Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Orual · 05-03-2004, 05:57 PM

This was definitely not the way it was supposed to happen.

Suddenly everyone was riding away. He still did not have any information. This was most certainly not the way he had planned it.

"There is no cause for concern, and naught of our business should become yours, lest you be caught up in a chase as we are."

Caught up in a chase. Erundil whistled and his bay cantered upto him. The Ranger swung on, then started off to catch up to the blacksmith's friends.

mark12_30 · 05-04-2004, 08:49 AM

Raefindan, Mellonin, and Ravion planned watches for the night, despite Aeron's bemusement. The starry night passed peacefully, although Raefindan woke Ravion twice to point out something he thought suspicious. One movement turned out to be a fox hunting field mice. The second turned out to be an owl sitting in a low branch just over a hill.

Raefindan apologised.

"I would rather you wake me seven times too many than once too few, " said Ravion as he lay back down the second time.

Raefindan was glad the darkness hid his crimson face.

Ravion had the last watch and woke everyone before sunrise. He nudged Raefindan first, bidding him hold Jorje while he woke the rest. Breakfast was uneventful, packing was swift and he was content with their progress; at noon, they stopped under an elm tree overlooking the river, loosened Gond's pack harness, let him graze, and sat down for lunch.

Mellonin burrowed into her pack, and took out the pen and ink and parchment, and wrote for a while. Ravion was bemused, Raefindan spoke words of kindness and courage. Aeron and Gwyllion paid her no heed.

Imladris · 05-04-2004, 08:59 AM

"They camped here, my lord," said the man with the aquiline nose as he stooped over the ashes of a fire. "Though I have no ranger's skill, it appears they have but one horse among them, which means they will be walking."

The merchant nodded, and broke into a grim smile. As the servant heaved himself to his horse, he said, "We will have the boy by noon, no?" The servant nodded and kicked his horse in the ribs. The horses cantered across the narrow path, the thud of their hooves echoing dimly in the shallow dales.

They would slow their horses and trot them every few hours, every once in a while slowing them into a walk. "I love my horses," the merchant said, touching his black horse's neck, and rubbing it. "I do not want them injured or to become lame. The boy is not worth the price."

"I would have thought the necklace would have been though," the servant said.

The merchant sighed, persed his lips and said, "But no horses can replace this one."

Near noon they came to a river and the merchant saw a group of people underneath an elm tree. There were two men, a boy, and two young women. The boy was skipping pebbles on the river, a few feet from the main group. He was strong and wiry, and had an air of cocky confidence about him. "There is the boy," the merchant whispered.

The boy turned, saw them, and with a shout dashed away, following the river upstream. Driving his heels into his stallion's ribs, the merchant thundered after the the boy. The horse quickly gained upon Aeron, who swerved away and began to splash through the shallows of the river. With a grunt, the merchant hurled himself from the back of his horse and barrelled into Aeron, knocking into the river.

By now, the party under the elm tree had sprinted foward and the servant had dashed between him and the merchant, a short dagger drawn. The merchant, twisting Aeron's arm behind his back said, "I want to know why you took a known thief under your wing...and I want weregild for the merry goose chase you have led me."

mark12_30 · 05-04-2004, 10:21 AM

Mellonin quietly stowed her pen, ink bottle, and parchment, and drew her dagger. Raefindan nocked an arrow. Gwyllion was strangely silent. Mellonin glanced at her, and decided to stay close to her. Raefindan stood so that he could see both Ravion and the two strangers. At this close range, he hoped that he could injure the stranger long enough for Ravion to dispatch the other one and then come and finish this stranger off.

If Raefindan's arrow missed the stranger, it would find the sky, the horse.. or the boy.

mark12_30 · 05-04-2004, 10:48 AM

Mellon watched as the cloth was spread and the food was placed. He was not forgotten. Amroth's thoughts touched his, and he knew to sit and wait.

