(Archive) The Fellowship of the Sword 36 - A Strange Tryst

Darkness has fallen upon the peacefull settlement. A cool breeze swips throught the empty square, lifting the dirt slightly. A squiking sound disturbs the silence of the square as the door of the Inn opens, letting a ray of light out. From the archway a tall man steps out, closing the door behind him. Quietly he takes a few steps, before stoping and tunrning his gaze upon the night sky. A few stars can be seen, peering throught the clouds, as Tamran looks upon them, slowly massaging his left shoulder.

[Morrandir(#24549)] Behind him, another tall man appears. There has clearly been some battle, for this man also appears wounded. His left arm is in a sling, and he walks with a slight limp. As he walks along side the man, Morrandir says, "I must say, the ale in there is nowhere near as good as the ale of the Beornings..."

[Uvatha(#28711)] The trees of Mirkwood loom on the western horizon, absorbing any remaining light which may be left in this darkest of nights. Strange things emerge from the woods at night, both good and evil. Shadows of the past, and reflections of the possible future. Both fear and mystery are produced from within the depths of the woods, alone and in combination with one another. Sounds too, come from the woods Owls hooting, the flutter of birds, and elves singing. Though now a different sound comes from the darkness, the roar of hooves across the green meadow to the east. Suddenly the roar lowers into a much calmer trot.

The lights of the tavern and village reach out into the darkness, and where the sound came two figures are produced. Clad entirely in black, their cloaks drawn over them to shield these weary travelers who ride black steeds from the ailments of the weather. Their horses have now slowed to a calm walk as they approach the town, weapons sheathed and put away.

[Khamul(#9248)] The horses approach, bringing forward the travelers bent forward over their beasts, walking them forward now once they leave the expanses of the wood. Each are dressed similarly, all in black, though one carries a bow slung upon the side of his steed. The bowman slows the horse even further and observes the two men who emerge from the light of the Inn.

Tamran simply nods to the other man, as he continues to stare at the sky. Quietly do the men of Gondor now stand, under the dim starlight. Tall and proud they are, and in the darkness of the night, as the light hits them, as the men of old do they seem, the men of legend...for they are their descendants and the same fight do they continue to wage, as shown by their injuries.

A peacefull night is it not?" Tamran asks, yet as those words are spoke, the sound of riders is heard. Quickly does he turn towards the direction of the sound, yet only two shadows does he see.

[Indilzar(#10108)]
Into the night walks the tall Indilzar Bragollach. He has a frown upon his face. Espying Tamran he says, "Hail Tamran! I grow restless. Too long have we waited..." He then turns and looks upon those others.

[Khamul(#9248)] Moving the horses forward into the circle of the light from the unshuttered windows, the two riders finally appear in view. Tall men they both seem, though their shapes are hidden beneath the blackness of their robes. They carry with them an aura of authority and presence, and not a small amount of anxiety. They wear it about them like their cloaks, though truely it is impossible to say if it comes from them or the opression of the woods following the light of the Inn. Regardless, there they sit upon their horses, reining them in to a halt. They look to one another silently for a moment before returning their view to the assembled men. The bowman speaks, his voice thin like the night air, "We have traveled some time.. Can you tell us were we are and how far to the wood's edge?"

[Indilzar(#10108)]
Laughter. Soft laughter comes from the lips of the sable-clad son of Indilkhor.

Tamran glances at the Knight for a moment before turning his attention to the riders. "Nay...I do not think they are elves. I would be surprised that they will travel at such late hour and..." Tamran says, pausing for a moment, pondering as eyes the two shadows approching them. "I don't know what it is...yet they do not fell right..." the guardsman continues. "Bah, it is probably nothing...maybe that embush we had has made me more suspicious." He adds just before the horseman came near them.

As the stranger finally speaks, Tamran sifts, his gaze upon the two riders, trying to see throught their dark hoods. Silently he remains letting the Knight answer the strangers instead.

[Morrandir(#24549)] Morrandir stares at the riders, looking them up and down. His eye narrows, and he looks to Indilzar, awaiting his answer.

[Indilzar(#10108)]
"What do you seek?" says the Knight with his voice ringing in the accent and manner of speech as Men from the South. "Long are the leagues of Mirkwood and this land is not known to us."

[Uvatha(#28711)] The second rider moves towards the only one with a speaking part currently, their horses not more than a few feet from each other and standing abreast. The only break in the blackness of the faade the rider hides behind is the silver hilt of a sword resting within the black scabbard at his side. One of his black gloved hands holds the reigns. Though it is held casually, still he has perfect form. Obviously the rider is a skilled horseman, and his posture is perfect to the extent that it puts a regal air to him. That, and one of unease.

