Darker Days RPG

[Cordelia Harrison]

Cordelia was trying to keep herself from being afraid of the dark. Yet, it wasn't working. She sighed in relief when Garnae wrapped his arm around her waist. She clung to his arm, wishing vainly that all of this was over.

She turned and looked at him. What would happen at the end of this journey? Would she ever see him again? The thought scared her. She had fallen so very hard for him. If something were to happen to him she wasn't sure that her Rohan like resolve would be able to be maintained.

"I'm scared, Garnae. Please promise me you won't get hurt," she whispered to him softly. She shivered as a small wind moved through the trees.

[Crystal Heart]

Mayonette nodded. She would grant him mercy, but if he raised his sword to her or anyone else in their small band then she wouldn't take that lightly. She looked over at Thomas. He gave her a determined smile and reached over to take her hand. She smiled softly.

She turned to see the rest of their group come up behind them. Mayonette looked down at the map and nodded.

"Let's go," she said determinedly. They pushed their horses onward, past the darkness and the creaky trees. The group was silent as they made their way to the cottage. The darkness started to become more oppressive as they made their way. Thomas lit a lamp that had been hanging unused at his side. He held it up, allowing Mayonette to take the lead.

She looked up and could see the lights of the cottage only a half mile from where they were. She stopped the group and blew out the candle.

"Mayonette, what are you doing?" Thomas asked. She grabbed his hand to make sure that he wouldn't relight it.

"Do you see those lights? Those are the lights of the cottage. That's where Sandrina is. If they can see us coming then all hope of saving Sandrina is lost. We go in the dark. Keep close everyone," she commanded.

They inched their horses slowly through the darkness. Thomas led them off the main path, allowing them to come in from behind. As soon as they got to the edge of the trees they stopped. Mayonette motioned for them to be silent. She slid wordlessly down from her horse. She placed the reigns upon a tree branch and motioned for everyone to follow her.

They inched into the place, crawling on their hands and knees. They inched that way until they got to the wall of the cottage. Mayonette rested against it. Thomas gave her shoulder a squeeze and he looked over the window sill.

"She's in the main room. She doesn't look good. Elfride, she's going to need some help," Thomas whispered. Mayonette's rage filled her. She motioned for them to follow her. They crawled around the house until they were at the front.

"We're going to crash in. Swords drawn and everything. Let's go!" Mayonette whispered. She drew her sword and stood up. Thomas kicked in the door. Together as a group they flew in with their swords raised.

[Glirdan]

Léoflic drew his blade, the light of battle alight in his eyes. As Mayonnette gave the word to rush into th cottage, he rushed in right after her, anger pumping through his veins.

As he stepped over the threshold, he was bowled to the ground. He shoved his assailant off with a mighty heave and rose quickly to his feet, his anger continualy rising.

He looked at his assailant in shock and in recognition. "You" he cried. "What are you doing here, Nikolai!?"

"Ah, so you do reconize me Léoflic. Good, good. This way, you'll know the person who killed you and your new friends, if that's what you want to call them," he said, sneering evily at Léoflic.

"You kill me, we'll see about that! NOw, answer me, what are you doing here!?" Léoflic shouted, his anger always steadily rising.

"Come Léoflic, use your brain. I work for Samuel and I always have. Even when you were living with me. I had hoped that when I took you in, you would have been able to aid us, but I soon realised that that couldn't hapen and sent you on your merry way. Now, enough chit chat. Prepare to battle!"

Léoflic took his fighting stance, unaware of everything going on behind him. They rushed at each other, dust from years long gone by rising at their feet and creating a giant cloud of dust. There was a loud clang. The battle had begun.

They circled around each other, thrusting here, jabbing there. They ducked, weaved, jumped, parried...

Finally, they backed off, ready to collapse of exhaustion. Léoflic's anger had diminished and his quick-thinking started to kick in. He looked around and spotted his bow and arrows and an idea had popped into his head.

"So, why did you kidnap Sandrina?" he asked Nikolai. "Why did you kidnap her?"

"Because there was major money involoved, you foolish child. I did it for no other reason than personal gain."

"But why Sandrina? There must have been a resaon as to why you kidnapped her,"

"Whatever it may be, I do not know and nor do I care. Samuel payed me to kidnap her, not ask questions,"

"Well, there's a shame. You won't be able to enjoy that money you get,"

"And why's that? Are you going to kill me!?" Nikolai asked, laughing hysterically.

"In fact, you are!" Léoflic cried and an arrow flew through the air. For while he had been talking to Nikolai, he had inched his way slowly to his bow and arrows. He had quickly notched an arrow to his bow while Nikolai had been laughing and had let it fly.