Nethwador. He thought, I am a young brother now-- the brother of a king.

Amroth was a good king, who kept Mellon-- Nethwador-- out of trouble. Being out of trouble was better. He hadn't been hit since he joined Amroth, and he didn't think he had been hunted.

Then Nethwador smiled. Mabe lady Bella was looking for him. Amroth said she might. He hoped lady Bella would find them soon. If not, he decided, he would ask Amroth to help him look for her. She could not have gone far.

At the foot of the tree, his chestnut neighed, and Nethwador looked up, stood, and went to the edge. Far below, two elves were caring for the horses. He returned to the food. Amroth broke a peice of bread, and gave him half.

Whether he would help him find fair Bella or not, he was a good king.

Imladris · 05-04-2004, 01:13 PM

Aeron struggled in the merchant's grip trying to escape. The merchant was strong and his hand clenched on his wrist, twisting his arm behind his body, pinning his arm to his back. Aeron writhed in pain, and crumpled to his knees. How had they caught up to him? He saw that the rest of the group had reached the merchant. Raefindan's bow was drawn and Aeron fleetingly wondered if he could hit anything with it. Gwyllion was there: her face white, and he could hear her short gasps for breath. Do not go into another fit....please do not go into another fit... Mellonin held a dagger in her hand and Ravion stared impassibely at the merchant and his bird like servant.

"I want to know why you took a known thief under your wing...and I want weregild for the merry goose chase you have led me."

Aeron gasped as he realized that the ranger would understand that the precious necklace belonged to these merchants. Fear swelled within him as he looked at Ravion. In one fell swoop, all the ranger's troubles would be gone. All he had to do was hand him over, along with Gwyllion, and then there would be no more fits to deal with, no more pebbles being thrown behind his back, no more obnoxious, mock duals to watch.

Orual · 05-04-2004, 06:36 PM

The day had started well. Everyone had risen early and they had made good time packing up, and now they were setting a good pace for the day. But Ravion knew in his gut that it would not last.

So he was not surprised when he heard horses in the distance while they were taking a rest. He stiffened and turned, and saw two men on horseback pursuing them. Who would be following them? And, more importantly, why? Was this Mellonin's brother?

Aeron gave a cry and darted off. The men were closing in on him fast, and though Ravion started off quickly and kept at a good speed, he did not reach them before they caught Aeron. One of the men, a merchant by appearances, tackled the boy and twisted his arm up his back. Aeron gasped in pain and fell to his knees.

"I want to know why you took a known thief under your wing...and I want weregild for the merry goose chase you have led me," the assailant demanded. He gave Aeron's arm another jerk for good measure, and Ravion, pulling out his sword, felt anger flare up in him. Why? Surely this was the merchant from whom Aeron had stolen the necklace. Where had his Ranger's sense of justice gone?

"You will have neither explanation nor compensation, coming at us with this hostility," Ravion retorted. "Approach us with civility and we may answer you. But for now, unhand the boy, for he is in my service and under my protection."

"He is a thief, and deserving of no one's protection," the man replied. Aeron looked up at Ravion, panic in his eyes. Ravion looked back impassively.

The man spoke truthfully. Aeron had stolen from him, and by rights should be in jail. Perhaps he deserved only what he was getting now. But the boy's eyes bored into Ravion's. He was down on his knees, gasping still, orphaned and alone and caring for his distracted sister. The merchant still had his arm in a vice-like grip and glared at Ravion, hardly even noticing the pain he was inflicting on the young boy. Whose offense was greater? Whose guilt weighed more?

"Deserving or no, he has my protection," Ravion shouted. He avoided Aeron's eyes. "I say again, unhand him, or I shall use whatever force is necessary to make you do so."

05-03-2004, 05:57 PM	#1
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	Rohan contingent: Erundil This was definitely not the way it was supposed to happen. Suddenly everyone was riding away. He still did not have any information. This was most certainly not the way he had planned it. "There is no cause for concern, and naught of our business should become yours, lest you be caught up in a chase as we are." Caught up in a chase. Erundil whistled and his bay cantered upto him. The Ranger swung on, then started off to catch up to the blacksmith's friends.