The second rider breaks his silence with a thin voice, he's probably very thirsty from such a long ride, "Our direction has lost focus.. We hail from the lands of Rohan. We bring word for the Steward of Gondor."

Indilzar glances to the others for a moment before he takes a deep look at these riders...

[Morrandir(#24549)] %R"Word for the Steward?" mutters Morrandir. He looks at the horses, marvelling at their fine coats and beautiful condition.

Uncousciously it will seem, Tamran takes a step back and once more he sifts his weight, somewhat uneasy does the guardsman look. "I am affraid you have gone the wrong way friend..." he says after the squire, adding a small chuckle at the end, yet he leaves the conversation at that.

[Indilzar(#10108)]
"Come you from the halls of Theoden?" says Indilzar at length, "Come forth and tell me your names. I know that land."

Yet even so he glances meaningfully at the others and his eyes flicker grey.

[Khamul(#9248)] The bowman, the first speaker, spurs his horse forward in a walk and moves closer to Indilzar by a few steps. Looking down at him, the dark figure takes in his measure and with a voice both thin and menacing, and yet with words meant to sooth, he speaks quietly but loudly enough for all to overhear. He speaks as if one with authority, "I am known as Khamul, having come recently from the lands west of Rohan and southwest of Isengard where few now dwell. I accompany my friend in this long journey and this task is set primarily before him."

Indilzar steps back a moment as if beyond his own will and says slowly, "What do you seek then?"

[Morrandir(#24549)] Morrandir shudders as the rider speaks, and pulls his cloak about him. "Chilly weather..." he mumbles, as though attempting to blame his anxiety on the cool night air.

[Uvatha(#28711)] The second rider observes silently as the first makes his approach to Indilzar. As the so-called knight steps back and makes a demand from his new position of weakness the second rider says in a very wispy voice, "Thou hast no business in my affairs, simply that I need to speak to the Steward of Gondor. Hast thou any word of his location?"

Tamran nods to the squire, for he also feel a chill yet strangelly it seem that the night breeze has calmed down. His dark gaze is still upon the riders as they speak of themselves - indeed it is strange that the two Rohirrim will not know where to find the Steward of Gondor.

[Indilzar(#10108)]
Yet mortal he may be, Indilzar is no craven and he says, "To that, I do, for verily I am not one that demands may be made of. Little thought give you to courtesy in such a wide wood, nor to you as is our right as travellers from afar to answer my questions, for is it not you that seeks knowledge?"

"Yet if you seek him," says Indilzar with mirthless laughter, "then you seek him in the wrong place."

[Khamul(#9248)] The bowman, Khamul, wheels his horse around and turns the spirited animal again towards the Gondorians when he stands once more by his companion, "Indeed, the Steward does reside in Minas Tirith.." The words of that place are spoken low, though there is no change in his inflection, "We wonder the route to that place.." He looks to Uvatha once more and then back to regard Tamran, "And you bear the obvious tokens of that land.. You are his servant in truth? I would know your names as well."

[Indilzar(#10108)]
It is the knight who speaks first and he says at length, "My name for my part is no secret. For of Gondor we are from and we have made no secret of that. Rumours of he knows what design the lords of Gondor have sent forth, but ever haunting the hills of Erech is the torment of Amrothos the Prince's boy. Thus is our errand. Yet if you seek the land of Gondor with her fair rivers flowing, then follow the Great River you must. Yet if truly you are of Rohan, these things you would know."

"Do people not know the lands that neighboor their own?" The Guardsman says softly, as if it was not meant to be said out loud.

[Morrandir(#24549)] "Well...perhaps these gentlemen do not travel much..." says Morrandir quickly, glaring at Tamran.

Uvatha tilts his head to the side as he surveys the guard which is speaking to him in such a manner, his horsemanship going without question and the splendor of his horse also goes to attest to him being one of the Rohirrim. Though he goes further as he begins to speak the language in that same wispy manner, any who has ever heard words spoken in the tongue of the horsemen would know it, ""

[Khamul(#9248)] The bowman regards the knight once more and listens to his words without movement. He considers what was said and looks to Uvatha for a moment. Another moment longer and Khamul turns back to Indilizar, "I would know your names, then.. Indeed, we do know the lay of the land when travelling from west to east, though seldom do we go north by way of the lands of the Beornings, from which we have heard rumor of your passing. In this northern land, we are out of our reconning and had business here that would not be delayed." His voice never rises above conversation level, and yet it commands the attention of any listener.

Indilzar looks at the rider for a moment and considers, "I know not the tongue of the Riders, yet I know its sound."

He then says, "Indilzar I am named, the son of Indilkhor of the Bragollach, the Sudden Flame of Gondor."

