Scarburg Meadhall - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 01-06-2011, 06:01 PM

Pushed himself too hard, was it? Sleeping death? Falco shuddered. That sounded like something out of the War of the Ring!

Saeryn spoke more brightly after young Javan put in his bit. It seemed the lad liked Eodwine well enough.

"Oh, don't you worry about my food! I was just paying my respects. After all, it's unnatural to both talk and eat at the same time, at least for sensible Hobbits! Not meaning to offend any Big People, mind you! But if I'm talking I'm not eating, and if I'm eating I'm paying full attention to my victuals! And so!"

With that, Falco set Léoðern back on her own two feet and laid into it again, letting them gawk all they liked.

But while he ate, he wondered about moving on to Minas Tirith. He stopped between mouthfuls, which was odd for even him.

"Say, have any of you a notion how long Eodwine is likely to last? I'd rather get to Minas Tirith with him still around, if you take my meaning. I'm not too keen on arriving just in time to watch a body-" his voice trailed off as Saeryn's eyes moistened and she put her hand to her mouth. "Um, that is, watch a body stay sick and not quite on the mend."

Nogrod · 01-06-2011, 07:06 PM

It was quiet for a moment. The two lords were looking at each other.

"Welcome to my hall, lord Athanar", Faramund finally said. He was clearly collecting himself to be relaxed and self-assured. "What brings you here on this fine autumn day?"

Lord Athanar studied the young lord a moment before answering.

"You should know it very well, Faramund, son of Friduhelm. You know the king has decided to build a Mead Hall to this part of the country to re-establish order and the rule of law around here. I don't know why he thought it that important, but I guess he had his reasons... and I'm here to find it out." He made a pause just to follow Faramund's reactions.

Athanar watched a smirk form on Faramund's mouth as he opened it to begin some retort. He chose to cut him off before he began.

"And I think you also know what happened to lord Eodwine who was to take the eorlship... and that you know I was appointed by king Eomer on his stead to be the eorl of Mid Emnet. At least you seem to know my name already?" He looked at Faramund to the eye with a thin smile.

"So, what do you think I'm here for?" he asked finally.

"We did make a deal with that woman already... what was her name... Saerin, something." Faramund seemed to be stalling, trying to find a way to save face. "So please tell me why do you call us again? Everything should be settled."

"We?" Athanar asked, like he was making a casual remark... and he did not continue, but stared at the young lord.

There was a silence at the courtyard. After a considerable pause lord Athanar broke it.

"What do you mean by "we"? Or "that woman"? Do I have to remind you that you are talking about the king's Mead Hall and your personal responsibility as a lord to the law and to your king? Or do you have some other structures around here to wield power?"

littlemanpoet · 01-07-2011, 11:03 AM

"What do you mean by "we"? Or "that woman"? Do I have to remind you that you are talking about the king's Mead Hall and your personal responsibility as a lord to the law and to your king? Or do you have some other structures around here to wield power?"

Lord Athanar was being curt with him, Faramund thought. It reminded him of his father; somehow the old man always put him in a posture of defense. This new lord was doing the same thing. Very annoying! But he was the king's appointed man, and therefore Faramund had better placate him or he might become a gnat in his ear like dear old pop.

"Forgive me, lord Athanar," he wheedled, "your Gondorian laden speech is lost on me. I do not know who struck what nor what that has to do with wielding power." He glanced to his side with a half-smile for his men, hoping they appreciated his half-respecting dig at this man's expense. He glowered: the fools were too afraid of him.

"In any case, "we" lords who visited Scarburg are the "we", of course, and I think you know the woman better than I. I mean no offense for forgetting her name. Far be it from me to stand in the way of the king's business. How can I be of-" he paused, half bowing with an ingratiating smirk, "-service?"

Nogrod · 01-07-2011, 05:24 PM

Garmund and Cnebba had been listening to the adults' discussion in a remarkable feat of quietness for them. But now they just couldn't hold their horses.

"Master Falco, can we come to Minas Tirith with you?" Garmund asked excited, pulling the hobbit from the sleeve.

"We needn't bother our parents about it!" Cnebba begged, looking at Falco with his dashingly bright young boy's eyes. "Pleeease?"

