye.

"Oh.." said LinGalad.

The ground had begun to get harder and less snow was about. The decent had begun from and now on they were beginning to find their feet on one of the many forrest paths that led into the heart of ancient Fangorn.

"Not long then?" LinGalad tried out. Ajada gave him a dirty look but Endereth smiled and nodded leaving the elf feeling proud.

Indeed, it wasn't long, soon trees began to sprout up either side of the path, small at first but began to get bigger. The darkness was now all consuming, and subconciously the group slowed their pace and moved closer together to avoid becomming lost. Eventually Radagast stopeed them.

"We are here," he said. In the gloom some twenty feet in front of them down the path the trees reached up to enourmous heights. The wood was twisted and bent, threatening and terrifying in the dark. Radagast led them in with Calentoliel and Endereth behind him followed by LinGalad, Avery, Ajada and Kalir with Mattius and the back, sword in hand.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Saelonia stood silently in the middle of a great circle of swaying Huorn, a glint of triumph reflected in her shadowed eyes. The meeting was going better than expected. At her side was an Entwife, a graceful creature looming some twenty-five feet high with a delicate filigree of pale peach blossoms adorning her leafy brow. Before the meeting even started, Saelonia's soldiers were careful to surround the glade where the huorn met, hiding in nearby woods as they secretly brandished torches, chains, and sharpened prods in case Peachblossom attempted to flee.

Brethil and the other huorn were initially incredulous and then overawed to find a genuine Entwife in their midst, a being of gentle dignity and quiet strength who had not been seen within the confines of Fangorn for over three thousand years. Yet, the huorn instinctively knew who she was. Their own lore contained whispered tales of the Ent consorts who had become enamored of the open lands where they might tend the lesser Olar. Eons ago, the Entwives had moved to the Brown Lands to care for the flowers, shrubs, fruit trees, and smaller growing things, teaching men to till and reap the riches of the earth. Then, without prior warning, they'd silently disappeared. Despite the efforts of the Ents to locate them, no one was certain where the Entwives were hiding, or even whether they had lived or died.

Brethil stared at Peachblossom in open admiration and listened to her articulate her support for the Easterlings and their cause. He felt an overweening yearning within his heart that she be a true shepherdess of the trees and show the huorn what path they should take. In this way, his people could lock in some measure of hope. Yet, in the dim shadows of the fading moonlight, led on by the urgent pleadings of his heart, Brethil failed to notice the Entwife's drooping limbs, her air of sadness, or the sullen mask that had solidified over her features. Only too happy to welcome the return of an ancient one, Brethil and his kin bent leafy crowns to the ground and humbly promised to follow the Easterlings on whatever venture they proposed.

After the meeting broke up and the huorn retreated from the glade, the priestess pulled Azunel aside, rubbing her hands together in glee and secretly vowing to make Gondor pay. She tossed her black curls back from her face and turned to her companion with a look of triumph dawning in her eyes, "Tomorrow, at sunrise, you and your soldiers will lead the huorn to pillage and raid the countryside lying south and west of the Entwash. Make your way slowly towards Isengard and Edoras. Leave no one alive in your wake. I will send the messenger birds back to Rhun as I promised and urge the Khan to send a mighty force to topple the fortress of Minas Tirith. The King of Gondor will have his eyes so narrowly focused on the ravages to the west that he will never suspect that an even greater danger threatens his eastern border."

"Fair lady, we will do as you say. But what shall we do with the Entwife?"

Saelonia scowled, "I want no more problems with this one. We will have a few soldiers drive her back to Rhun in chains that she may return to her sisters and their work on the plantation." She pulled Azunel even further off the pathway and whispered in his ear, "This Entwife is so cowed by our threat to do away with her sisters should she misbehave, that she will follow our dictates in all things. Of that, I am sure"

With these final words, Salonia stalked down the path in the direction of the Easterlings' encampment, mulling over a hundred different ambitious plans that percolated within her mind all vying for her attention.

[ August 30, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir looked in wonder as they approached the trees. He had never seen anything so grand or so beautiful in his entire life. Kalir just wanted to touch the trees. He approached the forest, gaping in awe.

Most of the others around him at least seemed to have a similar feeling about the forest. Even Ajada stopped shooting people evil glances for a bit, looking up at the enormous trees. There was also a sense of unease at the ominous forest.

"We will get to travel in there?" Kalir whispered to LinGalad, who only nodded. Kalir subconsciously put his hand on the hilt of his sword. He didn't know why he took this caution, but it felt right for some reason. Although the forest was so inviting to Kalir, it also gave off a dark, ominous chill at the same time.

The group continued into the forest. Kalir's tension grew as they went on. What little light was left rapidly disappeared as they went deeper into the forest, the taller trees blocking out the light. Soon, Kalir's human eyes could see nearly nothing around him. He trusted the others to guide him through the maze of trees.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

The sound of a sigh moved through the branches of the assembled Huorn. It might have been a breath being released after years, or it might have been a whisp of wind. A sensation too strong to be called joy filled Lim at the sight of her. An Entwife. It was on the mind of every Huorn there, a feeling of shock, happiness and...rightness, stronger, certainly, than anything Lim could ever remember feeling. Although now she was here he found he could remember more than ever before. It felt like she had breathed life into him, like the sigh of the wind.

He listened intently to what she was saying. Firmly she stressed her agreement witht these two-leggers, the ones that had come before, Lim knew. Recognition was probably another gift that she had given him. She said how the Huorn should do what these humans told them to do. With an unshakable feeling that the world, at last, had come perfectly right, he silently pledged allegiance. With more windlike murmurs exercising voices that many had forgotten they posessed, oak, ash, beech and birch bowed to the humans.

[ July 02, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

With the dimming light, Ajada made one last feeble attempt to write some notes down before all light was gone. She walked slowly, all her concentration on the piece of parchment in her hands and the last rays of sunlight leaking in through the trees.

Entered the forest after morning in the Salty Tear. No one speaks above a whisper. Kalir and LinGalad showing more and more signs of mutinee and a master plan to thwart the good-doers in this group. Avery is very sick. Kalir has poisoned her, obviously. Must not let them get out of hand until Radagast believes me. He will deal with them. They will not succeed. Will continue when visibility is better.

Ajada put her writing things back in her pack, involuntarily returning to her usual suspicious and alert expression as the first awe of Fangorn Forest faded. Kalir was whispering to LinGalad, undoubtedly about their plans to kill everyone or poison them into brainwash and using them as minions of their plan. Little did they know that Ajada was fully aware of their monstrous and absolutely massive, stupendous, horrendous, tremendous, colossal intentions.

Avery began coughing again, interrupting Ajada's thoughts. In the darkness, however, Ajada was able to see someone offering Avery water. Who was it? Ajada peered into the general direction of the hacking Avery and saw none other than Kalir next to Avery through her squinted eyes.

"No! Don't drink the water!" shouted Ajada, causing an uproar of once idle and hushed animals and denizens of Fangorn. Mattius immediately clasped his free hand (for he still held his sword aprehensively in the other) over Ajada's mouth, silencing her.

"Quiet! You foolish girl!" Radagast chastised in a hushed but angry voice. "There is no telling what might hear you in this place! Things that we don't want to be aware of our presence yet!"

"Can you continue without speaking so loudly again? Or do you need Mattius to keep you silent this whole trip?" asked Calentoliel calmly. When Ajada nodded Mattius released her.

"But Kalir is trying to poison Avery!" whispered Ajada urgently.

"Stop making such foolish accusations," ordered Endereth from nearby. Ajada had no idea where exactly anyone was anymore, for little or no light could penetrate the canopy of the trees.

This silenced Ajada once again, shaking the scribe to a new resolve. If the almighty elves did not want her help, she would not give it.

They can all be poisoned now, for all I care, she thought vehemently.

[DayVampyre]

Poison seems to be all that girl can think about, Avery thought.

She walked on silently with the rest of the group through the dark and damp forest, Kalir nearest. It was the musty atmosphere and heavy air that was making her cough. She had most certaintly never been in this enviroment before.

"We should be stopping soon," She heard Kalir whisper.

She wondered if he was telling her that or resuring her that sleep was close at hand. She felt better now anyway. Good enought to put up with Ajada anyway, who at the moment seemed to be quite upset with the fact that she couldn't write anymore. That fact alone made Avery smile.