[Aearwen(#7229)] The flap of a non-descript tent parts slowly as Lady Aearwen peers out into the darkness. Cerulean eyes slowly scan the encampment in search of the voices that ended her slumber at an early hour. Dressed in the manner in which she has been travelling in dark breeches, black tunic and dark green cloak, the noblewoman slips from the tent and stands quietly. Two men sit in quiet contemplation at what remains of the campfire and suddenly, the voice of Indilzar sounds and the Envoy of the Prince slips forward in the direction of The Black Knight.

As the unseen eyes of the rider go over Tamran, a sharp uncomfortable chill travels through his body. "The night keeps getting colder it seems." he says, trying to make sound as a trivial fact, yet his eyes never leave Uvatha.

"Tamran is my name..." He says finally turning to other rider, yet he does not add more.

[Morrandir(#24549)] "Morrandir, son of Barrandil." says the squire, looking across to the lady who has just appeared. He looks up at the riders, seemingly satisfied that they are infact of the Rohirrim.

Khamul, the bowman, turns his head to regard the Lady Aearwen as she emerges from the tent. He watches her for several long moments before turning again to the other speakers more close to him. He speaks to Tamran, his voice more menacing than before, as well as softer, "Morrandir..." he speaks the word and hesitates, "are you so great a force that you bring your women through these perilous lands with you?"

[<#29344>] From the edge of the camp he comes, a figure tall and proud, stepping towards the gathering of men who seem to be conversing, and yet, in the night there comes the sounds of the Rohirric language.

Smoothly, he looks upon the speaker and speaks, "" he remarks calmly, ""

Turning with a smile to Indilzar, the man nods, 'Hail Lord Bragollach, good eve, who are these that come before us?'

Indilzar looks back to Erchirion, "Ah, travellers they say... from Rohan..." He then says, "Let me get a torch to better see by..." He then brushes by Erchirion...

[Erchirion(#29344)] As the Lord Bragollach turns to leave, Erchirion nods, his eyes flashing for a moment then his gaze is turned upon the two travellers, "A long ride, friends," the Son of Imrahil speaks to them, "What brings thee such a great distance?"

[Morrandir(#24549)] "Indeed we are sir," says Morrandir glancing first to Erchirion, then to Indilzar. "We have some men among us worth an army of lesser folk. The lady is in no danger." Yet a touch of unease in his voice hints that perhaps this is not so.

[Aearwen(#7229)] Staying in the shadows of the night, Lady Aearwen continues to watch and listen to the men in conversation. Hearing the familiar language of the Rohirrim upon the tongue of the Son of Imrahil she steps forward to busy herself with the plants drying by the warmth of the campfire. Golden embers sparkle into the darkness as she takes a branch and pokes the fire into life and then adds a few twigs and warms her hands by the glow of the roaring fire.

Indilzar grabs a brand from the fire and then turns back toward the group...

Indilzar takes slow and long steps towards them until he comes by Erchirion's side, the brand flaming bright in the shadows.

Uvatha turns to the new appearance which has approached and spoken to him in the Rohirric tongue, his attention not lost from the others but not directly placed on them either. No change or heightened emotion is put in the second rider's words, "The weather's wretchedness indeed does go without question, I am amazed that thou hast not yet been troubled." A hand being raised to shield his eyes from the new brighter light before he continues, "Thou mission is of extreme importance, as is ours Such a force to challenge the forces within Mirkwood which we are so near is unusual, fortunately the lands of Rohan do not often encounter such a challenge."

[Khamul(#9248)] The bowman turns to regard Uvatha for a moment or two and then turns back to the assembled men, "We thank you for your assistance.." He speaks in a chill voice that seems cold and terrible, "but we will go now to our camps.. Perhaps our way will once again cross." He motions to the other rider and they both turn and ride back towards the forest and, apparently, the camp waiting for them there.

[Aearwen(#7229)] The actions of the woman by the fire would indicate to those that do not know her that all is well as she continues to work with the plants drying upon cloth by the fire. Carefully Aearwen tends to her medicinal plants all the while her sea grey eyes cut to strangers. Curiosity tinged with worry mars the loveliness of her brow as she wipes her hands on a clean cloth and watches as the strangers ride off towards the forest. A deep sigh of relief issues from her lips as if some unknown dread had suddenly passed over them. Speaking to the two retainers sitting by the fire she remarks offhandedly, "Strange night"

Tamran watches the two riders go into the darkness, some sort of relief can be seen upon him. "Strange they felt...Uncomftarble they made me feel for some reason..." Tamran says softly, pausing for a moment. "Probably nothing...just the proximity of those woods..." he adds.

[Morrandir(#24549)] Morrandir nods, and glances back towards the Inn. "I need a drink..." he mutters, walking back to the Silent Wolf.