The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

mark12_30 · 10-27-2002, 06:11 AM

Even as he realised who they had taken, Esta and the guards were gone. Gamba drew breath to cry out, but a large hand clamped over his mouth, and a sword was at his throat. "Don't be stupid. She's gone and there's nothing you can do."

It was the Study Guard.

Tuka had no such constraint, and he came barreling out to find Gamba. "This is your fault," Tuka raged. "You drew attention to her! They never would have chosen her if you had left her alone! You did this to her!"

Elder Tura came out and tried to subdue Tuka, but only succeeded when the Guard pointed his blade at Tuka. Azraph came timidly out, weeping, and Phura emerged from the study, as did Loremaster. Nobody else came out, although many eyes peered around the corners.

The Guard waved his blade at Azraph and Elder Tura. "Back to your beds. It's over." And then he hustled Tuka, Gamba, Phura, and Loremaster back to the study. Tuka numbly wondered why he was included.

The Guard made a show of waving his sword at the hobbits, and they submitted, and he lectured them quietly. "It's over, " he repeated softly. "There's nothing you can do. She'll be dead by sunrise."

"You know what happens?" Gamba asked, in a small frightened voice.

"Yes. And you don't want to know. Better to get there when she's dead, than anytime after the torture has begun."

"I could die with her, " Gamba replied, working up some defiance although he was shaking with terror, and the guard nodded wryly.

"No, Gamba, " said Phura, but dared say no more.

But the Guard gave Gamba's reply some more thought. In a couple of days, the inhabitants of the caves were going to be exterminated anyway. The boy could stay here and be trapped like a rat and die ignominously, or he could die fighting for his doomed girl. The guard nodded again, thoughtfully, knowing which way he would choose for himself, and looked at the little hobbit. "Do you mean to try?"

"Where do I go?" replied Gamba, still shaking like a leaf.

"You'll need to steal a horse, " he said. "Go out the side tunnel, past the graveyards, and bear left; and when you get to the pens, steal the reddish brown horse with the white face. He knows the way; he'll take you there. Mind that you turn him loose before you get to the temple. From there you're on your own."

"I'm coming, " said Tuka, looking at Phura.

Phura swallowed hard, and reminded himself that this was Esta, and how he would feel if it was Azraph; and despite being badly shaken, he replied, "We need you both. But now that you know what to do, you can't fail to go."

Both Tuka and Gamba looked Phura in the eye, and understood; neither of them were to throw their lives away; they were to return, and help with the escape tomorrow.

The Guard returned to his post, sheathed his sword, and looked straight ahead. Two shadows slipped out of the study, and melted around the edge of the main cave, and disappeared.

10-27-2002, 06:11 AM	#303
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Even as he realised who they had taken, Esta and the guards were gone. Gamba drew breath to cry out, but a large hand clamped over his mouth, and a sword was at his throat. "Don't be stupid. She's gone and there's nothing you can do." It was the Study Guard. Tuka had no such constraint, and he came barreling out to find Gamba. "This is your fault," Tuka raged. "You drew attention to her! They never would have chosen her if you had left her alone! You did this to her!" Elder Tura came out and tried to subdue Tuka, but only succeeded when the Guard pointed his blade at Tuka. Azraph came timidly out, weeping, and Phura emerged from the study, as did Loremaster. Nobody else came out, although many eyes peered around the corners. The Guard waved his blade at Azraph and Elder Tura. "Back to your beds. It's over." And then he hustled Tuka, Gamba, Phura, and Loremaster back to the study. Tuka numbly wondered why he was included. The Guard made a show of waving his sword at the hobbits, and they submitted, and he lectured them quietly. "It's over, " he repeated softly. "There's nothing you can do. She'll be dead by sunrise." "You know what happens?" Gamba asked, in a small frightened voice. "Yes. And you don't want to know. Better to get there when she's dead, than anytime after the torture has begun." "I could die with her, " Gamba replied, working up some defiance although he was shaking with terror, and the guard nodded wryly. "No, Gamba, " said Phura, but dared say no more. But the Guard gave Gamba's reply some more thought. In a couple of days, the inhabitants of the caves were going to be exterminated anyway. The boy could stay here and be trapped like a rat and die ignominously, or he could die fighting for his doomed girl. The guard nodded again, thoughtfully, knowing which way he would choose for himself, and looked at the little hobbit. "Do you mean to try?" "Where do I go?" replied Gamba, still shaking like a leaf. "You'll need to steal a horse, " he said. "Go out the side tunnel, past the graveyards, and bear left; and when you get to the pens, steal the reddish brown horse with the white face. He knows the way; he'll take you there. Mind that you turn him loose before you get to the temple. From there you're on your own." "I'm coming, " said Tuka, looking at Phura. Phura swallowed hard, and reminded himself that this was Esta, and how he would feel if it was Azraph; and despite being badly shaken, he replied, "We need you both. But now that you know what to do, you can't fail to go." Both Tuka and Gamba looked Phura in the eye, and understood; neither of them were to throw their lives away; they were to return, and help with the escape tomorrow. The Guard returned to his post, sheathed his sword, and looked straight ahead. Two shadows slipped out of the study, and melted around the edge of the main cave, and disappeared. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.