Elendor
Oathbreaking With Vengeance, Part II
Where-in Ceredir attempts to use the Lady Tathar as a hostage for his escape.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Pelargir
Game Date: Oct 9, 3050
Description: It's a lovely clear day. A breeze freshens from off the river there is no rain. Tathar has come out to watch the ships and the river, but it doesn't really seem like she sees what she is looking at. As always one of her guards is with her - but Corlin has stopped to talk to another man, and Tathar wanders on a little ways farther staring out at the harbor and frowning.
There are throngs of people here, men and women of Gondor and some of Harad, too, going about their business, minding their own business. One, a man in a dark cloak, hood drawn, moves slower than the rest, as if looking for something. He walks behind Tathar, but only by coincidence, and now and then he stops a Haradhrim, as if trying to talk to them--but they seem to move on with a shrug, or else point off toward one of the docks.
From the back, the man's hands and his garb cannot be seen, though leather boots clad his feet and his cloak is dark and stained dark as well.
Also out and about is the Lieutenant Aearon Telpekhor, he is dressed in his usual uniform, with longsword on his hip, and spear in his hand. The Lieutenant has a small contingent of soldiers with him mostly of the rank Man-at-Arms, the look of the Lieutenants face is one of anger and irritation, looking about he says to his soldiers "Search all of the people here, be polite.. But search them all.." Looking about he begins to make his way towards Lady Tathar.
The lady doesn't notice she has a follower - inadvertent or not - but Corlin looks up frequently to see where she is, and he frowns. He can't see her for the man blocking his view. And the armsman takes a few steps to clear his field of vision.
From Isildur's Gate comes another figure a shrouded shadow against the glow of the lamp. Here is yet another soldier of Gondor, one of the many who have been wandering the streets of Pelargir with grim faces. This one is dressed in the fatigues of Ithilien, and his brow is drawn into a frown, hardened by certain recent revelations. He walks out near the edge of the waters, pensive and then he sees the Nimothan lady nearby.
"My lady," he calls in greeting.
Tathar turns as someone calls to her. She looks angry and worried, but she smiles at the scout, before glancing absently at the man behind her - who is now behind her and a little to one side. Her gaze slides over him and back to Daerthor.
There, too, a man dwarfing the press of folk armed and armored, the sun's gleam wedded to his helm, its wings gilded and glittering in the daylight.
Too from the City gates, Findon's stride carries towards the docksides, purposeful yet only as swift as the steady flow of folk allows. Presently, he comes toward Tathar and Daerthor, yet if he knows either, he heeds them not.
Behind Tathar, the cloak-shrouded man glances up every so briefly, but the hood is pulled low to shade his face, so that only grey eyes show. Very briefly before the man, stoop-shouldered as if old, looks down. And he quickens his pace, gap closing between himself and Tathar.
Corlin is caught behind someone - several someones, in the push and flow of traffic. He sees the man moving closer to Tathar, sees her getting farther from him, and tries to get to her - shoving past a man and woman, who stop and glare at him. "See here! Watch where you're going!" the man snaps angrily.
Daerthor takes a step towards Tathar, but stops abruptly as the cloaked man nears. "Who are you, sir?" he asks the man, politely but firmly.
As the Lieutenant approaches the Lady, his soldiers move about the grounds, approaching all they see and searching them for weapons, two such soldiers pass by lady Tathar and the hooded man, they are moving at a fast pace, heading towards a group of Haradrim.
Nearing the Lady and the Hooded man the Lieutenant says "Lady Tathar I am afraid I must search you for weapons.." Looking to the hooded man he says "As well as yourself sir.." looking at the hooded man, but unable to see his face.
"The nerve!" The woman hisses, inhaling rapidly through the nose and then bending to retrieve the basket, and salvage what she can of the meal scattered -- and now in part trampled -- on the cobbles.
Darthor's voice turns the Knight's distant glance back to the present, and the Carmayar himself. That glances presses on, narrowing on the Cloaked Figure, and lastly Aearon and Tathar. His paces slow, and he looks away for a time, as if indecisive.