At the same time the door opened. Stigend and Garstan came in to have something hot to drink as they had been working outside for hours in the cold.

"Well this is news!" Garstan yelled immediately seeing Falco.

"If that is our good old Falco..." Stigend stated, smiling warmly as they both went to greet the hobbit.

"Now, have you been teasing Mr. Falco again boys?" Garstan asked heartily after shaking hands with the hobbit. But something in the reservedness of the boys countenance told them both there was something the kids were hiding.

Stigend stopped on his feet. "I know that face Cnebba... what is it?" He raised his eyes to meet Falco's with curiosity. "Might you be the key to this mystery, Falco?"

Nogrod · 01-07-2011, 05:49 PM

Lord Athanar looked at the foolery and felt his blood pressure rising. He was pressing the reins so hard his knuckles turned white. But he managed to keep himself more or less calm.

"Let's start with you behaving like a lord should!" He said in a commanding voice.

"Get my men something to eat and drink, like a lord should honour any guests, not to speak their eorl. And we Faramund... we should talk." He made a short pause.

"Speaking of which... I'd like to see your father Friduhelm as well. I'd like to meet that old war-horse. It's been a while our paths have crossed." With that he unmounted his horse and set his helmet on the knob of the saddle. "And something for the horses..."

Thornden had followed lord Athanar and had unmounted too.

Coen looked at his lord questioningly, but Athanar just wawed to him to stay mounted with the men until it was settled.

littlemanpoet · 01-07-2011, 06:53 PM

"It seems, Master Stigend, that these boys wish to stow themselves in my luggage should I be on my way to Minas Tirith."

He looked at the two youngsters whose countenances registered frank betrayal. He could almost read their minds: he's nothing but another adult!

"Now now, boys, don't look at me like that!" he grinned. "Who says I'm even going to Minas Tirith? And even if I do, I'm not altogether sure you'd be so pleased when I put you to work making my six meals a day while I take care of all our other needs. Do you like to do kitchen work, boys? The care and feeding of a hobbit is a demanding task!"

01-06-2011, 06:01 PM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Falco Pushed himself too hard, was it? Sleeping death? Falco shuddered. That sounded like something out of the War of the Ring! Saeryn spoke more brightly after young Javan put in his bit. It seemed the lad liked Eodwine well enough. "Oh, don't you worry about my food! I was just paying my respects. After all, it's unnatural to both talk and eat at the same time, at least for sensible Hobbits! Not meaning to offend any Big People, mind you! But if I'm talking I'm not eating, and if I'm eating I'm paying full attention to my victuals! And so!" With that, Falco set Léoðern back on her own two feet and laid into it again, letting them gawk all they liked. But while he ate, he wondered about moving on to Minas Tirith. He stopped between mouthfuls, which was odd for even him. "Say, have any of you a notion how long Eodwine is likely to last? I'd rather get to Minas Tirith with him still around, if you take my meaning. I'm not too keen on arriving just in time to watch a body-" his voice trailed off as Saeryn's eyes moistened and she put her hand to her mouth. "Um, that is, watch a body stay sick and not quite on the mend."

01-06-2011, 07:06 PM	#2
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	At Faramund's hall It was quiet for a moment. The two lords were looking at each other. "Welcome to my hall, lord Athanar", Faramund finally said. He was clearly collecting himself to be relaxed and self-assured. "What brings you here on this fine autumn day?" Lord Athanar studied the young lord a moment before answering. "You should know it very well, Faramund, son of Friduhelm. You know the king has decided to build a Mead Hall to this part of the country to re-establish order and the rule of law around here. I don't know why he thought it that important, but I guess he had his reasons... and I'm here to find it out." He made a pause just to follow Faramund's reactions. Athanar watched a smirk form on Faramund's mouth as he opened it to begin some retort. He chose to cut him off before he began. "And I think you also know what happened to lord Eodwine who was to take the eorlship... and that you know I was appointed by king Eomer on his stead to be the eorl of Mid Emnet. At least you seem to know my name already?" He looked at Faramund to the eye with a thin smile. "So, what do you think I'm here for?" he asked finally. "We did make a deal with that woman already... what was her name... Saerin, something." Faramund seemed to be stalling, trying to find a way to save face. "So please tell me why do you call us again? Everything should be settled." "We?" Athanar asked, like he was making a casual remark... and he did not continue, but stared at the young lord. There was a silence at the courtyard. After a considerable pause lord Athanar broke it. "What do you mean by "we"? Or "that woman"? Do I have to remind you that you are talking about the king's Mead Hall and your personal responsibility as a lord to the law and to your king? Or do you have some other structures around here to wield power?" Last edited by Nogrod; 01-07-2011 at 07:12 PM.

