Eorling Mead Hall - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Feanor of the Peredhil · 08-30-2006, 12:28 PM

Saeryn froze in thought, not pausing at all in stride. Surely not another? Surely not again?

"No, madam, we are not wed. It is a common mistake. I am aware it may seem fairly confusing, but my position as lady of this hall is nothing more than an apprenticeship of sorts. The lord has sworn my protection and he gives me work befitting my station while I live within his home. It does not keep minds from wandering or tongues from wagging, but that is our arrangement nonetheless."

Celuien · 08-30-2006, 04:52 PM

Garmund pushed through the brush, too eagerly wrapped in exploring the ruins to note the ease with which the vines yielded to his feet. Had he gone but a few feet to either side of his path, he would have been tangled in a deep overgrowth, untouched by any creature save maybe the squirrels and birds, for uncounted years.

The easy path ended abruptly in a screen of branches that hung in thick clusters before Garmund's face. He paused for a moment, puzzled. Had an animal made the path he had followed, it shouldn't have ended so quickly, and certainly not with this screen, which almost seemed to have been carefully draped in vines.

Garmund's excitement would not be stayed. He doggedly tugged at the branches and made an opening just large enough to allow Falco and him to pass. Garmund stepped through, and gave a sudden cry.

A round clearing stretched in front of him with a jagged stone wall at its center, curving into the remnants of a circle. Where the missing stones had fallen from the wall, they made mounds of earth and stone near the wall's base. All were thickly overgrown with the same vines.

But the ruin was not the only cause of Garmund's start. He ran to the center of the circle and pointed at the ground, where the remains of a campfire shouldered.

"Master Falco!"

The hobbit came through the screen of branches.

"Well, lad? Do you like the ruin?"

"Look! Someone has been here."

littlemanpoet · 08-30-2006, 07:11 PM

Falco and Garmund heard a soft noise of movement off to their right. A very large man came around a corner of the wall. He was dark of hair and his beard was unkempt. His tunic and breeches were ragged and full of holes. He leaned from the waist to the left, with a great burden on his back, apparently a burlap sack, tied around his neck in what appeared to be overly thick thongs so that his hands were free; they held nothing. His feet were bare and very thickened.

"My place this," he said in a gravelly, apparently seldom used voice. "Who be you?"

Folwren · 08-31-2006, 09:56 AM

Thornden in the Ruins

Thornden forced his way through the entangled underbrush, following the hobbit and boy as best he could. Soon after entering the thick growth, he struck upon a sort of path. It was hardly visible, to be sure, for the long, thin trailers of bushes and vines draped across it. But none of the stalks grew there, allowing anyone to pass easily with the growth brushing away from his legs as he went. Thornden felt almost sure that the other two had come down this way. Glancing to either side of himself, he thought they couldn’t very well have gone any other way. The thorns and vines were thick and prickly and would have been impossible for either Falco or Garmund to get through.

Walking quickly, he soon came to the screen of ivy and vines that cut forward progress off. He glanced down and saw the place where they had been forced apart to allow his two small companions through. He bent to enlarge it some, at least a little to give him some chance of passing through, and he froze suddenly in his action to listen.

It was a voice. A low, rasping voice. “My place this,” it said. “Who be you?”

It came from beyond the screen of vines, and the leaves were too thick to see anything through. Thornden quickly pushed and pulled away at the leaves and sticks to make the entrance a little larger before he forced his way through, bent over double. He emerged on the other side in a brief moment, squeezed and scratched. He blinked and pulled a prickly twig away from his face and hair. Then he looked up and once more he stopped all movement completely.

The stranger stood in full sight across the round clearing. Between him and Thornden near the exact middle of the space, Garmund and Falco stood, both staring at the man. The man’s eyes were fixed on Thornden, and Thornden’s eyes were fixed on him. They were roughly the same height, but in a single glance Thornden saw that beneath the tattered clothing, the man was broad and muscular.

As their eyes locked for a moment, Thornden saw a look of fear, and anger, spring into the man’s eyes. It was a like a fox who had been long hunted and finally, when it thought it was safe, caught up to again. Thornden’s breath caught in his throat and he remained very, very still. Would the stranger become violent and try to attack? If he thought he was cornered and in danger, he might try to defend himself without asking questions first. Would he speak again and give Thornden a chance to make it clear that they meant no harm?