He turns after a moment to add is presence to the slowly growing gathering.
Tathar is interrupted in whatever she was going to say to Daerthor by Lieutenant Aearon of all people. Wishing to search /her/ for weapons. She stares at him blankly, then laughs a little, and spreads her cloak so that he might see beneath it. "I have no sword of my own," she says. "As you might remember..."
With a half smile the Lieutenant looks at the Lady and says "We are searching everyone, regardless of station.. After the events that have befallen your nephew, I am sure you understand.." Now looking back to the hooded man with an irritated look upon his face.
"Ingledir Daugrid's son," the cloaked figure replies in a voice that seems to croak with age. "Humble servant of the Lady." At this the cloaked man steps up right next to Tathar, one hand behind her back, the other resting on her arm. "The Lady is kind enough to let an old man walk with her." He still does not look up, as if too bent with age to do so.
Ceredir attacks you with his Dagger!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You've been injured for 1 hp's by Ceredir's attack...
...you have 81 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
Tathar nods to Aearon, frowning again - anger at the attack on her nephew - which changes to perplexity as the man beside her says he knows her and is walking with her... And then she stiffens, her eyes going wide, as he jabs something sharp into her back and takes hold of her arm with a powerful hand.
"Come now, Lieutenant!"
Thus speaks the knight as he comes forward, not unkindly, yet disapprovingly. "I will not allow you to dishonor a lady so, and in the open public at that! She is unarmed, as you can see let that be enough to sate your curiosity."
The alleged old man's actions seems to pass him by unnoticed, and too, Tathar's reaction.
Daerthor's eyes narrow suspiciously at the given name... and just as the flash of a weapon hits his eye, he shouts. "You!" And he lunges at the cloaked figure with heated fury, attempting to chop at the arm holding Tathar's.
Daerthor attacks Ceredir with his Longsword, but he misses by an arm's length.
"Sorry, sorry," Corlin says hurriedly, not even looking at who he has trampled over. He finally breaks through the crowd - only to stop. Someone is holding his lady someone else has just attacked her? He stares at Daerthor, and opens his mouth to shout. "HEY! Stop him!"
Looking down at the hooded man the Lieutenant says "I am sorry sir, but you still must be searched" as the hooded man nears Lady Tather, he says "Please remove your hood and open your cloak for inspection, everyone is being searched.. Regardless of.." Seeing the Ladies eyes go wide he readies his spear and says in a loud and angry voice "Unhand the lady and remove your cloak!" Hearing the words of Daerthor and seeing his attack the Lieutenant sidesteps and thrusts his spear towards the Hooded man and shouts "Guards!!!"
Aearon attacks Ceredir with his Spear, but he misses by a hair.
As first Daerthor, and then Aearon attack, Ceredir's hold on the woman tightens--indeed, his arm moves to grab her about the waist and jerk her back against him, pulling them both out of the way of the weapons. And now his dagger comes to her throat, the threat implied.
"You are deceived, Scout," Ceredir tells them all--for it is Ceredir, his hood has fallen off with the sudden movement and his grey eyes glitter. "Your King awaits you and you cannot see. Blinded by hubris and misbegotten pride."
"And now...if you will all excuse me," he grins, keeping Tathar tight against him.
Confusion seems the spirit of the day -- as the two men start swinging, folk find pressing business elsewhere and try to move away, all at once in different directions, and a growing murmur of angered frightened voices rises to a din.
The Swan-knight's hand reaches up over his shoulder, flashing glare fixing on the Lieutenant grasping and unslinging the greatsword from its place of rest even as he with widened eyes moves a pace back to ensure that he is out of the way of Aearon's wild lunge. His glance shifts to the villain and the damsel however, and quickly.
"I knew you for what you are on the Asgar, after all! You are not excused, traitor."
The two-hander brought to bear in readiness, thus the swan-knight follows in step, keeping within the distance of a swing, or near enough as makes no matter.
