Legacy of Traitors RPG

[Amanaduial the archer]

Something inside Atharen melted and for a second he seemed to be in a place far away from this hill... riding towards a house on the outskirts of the plains of Rohan. As he slowed to a trot, he shaded his eyes against the bright sun and watched as a woman came out of the house, fair and beautiful, the golds of her hair catching in the sun so she seemed to glow, celestial and idyllic. She smiled widely with a mystery that only Atharen could understand so well...

But it was only for a second. The ranger leant his head back against Crystal's, so he was leaning against her. She would age, he would not, yet the ranger knew that they would nonetheless grow together. "You make a fine choice, Lady Crystal," he replied quietly, happily. "And there is no choice I would rather make than to take that path with you, no matter where it will lead."

Reaching back, he felt for Crystal's hand in her lap and, as she took his, he squeezed it gently. "Thank you..." she said quietly.

Sighing contentedly, Atharen then let go and returned to the hillside, straightening up again and facing Maen from horseback where she stood, gazing out across the hills in the distance, her arms wrapped around her against the chill in the breeze and the cold of her 'failure'. "Lady Il Galoth," he said, a clear address. She didn't turn, but he knew she was listening. "Lady, I do not think I can say anything more than has already been said by these companions with whom you have travelled for the past weeks. Each from different circumstance, each from different origins...and look around and listen to us, Maen, and hark at this, will you? You cannot have failed: for all out differences, you united us in one cause."

"A failed cause, Atharen," she replied angrily, turning sharply, her face and voice bitter beyond her years.

"Maybe it was simply the wrong one, my Lady," he replied, quietly, calmly, then continued. "You say you have no reason to go on, Maen, but look at us: we are your way of going on. Oh, of course, the faces and the names may change: but your leadership skills will only mature as they do so. You formed us, for whatever reason, have united us, given us a joint purpose, and you have led us, Lady Il Galoth. And in a military family, in these still-changing times, that is your gift. That is your future."

Maen contemplated him silently for a moment, holding his deep, dark gaze for several long seconds. Then she seemed to smile, very, very faintly, so little that someone who didn't take quite so much care towards expression might miss it - but it was not lost on Atharen. Without another word, Maen moved towards Hittai - and even the fiery little horse seemed gloomy in the atmosphere - and mounted her smoothly. For a second, in his mind's eye, Atharen saw a glimpse of what she could be in the future: hair braided back, a sword in her hand, brandishing it towards an enemy, any enemy, a worthwhile cause that she would lead men against because she believed in it.

"Come - we shall return to Lysia's," she announced quietly, and although her voice was low and suppressed, still disheartened from such a crushing, the quiet, natural confidence in it was now obvious to all in the company. Atharen rode up to her side and, carefully, reached out and let his gloved hand rest on her shoulder, just for a second.

As they rode on, the rest mounting up again and following swiftly, Atharen turned his head fully this time and smiled at Crystal. "We all take our own paths," he announced clearly to the whole company, then dropped his voice so as only to speak to Crystal. "But better that we do not ride it alone."

[Eorl of Rohan]

“This was a fruitless cause indeed, but not something that yielded none at all. Let our camaraderie remain a peaceful remembrance, not that of distaste. We were united in a common purpose – although all for different causes, it is my belief. And that is the thing of import.” Ferethor put in mildly in a tone completely unlike his usual harsh and commanding ring, his gaze cast down.


And then Ferethor said quite innocuously after a pause, for he was feeling quite uncomfortable of the circumstances, “Back to your aunt, Maen? I don’t think that’s advisable, since I have to file out a report to Lord Elessar verbally about the death of traitor Il Galoth and...” His words trailed into silence, and after a pause he said somewhat lamely, “My colleague Lieutenant Aelimur and I would have to return to our duties in Minas Tirith. Therefore will you allow us to take our leave?” A dead pause, while Aelimur started and looked incredulously at Ferethor, mouthing soundlessly ‘Do you really have to declare out identity when everything’s over? Why not just keep it quiet? Maen might throw a fit, y’know.’ Ferethor ignored his imperative whisper.


“Not very surprising, as half of you know me and others must have all vaguely guessed.” Ferethor added with a wry grin, accompanied by a slight inclination of head as in the manner of a courteous greeting, “Captain Ferethor of Minas Tirith at your service, bearing orders from High King Elessar to seek Il Galoth the traitor and arrest him in the name of Gondor. Impossible to fulfill now, of course – my task is as not accomplished either.”

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Roryn dismounted and walked over to the tombstone. Maen was kneeling, Crystal was conforitng her, and Athern was conforting Crystal...he let out a howl of rage and swung his sword hard into the stone. The old and cracked rock split and shattered under the force, and the top half of the stone flew backwards slowly, shattered. Maen looked up and gasped, Roryn was clearly seeting with rage. "We trekked all this way, lost friends and kinsmen, and you're dead! You useless beast!" Roryn took his sword, still covered in dust from the smashed tombstone and drove it into the earth up to the hilt. He felt it push through the ribcage of a cadaver, and stepped away from the shallow grave. He mounted up and turned to Maen.

"I will be just over the ridge, I'll wait for you, keeping lookout should any bandits come." Maen nodded and looked back at the grave, the now smashed tombstone and the sword in the earth. A small tear escaped the corner of her eye and splashed onto the ground. she stood up and turned away from the grave...

[Crystal Heart]

As Atharen turned the horse away, she turned around. The man they had been searching for was dead. Maen had not gotten her revenge. Her friends new friends were now going to be going in separate directions. Ferethor had admitted to working for the King all of this time. As was Aemulir. She had been shocked so much during this quest that she wasn't sure about any of it.

She had learned to trust once more. She had learned to let go the past and focus on the future. She had learned that life moves on. These people had taught her that.

She had fallen in love, had found out that he in turn had fallen in love with her, and now they would head in their own direction. They would follow a path together.

She had no idea where the others would go or what they would return to. These people were her friends and always would be until the time came when she had to leave middle earth and embark on a new journey-life beyond life.

She was young. She had her dreams and now she had someone to share at least the path with for a while. She knew that she would never forget these people even if she never saw any of them again.

They had been brought together by Maen's amazing leadership. They had been brought together by the prospect of reward. They had been brought together by duty. They had been brought together by ordinary means. But the woman that lead them was anything but ordinary. She had been strong through the entire journey.

They had lost one of their own. Had come through hell and back to get to this spot and now they were riding back-onward to their new lives. The lives that everyone knew would start after the quests.

"We were brought together for different reasons, but we are now bound together with the thoughts and feelings of love and friendship. We share an incredible journey that none of us could ever forget. We have lost one of our own, but we have not failed. We did what we set out to do-find the traitor. We may not have been able to take him into custody or to have our revenge, but we found him and on the way we found out who we were and who the people in the company were. We became a family, companions. This is our legacy that we all share," Crystal said to the company as they rode on, into the distance.