Darker Days RPG

[Glirdan]

Léoflic waited for Elfride to catch up. He had seen her talking to Hama and watched as Hama gallopped away swiftly. "What on earth is going on?" he thought desperately. "Of all the people that had to leave, it had to be the General."

He stayed in place until Elfride caught up. They then started walking a little slower than the others.

"Elfride, what is going on? Why is Hama leaving us?" Elfride than launched into the explanation of why he had to leave. "I see. Who knows, we may not need that backup. But it never hurts to be on the safe side." he said quietly.

He looked at Elfride and smiled. "Should I tell her?" he thought to himself. "Shold I tell her what's going through my mind?"

He looked back over at her and saw that she was looking at him. "Okay, I will. It's now or never," he thought, gathering up his courage.

"Elfride, there's something I have to tell you."

[Crystal Heart]

Something was nagging Mayonette's heart. Could it be that she had wasted so much time that she would never see her sister again? Would her husband abandon their child in anguish and she would have to raise her nephew? Would her beloved Thomas stay with her if that came to be?

Her mind swirled as she slowed her horse to a trot, turning to see if anyone else had decided to come. It was only Cordelia and herself. Garnae was taking up the rear.

"Well? Are they coming?" She asked the two of them, her heart dropping at the prospect that she would have to go this alone. She then saw Hama. She caught his eye. He gave her a curt nod and then rode off in another direction.

"Oh no. Hama is leaving us! Sandrina's doomed to her fate," Mayonette whispered, her face went completely white at the realization. She pressed her palm to her eyes, trying to keep back the tears. Hot rage filled within her. She took away her hand and grabbed her sword.

"I'm going to kill Samuel," she hissed. She twirled her sword once.

"Are you two with me?" She asked. She didn't want to head into this battle without knowing just who was with her and who wasn't.

[Cordelia Harrison]

Cordelia caught Mayonette's wrist and stopped her from twirling the sword once more. She recognized that glint in her eye. She knew that the words she had spoken were true. Samuel had no chance now. That was for certain.

"We are with you. But you raced your horse away! And with the map too! Allow us to go back. They are with you too. They have been from the beginning. Reign in your feelings and your fears and your hate, Mayonette. Be a true woman of Rohan. Save the rage for the battle. Now is not the time to go flying off the handle," Cordelia reprimanded.

[Crystal Heart]

Mayonette lowered her eyes and sighed. It was true that she had allowed her desperation to get the better of her.

"We took the path and we're only mere feet from the camp. We'll wait until the rest arrive," Mayonette replied. She sheathed her sword once more and sighed. What else was going to happen? Would the rest come after them? She only wished she knew for certain. Nothing was certain and it seemed that the more time they stopped and talked the further away Sandrina was slipping from rescue. She had already been gone for far too long. She didn't want to have to tell Sandrina's child that Sandrina was never coming home.

[Dimturiel]

Edhener was still riding alone, taking delight in the sense of speed, waitnig for his mind to rid itself of all thoughts and emotions, save only of that feeling of mad joy that he had come to associate with battles. He saw Cordelia ride past him. For one wild moment, he thought of overtaking her, but instead he slowed down. She probably wanted to talk to Mayonette without anyone intruding. And also, he prefered being alone with his thoughts.

So many things had happened in so short a time! He was beginning to understand the world more clearly, to see things that had been incomprehensible until then. Yet he found little comfort in his sudden wisdom. His young spirit felt startled of the things it was learning, things that those older took for granted and knew to be true.

Edhener pulled the reins, making his horse stop abruptly. He looked around him, expecting to see everything changed, frantically searching for something familiar that would comfort him. Yet the world had become strange, and the trees about him seemed to be whispering among themselves words in a language that he did not know, and also that he feared to understand. For the first time since he could remember, he hated being alone, and he longed for a human presence beside him, be it even that of one of his enemies. The entire Middle-earth seemed to be descending upon him, and he found all the things that he had done and wished to do bereft of their former glory and importance.

Edhener shook his head, trying to drive such thoughts out of his mind. He looked up at the trees that loomed, tall and ancient, above him.

"It is not true, is it?" he whispered, and his own voice startled him. "The things that are now in my mind, they cannot be true."

Yet he recieved no answer. The trees still stood there, dignified and immovable, as they had stood all those long ages that they had spent on that land. What cared they of one stray young soldier? What cared they of his desires and of all his brave deeds that he had boasted to have done? And why should they care of his despair and of his sudden terror? Why should they answer and comfort him?

Edhener lowered his head and drew a deep breath. He urged his horse to go forward, and he rode on, until he saw Mayonette and Cordelia in front of him. He stopped beside them, his eyes lowered, wishing to hide the gladness that he felt on seeing them, and knowing that he was no longer alone with his dark thoughts and the ancient trees of the forest.

[Mithalwen]

Elfride, there's something I have to tell you., Leoflic's words reached Elfride's ears but her mind made no connection as to what their significance might be.

"You do? " She answered barely pausing to add... " Surely it can wait a while ... the others are getting too far ahead - and they have the map and we don't! I must catch up with Mayonette and explain about Hama - she won't understand if she sees him leave - tell me later ". The woman gave him no chance to answer as she rode Leif forward along the woodland path after the others. The great grey's long and surefooted stride began to eat up the gap and Elfride turned her golden head to make sure that Leoflic followed.

[Cordelia Harrison]

Cordelia could see the worry within her friend's eyes. Yet, she knew Sandrina was in danger and that they needed to save her.

"COME OOOOON! WE NEED TO SAVE SANDRINA!" She bellowed in the direction where the rest of the company was staying. She hoped that they would be able to hear her.