Tathar is pulled off-balance her arms flailing automatically. "Let go of me!" she says - still not quite aware that she should be afraid. She tries to kick Ceredir - and then there is a dagger at her throat, the sharp edge nicking her skin. The smallest drop of blood trickles down her neck, and she freezes, her eyes going to Aearon and Corlin, and then the Knight.
As the events unfold the guards begin to show, circling the Lady and her assailant, the traitor Ceredir.
Eyes fixed upon the pair the Lieutenant says "Take it easy men.." pausing for a moment he says "Unhand her, and perhaps the steward shall show you mercy.. You will not harm her, for if you do you have no leverage and will thus be dealt with.. What are you plans traitor?"
Slowly the guards begin to close in on the Traitor and his prisoner.
Daerthor pulls his sword back after missing Ceredir's arm. "And to think I used to respect you, oathbreaker," he spits. "Yes, I was deceived - by you and you only!" He steps back into the guard, awaiting orders.
"Traitor to the Steward, perhaps, but then he is traitor to you all," Ceredir says evenly, assessing his chances as the guard around him increases. "I will not kill the lady, no. But it does not mean I will not hurt her. And badly so." And to prove his point he presses the blade deeper into her neck, blood spilling over his hand now.
"I go to the sea." He jerks his head toward the docks. Where Harad's ships are docked.
Seeing the blood begin to flow from Lady Tathar's neck the Lieutenant raises his hand and shouts "Stop!"
The guards circling the pair, stop in their tracks, though their weapons are drawn and their eyes are still upon the Traitor.
Looking upon the Traitor and the Lady the Lieutenant says "Even if you were to reach the ships, do you think they would have you? You are a traitor to Gondor, and they are here under a flag of Truce.." taking a step forward he says "Lower your blade and mercy will be shown.."
Tathar cries out in pain as the blade cuts into her neck, trying to press her head back against Ceredir, away from the dagger. Blood soaks into the cape of her cloak, stains the bodice of her dress, and automatically, she lifts a hand to Ceredir's wrist, as if she would pull it away. There's no way that she can he is far stronger than she.
"Peace lieutenant...." Concern writ on the knight's brow, his gaze fixes for a brief spell the dagger's point.
Then, his posture eases, the greatsword lowered, and he says on level tones sparing now not a glance for the guardsmen nor the scout neither, "The lady has done you no ill. Unhand her, if you are not a craven with shit for honor." Finally, the long blade falls to the cobbles, clattering, and Findon comes forward, his hands raised.
"I will take her place, peacefully. You have my word."
"What!" comes a gasp from the scout, and yet he is powerless to do anything, for what else can be done to save the Lady? His eyes flicker back and forth uncertainly and desperately, to Tathar's blood-soaked clothing, to the Lieutenant, the traitor, and then to the Knight giving himself up.
Doubt flickers in Ceredir's eyes, for just half a second at Aearon's words. Then he narrows his eyes and shakes his head slightly.
"The King will have me. Or I will die in his service, not in the service of wizened old nobles who desperately cling to power in a dying land."
"And yet..." he watches Findon's approach warily, "I would not harm a lady. Your word on this--on your honor?"
"No," Tathar whispers. "Don't let him..." She pulls futilely at Ceredir's arm.
Not speaking the Lieutenant watches as the Knight approaches the traitor and his hostage.. A look of anger can still be seen upon his face, hearing the words of the traitorous scum he says "How are we to trust your word? The word of a Traitorous spy.."
Hands lifted to remove the winged helm, letting it fall to join the discarded weapon. Truly, his mien is writ with wrath, his grey eyes likewise, fuming with restraint -- but his voice is cool, and in check, but grave:
"By the grave of my father, my honor, my life -- I so swear."
A step closer:
"Unhand her."
The lady is white, though the wound isn't much more than a scratch. She watches Findon come closer, starts to shake her head, and stops as her movement pushes the dagger. "No," she says again. "Findon..." But everything looks so strange. Now, she is holding on to Ceredir's wrist more to keep herself upright than to wrest his arm away.
"You do not," Ceredir answers the Lieutenant with a sneer. "You, who are traitors to the King, have to trust me. For once."