05-04-2004, 08:49 AM	#2
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	Ravion's Company in Anorien, morning of Dec. 18 Raefindan, Mellonin, and Ravion planned watches for the night, despite Aeron's bemusement. The starry night passed peacefully, although Raefindan woke Ravion twice to point out something he thought suspicious. One movement turned out to be a fox hunting field mice. The second turned out to be an owl sitting in a low branch just over a hill. Raefindan apologised. "I would rather you wake me seven times too many than once too few, " said Ravion as he lay back down the second time. Raefindan was glad the darkness hid his crimson face. Ravion had the last watch and woke everyone before sunrise. He nudged Raefindan first, bidding him hold Jorje while he woke the rest. Breakfast was uneventful, packing was swift and he was content with their progress; at noon, they stopped under an elm tree overlooking the river, loosened Gond's pack harness, let him graze, and sat down for lunch. Mellonin burrowed into her pack, and took out the pen and ink and parchment, and wrote for a while. Ravion was bemused, Raefindan spoke words of kindness and courage. Aeron and Gwyllion paid her no heed. Last edited by mark12_30; 05-29-2008 at 07:20 PM.

05-04-2004, 08:59 AM	#3
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	Angered merchants "They camped here, my lord," said the man with the aquiline nose as he stooped over the ashes of a fire. "Though I have no ranger's skill, it appears they have but one horse among them, which means they will be walking." The merchant nodded, and broke into a grim smile. As the servant heaved himself to his horse, he said, "We will have the boy by noon, no?" The servant nodded and kicked his horse in the ribs. The horses cantered across the narrow path, the thud of their hooves echoing dimly in the shallow dales. They would slow their horses and trot them every few hours, every once in a while slowing them into a walk. "I love my horses," the merchant said, touching his black horse's neck, and rubbing it. "I do not want them injured or to become lame. The boy is not worth the price." "I would have thought the necklace would have been though," the servant said. The merchant sighed, persed his lips and said, "But no horses can replace this one." Near noon they came to a river and the merchant saw a group of people underneath an elm tree. There were two men, a boy, and two young women. The boy was skipping pebbles on the river, a few feet from the main group. He was strong and wiry, and had an air of cocky confidence about him. "There is the boy," the merchant whispered. The boy turned, saw them, and with a shout dashed away, following the river upstream. Driving his heels into his stallion's ribs, the merchant thundered after the the boy. The horse quickly gained upon Aeron, who swerved away and began to splash through the shallows of the river. With a grunt, the merchant hurled himself from the back of his horse and barrelled into Aeron, knocking into the river. By now, the party under the elm tree had sprinted foward and the servant had dashed between him and the merchant, a short dagger drawn. The merchant, twisting Aeron's arm behind his back said, "I want to know why you took a known thief under your wing...and I want weregild for the merry goose chase you have led me." Last edited by Imladris; 05-04-2004 at 10:12 AM.

05-04-2004, 10:21 AM	#4
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	Mellonin quietly stowed her pen, ink bottle, and parchment, and drew her dagger. Raefindan nocked an arrow. Gwyllion was strangely silent. Mellonin glanced at her, and decided to stay close to her. Raefindan stood so that he could see both Ravion and the two strangers. At this close range, he hoped that he could injure the stranger long enough for Ravion to dispatch the other one and then come and finish this stranger off. If Raefindan's arrow missed the stranger, it would find the sky, the horse.. or the boy. Last edited by mark12_30; 05-29-2008 at 07:21 PM.

