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Old 08-19-2008, 07:32 AM   #233
Thinlómien
Shady She-Penguin
 
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In a far land beyond the Sea
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Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.
Modtryth was inspecting an ale barrel that was leaking according to Frodides. She could actually agree with that, for there was a narrow ring of spilt ale around the barrel. Modtryth just couldn't see any holes or loose seams. She was used to working in noisy spaces, but the current crowd in the kitchen made her curious. Somehow, half of the people of the Mead Hall had found their way to the kitchen. The boys weren't present, though, as Modtryth noted with a satisfaction of sorts. They were practising like they were supposed to. Modtryth was glad they had turned out to be so hard-working, although she didn't quite approve of what they were learning. But she of course was in no position to criticise the Eorl's decision, especially as it was so staunchly supported by the boys' fathers.

There was movement in the corner of her eye. She turned, and Lčodern rushed to her. "I found more twigs!" the girl exclaimed in delight. The two of them had woken up early this day, eaten breakfast and gone to collect twigs. There never were too many of them, yet they were needed for the fires. They of course got a lot of twigs from the felled trees, but the wood was young and moist while firewood was supposed to be dry. Modtryth smiled at the girl, who had been surprisingly enthusiastic about the task. "Excellent. Do you remember where we put the ones we collected earlier? You could..."

"Your attention please, everyone, your attention for a moment!" a loud voice interrupted. Modtryth fell silent, her lips closed tightly in a disapproving manner. She had no idea what this guardsman called Lithor would say, but she knew he was one of those people she rather intuitively and irrationally disliked. The man was more than a little older than she herself was, but behaved as if he was much younger. If you asked Modtryth, judging by Lithor's behaviour he could be closer to Javan's, or even Cnebba's, age.

The man proceeded with some nonsense about everybody having worked hard to rebuild Scarburg. Sure they had worked hard, but did they need this braggart guardsman to tell it to them? Modtryth tried not to show her irritation.

Finally, Lithor got to the point. Although she had never been enthusiastic about games or excessive eating, Modtryth was delighted by the news of the upcoming happenings. People were usually on good humour during festivities and this was a company where there would be no drunken quarrels or where no talk of filthy Dunlendings would be initiated after a few pints. Or so she hoped. She was looking forward to the evening and was applauding and cheering with the others, but she couldn't help wondering why Lord Eodwine didn't make the announcement himself.

"I want to dance," Lčodern decided, bringing Modtryth's attention back to her. "I'm sure you can dance, and every single man in the Hall will be delighted to dance with such a fine lady." Lčodern giggled, but there was a thoughtful look in her eyes. Modtryth supposed she was thinking about her friend, Lady Linduial, who was now in Gondor.

"Anyway, Lčodern, what I was about to say was that you should take those twigs where we took the ones we collected just a moment ago. Also, I don't think your father knows anything about these festivities yet. You could be the first one to tell him."

Lčodern's face lit up with delight, she took the twigs and ran off. Modtryth was about to turn back to the leaking barrell, when she heard Frodides exclaim: "Ah, look who we have here!" To her surprise, Modtryth saw young lord Degas in the company of Lord Eodwine. She forgot about the barrel. This was far more interesting.

Last edited by Thinlómien; 10-14-2008 at 09:55 AM.
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