[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Cartil heard Laurel’s muttered reply to Annunfuin. He drew his sword at this, ready for whatever would come next. The group edged towards the Swan Lady, clumping together in a single group. Footfalls could be heard, like thunderous booms ringing throughout the silenced group. Thagon took a step forward, listening intently.

“We cannot leave the children without protection,” said he. At that, Rudhchamion, Ohtaredan, and Herebrand darted off down the hall, and Cartil assumed he was off to act on Thagon’s words.

Cartil continued to edge backward, step-by-step. He was a bit nervous, for diplomacy was where his greater talents were. But sometimes, there is no room for diplomacy. Backing towards a column just left of where the Swan Lady was being protected. He bumped into one of the maids of the Swan House as he took his careful, nervous steps.

“Oh, forgive me, lady,” Cartil apologized hurriedly. He spread out his arms, hoping to protect the woman from whatever was raiding the Swan House. “We need to be careful, they are coming!”

As Cartil finished his whispered warning, arrows began to whistle through the windows of the chamber and door. Shouts and calls from the hallway became fully audible, and the former mumblings that had been heard became full-blown war cries. Cartil grimaced, and tried, but failed, to mentally count the many different voices he heard. Cartil lifted his sword, and spoke to the lady he had bumped into.

“Miss, perhaps you should run, and not look back. This will most likely get…ugly,” Cartil murmured, watching as darts and arrows flew past his viewpoint. He waited for his chance to dart forward and do something, like a child who waits for the right moment to hop into the rhythm of a jump rope.

Cartil had been so caught up with timing, that he hadn’t even noticed the woman he was trying to protect and help escape draw a dagger. Without warning, a great shout erupted from the mouth of the woman, and pressed against Cartil’s neck was the drawn, slender dagger. Another was pressed against his stomach, pressing hard.

“Drop the sword,” ordered the woman shortly. At first, Cartil resisted and stood silently and still. The woman seemed prepared for this, however, and simply pressed her daggers closer to Cartil’s neck and stomach. Blood trickled from a cut in his neck. After that, Cartil obeyed and his sword clattered to the ground.

~*~

Jess had just finished shooing a few other children home, and then went back over to a skittish Sparrow. She lit a torch to brighten the gloom that had settled over Alphirion with the night. The chill wind ruffled Jess’ rumpled black hair in passing, and one slightly stronger gust of wind would send Sparrow into a whinnying fit.

A little while later, Lanaey came galloping up on Drass to where Jesslyn stood, and dismounted quickly with all the usual Elven grace. She seemed refreshed somehow, as if a great weight had been lifted from her fragile shoulders. Drass and Sparrow grunted and neighed at each other, and then Sparrow turned away from Drass, backside towards Lanaey’s good horse. Lanaey opened her mouth to say something, but Jess suddenly became wide-eyed and pointed to one slightly hilly edge of Alphirion. Though black as the ebony night, movements and shapes could be easily seen through the trees.

“Wild men!” Jess cried simply.

As if they had heard Jesslyn speak, a tremendous roar became terribly audible to the two women, a great cry let out through the wave of riffraff warriors. Arrows spiraled down into the city, wailing and whistling as they either snapped silently to the ground or twirled into the roof or door of a home.

“The people! We have to get them out of here!” spoke Lanaey hurriedly. Jess nodded, and became terribly aware of her inability to stay calm under pressure.

“But everyone is practically asleep by now!” wailed Jess, trying to stay strong but ultimately failing horribly. “Where in Middle-Earth is everyone else? We have to save everyone! Eru, where are the other travelers?”

When Jess’ voice faltered, the archers of the Wild men began to use fire on the tips of their arrows.

[ May 30, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]