As the darkness continued to close around them, Avery thought she could see movement of..well...something out of the corner of her eye. Her hand went automatically to her sword, and she let it grip the hilt of her sword...

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir continued to shoot looks of venom Ajada's way. She did not seem to notice, however, and continued to either sulk or plan out more accusations, Kalir knew not which. He took this opportunity to move to the other side of LinGalad, so that he was partially blocked from Ajada's view.

"Must she continue like that?" Kalir asked, beginning to whisper again to LinGalad.

"I do not know, friend," LinGalad replied, shrugging.

"It is probably a female thing," Kalir muttered under his breath.

Kalir looked over to where Avery was. He tried to catch her eye. When he finally did, he smiled. She smiled back kindly. He nodded towards Ajada and rolled his eyes. She nodded and smiled a bit. There was a hint of worry behind her eyes, though, and Kalir saw her hand near her weapon, ready to draw in a heartbeat.

"You like her, do you not, friend?" LinGalad asked Kalir, a glint of teasing in his eyes.

"What? Me? No...me...like her? Of course not," Kalir spluttered. LinGalad simply laughed a bit. Kalir turned a light shade of pink.

Kalir looked ahead, in the hopes that LinGalad would stop chuckling and looking at him in that way. However, it only amused LinGalad more, it seemed. Kalir sighed, and laughed a bit at himself.

"I think I will go talk to Ajada," Kalir finally whispered to LinGalad. He quietly slipped over to Ajada, who looked at him suspiciously as he approached.

"What do you want?" she asked him.

"I just want to talk," Kalir responded, "Is there something so wrong with that?"

"There is if you try kill me," hissed Ajada.

"With words?" Kalir asked Ajada. Ajada continued to look at Kalir suspiciously.

May the Vala help us all! Kalir thought as he continued to try to engage Ajada in whispered conversation, only to find himself accused of various assassination attempts. Kalir was determined not to give up, though, and he continued his attempt at conversation with the apprehensive Ajada.

[ July 08, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Brinniel]

As Mattius and Radagast led the group on, Calentoliel kept at the back. She walked alone, as it was something she had grown used to in her years of solitude.

As darkness approached, the conversations between companions died down to only a whisper. A cool breeze blew, causing the trees to sway ever so slightly. Calentoliel shivered as she looked about uneasily.

"Feeling lonely?" Endereth asked as she appeared at the other elf's side.
Calentoliel smiled at her old friend. "Perhaps," she responded. "But I have grown used to it."
"Aye," Ender nodded solemnly. "I know what you mean. It is strange to spend so many years alone, then suddenly bring yourself into a company so large."
The wind picked up as she said this, causing Calentoliel to frown.
"Do you hear that?" Calen whispered.
"Hear what?"
"Voices in the wind. They speak in whispers barely audible. But I can hear them. Can you?"
The two elves walked together for several minutes in silence before Endereth nodded.
"Aye, I do hear them," the ranger said. "We are getting close."

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Disgusting! Ajada was talking to the horrid Kalir face to face, and he wouldn't leave! Why was he confronting her? Did he not know that Ajada knew of his evil plans? Ajada had settled with the determination to get a blatant confession from Kalir. He continued interrogating the scribe, asking why she thought this and that and why she always accused him of things.

"Do you find poison...interesting?" Ajada changed the subject suddenly, preparing to make a mental note of everything Kalir said. Ajada's words caught Kalir off guard for a moment, but all to quickly he had come up with an answer, which amused Ajada ever so slightly to see him have to think.

"Erm, yes. Poison is...interesting..." Kalir seemed slightly unsure of his words, but Ajada simply noted every single word in her mind and smiled happily. She had her confession!

"So, you admit it! You admit to poisoning Avery, you admit that you attempted to poison others, you admit everything! You confess to having an evil plan with LinGalad, and you admit to wanting to use us as minions and pawns in your plan of DOOM!" Ajada cried, raising her voice to a level that was unsettling to all the Elves, who seemed to be listening to something.

"I did not say that!" Kalir shouted, in a voice just slightly above Ajada's. He could feel the cold, harsh glances of Radagast and Mattius upon him, so he repeated the exclaimation in a lighter tone. "I did not say that."

Ajada grinned smugly as Kalir swerved the conversationer's direction slightly so that they were right behind LinGalad and right in front of Avery. He had given her a confession, and Ajada knew he knew she knew he knew it! But then would LinGalad know that she knew that he knew that she knew he knew? Ajada had slowed her step, backing away from Kalir and LinGalad and instead walking in step with Avery.

"Avery, would you be so kind as to use your all-powerful knowledge of thievery to steal that little water canteen off Kalir's belt?" Ajada asked sweetly, and was given the reply of an annoyed glare. Ajada rolled her eyes, remembering what Leo had told her so long ago: If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Ajada crept up behind Kalir as he talked to LinGalad worriedly. She was for once thankful for the darkness that Fangorn provided as she clumsily found the pouch that held Kalir's poisoned water. She was just about to untie the pouch when Kalir and everyone in front of him stopped walking. Ajada fell stumbling backwards at the sudden halt, but quickly pulled herself up and pointed at Kalir.

"You're trying to KILL everyone here so that you can CONQUER all of Middle-Earth! I can see RIGHT through you and your silly Elven friend, Kalir! Your smug expressions and your smooth lies will not get past me! I know you have the evil poison pouch of doom around your waist, and that is why Avery is coughing and DYING! No one here understands what I am trying to do! I am trying to warn them but they won't listen! How much clearer do I have to be with you people!"

The words flowed from Ajada's mouth in a powerful and loud scream, but her speech was cut short by another silencing hand from some unknown 'benefactor'. Everything had stopped and everything was silent.

"Do you hear it?" LinGalad whispered fearfully. Ajada rolled her eyes. He was obviously trying to distract everyone while he prepared the scene for their gruesome deaths!

"Hear what?" asked Kalir and Avery in unison, causing Ajada to roll her eyes at Kalir's feeble attempt to help LinGalad and Avery's stupidity. Could she not see the mutinee that was taking place before her? Perhaps the poison was affecting her.

"It is getting louder and clearer" Calentoliel murmured admittedly, ignoring the question from Kalir and Avery.

"Do you think they are that close?" wondered Endereth, her voice calm and unwaveringly confident as she spoke.

"No. They know we are here," said Mattius firmly and grimly.

"Let us hope that is not the case," Radagast cut in, his voice short and choppy.

[Mattius]

"Set a watch, we will change every two hours," said Mattius in the darkness.

"I will go first, if that is okay," came Kalir's voice from his left.

"Yes, wake me for the next turn," he replied.

After a time of nervous travelling within Fangorn the noises the elves had heard faded away and after some discussion, it was decided that a camp should be set up. Night had closed in quickly and visability was alomst impossible.

The group had grown quiet, even Ajada had stopped talking, if at least for the time being. The elves sat, listening for a sign that they were not alone. Kalir took first guard, for what is was worth- the black of the forest was impossible to see into, even LinGalad had trouble in piercing the gloom.

"You others should try and rest while you have the chance," Radagast started, "try and sleep, I will wake you if anything happens."

Reluctantly the humans, bar Kalir laid on the forrest canopy and one by one fell into uneasy sleeps.

Nightmarish visions of trees with arms ripping their friends apart limb from limb haunted them. A particular vision was Avery's and so horrific was it that she sat bolt upright and tried to scream; but no sound came forth.

Mattius held Avery's mouth with his right hand and with his left signaled her to be quiet. After she nodded he released her and moved close to her ear.

"Get up," he said, "they are comming."

[DayVampyre]

Avery swallowed hard, nearly terrified. She slowly got up, following Mattius' lead, trying to make not a single sound as she rose. Her eyes were wide, trying to see what was going to come from the darkness that was encrouching around them. Her hand went to her sword's hilt, but she didn't draw her sword just yet.

The dream, was still vivid and very real in her mind. The trees had been reaching out and advancing toward them and then began to attack. There were soon too many for them to fight and were killing off everyone in the party. Kalir and LinGalad had been the first followed shortly after by the elves. Radagast, Ajada and herself were still there. The trees then swooped down on Adaja. Avery saw her trying to fend them off with her sword but it was futile. Avery had tried to help but found herself glued to the forest floor. It was when they attacked Radagast that Avery had woken up.