Folwren · 08-31-2006, 09:59 AM

Medreth

“An apprenticeship! What fun!” Medreth said, smiling from ear to ear and laughing. “Put’s you in a fine way of things, doesn’t it? And it helps lord Eodwine, I’m sure. I can see where most people go wrong on their assumptions,” she went on thoughtfully. “Many people have too much time and don’t spend enough of it thinking well of people. I’m afraid I’ve offended you.” She looked half worriedly at Saeryn. The slight flush of red on her cheeks did not escape Medreth’s notice. There was a short pause. They came to the hall and Saeryn led the way inside.

Medreth walked forward, looking around her with great interest. Saeryn went on ahead several paces before stopping and turning, waiting for Medreth’s attention to come back to her. ‘This all very awkward,’ Medreth said to herself as her eyes traced the room. ‘Thornden, how could you do such a thing? Run off for goodness knows why when you knew I was coming! What I am to do, or say, and who am I supposed to talk to?’ She finally looked back at Saeryn.

“I’m sorry to have come so unexpected and add some burden to you,” she said. “I’m sure you must be busy, but I told Thornden I was coming and I was expecting to see him, then you wouldn’t have had to worry about me at all! But now he’s gone.”

Feanor of the Peredhil · 08-31-2006, 12:42 PM

"Oh please, dear, do not worry. I am neither offended nor burdened by you." Saeryn smiled, hoping that it would alleviate Medreth's worry. "I have several duties to fulfill today, but none immediately pressing and nothing of a nature that they could not be done while visiting or helping guests, or in your case and that of your brother, giving your relation to Thornden and my immediate like of you, friends."

Saeryn smiled again, leading toward the kitchen. She'd had a thought pertaining to the garden and wanted to hear Kara's thoughts on the matter. And to introduce new guests to the cooks first was only prudent, she thought with a hidden grin.

"Would you care to accompany me today? Or would you prefer to make your own way?"

Folwren · 08-31-2006, 02:35 PM

Saeryn’s simple and open way of speech quickly put Medreth at her ease again. She quickly explained that Medreth would not get in the way of her duties. “Would you care to accompany me today?” she then asked, leading the way across the hall. “Or would you prefer to make your own way?”

“I should love to accompany you!” Medreth replied. “We’ve hardly met, but I’m sure we’ll get along capitally together. Besides, I’d feel embarrassed and awkward if I walked around alone,” Medreth admitted. “First, though, please allow me to put away this riding cloak someplace. I’m quite without need of it now and the day is already too warm for it.”

08-31-2006, 09:56 AM	#4
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Thornden in the Ruins Thornden forced his way through the entangled underbrush, following the hobbit and boy as best he could. Soon after entering the thick growth, he struck upon a sort of path. It was hardly visible, to be sure, for the long, thin trailers of bushes and vines draped across it. But none of the stalks grew there, allowing anyone to pass easily with the growth brushing away from his legs as he went. Thornden felt almost sure that the other two had come down this way. Glancing to either side of himself, he thought they couldn’t very well have gone any other way. The thorns and vines were thick and prickly and would have been impossible for either Falco or Garmund to get through. Walking quickly, he soon came to the screen of ivy and vines that cut forward progress off. He glanced down and saw the place where they had been forced apart to allow his two small companions through. He bent to enlarge it some, at least a little to give him some chance of passing through, and he froze suddenly in his action to listen. It was a voice. A low, rasping voice. “My place this,” it said. “Who be you?” It came from beyond the screen of vines, and the leaves were too thick to see anything through. Thornden quickly pushed and pulled away at the leaves and sticks to make the entrance a little larger before he forced his way through, bent over double. He emerged on the other side in a brief moment, squeezed and scratched. He blinked and pulled a prickly twig away from his face and hair. Then he looked up and once more he stopped all movement completely. The stranger stood in full sight across the round clearing. Between him and Thornden near the exact middle of the space, Garmund and Falco stood, both staring at the man. The man’s eyes were fixed on Thornden, and Thornden’s eyes were fixed on him. They were roughly the same height, but in a single glance Thornden saw that beneath the tattered clothing, the man was broad and muscular. As their eyes locked for a moment, Thornden saw a look of fear, and anger, spring into the man’s eyes. It was a like a fox who had been long hunted and finally, when it thought it was safe, caught up to again. Thornden’s breath caught in his throat and he remained very, very still. Would the stranger become violent and try to attack? If he thought he was cornered and in danger, he might try to defend himself without asking questions first. Would he speak again and give Thornden a chance to make it clear that they meant no harm? Last edited by Folwren; 09-01-2006 at 10:34 AM.

