View Single Post
Old 09-06-2003, 09:09 PM   #15
Elora
Shade of Carn Dûm
 
Elora's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kalrienmar
Posts: 402
Elora has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

Naiore

So many Rangers! Still, it would get no easier, not now that the hornet's nest had been stirred. Naiore welcomed the fall of night proper as it sank over the lands. The hours would pass soon enough. Vanwe's lodgings were in the stables. She has to come out soon enough. There was a moisture in the air. If she waited long enough, she would have the confusion of fog to add to her allies this night.

Naiore stretched muscles that had remained in position for long hours already. No outward sign of impatience did she give. She was a creature of discipline and formidible will. She could wait until the small hours of the morning to float in with the foggy tendrils and snatch up Vanwe. Then, when she had her bait, she could unfold from there. Kaldir, for example, would fall into her lap.

The very thought of that brought a smile as cold as it was perfect to Naiore's lips. She could finish what she started there. Leave what was left to be found. The shock of that discovery would be the first footsteps of the terror that would unfold, a terror she would bring. They would know, before the end, all too well why such misery was brought to them. The dreams of freedom and peace would be shredded. There were no such things and those who had destroyed her life would learn of it at her hand.

Naiore's mind circled back to the Rangers. Kaldir was only one, likely isolated too although the brotherhood of Rangers is hard to gainsay. What of the others... some were experienced and some were not. They were but mortal men, though... no match for her skill,blinded and bound by their delusions of honour.

Rangers were not the only presence at the inn tonight. The fog would not be her only ally. True, she could trust the fog more than she could the contraband thief... but then she could have use of him also if she was to get beyond the immediate surrounds of the inn. She had to make for Bree, and she would need supplies.

There were many hours before Naiore would strike and she was not idle. As she waited, still as a graven statue, her mind raced and wheeled through such twists and turns that her old Master would haven been well pleased. A sense of melancholy rememberance tempered her thoughts, sharpened by anticipation of what was to come, the new future she would carve out.


-----------------------------

Vanwe


As with most evenings, the sinking of the sun brought many through the Inn's doors. Outside at the hitching post a row of horses newly arrived waited to be installed into their accommodations for the night. Inside, the guests saw to their needs. The kitchen was busy and the bar was hopping. Fimbriel was filling ale tankards and glasses with admirable flair and efficency.

Vanwe could also see the heads of the two hobbits as they weaved from table to table. Aramantha carried platters of food that she gazed at longingly as she dropped each one off. Rowana juggled tankards and mugs with remarkable ability. Vanwe glanced at her barely touched glass and sighed. Devorin materialised in the press at her table.

"There you are," he said with a grin. "It's a busy one tonight!" He took a seat opposite her. "I've seen to the latest arrivals, Vanwe." Vanwe felt a flush of guilt, for it was she that was the assistant. She opened her mouth to apologise and found it waved away before she gave it voice.

"You can sort the horses out at dawn tomorrow," Devorin said obligingly. There was a tension in Vanwe's gaze that troubled him, yet she nodded.

"The very least I can do is find you some ale," she offered.

"Now that is something I will not deny," Devorin said, leaning back in his chair and glancing around at the Rangers. Something was afoot. Before he could question Vanwe further, the Elf was on her feet and heading towards the bar.

"Finished your wine already Vanwe! Lucky I remembered to water it this time," Fimbriel's quipped as Vanwe appeared behind the bar. Those waited renewed their orders for ale and the like at the sight of another. Vanwe started filling tankards and glasses dutifully.

"Devorin would like some ale," she replied over the din, or rather through it with her distinctive Elven voice.

"I'll bet he would, but I'm too busy to wait on him hand and foot tonight!"

"I said I'd bring him some," Vanwe said, setting a foaming tankard down in front of a Man. She ducked away from his gaze as he thanked her. No need to risk being recognised as her mother.

"Shy thing,' she heard him mutter. Yes, better he think her shy than her mother. How is it possible to be that evil. It could not be, no.... Vanwe belatedly realised that Fimbriel was speaking to her.

"- Drop these off on your way. Rowana is run off her feet and see if they are wanting food as well."

"Which table," Vanwe had to ask. Fimbriel looked in askance at her and motioned towards the table that a gathering of Rangers sat at. Vanwe swallowed hard.... it would be walking into the lion's den with no more than a tray and some ale to defend herself with. Amandur's questions unnerved her. He suspected her of something, she knew it. He reminded her of others, of Rohan sometimes. There was also the other Ranger she did not know but had been staring earlier. Hanasian... he was there, true enough, and he knew something of her that the others did not. But what was her word under the stars compared with his brethren.

"Are you sure you're alright, Vanwe?" She blinked and nodded uncertainly. Fimbriel passed her a tray with tankards for the table of Rangers and Devorin. With no alternative, Vanwe picked up heavy feet and made her way back through the room. First she went to where Devorin sat at his ease near the heart.

"Perfect," he breathed as she passed down the tankard. "Any chance of some food to go with it." Vanwe nodded and attempted to return his smile. Devorin had no idea what she was, who she was... but he trusted her nonetheless. With all these Rangers about, he may come to regret taking her in as he did. Assistants who are taken for questioning by the King's Rangers are not the most suitable employees.

With that thought in her mind, Vanwe turned to the other table. A lion's den... They were in close conversation that faltered as she neared. It was important to behave normally, Vanwe knew after her experience, but such things are impossible. Hanasian and Amandur both glanced up at her, and the other Ranger turned about. Questions, so many questions, and she could not answer them and did not even believe what few answers she had herself.

She set down the tankards onto the table. They seemed overly loud to her hearing, eyes averted.

"I can also bring you food if you wish. Cook has prepared dinner. We have a lamb stew with fresh vegetables and some soup from lunch still - pumpkin I believe. Fresh bread, honey and cheeses also.

Is anyone hungry?"

Amandur was studying Vanwe like a hawk and the impulse to dash away from table and inn was strong. She could hear her heart thrumming in her ears. Hanasian's hand drifted to his vest pocket, expression thoughtful and grave also. It was as Vanwe had thought. He knew of Amandur's doubts. She wished to wail that she knew nothing of her mother save that her mother could not be what they all said she was. It could not be!

Vanwe then looked at the Ranger she did not know. Curiosity seemed to be in his gaze. Of all the tables, why did Fimbriel ask the stable assistant to take the order from this one? As soon as she had done this, assuming she was not arrested on the spot, she would take Lespheria's key and go to her room. If they were to come for her, Haradians or Rangers, then they would look for her in the stables - the one place she would not be!

Vanwe's thoughts turned deep within her, a fatigue rising for she was tired of running. Yet, for the Rangers that sat at the table they saw only an Elf who waited for their orders and hoped they would wave her off.

Last edited by piosenniel; 05-11-2006 at 10:33 AM.
Elora is offline