Avery could feel herself trembling from fear, but was hoping no one would pick up on her unease. Mattius stood nearby and so was LinGalad. They gave Avery strength and she was able to steady herself.

[Child of the 7th Age]

The trees watched in silence as the Easterlings retreated towards their original encampment, which lay about a mile to the west beyond the meeting place. Once the procession had cleared a nearby ridge so that Brethil and the other huorn could no longer see them, the men reached for their whips and brands, locking the chains on Peachblossom and herding her into the caravan. Arriving at the campsite, most of the soldiers stowed their gear and stretched out on the forest floor with its cover of matted pine needles, rapidly falling asleep and dreaming of the riches they hoped to acquire from their raids. Only a few scant hours remained till dawn. At that point, Azunal planned to rouse the men to join with the trees and begin their joint trek of pillage towards the south and west.

Despite the late hour, Azunal and Saelonia were still awake, seated on a fallen log at the edge of the encampment as they peered at a large map of Gondor that was spread out on the ground. Most of their conversation was hushed, carried out only in whispers, but, every so often, they raised their voices and bickered over this strategy or that. Directly in back of the firepit, not more than a foot or so to the left, stood the trailer with the imprisoned Entwife.

"Watch your voice!" growled Saelonia. "That walking fruit salad may awaken."

Heedless of the need for silence, Azunel threw back his head and roared, his bellows of laughter echoing through the tangled brush. "No. No chance of that. She is bound in chains with great burns across her leafy brow. My men had themselves a bit of sport so that she dropped to the ground unconscious. We can talk without fear."

Saelonia relaxed her posture and observed, "The army should be here in short order. The Khan and his son called up the troops before we left. By now they should already be at the eastern rim of the Ashen Mountains, north of Mordor. We still have friends there who will aid us in our journey to Gondor."

Azunal grunted his approval, "We will not tarry long with our raids. Only ravage and burn to strike fear into the countryside and then swing towards the east to the meeting point where we join forces with the Khan.

"And where might that place be?" Salonia quietly probed, eager to have this important piece of information that might be put to later use.

Without thinking, Azunal casually noted, "The marshlands that lie north and west of Minas Tirith. At a point called the Wetwang or the Nindalf. A wet land near the base of the Rauros Falls, just off the Anduin River. A spot that is desolate and largely unguarded. Our army may gather there in silence with no one in Gondor suspecting that the enemy sits on her very doorstep. It is a brilliant plan. As long as no advance warning is given to these weak men of Gondor, we can not help but conquor. Our forces will sweep down from the north and strike a mighty blow against the city of Minas Tirith."

Saelonia smiled triumphantly as she revelled in the overall simplicity of this plan. Only a wise or reckless ruler would be rash enough to place his own army within sight of his enemy's back door. The Khan was a bit of both.

The troops would approach under the shelter of the mountains of Mordor and then sweep down across the Dead Marshes where no living thing dwelled, finally arriving at the Wetwang. Since the path would be bare and desolate, there was an excellent chance they would make it to the river without the King ever learning of their approach.

The eyes of the men of Gondor were ever fixed on Isengard and Rohan or the lower reaches of the Anduin. They would not think to keep guard on this wasteland at their back. But it was from here that the culminating attack would come.

"And you Lady? What will you do now?" Azunal queried.

"I will come with you as you begin your trek. But after a few days, my path lies elsewhere."

"Elsewhere?" The single word was spoken in a tone that carried an overwhelming sense of mistrust.

"Aye."

"Of what do you speak?"

She shrugged her shoulders and idly laughed, "I do not know. We will wait and see."

Azunal was not content with this answer, but knew better than to ask for more. With that exchange, the two Easterlings withdrew from the parlay and went their separate ways for the night.

[ September 06, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

The forest lay wrapped in darkness as Saelonia and Azunal retired to their tents on the far side of the clearing. The single sentry on duty patrolling near the edge of camp sat down for a moment to rest, his body perched on a log as he leaned forward listening to the chirp of crickets and the solitary croaking of a nearby frog. Their melodies intertwined and reached out to his mind like a gentle lullabye.

Once, he nodded, then twice, as drowsiness assailed him. He found his eyes growing heavier until they locked shut in sleep, with his body slumped wearily against the trunk of a nearby tree.

Peachblossom sat up inside her prison staring down at the chains encircling her wrists and ankles. Believing that she would never try to flee, her captors had left her hands free, but soldered the final links of each chain onto a thick metal bar that was set across the back gate of the wagon. The Entwife remembered the discussion she had heard through the window of her caravan while she was slumped onto the floor where the guards had haphazardly left her, deeming her to be unconscious. These were words whose meaning was readily apparent:

As long as no advance warning is given to these weak men of Gondor, we can not help but conquor. Our forces will sweep down from the north and strike a mighty blow against the city of Minas Tirith.

Peachblossom stared out the window of the wagon and shuddered. Innocent people would die, large numbers of them, unless she did something to warn someone about the Easterlings. She was stronger than her captors. That she never doubted. But they had always threatened to take revenge on her sisters if she ever attempted to escape. She had believed them and been afraid to do anything at all. It was the same way these evil folk had cowed and ruled those enslaved on their plantations.

Peachblossom recalled the other words that the man had spoken when he described the place where the armies of the Easterlings would meet to begin their assault:

The marshlands that lie north and west of Minas Tirith. At a point called the Wetwang or the Nindalf. A wet land near the base of the Rauros Falls, just off the Anduin River. A spot that is desolate and largely unguarded....

These words meant nothing to her. She had no map to look at, and it had been too many years since her kinfolk had last set foot near the Anduin. Yet something inside whispered a warning. You must tell someone, tonight. Someone who can help. Not even your fear for your sisters must stop you from doing this.

With a strength born of desperation, in one mighty jerk, she ripped loose the metal bar that had been placed across the gate. Heaving the crosspiece up into her arms, she slipped cautiously out the back of the wagon, her wrists and ankles still encircled with the chains that were soldered onto the bar. The shackles chafed miserably against her arms and legs, but she found she could go forward a little at a time, and carefully made her way out of the encampment and into the dark woods.

As she walked gingerly along the track, some ancient part of her that had been asleep for a thousand years revived and came to life. Something drove her on. Some instinct or feeling she did not understand. By the time the first rays of the sun crept out over the horizon, Peachblossom found herself on the edge of another encampment, this one much smaller than that she'd left behind.

She peered into the camp from behind a grove of trees and noticed a handful of travellers waking up around a smouldering fire, which one of them was trying to tease back to life not with living wood, but with the dead twigs the trees had shed onto the ground. Not knowing exactly what to say or do, but certain that these folk were the right ones, she blundered forward into the clearing, the chains and metal bar dragging heavily behind her on the ground.

____________________________________________

Brinniel's post:

The sun was only beginning to rise when the small group awoke. It was still quite early, yet everyone seemed relieved to pack up their camp, for none had slept soundly that night. Instead, each of them dreamt horrific images that continued to haunt them even after they had awoken. Calentoliel did not remember dreaming something so terrifying since the day of the Black Beast.

"We cannot remain here long," Radagast commented as Anarya fed the small camp fire dead branches in an effort to keep it burning. "The enemy draws near. We must leave before they are upon us."

"But what enemy is it you speak of?" asked Kalir. "Is it the huorns? Or perhaps something we do not know of?"

No one responded to his question, except Ajada, who whispered something rather harsh to him.

Kalier gave a large frown. "I am NOT plotting ANYTHING, I tell you!" He spoke in a loud tone, gritting his teeth with anger.

"Hush!" Mattius cried out, raising his hand in the air. He gazed into the distance, as if he had heard something.

All took heed of his word and suddenly, it was silent. Not even the slightest breeze could be heard. But the silence did not last long. Beyond the trees and in the direction Mattius was staring, heavy footsteps could be heard, followed by the sound of cumbersome chains dragging behind.

"Someone comes," whispered Avery, nervously.
"There is no need to point out the obvious," Ajada said, rolling her eyes.

Endereth put her finger to her lips, silencing them both.

The company did not move from their camp, but instead waited as the footsteps grew closer. After what seemed like several minutes (though it was only seconds later), a shape finally came into view.