A nod to Findon, then several things happen fast: Ceredir pushes Tathar away from him--hard, in fact, toward Daerthor and Aearon, seeking to use her as a human missile. And nearly at the same time he lunges to reach for Findon, dagger still held in his left hand.
It is at the same moment Tathar is pushed away that the Lieutenant also lunges forward, just missing the Lady and going for the Traitor, it is also at this time half the guards lunge at him as well, it looks amess as the Lieutenant and three guards lunge at the traitor, all while he lunges for the Knight.
Aearon attacks Ceredir with his Bare Hands, but he misses by a hair.
Alarmed at the lady being thrown towards him and the Lieutenant, Daerthor drops his sword to catch her yet his arm barely manages to snag around her waist, and the lady's momentum trips him, forcing both of them to the ground. The scout's head hits the cobbled pavement with a loud thud. "M--my lady," he mumbles, trying valiantly to sit up without injuring Tathar further.
You paged Ceredir with 'There's a poisonous plant that causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, depression, breathing difficulties, and comas, but is rarely fatal. How about something like that?'.
A glance weighed with pity is conferred to Tathar in answer to her protests but the guardsmen and Aearon are ignored, if unhindered by the knight -- save by his large body.
It is thus that one guard tackles the knight's shoulder, and Findon's forward step to meet Ceredir is staggered. But the smaller guardsman tumbles away off to the side. Another trips over his comrade. And then, without resistance, Ceredir's hands clasp his coat of arms and meekly does Findon Telumehtar submit, hindering none the knife pressed to his throat above the gorget.
And through all this, he speaks not a word.
Tathar is shoved, stumbling towards she can't see or tell who crashing into that same person and falling. And Corlin is beside her, pulling her off of Daerthor, pressing a cloth to her neck. "My lady!" he says urgently. She blinks at him dizzily, her pupils enormously dilated.
One of Aearon's guards or maybe two, even, manage to grab one of Ceredir's arms. But through luck or confusion or a combination of both, he shakes them off, aiming a series of kicks and twisting free to grab Findon.
"Good. You have kept your word. I will remember that to the King. And now, we walk."
As Aearon missies his mark he Shouts to the other guards, crashing into the ground spear still in hand and a look of rage upon his face. Though he is now upon the ground behind the traitor he raises his spear and with one hand thrusts it at Ceredirs back, aimed for the lower part of his spine.
Aearon attacks Ceredir with his Spear, but he misses by a handspan.
Into the fray comes Calarion, the squire enters down from the mist of the sea wielding his longsword "What is happening here?" he yells over the roar of the Anduin.
Brethir steps into the area with his shoulders high and lo: steps into the area shoulders high and looks ready for a fight , looking at ceredir he says "you may have sworn me in but now i know its a lie but i am a scout and you have taken hostage and you sing for blood"
The Lieutenant's thrust grazes the knight's side rasping loudly against steel and mail and is turned in part by Findon's slight movement and too his armor.
"STAY THIS MADNESS!"
The Swan-Knight's command bellows forth akin a storm, and such is the fury on his voice that, for an instant a heartbeat, all the wide open space between the quays is bereft of all sound.
Much quieter: "We walk."
Corlin looks around frantically for someone to help him. "Sir," he calls out as he sees Brethir. "Could you help me with the Lady? She is injured we must get her to the healers."
Brethir i will assit you in carring her
Tathar's eyes widen at the sound of Findon's roar, and she rolls her head to try and look that direction but she can't seem to focus, and the movement of her head makes her moan and turn a pasty green shade.
"Thank you," Corlin says to Brethir with relief.
As Corlin grabs the lady off him, Daerthor pulls himself up painfully, shaking the fog out of his head. He picks up his sword nearby and crosses the short distance towards Ceredir and his hostage, attempting to be useful - he slides between two of the guards that Ceredir throws off, but just as he is about to attack, the booming voice of the Knight stops him.
"You are lucky this time, /sir/," he mutters, his voice dripping with derision. His eyes furious, Daerthor grips his sword tightly at his side an enormous effort to keep himself from attacking the traitor.
