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Old 05-02-2003, 10:23 AM   #382
Airerūthiel
Wight
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The Long Lake
Posts: 228
Airerūthiel has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

Laitalathion had sneaked in, notoriously late. He had to creep through the crowds of people outside, clad in a black hooded cape and looking down at the red carpet. A rippling whisper travelled through the onlookers as he walked towards the door. The guards at the entrance made him feel sick with fear. He was terrified of walking in and then feeling a guard's hand on his shoulder. The expected monologue played in his head as he made his way to the seat he had been allocated.

"I know you! You were a soldier here once, weren't you? There was a Ranger of Ithilien back in the old times who looked like you. Théomer, that was his name - had two sons by some elven woman as I recall. Got accused of treason too; shame really, he was the decent sort. Hold on a minute - GUARDS! ARREST THIS TRAITOR!! NOW!!!"

Already he could feel the rope cutting into his wrists as his hands were bound. Sweat dripped down his forehead like a waterfall as he was forced to almost run ahead of the men who followed him with huge pikestaffs. And then there was the horrible, echoing bang of the cell door...

"Pay attention!" Unwittingly he had slammed into a very pretty young woman with dark hair and blue eyes. The way she carried herself told him she was a lady, but one who had seen terrible things in her short years. And was his imagination playing tricks on him, or did she have more than a slight touch of Elven blood about her? She looked familiar to him, although he had never met her in his life. And then it struck him - this was the mysterious girl from his dreams, the girl with his mother's eyes.

"I am deeply sorry, my lady," he said, bowing low. "Forgive me for asking so suddenly after my meeting you, but did you ever know of someone called Orowethwen of Mirkwood?"

The young woman nodded. "She was my mother's sister, who brought her two small sons to live in the house of my father Pennrod, close to the border with Rohan. Why do you ask this of me?"

"Because I am Orowethwen's son."

There was a moment of silence, and then the young woman gave a soft cry. Without warning she flung her arms around Laitalathion's neck in a warm embrace. "Cousin, my cousin!" she laughed through her tears of joy. "What has happened to you and your brother in all the long years we have been parted from each other?"

"You must make me the promise you will not hate me for what I did unknowingly." Bragolhirwen nodded, and Laitalathion continued. "I was forced to slay my brother - he was wandering alone in the borderlands of Gondor when I was in a scouting patrol. The officer made us go into hand-to-hand combat. I did not know who he was until I had killed him. Since then I have spent my time residing at the inn of the White Horse in Edoras. And what news of your life?"

"I have only had one adventure," replied Bragolhirwen. "It was in the caves of Cirith Ungol in Mordor, where my companions and I slew the great spider Shelob. Now I am roaming the lands of Middle-earth in the guise of a Ranger, trying to find another quest."

"Mayhap we shall journey together some day," said Laitlathion. "But for now, let us find our seats. I have missed a large portion of this presentation, but hopefully there are still some awards left to be collected."
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