05-04-2004, 10:48 AM	#5
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	Lorien, Erebemlin's Flet. Dec 15: wild Mellon, now Nethwador Mellon watched as the cloth was spread and the food was placed. He was not forgotten. Amroth's thoughts touched his, and he knew to sit and wait. Nethwador. He thought, I am a young brother now-- the brother of a king. Amroth was a good king, who kept Mellon-- Nethwador-- out of trouble. Being out of trouble was better. He hadn't been hit since he joined Amroth, and he didn't think he had been hunted. Then Nethwador smiled. Mabe lady Bella was looking for him. Amroth said she might. He hoped lady Bella would find them soon. If not, he decided, he would ask Amroth to help him look for her. She could not have gone far. At the foot of the tree, his chestnut neighed, and Nethwador looked up, stood, and went to the edge. Far below, two elves were caring for the horses. He returned to the food. Amroth broke a peice of bread, and gave him half. Whether he would help him find fair Bella or not, he was a good king. Last edited by mark12_30; 05-06-2004 at 07:28 AM.

05-04-2004, 01:13 PM	#6
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	Aeron struggled in the merchant's grip trying to escape. The merchant was strong and his hand clenched on his wrist, twisting his arm behind his body, pinning his arm to his back. Aeron writhed in pain, and crumpled to his knees. How had they caught up to him? He saw that the rest of the group had reached the merchant. Raefindan's bow was drawn and Aeron fleetingly wondered if he could hit anything with it. Gwyllion was there: her face white, and he could hear her short gasps for breath. Do not go into another fit....please do not go into another fit... Mellonin held a dagger in her hand and Ravion stared impassibely at the merchant and his bird like servant. "I want to know why you took a known thief under your wing...and I want weregild for the merry goose chase you have led me." Aeron gasped as he realized that the ranger would understand that the precious necklace belonged to these merchants. Fear swelled within him as he looked at Ravion. In one fell swoop, all the ranger's troubles would be gone. All he had to do was hand him over, along with Gwyllion, and then there would be no more fits to deal with, no more pebbles being thrown behind his back, no more obnoxious, mock duals to watch.

05-04-2004, 06:36 PM	#7
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	Anorien: Ravion The day had started well. Everyone had risen early and they had made good time packing up, and now they were setting a good pace for the day. But Ravion knew in his gut that it would not last. So he was not surprised when he heard horses in the distance while they were taking a rest. He stiffened and turned, and saw two men on horseback pursuing them. Who would be following them? And, more importantly, why? Was this Mellonin's brother? Aeron gave a cry and darted off. The men were closing in on him fast, and though Ravion started off quickly and kept at a good speed, he did not reach them before they caught Aeron. One of the men, a merchant by appearances, tackled the boy and twisted his arm up his back. Aeron gasped in pain and fell to his knees. "I want to know why you took a known thief under your wing...and I want weregild for the merry goose chase you have led me," the assailant demanded. He gave Aeron's arm another jerk for good measure, and Ravion, pulling out his sword, felt anger flare up in him. Why? Surely this was the merchant from whom Aeron had stolen the necklace. Where had his Ranger's sense of justice gone? "You will have neither explanation nor compensation, coming at us with this hostility," Ravion retorted. "Approach us with civility and we may answer you. But for now, unhand the boy, for he is in my service and under my protection." "He is a thief, and deserving of no one's protection," the man replied. Aeron looked up at Ravion, panic in his eyes. Ravion looked back impassively. The man spoke truthfully. Aeron had stolen from him, and by rights should be in jail. Perhaps he deserved only what he was getting now. But the boy's eyes bored into Ravion's. He was down on his knees, gasping still, orphaned and alone and caring for his distracted sister. The merchant still had his arm in a vice-like grip and glared at Ravion, hardly even noticing the pain he was inflicting on the young boy. Whose offense was greater? Whose guilt weighed more? "Deserving or no, he has my protection," Ravion shouted. He avoided Aeron's eyes. "I say again, unhand him, or I shall use whatever force is necessary to make you do so." Last edited by Orual; 05-04-2004 at 06:49 PM.