Hearing the words of the Knight the Lieutenant jumps to his feet, spear in hand and eyes glaring at the Traitor. Raising a hand to the guards they all halt. Upon his feet he slowly sets the butt of his spear upon the ground and says "What do you hope to accomplish from this Traitor? You will not be allowed to leave our lands alive.."
Brethir picks up tatharand runs for the halls of healing
The chaos continues around them, and all the while Ceredir's blade presses harder against Findon's throat, drawing blood. But he, too, holds deathly still at the Knight's shout, and then, with a slow nod of his head, he begins to walk with Findon.
"We will make a trade," he answers Aearon's query. "Gondor will let me return to the true King, and in return, the Steward will have his Knight. Tis simple."
Corlin smiles at Brethir, as the other man helps him lift Tathar and begin to carry her gently towards the Healing halls.
With a contingent of five soldiers behind him the Lieutenant says "You know that his has broken the truce.. None will be allowed to leave our lands.." Walking a few steps behind the Traitor and his hostage with a disgusted look upon his face.
Through the chaos, Calarion hears the knight's yell. In response he runs over to Aearon, "Lieutenant, how may I be of service? My sword is sharp and my hand is ready to fight for Gondor. I swore and oath to protect Gondor with my life and if I must die to fulfill it, die I will."
Hearing the words of Calarion the Lieutenant says "Go inform your order of what has transpired here.. Inform them that the truce has been broken!"
Calarion straightens up, "Yes, sir." he replies, "I shall go to Sir Gwendion and inform him of what I see before me, and, if my lord allow me, I shall return again."
A trickle runs down the knight's neck, now, a slow stream that seems to increase slightly in width and haste by the moment. A vein protrudes subtly on Findon's creased brow, and his glance for the nonce fixes on Tathar and all the men converging to give her aid -- the glance weighed with pity. Mien ashen, he looks away, in favor now of Aearon.
And again, his glance flicks down to the side, at Ceredir's speach in turn.
He staggers a step.
Sheathing his sword in frustration, Daerthor follows the Host contingent -- and starts when Findon stumbles.
Seeing the Knight stumble the Lieutenant stops and shouts "Surrender yourself and you will be shown mercy, you do not think the Haradrim will keep you safe.. They will turn you away for breaking the truce and dishonoring their words.."
Findon is not the only one stumbling--Ceredir holds the Knight up, but the former Master Scout also trails his only drops of blood as they walk slowly to the docks. They come to a stop in front of the Variyah, Farside's ship. And Ceredir turns to stare at Aearon, as if considering his words, but saying nothing.
A sudden laugh escapes the Swan-Knight then, stark bright and merry, as if at some great jest.
Arched backwards against Ceredir's grip, Findon skips a step, stumbles... but regains his feet. "I fear you have in your eagerness betrayed yourself, Ceredir," He says is voice shaking with lingering boughs of laughter. Though, his gaze is roving, passing Aearon now, and Daerthor, and all the hostsmen that follow. Each time his glance shifts, his head sways a little, now this way, now that. A sigh, then: "Ho boy..."
Then, his eyes turn inward and his neck cranes backwards, and he slumps limp against the struggling once-scout of Ithilien.
They have, though, made it to the gangplank of the Variyah. Blood run downs Ceredir's arm, sticking his tunic sleeve to his arm, but he leans down and grabs Findon by the collar--and breathing heavily, begins to haul the passed-out Knight up the plank.
Knight and would-be traitor are only halfway up the plank.
There are throngs of people here, men and women of Gondor and some of Harad, too, going about their business, minding their own business. One, a man in a dark cloak, hood drawn, moves slower than the rest, as if looking for something. He walks behind Tathar, but only by coincidence, and now and then he stops a Haradhrim, as if trying to talk to them--but they seem to move on with a shrug, or else point off toward one of the docks.
From the back, the man's hands and his garb cannot be seen, though leather boots clad his feet and his cloak is dark and stained dark as well.