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08-30-2006, 12:28 PM	#1
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	Saeryn froze in thought, not pausing at all in stride. Surely not another? Surely not again? "No, madam, we are not wed. It is a common mistake. I am aware it may seem fairly confusing, but my position as lady of this hall is nothing more than an apprenticeship of sorts. The lord has sworn my protection and he gives me work befitting my station while I live within his home. It does not keep minds from wandering or tongues from wagging, but that is our arrangement nonetheless."

08-30-2006, 04:52 PM	#2
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	Garmund pushed through the brush, too eagerly wrapped in exploring the ruins to note the ease with which the vines yielded to his feet. Had he gone but a few feet to either side of his path, he would have been tangled in a deep overgrowth, untouched by any creature save maybe the squirrels and birds, for uncounted years. The easy path ended abruptly in a screen of branches that hung in thick clusters before Garmund's face. He paused for a moment, puzzled. Had an animal made the path he had followed, it shouldn't have ended so quickly, and certainly not with this screen, which almost seemed to have been carefully draped in vines. Garmund's excitement would not be stayed. He doggedly tugged at the branches and made an opening just large enough to allow Falco and him to pass. Garmund stepped through, and gave a sudden cry. A round clearing stretched in front of him with a jagged stone wall at its center, curving into the remnants of a circle. Where the missing stones had fallen from the wall, they made mounds of earth and stone near the wall's base. All were thickly overgrown with the same vines. But the ruin was not the only cause of Garmund's start. He ran to the center of the circle and pointed at the ground, where the remains of a campfire shouldered. "Master Falco!" The hobbit came through the screen of branches. "Well, lad? Do you like the ruin?" "Look! Someone has been here."

08-30-2006, 07:11 PM	#3
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Falco and Garmund heard a soft noise of movement off to their right. A very large man came around a corner of the wall. He was dark of hair and his beard was unkempt. His tunic and breeches were ragged and full of holes. He leaned from the waist to the left, with a great burden on his back, apparently a burlap sack, tied around his neck in what appeared to be overly thick thongs so that his hands were free; they held nothing. His feet were bare and very thickened. "My place this," he said in a gravelly, apparently seldom used voice. "Who be you?"

08-31-2006, 09:59 AM	#5
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Medreth “An apprenticeship! What fun!” Medreth said, smiling from ear to ear and laughing. “Put’s you in a fine way of things, doesn’t it? And it helps lord Eodwine, I’m sure. I can see where most people go wrong on their assumptions,” she went on thoughtfully. “Many people have too much time and don’t spend enough of it thinking well of people. I’m afraid I’ve offended you.” She looked half worriedly at Saeryn. The slight flush of red on her cheeks did not escape Medreth’s notice. There was a short pause. They came to the hall and Saeryn led the way inside. Medreth walked forward, looking around her with great interest. Saeryn went on ahead several paces before stopping and turning, waiting for Medreth’s attention to come back to her. ‘This all very awkward,’ Medreth said to herself as her eyes traced the room. ‘Thornden, how could you do such a thing? Run off for goodness knows why when you knew I was coming! What I am to do, or say, and who am I supposed to talk to?’ She finally looked back at Saeryn. “I’m sorry to have come so unexpected and add some burden to you,” she said. “I’m sure you must be busy, but I told Thornden I was coming and I was expecting to see him, then you wouldn’t have had to worry about me at all! But now he’s gone.”

08-31-2006, 12:42 PM	#6
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	"Oh please, dear, do not worry. I am neither offended nor burdened by you." Saeryn smiled, hoping that it would alleviate Medreth's worry. "I have several duties to fulfill today, but none immediately pressing and nothing of a nature that they could not be done while visiting or helping guests, or in your case and that of your brother, giving your relation to Thornden and my immediate like of you, friends." Saeryn smiled again, leading toward the kitchen. She'd had a thought pertaining to the garden and wanted to hear Kara's thoughts on the matter. And to introduce new guests to the cooks first was only prudent, she thought with a hidden grin. "Would you care to accompany me today? Or would you prefer to make your own way?"

08-31-2006, 02:35 PM	#7
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Saeryn’s simple and open way of speech quickly put Medreth at her ease again. She quickly explained that Medreth would not get in the way of her duties. “Would you care to accompany me today?” she then asked, leading the way across the hall. “Or would you prefer to make your own way?” “I should love to accompany you!” Medreth replied. “We’ve hardly met, but I’m sure we’ll get along capitally together. Besides, I’d feel embarrassed and awkward if I walked around alone,” Medreth admitted. “First, though, please allow me to put away this riding cloak someplace. I’m quite without need of it now and the day is already too warm for it.”