It was a large, tree-like creature bound in chains and it held a rather frightened expression on its face. Calentoliel stared at the creature in awe. Her mind raced back to the stories Rothalle had told her of Fangorn. Her sister had adventured in this forest many times and knew much about this strange place and what dwelled here. And now, the stories became vivid as she gazed at the creature. Oh, if only Rothalle were here now!

"What is this...thing?" LinGalad whispered to her.

Calentoliel smiled. "She is an Entwife."

[ September 15, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[DayVampyre]

Avery whirled around as did Mattius and LinGalad. The creature had come from behind and nearly startled the skin off her.

Avery took a step foward, ready to draw her sword against the lumberingly huge creature, however, LinGalad's hand found her's and stopped the sword from parting with it's sheath.

She thought at first he was quite mad to not attack the giant, but after taking a second look at the tree-creature, Avery could see that there was no malevolent intent. Her hand fell from her sword and watched as it began to speak.

[ October 07, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Early light broke over the camp of Easterlings. The commander was awake and he quickly barked an order to the others to wake. Navru roused himself quickly and sat up, stretching and listening to his back crack. They would have to watch that wretched tree again today. Why they did not just kill it and be done with it, he did not know. It slowed their progress greatly. He did not even know why they had it. It served no purpose.

The commander ordered that they check on the sapling. Navru quickly rose and trotted over to where they had left the thing the previous night. Ataman would not even be awake yet, unless Bosha and Goman decided to wake up early and were now playing at home. They did not have to worry about the stupid hunk of firewood.

He looked around. The thing was not there. Navru saw the bar where it had been tied left a mark dragging along the ground into the woods. The tree had run away in the night.

"Ai!" Navru barked, "It's gone!"

The commander swore and strutted over to where Navru was standing. A few more men came over to look. The guard was still sleeping not far off. He snorted and awoke to find a very disgruntled commander staring at him.

"I just...wha-...what?" was all the tired man could manage.

The commander lost his head. He yelled at the Easterling, gesturing madly and using swearwords that Navru had not heard in a long time.

"Commander!" Navru said, holding his fist over his heart in salute and nodding his head quickly, "May I speak freely?"

The commander turned with fire in his eyes, "Yes, soldier? Be quick!"

"Would it not be more beneficial to look for the...erm...whatever it is? It cannot have gone far with that heavy bar. Also, it made no attempt to hide its trail. My guess that, at a quick speed, we may catch...erm...it...by nightfall this evening. At the very latest, that is..."

The commander looked hard at Nazru. "What is your name?" he asked gruffly.

"Navru, sir. Son of Bocte, son of Nevbosh, son of-"

"Yes, soldier, I get the picture," the commander said briskly, "Navru is it? Well, I put you in charge of the rescue team. If you do not, in fact, catch the prisoner, you will have to answer to me."

"Sir?" Navru said, "I am not sure it is my place to do such a thing." He nodded respectfully again.

"Soldier, you have your orders," the commander said, turning around and walking away.

Navru grunted. Ataman was going to kill him. She did not want him going anyway. With Goman and Bosha, she was so busy. But he had his orders.

"You! And you!" Navru barked, "You heard the orders. Now get moving."

He selected nineteen men to accompany him on the rescue mission. They scurried to get ready. Navru quickly packed up. They set out on the trail, the morning passing quickly...

[ September 21, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Peachblossom stood stunned in the middle of the circle, looking down at the small figures that now turned their faces up to meet her eyes. For a moment her heart dropped. One or two in the camp seemed frightened and were hastily reaching for their weapons.

Out of instinct, she drew back. Fear welled up in her heart. She had seen so much endless cruelty and violence, so many of her sisters threatened with burning brands, that it was hard to imagine these or any other strangers welcoming her. She had learned to expect the worst.

But then the little creatures stopped, and discarded their weapons on the ground as if to confound her expectations and fears. One or two cautiously came forward, holding out empty hands to show that they held no weapons and that their intentions were good. Still, she could not decide. Should she run away or stay? Perhaps, this was only a trick to ensnare her into their clutches. Perhaps the brands and chains lay waiting round the corner.

It was then that she saw the Elf. A distant memory flooded through her mind of misty tales repeated at the Elder's knee when she was just a strippling. Elves....those who gave us the precious gift of words. The ones who love the forest and would never wish the Ents or Entwives ill. She walked forward to the slender figure. How many years had it been since she had last seen or spoken with an Elf? She could not remember.

Then she bent down and talked, remembering to say her words much faster than she usually liked, since these creatures, just as the Easterlings, were very fond of speed.

"Please, master Elf, can you help me, as you helped my kin long years ago. I am hurt." Peachblossom thrust out one of her roots showing where the chains had cruelly chafed her and how the shackles were still attached. There were gashes in the bark and sap ran freely down her body.

"Can you remove these and tend to my wounds? Then I have something to tell you. I have risked much to come here" She looked over expectantly in the direction of the Elf and then nervously towards her own back wondering if she'd been followed.

[ September 20, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

Mattius gathered a corner of his cloak in one arm, making a fair-sized pocket, and began scooping up large handfuls of moss.

LinGalad cleared his throat, blinked through several tears and replied, "Yes, Lady Peachblossom. We will do all that we may. " Searching hurriedly for ferns, he found the right type, and began ripping them up by the handfuls, singing softly as much to soothe his own fears as to soothe the towering, wounded tree-creature. Endereth came forward with a cloak-corner full of grasses, spoke soothingly to Peachblossom, and called for water.

Mattius glanced at Avery. "The chains?" Avery began scanning the clearing. No hammer, no anvil, and no fire... her heart sank. But she searched all the harder.

Kalir came forward with his bottle of water, and Radagast took several bottles and went to a nearby stream to fill them, but with a snort, Mattius simply stepped to the stream and immersed his cloak-pocket full of moss. LinGalad brought the ferns, Endereth the grasses, and before long they had made a larger batch of poultice than LinGalad had ever seen before.

Radagast spoke with the towering enigma as the three elves busied themselves poulticing her wounds. "How will we bind the herbs in place?" Endereth wondered aloud, and was surprised to find Ajada at her elbow.

"Will this help?" She was holding out her precious package of reserve paper, glancing nervously up at the Entwife.

"Oh, Ajada. Yes. Yes, it will. We can put sheets of the paper over the poultice, and tie it on with some of these runners." Kalir looked where Endereth pointed, and began pulling up the creeping viney roots. They were soft and pliable, but strong.

Ajada waited as Kalir brought handfuls of roots, and held out sheets of her paper, one by one. Endereth smoothed the paper over the poultices, and then tied them in place with the roots. Peachblossom's running sap began to adhere to the paper and dry, adding additional strength to the drying paper.

Kalir studied Ajada, but she was focused entirely on the tree-lady before her. "Will you be all right?" she asked. LinGalad glanced up; she was voicing his own fears. The wounds were cruel and terrible. He kept singing.

Peachblossom turned her strange green eyes toward Ajada, and hesitantly and slowly replied, "I do not know, little man-lady. But I am beginning to hope so."

Ajada helped Endereth smooth the paper-edges against her bark, and Kalir thought that she was fighting back tears. He decided not to say anything.

"Maybe between those rocks, and maybe a sword..." said Avery, pointing towards two large boulders, and gesturing nervously at Mattius' sword.

"Not the sword, " groused Radagast. "All right, you young lads, gather round." He motioned Peachblossom toward the two boulders. They laid one of her chains across the larger boulder, and then Mattius, Kalir, LinGalad, and Endereth surrounded the smaller boulder.

"Not without me, " said Calentoliel, coming forward. Anarya joined her.

"You hold the Entwife out of the way, and protect her, " snapped Radagast in return. Calentoliel and Anarya looked up dumbfounded at the huge Entwife, glanced at each other and wondered how they were supposed to hold a tree out of the way of a rock. Before either Calentoliel or Anarya could think of anything, the boulder smashed down onto the chain, bursting it, and narrowly missing the Entwife as it bounced towards the stream. LinGalad dodged out of its path.

"Now what about the other three chains?" muttered Kalir.

[ September 30, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Now that they had managed to destroy one of the chains, those remaining snapped apart more easily, with the boulder cleanly severing the links and then bounding harmlessly away. Peachblossom's relief was evident as she spoke her formal words of thanks, "Your efforts are most welcome. I am deeply in your debt."