01-07-2011, 11:03 AM	#3
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Faramund "What do you mean by "we"? Or "that woman"? Do I have to remind you that you are talking about the king's Mead Hall and your personal responsibility as a lord to the law and to your king? Or do you have some other structures around here to wield power?" Lord Athanar was being curt with him, Faramund thought. It reminded him of his father; somehow the old man always put him in a posture of defense. This new lord was doing the same thing. Very annoying! But he was the king's appointed man, and therefore Faramund had better placate him or he might become a gnat in his ear like dear old pop. "Forgive me, lord Athanar," he wheedled, "your Gondorian laden speech is lost on me. I do not know who struck what nor what that has to do with wielding power." He glanced to his side with a half-smile for his men, hoping they appreciated his half-respecting dig at this man's expense. He glowered: the fools were too afraid of him. "In any case, "we" lords who visited Scarburg are the "we", of course, and I think you know the woman better than I. I mean no offense for forgetting her name. Far be it from me to stand in the way of the king's business. How can I be of-" he paused, half bowing with an ingratiating smirk, "-service?"

01-07-2011, 05:24 PM	#4
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	In Scarburg Garmund and Cnebba had been listening to the adults' discussion in a remarkable feat of quietness for them. But now they just couldn't hold their horses. "Master Falco, can we come to Minas Tirith with you?" Garmund asked excited, pulling the hobbit from the sleeve. "We needn't bother our parents about it!" Cnebba begged, looking at Falco with his dashingly bright young boy's eyes. "Pleeease?" At the same time the door opened. Stigend and Garstan came in to have something hot to drink as they had been working outside for hours in the cold. "Well this is news!" Garstan yelled immediately seeing Falco. "If that is our good old Falco..." Stigend stated, smiling warmly as they both went to greet the hobbit. "Now, have you been teasing Mr. Falco again boys?" Garstan asked heartily after shaking hands with the hobbit. But something in the reservedness of the boys countenance told them both there was something the kids were hiding. Stigend stopped on his feet. "I know that face Cnebba... what is it?" He raised his eyes to meet Falco's with curiosity. "Might you be the key to this mystery, Falco?"

01-07-2011, 05:49 PM	#5
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	At Faramund's hall Lord Athanar looked at the foolery and felt his blood pressure rising. He was pressing the reins so hard his knuckles turned white. But he managed to keep himself more or less calm. "Let's start with you behaving like a lord should!" He said in a commanding voice. "Get my men something to eat and drink, like a lord should honour any guests, not to speak their eorl. And we Faramund... we should talk." He made a short pause. "Speaking of which... I'd like to see your father Friduhelm as well. I'd like to meet that old war-horse. It's been a while our paths have crossed." With that he unmounted his horse and set his helmet on the knob of the saddle. "And something for the horses..." Thornden had followed lord Athanar and had unmounted too. Coen looked at his lord questioningly, but Athanar just wawed to him to stay mounted with the men until it was settled.

01-07-2011, 06:53 PM	#6
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Falco "It seems, Master Stigend, that these boys wish to stow themselves in my luggage should I be on my way to Minas Tirith." He looked at the two youngsters whose countenances registered frank betrayal. He could almost read their minds: he's nothing but another adult! "Now now, boys, don't look at me like that!" he grinned. "Who says I'm even going to Minas Tirith? And even if I do, I'm not altogether sure you'd be so pleased when I put you to work making my six meals a day while I take care of all our other needs. Do you like to do kitchen work, boys? The care and feeding of a hobbit is a demanding task!"