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Old 07-25-2004, 02:21 PM   #396
mark12_30
Stormdancer of Doom
 
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Dec 24: Nethwador

Nethwador paced his tall chestnut wanderer half a length behind Amroth, and watched the elf-king. A smile played about the king's lips; a fire gleamed in his eyes. Betimes he laughed, betimes he sang.

Echo seemed to burn with a smiliar purpose, for his ears were straight ahead, his nostrils wide, his eyes bright. Anon he nickered or neighed, or tossed his head and snorted; but ever his stride stretched southeast.

Nethwador knew the fire that burned in the horse, for sometimes it burned in him too; sometimes he could see the King's lady, glimmering, glistening, and as desirable as a joy long lost. He wondered when he met her, if he would fall in love with her too, helplessly, hopelessly.

But no; that place, he thought suddenly, was held in his own heart by lady Bella. He looked over his shoulder to see where she was, and puzzled; they had fallen far behind-- no, they had stopped.

Torn, he looked from the elves to the men; from Amroth to lady Bella. The distance grew. He hesitated. The red wanderer slowed, one ear forward, one back. With each glance over his shoulder, lady Bella receeded from sight.

Guiding the red wanderer iin a wide arc, he turned to ride back to lady Bella; but now his glance strayed to Amroth and Erebemlin. Sworn friendship! Lady Bella had no oath from him; Amroth did.

Gruff thoughts pressed in on his. He will not be angry, Erebemlin assured him.

The rangy red chestnut checked again. Frowning and half cursing, Nethwador turned him in another wide arc to go back the way he had come. Maybe Amroth will not be angry. But he would have a right to be, after all he has done. I will not be proven faithless even for an hour.

Face twisting and twitching in mixed resentment and determination, Nethwador's temper bested him and he lashed his horse with his reins; the burst of speed brought him nearly back to his lord. With a backward glance, Amroth and Erebemlin slowed. By the time he caught up to them, Nethwador felt bad for leaving Amroth, anxious over lady Bella, and anguished that he had needlessly struck his horse.

Amroth knew it, and looked back.

"Once again, I grow careless of my friends and companions. Erebemlin, any king would be disgraced showing such carelessness over his subjects! Let us return."

Now the three riders turned in a wide arc, and rode back to the men. Before long the could see the group of riders, and the two on the ground in their midst.

Last edited by mark12_30; 08-23-2004 at 10:46 AM.
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