She gazed down at the poultices that had been so gently wrapped around her limbs and smiled wanly at her rescuers. Her eyes seemed soft and distant. "It has been so long since anyone other than my sisters has touched me with kindness. I can not remember when..."

It was Radagast who stepped forward and broke the awkward silence, extending his hand in friendship, and going on to voice the question that weighed on everyone's mind, "You are most welcome in our camp, Mistress Peachblossom. But I feel compelled to ask something of you. You speak of your sisters. Pray tell us where these Entwives dwell now, for it has been endless years since any news of your folk has reached our ears. Many evenings around the campfire, Gandalf and I pondered this mystery and wondered if any yet might be live. But however we inquired and searched for an answer, none was forthcoming."

Peachblossom looked crestfallen as a grimace of pain slipped across her face, "My sisters? They are many leagues from here. Far to the east. The place where we live is called a plantation. There we work day and night, toiling endlessly, to raise food for the armies of a powerful king."

"I can tell you little more than that for we are not allowed to roam freely so I know almost nothing of the people and the land, other than the cruel masters who rule over us. Ah, but yes, there is one thing... Near us is a great body of water called the Sea of Rhun which lies locked about with land on all sides."

Radagast and Mattius exchanged glances, but neither said anything. Peachblossom shook her head, "But I am not here to tell you of my sisters. I fear their plight is hopeless." She turned her face away and hung her head and then looked up with renewed determination reflected in her eyes. "No, I am here to warn you that your own people lie in danger. For my captors are raising an army. They intend to come and enslave your own cities and fields."

There were murmurs all around the campsite as those present pondered the meaning of these strange words. But before any could speak, Peachblossom recited the words she had memorized telling where the army was to march.

When she had finished, Radagast shook his head, "The marshlands to the northwest...those called the Wetwang or the Nindalf... A strange and lonely place, one where the enemy could indeed hide and then swoop down unnoticed on those who live in Minas Tirith." He shook his head and thought, wondering what could be done to warn the King and, even more, to save the Entwives dwelling near the Sea of Rhun."

It was Lingalad who cocked his head sidewise listening to the sounds of the forest and hearing noises that somehow seemed out of place for a quiet, sunny morning. He looked up suddenly, his eyes full of alarm.

[ October 08, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

LinGalad met Mattius' eyes, and Mattius listened, and his eyes hardened; Endereth and Calentoliel listened, and both quietly checked their weapons.

LinGalad wondered how they could remain quite so relaxed. From the sounds, he guessed that they were outnumbered. He readied his bow, breathing deeply to steady his shaking hands, and placed an arrow on the string, wondering how they would protect the wounded Entwife. She would be a formidable opponent if she was healthy, but to LinGalad she seemed wounded and weak. He glanced at Mattius again. "How shall we array ourselves?"

"What is it?" asked Avery.

"Warriors approach us, " he replied with a fairly steady voice. He suddenly wished he had worked harder at weapons practice. His heretofore placid and secure life suddenly seemed very fragile indeed.

[ October 08, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[DayVampyre]

Avery tried to squint out the darkness, trying to see the hidden foes, but it was useless. Only elves would be able to see the warriors that were inching closer and closer to their camp.

Avery wondered if they should dampen out the fire. Maybe it would help hide them from the warriors. She drew out her sword. Her dreams were rapidly coming back to her.

She looked over to Kalir, was he frightened, frightened like she was? She couldn't tell. She shook her head trying to get a grip on her fears and shake away the terror that was climbling up her throat and choking her.

She knew how to fight. She had grown up learning different ways for different situations and now was no time to begin shirking away. Besides, up until now, she had pretty much fought alone, there were others by her side now.

[Brinniel]

The small group waited silently as the noises came closer.

LinGalad readied his bow, his hands shaking, as Avery and Kalir both exchanged nervous glances. Anarya drew her sword and prepared herself as she gazed ahead uneasily. Ajada simply stood there, her eyes staring widely in the direction the noises were coming from.

Calentoliel felt oddly serene. It was strange she felt this way, when the others seemed so nervous. She glanced over at Endereth, Mattius, and Radagast, surprised to find the same expressions. Calentoliel wondered if perhaps this was because of their previous experiences together, after all, compared to the Black Beast, an encounter with a few Easterlings would be nothing. The four of them had survived so much together, and now they had the support of five more. Six, if they were to include Peachblossom. Yet, if their battle were to be so simple, why did Calentoliel sense that Death had already cast its shadow upon the group? And why did this feeling not bring fear into her heart?

Between the thick branches of trees, the first of the Easterlings could be seen. The first arrow was shot, whizzing past Mattius's head and into a tree. It wasn't until when the second arrow was fired that Calentoliel drew her sword.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Over twenty soldiers had accompanied Azunal that morning, making their way through the forest to the edge of the encampment. The trail of sap and crushed vegetation had been easy to follow, clearly exposing the path on which Peachblossom had made her attempted escape. The Easterlings now surrounded the camp and were drawing their circle ever closer, with bows and swords raised in preparation for the attack.

Azunal cursed the ill luck that had let the Entwife slip out from her make-shift cell during the night. Saelonia, who'd found the Entwife's trailor open and deserted earlier that morning, had ragged on him without mercy, swearing that he would hang if his men did not manage to retrieve the prisoner. He had little doubt that this threat was serious, for it was rumored that she had tricked the Khan with her schemings and had his ear in many things so that she could command him at her will.

Still, he had faith in the men who now stood beside him near the grove as he gave the signal for them to loosen their arrrows and march forward. Altair, the Khan's young son, had insisted on taking part in the expedition. And however sulky or arrogant the youngster might be, he had his father's heart in matters such as these and fought like an unchained beast. Azunal peered over towards Navru who now sprinted forward on the offensive, leading his men into the fray. There were few who could match his devotion to the corps or his skill in wielding the great curved blade.

No, all women be cursed, especially ones like Saelonia who were bright and conniving! By all the powers of darkness, he would not hang. He had faith in these soldiers and their assault. It would take only a few moments to strike down the poor wretches at this miserable campsite, and drag Peachblossom back to captivity.

In any event, Saelonia was being ridiculous. What harm could Peachblossom possibly do to them, even loose and stumbling around the forest? She knew and understood nothing of military plans but was like a child with limited intelligence, capable of being led. He grinned at the thought. A great, stupid child who would be recaptured and returned to her cell and punished for her willful rebellion. He turned his attention to the assault at hand, confident that this would be the first of many in which his men would prevail. He unsheathed his curved blade and sprang forward into the fray, intent on crushing those who dared to defy the Khan.

[ October 14, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Kalir saw the arrow. He muttered a curse under his breath as he saw the Easterlings approach. He had been hoping he would not encounter any real battling on this trip. Fighting was certainly not a strong point of his. He drew his father's sword and looked at the approaching men. They were dark. Kalir had never come across men that looked as these men. They looked cruel too. A shiver went up Kalir's spine as they approached. The others were all getting ready for battle too.

Kalir quickly counted the men that approached while trying to keep an eye on the arrows. There were at least twenty men there. And who knew if there were more in the trees. Kalir cursed again and prepared for battle. The groups clashed.

*******************************

Navru saw the group through the trees.

"It is the group we search for," he said quietly. The other members of the group gave him a hard look. They had been traveling for a good while, and many of them were footsore. They were all cursing the tree of course, as it led them into this. None of them really wanted to bring it back.

Navru gestured to the men. He ordered the few archers he had with him to prepare arrows. The main group pushed forward. At what he thought to be the right moment, Navru gestured to the archers. They fired and the group moved quickly towards the company. He saw the men, odd looking men they were, prepare for battle. The two groups clashed...

[ October 23, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[mark12_30]

An arrow grazed his cheekbone, and another ripped through his cloak. He loosed his own, which did not miss; he nocked another, and loosed it, and it lodged in the throat of an easterling, who staggered but did not fall.

He nocked a third, and glanced towards Kalir and the Easterling who had confronted him; LinGalad could not get off a clear shot, so he breathed a quick blessing on Kalir, and looked away. He found a third target, and shot; the Easterling fell.

Elation filled him, and he nocked a fourth, and glanced over at Avery. She was holding her own, but he had a clear shot at her adversary, and he took it. The Easterling fell. He gave a shout of joy.