Nikolai looked on in horror as death whispered in his ear. The arrow pierced his heart and he fell, dead.

"That's for Sandrina," Léoflic said, smiling weekly. And he fell to the floor, unconcious from exhaustion.

[Dimturiel]

When they were together again, they started making their way towards the cottage. No one spoke. Silence seemed to have descended upon the world, and Edhener thought that he would never again hear any familiar sound. The only thing that was still in his ears was the wind blowing through the leaves, if indeed it was that, and not the trees whispering to each other of the company that had now entered their realm.

Edhener glanced behind him uneasily. He had not forgotten the thoughts that had entered his mind when he had stepped into the forest. Nor did he feel comfortable among the trees, and whenever a branch thouched him, he thought it a response to his desperate question, a response that was little to his liking.

Edhener shook his head anoyed, wanting to rid himself of such troubled thoughts, thoughts that, he felt, had no place in the minds of brave warriors. And that was what Edhener wanted to be. He was actually one, but he did not yet realise it. All he knew was that whenever battle was at hand, the rest of the troubles flew from his mind, leaving only a sense of wild exhilaration.

Battle would probably be at hand soon enough. He felt that. He had felt it since morning, even in the light of the pleasant sun, when all were so cheerful. What if he had looked at the sun for the last time? What if he would never see his parents again, never see her again? What if...? But did that matter? Not in the least. All that mattered was for him to do his job well,and to fight as bravely as posible. And he would. Aye, the Valar knew that he would.

Deep in thoughts as he was, Edhener bearly realised when they reached the cottage. And now here they were, in front of it, at the last stage of their journey. Mayonette was ordering them to crash in. And then, all the worries vanished. So what if things would turn bad for him? He did not care. A battle would soon be at hand, and he-the young son of the bravest and most reckless people of Middle-earth-would do deeds to make his anscestors proud. And even if he were to die, he knew his death would not be unpraised, unsung. No, he would not let it be like this. Clutching his sword in his hand, firmly, but also lovingly, as if he was not holding only a weapon, yet in the same time a dear friend, he went after the others, his eyes now shining, as bright stars on a twilight sky.

[Crystal Heart]

Thomas flung himself into the room right next to Mayonette. He didn't have a chance to glance over at her. He prayed silently that she would be okay during this battle.

He slashed a man that came towards Mayonette with his sword held high. The man crumpled to the floor, screaming in pain. His eyes glanced around the room and saw Sandrina tied up in the corner. A rag was wrapped around her mouth. Her eyes were wide with fear.

A man stepped in his way of seeing her. He held his sword out. Thomas clanged his sword against the man. He pushed him back, knowing that this would be one of those fights that would end up in death. He took him swiftly, his old battle skills coming back to his body.

He knelt beside Sandrina and took the rag off her. He carefully cut her bindings. She sighed in relief when she was free. Her hand caressed her swollen stomach gently.

"Thank you, Thomas. You are my hero," she replied. He watched as her eyes looked over his shoulder. He looked and saw Mayonette locked in a dangerous fight with Samuel.

[Cordelia Harrison]

Cordelia crashed into the room next to Garnae. She swung her sword wildly, cutting the men near her. She kept Garnae by her side. She wanted to be with him in this battle and she didn't want him to get hurt.

She took down the first man that she came across with ease. Done with her task she noticed Thomas heading over to Mayonette's side. She then turned, but didn't find Garnae. She looked around wildly.

[Mithalwen]

Elfride was not a coward but she had no bloodlust eitherand did not attempt to be foremost as the group burst in to the cottage. She had not expected the onslaught to be so sudden, thinking that they might have scouted the area out and waited for Hama's reinforcements to arrive. forced Samuel men to negotiate. But that thought she realised was unrealistic. Zach's companions would have warned the others and they could not risk the effect further delay might have on Sandrina. The sooner they were all out of this dismal place. Though day had not yet ended in the open world, the fastness of the forest and the shadow of the haunted mountain meant night came early.

While Elfride feared that Samuel's men might take a dreadful toll in blood on the party she knew that such a small building could contain no great garrison and hoped their small number would be enought to contain them, and that they would be able to return Sandrina to her son. Only that justified the risk she was taking. She thought of her own son. She knew her brother loved Elfthain scarce less than his own children but the realisation that her son still needed her struck her as heavy blow. As she entered the room, sword drawn, she thought If I survive this, I will go to him - why did it take the risk of death to make me realise I should not be separated form him by choice, not yet, while he is so young?.

She her way over to the far corner where Thomas knelt by Sandrina, "Thomas - why don't you go and help Mayonette and I will take care of Sandrina?"