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Palando · 04-25-2003, 06:05 AM

Halasan opened his eyes and gazed at the stars. The previous day had been a hot and cloudless one and even now he could feel the warmth from his sun burnt skin, the cool night breeze causing his skin to tingle.

He could not remember ever seeing so many stars in the sky, more and more layers seemed to reveal themselves as he stared. Strangely he could not see the furthest ones directly, instead they would play at the edge of his vision before disappearing as he sought them, as if they existed only in his imagination.

The boat gently swayed as it cut its path through the river’s dark water. The gentle breeze too weak to power the boat several of the crew had furled the sails and took it in turns manning the long punts, pushing the boat forward in unison. The feeling was calming and Halasan enjoyed immensely the floating sensation as he laid on top of the main cabin, arms crossed behind his head and with a thin sheet draped over him. He idly imagined himself floating higher and higher towards the sickle moon to drift free forever among the Ainur.
He sighed, and then sat up as the quiet was pierced by a deep, hacking cough. Looking round he could see Elenna hunched over, her face showing pain as another coughing fit began. She did not talk about it but Halasan and the others had noticed the coughing fits increase in frequency as the days had passed. The first day on the river had seemed to ease her somewhat, the cool air easing her chest. But today had been the worst so far, the cloud and rain departing to leave bare sun to burn down on them. Halasan walked over to the girl and knelt down beside her.

”Is there anything I can get you my dear?” The woodman asked with concern. Elenna looked up and Halasan could see she had been crying. “I’m all right Hal. Its just a cough.” He smiled and nodded before sitting down beside her. “What are you going to do if you find Kiatus and Catrina?” A deeper voice asked from behind him. Halasan looked round to see Tunar sat up cross-legged looking at him. “I will kill Kiatus and take my daughter back with me, probably to Dale. I have family there who can help me start again.” Tunar nodded his head, a sad expression on his face. “Why does it always have to end in death?” He asked, a touch of frustration in his voice. “Because it started in death you fool!” Halasan replied and felt his anger suddenly rise, spilling out over the wall of control he had spent days trying to construct. He wanted to hit the blacksmith for his stupidity, to bash into him the naivety of his words.

Suddenly his anger heightened senses heard a familiar noise on the breeze. “Down!” he yelled before leaping down over the prone girl. One of the punters screamed before falling backwards over the side of the boat, a black feathered shaft protruding from his neck. A guttural yell rose up from the river back and then the air was suddenly filled with arrows Another of the sailor screamed, clutching at a shaft protruding from his chest before collapsing to his knees and several of the horses were hit, causing them to rear up in pain. His anger uncontrolled now he stood and ran towards the side of the boat.
Haleg rose to his left suddenly and threw something at him. Instinctively he caught it before leaping over the side into the inky black water. Looking back briefly as he swam he could see the others leaping over as well and following him were Haleg, Azariah and Tunar.

Another hail of arrows fell about them forcing the swimmers to dive under. Surfacing again Halasan reached the river bank and was up on his feet. In his hand he now held a beautifully engraved long flat bladed sword. For a moment he realised that he could not see their attackers in the darkness, but then a beacon fire flared into life from a brazier that was raised upon a pole from the back of the boat and an orange light flowed out from the ship to bath the scene. Looking in front the woodsman could now see at least a dozen goblin kin running towards him bearing serrated swords.
He rushed in to met them. “For Gondor!” came a call from behind as Azariah leapt forward, his sword Nienna’s tear held high. Tunar ran along side clutching a great war axe, his face grim and lastly jogged the limping form of Haleg; an arrow shaft gutting from buttocks; his curses drowned out by the sounds of battle.

[ April 25, 2003: Message edited by: Palando ]

04-25-2003, 06:05 AM	#20
Palando Animated Skeleton Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: That place in your heart where from warmth flows and love grows Posts: 43	Halasan opened his eyes and gazed at the stars. The previous day had been a hot and cloudless one and even now he could feel the warmth from his sun burnt skin, the cool night breeze causing his skin to tingle. He could not remember ever seeing so many stars in the sky, more and more layers seemed to reveal themselves as he stared. Strangely he could not see the furthest ones directly, instead they would play at the edge of his vision before disappearing as he sought them, as if they existed only in his imagination. The boat gently swayed as it cut its path through the river’s dark water. The gentle breeze too weak to power the boat several of the crew had furled the sails and took it in turns manning the long punts, pushing the boat forward in unison. The feeling was calming and Halasan enjoyed immensely the floating sensation as he laid on top of the main cabin, arms crossed behind his head and with a thin sheet draped over him. He idly imagined himself floating higher and higher towards the sickle moon to drift free forever among the Ainur. He sighed, and then sat up as the quiet was pierced by a deep, hacking cough. Looking round he could see Elenna hunched over, her face showing pain as another coughing fit began. She did not talk about it but Halasan and the others had noticed the coughing fits increase in frequency as the days had passed. The first day on the river had seemed to ease her somewhat, the cool air easing her chest. But today had been the worst so far, the cloud and rain departing to leave bare sun to burn down on them. Halasan walked over to the girl and knelt down beside her. ”Is there anything I can get you my dear?” The woodman asked with concern. Elenna looked up and Halasan could see she had been crying. “I’m all right Hal. Its just a cough.” He smiled and nodded before sitting down beside her. “What are you going to do if you find Kiatus and Catrina?” A deeper voice asked from behind him. Halasan looked round to see Tunar sat up cross-legged looking at him. “I will kill Kiatus and take my daughter back with me, probably to Dale. I have family there who can help me start again.” Tunar nodded his head, a sad expression on his face. “Why does it always have to end in death?” He asked, a touch of frustration in his voice. “Because it started in death you fool!” Halasan replied and felt his anger suddenly rise, spilling out over the wall of control he had spent days trying to construct. He wanted to hit the blacksmith for his stupidity, to bash into him the naivety of his words. Suddenly his anger heightened senses heard a familiar noise on the breeze. “Down!” he yelled before leaping down over the prone girl. One of the punters screamed before falling backwards over the side of the boat, a black feathered shaft protruding from his neck. A guttural yell rose up from the river back and then the air was suddenly filled with arrows Another of the sailor screamed, clutching at a shaft protruding from his chest before collapsing to his knees and several of the horses were hit, causing them to rear up in pain. His anger uncontrolled now he stood and ran towards the side of the boat. Haleg rose to his left suddenly and threw something at him. Instinctively he caught it before leaping over the side into the inky black water. Looking back briefly as he swam he could see the others leaping over as well and following him were Haleg, Azariah and Tunar. Another hail of arrows fell about them forcing the swimmers to dive under. Surfacing again Halasan reached the river bank and was up on his feet. In his hand he now held a beautifully engraved long flat bladed sword. For a moment he realised that he could not see their attackers in the darkness, but then a beacon fire flared into life from a brazier that was raised upon a pole from the back of the boat and an orange light flowed out from the ship to bath the scene. Looking in front the woodsman could now see at least a dozen goblin kin running towards him bearing serrated swords. He rushed in to met them. “For Gondor!” came a call from behind as Azariah leapt forward, his sword Nienna’s tear held high. Tunar ran along side clutching a great war axe, his face grim and lastly jogged the limping form of Haleg; an arrow shaft gutting from buttocks; his curses drowned out by the sounds of battle. [ April 25, 2003: Message edited by: Palando ] __________________ To the Lands of Arda I fly, upon wings held aloft by the music of the Ainur. There we shall meet anon.