It was followed by a gasp; his thigh had been hit by an arrow. His face twisted, and Kalir turned. Clenching his teeth, he nocked another arrow. Kalir began to back towards LinGalad.

Kalir's adversary saw his concern, and pressed him hard. LinGalad loosed his arrow at him, and it flew wide. The Easterling laughed, and Kalir saw another Easterling closing in rapidly on the wounded elf. He shouted a warning to LinGalad.

LinGalad hesitated: Arrow, or sword? But then drew, and faced the Easterling. Kalir arrived at his side, and now there were two against two. None of LinGalad's training had prepared him for this; he needed to avoid Kalir as he swung his blade. He clenched his teeth harder, turned slightly so that his back was towards Kalir, and fought in earnest. Kalir's opponent fell wounded, and then Kalir killed the other Easterling with a backstroke the next moment.

He had no time to celebrate. "Ajada!" he shouted, and LinGalad turned to see the scribe retreating towards the Entwife, fighting as best she could. The two headed for her. Kalir got there first, and fought hard. LinGalad paused, and returned to his bow and arrows, limping.

The melee was too close. He scanned and scanned, looking for a clear shot, and finally he saw one. Endereth's opponent staggered, with LinGalad's arrow in his shoulder, and Endereth stepped forward to finish him off.

He nocked another arrow, and turned, and saw that he had a clear shot at Mattius' opponent; his arrow sped, passing through the Easterling's arm, who cried out in pain. Mattius' blade flashed and the Easterling fell.

LinGalad's elation was short-lived. After passing through the Easterling's arm, his arrow had pierced Mattius' sword shoulder. LinGalad's heart plummeted as he watched Mattius stagger, grimace, and then master himself, and resume fighting.

Then an Easterling confronted him, and he drew his blade once more. Sick at heart, he braced himself. What courage he had felt was gone; he now was shaking and dry-mouthed. Gritting his teeth ever harder, he fought his rising panic. A minute later, his head clearing, he realised he had killed the Easterling. He shuddered, and then looked around.

[VanimaEdhel]

Navru ran into battle. He drew his sword and fought the man that faced him. The man next to him screamed and fell. Navru looked at the man in surprise. He had not intended anyone to get killed. He hoped it would be just another mission that would be completed without danger. This was obviously different.

Another man screamed and fell, dead upon hitting the ground. The archers continued to fire. The company seemed to be avoiding the arrows, though. Navru thought he saw a man from the other party go down. He hoped that the man was dead. The man, it was an Elf, in fact, rose again. Navru began to panic. This was not going well. They had to get the tree. If nothing, else, they needed the tree.

Navru heard a scream from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the archers begin to fall. A group had found the archers. This was not going well at all.

"Get the tree!" he yelled, "Get the tree and then run!"

Navru ran with the men towards the tree, attempting to fight those around them. Navru saw the injured Elf. He had to kill the Elf. If nothing else, he had to kill at least one member of the party. He did not know what other members had fallen, but the Elf would satisfy if all others were left unscathed.

Navru met blades with the Elf. The Elf was strong and met Navru's blade defiantly, if not a bit frantically. Navru tried again to no avail. He felt himself driven back. His panic began to increase as he could not get his footing back.

Sharp pain. Navru gasped. He could not take a breath in. He tried to inhale again to no avail. He rolled his eyes a little in pain and looked down. He felt the steel slide from his stomach. Air flowed into his lungs a little, but it did not seem to help. The yells of the men seemed more distant.

He saw Ataman. He had been one of the few who married for love. She was so beautiful. What was she doing now? She was probably doing the laundry with Bosha and Goman around her heels. Bosha was getting so pretty. She was only five, but she already looked as beautiful as her mother.

He felt the steel again. No, he did not feel, but he knew it was there. He felt sleepy. He closed he eyes. Navru knew his body hit the ground, but he did not care. Everything faded as sleep overtook Navru. As the pleasant darkness finally closed over his eyes, he saw Ataman beckon to him. He smiled and entered her arms and the darkness beyond.

***********************************************

Kalir saw LinGalad fighting an Easterling. The Easterling fell at the blade of his injured comrade. The Man had an odd look in his eye. Kalir shivered. It was almost as though the man was happy to die. He came to his senses and blocked the blows of another Easterling. He ran towards LinGalad.

"Come! You should not fight!" Kalir shouted above the roar of the rest of the fighting. He half-dragged LinGalad back. Adrenaline obviously flowed through LinGalad's veins, and he proved a formidable opponent to rope down.

Kalir and LinGalad reached the Entwife and stood with the others, attempting to ward off the Easterlings that ran at them, heedless of their fate.

[mark12_30]

LinGalad blinked as Kalir dragged him towards the Entwife. He was grateful for the compassion, but felt guilty about leaving the fray.

He need not have worried. The Easterlings pressed them hard, and Kalir had to let go of LinGalad and resume fighting. LinGalad limped along, with his back to Kalir, and fought as best he could.

His elf-ears picked up several sounds that to the man were lost in the confusion. One, was the sound of an Easterling's voice standing over the body of the man LinGalad had killed. "Navru! Navru!" the soldier cried, rage mixed with grief; and then the grief turned to a revengeful battle cry. The Easterlings took it up, in their strange tongue, and LinGalad knew the battle was only going to get worse.

The other sound began as a low moan from the Entwife, but the sound grew 'til it resembled an old, sad tree groaning and creaking in a storm.

LinGalad understood, but could not comfort her now.

He fought on.

[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Mattius]

The fighting had become intense, from all directions easterlings poured forth with arrows raining in without rest. Mattius unleashed Angmarth, who danced with pleasure at being used and flashed with dark blood. All around there were screams of their attackers but one shook Mattius to the core. LinGalad had taken a hit to his leg, an arrow had pierced him and the voice used for sweet elven songs, was distraught with pain and anguish.

Temporarily turning to see, Mattius watched as the elf managed to overcome the pain of his wound and carry on the fight. Just in time the one thousand year old elf turned back to see an easterling of some size race towards him from the trees. They exchanged sword blows and the elf seemed to be getting beat until an elvish arrow sped and pierced the big man's arm, giving Mattius the chance to slit the neck and break the jaw of his enemy. It was after he fell that Mattius felt the pain in his right arm, burning and freezing and the same time, he knew then it was an elven arrow. Fortunately not poisoned as the easterling's were.

Struggling he broke off the shaft as close to the end as possible, switched his sword to his left hand and battled on. LinGalad had managed to pierce him with an arrow, he would have to make a joke about it later and see if the minstrel would understand it.

[ October 30, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

The clash of swordplay resounded through the grove as Peachblossom reached out to toss aside one of the Easterlings who was bearing down upon her with a burning torch. Grappling him about the waist, she flung his body to the ground, but another swarm of soldiers again surged ahead, encircling her while holding aloft their hated firebrands.

Two giant strides towards the edge of the encampment brought her within arm's length of a rocky overhang on which rested a cluster of giant boulders. Bending low, the Entwife seized one of these and lifted it effortlessly to her shoulder, then darted forward towards her pursuers, searching for an opening in the fray where she could at least get a clear path to heave her rock. But there were so many combattants wedged into the tiny space that it was impossible for her to pick a target without risking injury to others who fought on her behalf.

With one final effort, she lunged out and grabbed a tree limb that had fallen to the ground, brandishing it high over her head and, with a howl, charged towards her would-be captors. Almost simultaneously, five torches came hurtling through the air, three of them thudding harmlessly onto the forest floor and two catching her full in the side. Terrible pain caught hold as the leaping flames seared her branches and bark, even spreading to her legs, which had already been sorely injured by the dragging chains and manacles. She leaned back hopeless against a great oak tree, feeling her trunk waver and slowly give way under the rushing onslaught of small bodies swarming over her like tiny ants atop a great mound.

One time, Peachblossom tried to rouse; her body lurching to the left, she struggled to rise, but then sank back in despair. All about her were images of death. Bodies lying amid the grass and bracken, other Elves and Men fighting on despite grievous injuries.

Her only purpose in coming here was to deliver a message that would save these folk from attack. Instead, she had brought violence straight towards them. And there was no reason for any of this to continue. She had delivered her message. The only reason the Easterlings now fought was to drag her back to the plantation. If she simply stopped fighting, if she let her body lie limp, they would return triumphant to their camp dragging her along and leave the Men and Elves to live.

With a certainty that what she did was right, Peachblossom let her head slip back and made no resistence as the chains and manacles were again locked in place. With the torches threatening her from behind, she struggled to her feet and let herself be dragged off into the forest back towards her imprisonment. Her mind reached out to the others with one last frantic message. Please, protect yourself. Rally your forces against the army from Rhun. And perhaps someday you may come and set my sisters free.....

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada shuddered each time she heard the clank of swordplay behind her. Her hands were protectively clutching the back of her head and neck, as she lay face-down against the forest floor. She was hidden by a large, fallen tree limb, and had scruched her body into a tight ball with her knees bent toward her chest. Any parchment the scribe still had lay strewn about in the clearing, and Ajada woefully wondered what she'd do without her materials. She had tried to fight bravely, really she had. But what could she really do with little to no fighting skills?

Ajada continued to scold herself as she waited for the battle to end. Ajada tried to pick up any of her papers that she could reach without releasing her body from it's cacoon, telling herself that master Leo would be ashamed of her actions. Not for cowering or running to the sidelines to hide; in fact, that was what Leo might have preferred in such a situation.

"A writer never leaps in on the action, but lets things occur naturally," Ajada began to recite Leo's words shakily. "A reporter must never become involved, emotionally or physically, lest they be biased or close-minded to possibilities of the future. Leo says..."

But Ajada did not continue reciting, for she noticed that all noise in the clearing had become dull, and soon there was no sound but the rustling of leaves under weary feet. Taking a risk by looking up, Ajada found to her relief that all the Easterlings had gone, but so had the big talking tree. Kalir and LinGalad were still there, but Ajada was onto their scheme and had naught to worry about so long as they did not leave her sight.

Ajada stood and began to pick up her papers, ignoring the clean-up work being done by her companions. While her companions were recuperating and tending wounds, Ajada was organizing papers and packing writing materials away. When she was finished all she had left in her hands were two pieces of parchment and a pencil that she had recovered from the dirt.

"What exactly was that all about?" Ajada demanded, ready to take down the exact words of anyone who decided to answer her (especially Kalir or LinGalad). Ajada sighed when no one answered her. "Was it all for that huge tree thing? The Ent?" At this comment a few of her companions glared at Ajada, as if ready to pounce on her. Others just rolled their eyes, some in pity and some in disgust or annoyance. Ajada wrote down each reaction.

"Well, metophorically speaking, we've gotten ourselves into some pickle!" Ajada exclaimed with an air of delayed dignity. "What, pray tell, are we going to do now, hmm?"

[mark12_30]

Kalir spared Ajada one glance before he turned to LinGalad, and began wordlessly helping him to sit down at the edge of the stream. "Wash it, " he said curtly, and LinGalad nodded.

Mattius drew near, and LinGalad blushed. "I am so sorry."

"Neither of us did a good job ducking, " Mattius smiled. "Wash it for me, please."

"Of course, " LinGalad said. "I'll poultice it, too, if--"

"Here, " said Kalir, and handed him several handfuls of fern, grass, and moss.

Embarassed still, LinGalad discarded the moss. "Moss only helps trees, " he muttered.

"And I am certainly not a tree, " chirped Mattius. LinGalad glared at him, and Mattius laughed.

"Very funny, " Radagast said. "But we've lost the Entwife, and we are no no closer to resolving our questions or taming the forest, are we?"

[Mattius]

The group took a quick look around, there were many dead bodies littering the forest floor.

"Easterling's by the look of them," said Mattius as he turned over a corpse revealing a fatal sword wound to the stomach, "this one looked to be leading them." Mattius looked over at the wizard, "The Entwife was not lying."

"Come, we must warn Gondor, I suggest we travel there immediately with all speed. We do not have time to answer the riddles of how the Easterlings have managed to capture so many Entwives and become so powerful."

No time to answer riddles, contemplated Mattius, was that not what wizards were born for? His thoughts were cut short when he heard a cry from Calen; she had found the body of Endereth.

[Brinniel]

Calentoliel froze in place as her dark eyes fixed upon Endereth’s broken body. Her heart dropped three feet and her stomach felt as if it had been punched with an iron fist. Calentoliel could see the many arrows protruding from Ender’s chest and knew she was fading.

Before any more doubt could take her, the elf ran to her friend’s side.
“Endereth!” she cried out in fear.
Ender’s eyes flickered a moment before opening. “Calentoliel,” she replied, squinting up at the other elf as she faltered a smile. Tears streamed down her dirty face and a froth of blood covered her bottom lip as she opened her mouth once more. “I feel so….cold.” Endereth’s voice wavered as she spoke. She blinked a couple more times, and then her eyes fixed, gazing blankly at Calentoliel.

The elf could hold back no more. She let go a sob as streams of tears fell from her face. Endereth was the one from the group she had known longest. It was she whom Calentoliel first met on her adventure in the Blue Mountains. Aside from Rothalle, Ender had been her closest friend. The two shared a connection that Calentoliel could not explain. And the elf could not understand how this connection could suddenly be gone. She felt as if a part of her had been stolen away. Over the many years, Calentoliel had seen several pass into the shadow, but never did she imagine she would have to see the same for her best friend, another elf. Grief mixed with confusion overwhelmed her, and for several moments Calentoliel was left weeping uncontrollably for her dead friend. She did not stop nor pay heed to her surroundings until she felt the hand of Mattius press down gently on her shoulder.
“Endereth will find her way to the Halls of Mandos,” he consoled. “There she will be reunited with her long departed friends.”

Calentoliel was distracted when she heard another grief-stricken cry. In the corner of her eye, she could see that another companion had fallen; Anarya, the young blacksmith who was always so determined. Others sat by her corpse and grieved for her passing.

Mattius’s grip on her shoulder tightened, and from that Calentoliel was able to find enough strength to pull herself back together. Brushing away her tears, she closed her eyes and began to sing softly in her own language. As she sang, it grew dark and the company could feel raindrops fall through the dense forest. Calentoliel continued to sing for several minutes before her voice faltered. It wasn’t until then that the rain ceased and all was silent.

Mattius’s hand left Calentoliel’s shoulder.
"Hiro îth ab 'wanath," he whispered. “May they find peace after death.”
Calentoliel nodded at his words as she stood up. “Namarië, Endereth Naurelyr,” she spoke, barely audible. “May you be happier in the Halls of Mandos than you ever were in Middle-earth.” Calentoliel then turned away and never again did she look upon the fair face of her friend.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Saelonia and General Narrative

Saelonia stood at the edge of the encampment, warily scanning the clearing ahead and the nearest grove of trees just beyond it as she strained to glimpse solid forms and figures through the dusky twilight mist. There was no sign of the men's return. Yet the scouting party had left early that morning and, by all rights, should have completed their task many hours before.

Already, the moon rose into the heavens and a screech owl sounded an eerie call into the night. At that instant, the sentry on duty came sprinting forward and made his way up the path to Saelonia's side, saluting her, "Lady, they come." He nodded and pointed towards the trees, but seemed hesitent to speak further and then drew back, disappearing into the woods.

In the distance, Saelonia could hear the slow clanging of the Entwife's chains and the muffled noises made by the returning soldiers. There was no victory in their steps. Rather, the procession made its painful way towards the camp with many of the soliders wounded, some carried in makeshift stretchers or leaning heavily on sticks they had wrenched from trees along the side of the path. Azunal rode at the front of the column, slumped forward in his saddle, and Altair followed close behind. Saelonia's breathing came easier once she'd seen the two men together for there would be no forgiveness or excuses if any misfortune had befallen the Khan's young son. Still, too many other soldiers were missing from the group.

Azunal pushed forward and dismounted, awkwardly going down on one knee, then staring at the ground and refusing to meet Saelonia's eyes. Wth much nervousness, he looked up to face her and began explaining what had happened, how the soldiers had tracked the Entwife to the enemy's encampment and had engaged in fierce fighting to destroy the band of Elves and Men. The enemy, he declared, had been utterly destroyed, with only a few men surviving and those so sorely wounded that they were unable to go forward or cause any further harm.

"Are you certain?" she pressed him. Her voice was cold and hard. "For we do not know what message the Entwife brought to them. And if they warn their own people, it may go ill with us. If any still live, they must be slain." For an instant, Azunal shifted his eyes away, but then turned back to face her, speaking in a voice as firm as her own. "They are destroyed, utterly destroyed, and will do us no further harm."

"Then our plans have not changed. Tomorrow you will lead the huorn in the direction of Isengard. Burn and pillage the plains of Rohan. Kill whom you must, but leave some alive to carry the message of who we are and that we will brook no denial of our claims. The King of Gondor will hear of this carnage and, soft hearted fool that he is, will come to the aid of the Rohirrim who have always been much in his heart. He will forget his northern border, forget the kingdom of Rhun that lies far to the east, and never see the Khan's army make its way along the Ash Mountains or through the Dead Marshes to strike in the heart of Gondor.

For the next several weeks, Azunal led his men along with a large band of the huorn into the plains of Rohan, never stopping in one spot for more than a day but driving speedily towards Isengard. Along the way, they launched quick attacks under cover of darkness, avoiding large settlements but burning and pillaging nearby farmhouses with little mercy. Farmers who were not afraid to battle the attacking soldiers found themselves powerless when faced with the huorn who fought with a madness and rage that struck fear into the hearts of all they encountered.

Mounted horsemen were quickly dispatched from Edoras to try and put a halt to the sporadic destruction. Rohan hastily forwarded a message to the court in Minas Tirith, warning them of the new threat to the West. The King of Gondor promised to send further aid as all attention focused on the lands west of the river.

Yet, on another secret trail, the Khan and a great army made their way westward along the northern border of Mordor in the shadow of the Ered Lithui. This band was a mighty one, far greater than the number of soldiers who had been sent out to Rohan. They met few travellers along their desolate route, and those they met were quickly killed. By this means, they came to the marshlands that lie north and west of Minas Tirith at a point called the Wetwang or the Nindalf. Their destination lay just off the Anduin River at a point near the base of the Rauros Falls. Although close to Minas Tirith, this was a grey and desolate land largely unguarded and mired in mud. With a small band of soldiers at her side, Saelonia met the approaching armies of the Khan and showed him the hidden spot that she had chosen for them to set up the encampment and prepare for the attack.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 10:42 PM December 24, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

General Narrative for Radagast & Co.

The nervous anxiety of post-battle had reached its peak when the group found two of their companions dead upon the forest floor. Endereth and Anarya had passed during battle; many tears were shed for them. Calentoliel wept and Mattius mourned for their dear friend Endereth, memories of past times with her flashing through their minds. Anarya, though not well known to any other person in the group, was mourned and spoken very highly of for her skills and ability to somehow be strong and gentle at the same time. Everyone agreed (perhaps some more reluctantly than others) that there was little they could do for the two ladies' bodies, but all spoke of hope for their souls. And so the crew began to depart the forest of Fangorn.

They trudged through the foliage solemnly and quietly. No one asked Radagast questions, no one spoke to one another, and Ajada had even put away all of her writing things. It seemed to be a mutual pact of silence in the wood which would be the unfortunate resting place of former companions. Radagast led the way with grim determination, with Calentoliel and LinGalad following close behind. Kalir and Avery took up the middle of the group, Ajada just behind them. Mattius brought up the rear with a hand upon the hilt of his sword. The trip back-tracking to Isengard did not seem long, either because they walked with an urgency driven by the information given by the entwife or because of the terrible memories and thing that had happened within the forest. Whichever it was, they soon arrived at the edge of Fangorn.

Kalir and LinGalad began to turn to the west, while Radagast led the rest of the crew south-east to make for the Great West Road and follow it to Minas Tirith. Radagast, Mattius, Avery, Calentoliel, and Ajada would attest to the King and inform him of the threat and the armies gathering in the north. Kalir and LinGalad were going to Kalir's home, near Isengard. Fond farewells and promises of reunions were exchanged and soon both groups were off on their seperate ways. Ajada turned away to follow Radagast without saying another word, but then she thought of something and called ahead to Radagast, telling him that she would be there in a moment. Then Ajada darted back to catch Kalir and LinGalad.

"Wait!" Ajada called, pulling her sack of writing materials off her back as she ran and they stopped and turned around. Kalir and LinGalad waited, eyeing Ajada with questions in their eyes. Ajada withdrew from her bag a large packet of papers, handing them to Kalir as she formed an explaination. "These are the papers that contain every single thing I've written down about you two. Every absurd observation and accustation and description I've ever considered reporting since meeting you. You can laugh at them and keep them or burn them, whatever you wish."

LinGalad and Kalir chuckled, sifting through the papers momentarily before packing them away for later. Ajada noticed her other companions getting farther and farther away, and with a slightly reluctant hug to LinGalad and Kalir, she ran back off to catch up with with her group. Avery looked at Ajada with unconcerned venom, but in little time she returned to sipping water out of her canteen. When Mattius asked if she was alright Avery nodded and said she just felt a little feverish. Few words were spoken after this as the group made their way towards the road.

They were anxious with an unspoken fear that they might be too late - that they were too slow - as they reached the road a couple days later. They traveled most of another day along the road, and ran into a large army of Gondorian soldiers late that very night. Radagast was able to get three horses from the kind men, and was also able to get information. It was not a surprise to Radagast when the leader of the force told him that Easterlings were tearing up Rohan's countryside. The wizard had more trouble trying to convince and explaining to them that the destruction was only a ploy for distraction from the Marshes. The captain refused the suggestion of turning his group back to Minas Tirith to go to the Marshes later, calmly explaining that it would be considered disobeying his orders.

In the end Radagast and the group left the army of Gondorian soldiers as they rode off to relieve and help the Rohirrim. Radagast sighed at this lost battle of words as he mounted his horse. Calentoliel and Avery shared a horse, as did Mattius and Ajada. Galloping off into the night, the group hastened to reach Minas Tirith in time before it was too late to save Gondor from the wrath of the Easterlings.

With their horses, Radagast and his companions were able to make very good time, and were at the gates of Minas Tirith in half the time it would have taken them to travel by foot. The guardsmen at the gate allowed the group entry into Minas Tirith without any questions or complaints, recognizing Radagast's title and the mission he had been sent off to complete. Soon the group was on its way to the court of the King of Gondor, King Aratar (a descendant of one of King Elessar's daughters) to imform him of the army gathering in the north.

Radagast held council with Aratar and his advisors alone at first, but soon the rest of the company was herded in to add to the findings and reinforce what the wizard had told the King. Ajada offered the drawings of the entwife and all the quotes (exact quotes and no less, of course) that she'd collected from the tree-woman. Mattius, Calentoliel, and Avery included and added what they knew, and soon the group was shooed away while the King and his advisors debated.

When the group was allowed back into the room, Aratar informed the group that the evidence was enough to convince him and his adivors of the validity and seriousness of the situation. One of the advisors assured the group that an army would be assembled for the purpose of exstinguishing the threat that the Easterlings had proved to be. Then the King dismissed the group, informing them that everything would be handled by the army now.

"But sir!" Avery cried out, and Aratar whipped around to face Avery. Avery bowed with respect and as an apology for the outcry. Soon all eyes were on the young woman, and with a strong, unwavering voice she continued her exclaimation. "Sir, we've come so far! Was it not our mission for you that we should uncover the problem in Fangorn and get rid of it? Well, we've found the problem, but we still have half a mission to complete!"

Radagast smiled warmly at Avery, pride glimmering in his eyes, as did Mattius and Calentoliel. Ajada was pleasantly surprised, passively wondering where the thief girl who didn't care had gone and who was the person replacing her. Aratar considered Avery's words, and after a time he agreed to her request and promised that the group would be allowed to continue on the journey with the army. Before dismissing them, Aratar told them that the army would be assembled by dawn the next morning, and that they would leave for the Marshes soon after dawn.

The next morning the army left Minas Tirith, crossing the Anduin at Osgiliath and travelling north towards North Ithilien. Passing through North Ithilien was the last time they felt remotely safe. As they passed the border into Nindalf their once-hopeful spirits dimmed with the setting sun, and everyone realized that, while they knew what area the enemy would be in, they had no idea where exactly they would be hiding. Light-hearted joking ceased and a pall of seriousness had befallen the army as Radagast led them farther west towards the Anduin and the Falls of Rauros.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:38 PM December 27, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]