Also out and about is the Lieutenant Aearon Telpekhor, he is dressed in his usual uniform, with longsword on his hip, and spear in his hand. The Lieutenant has a small contingent of soldiers with him mostly of the rank Man-at-Arms, the look of the Lieutenants face is one of anger and irritation, looking about he says to his soldiers "Search all of the people here, be polite.. But search them all.." Looking about he begins to make his way towards Lady Tathar.
The lady doesn't notice she has a follower - inadvertent or not - but Corlin looks up frequently to see where she is, and he frowns. He can't see her for the man blocking his view. And the armsman takes a few steps to clear his field of vision.
From Isildur's Gate comes another figure a shrouded shadow against the glow of the lamp. Here is yet another soldier of Gondor, one of the many who have been wandering the streets of Pelargir with grim faces. This one is dressed in the fatigues of Ithilien, and his brow is drawn into a frown, hardened by certain recent revelations. He walks out near the edge of the waters, pensive and then he sees the Nimothan lady nearby.
"My lady," he calls in greeting.
Tathar turns as someone calls to her. She looks angry and worried, but she smiles at the scout, before glancing absently at the man behind her - who is now behind her and a little to one side. Her gaze slides over him and back to Daerthor.
There, too, a man dwarfing the press of folk armed and armored, the sun's gleam wedded to his helm, its wings gilded and glittering in the daylight.
Too from the City gates, Findon's stride carries towards the docksides, purposeful yet only as swift as the steady flow of folk allows. Presently, he comes toward Tathar and Daerthor, yet if he knows either, he heeds them not.
Behind Tathar, the cloak-shrouded man glances up every so briefly, but the hood is pulled low to shade his face, so that only grey eyes show. Very briefly before the man, stoop-shouldered as if old, looks down. And he quickens his pace, gap closing between himself and Tathar.
Corlin is caught behind someone - several someones, in the push and flow of traffic. He sees the man moving closer to Tathar, sees her getting farther from him, and tries to get to her - shoving past a man and woman, who stop and glare at him. "See here! Watch where you're going!" the man snaps angrily.
Daerthor takes a step towards Tathar, but stops abruptly as the cloaked man nears. "Who are you, sir?" he asks the man, politely but firmly.
As the Lieutenant approaches the Lady, his soldiers move about the grounds, approaching all they see and searching them for weapons, two such soldiers pass by lady Tathar and the hooded man, they are moving at a fast pace, heading towards a group of Haradrim.
Nearing the Lady and the Hooded man the Lieutenant says "Lady Tathar I am afraid I must search you for weapons.." Looking to the hooded man he says "As well as yourself sir.." looking at the hooded man, but unable to see his face.
"The nerve!" The woman hisses, inhaling rapidly through the nose and then bending to retrieve the basket, and salvage what she can of the meal scattered -- and now in part trampled -- on the cobbles.
Darthor's voice turns the Knight's distant glance back to the present, and the Carmayar himself. That glances presses on, narrowing on the Cloaked Figure, and lastly Aearon and Tathar. His paces slow, and he looks away for a time, as if indecisive.
He turns after a moment to add is presence to the slowly growing gathering.
Tathar is interrupted in whatever she was going to say to Daerthor by Lieutenant Aearon of all people. Wishing to search /her/ for weapons. She stares at him blankly, then laughs a little, and spreads her cloak so that he might see beneath it. "I have no sword of my own," she says. "As you might remember..."
With a half smile the Lieutenant looks at the Lady and says "We are searching everyone, regardless of station.. After the events that have befallen your nephew, I am sure you understand.." Now looking back to the hooded man with an irritated look upon his face.
"Ingledir Daugrid's son," the cloaked figure replies in a voice that seems to croak with age. "Humble servant of the Lady." At this the cloaked man steps up right next to Tathar, one hand behind her back, the other resting on her arm. "The Lady is kind enough to let an old man walk with her." He still does not look up, as if too bent with age to do so.
Ceredir attacks you with his Dagger!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You've been injured for 1 hp's by Ceredir's attack...
...you have 81 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
Tathar nods to Aearon, frowning again - anger at the attack on her nephew - which changes to perplexity as the man beside her says he knows her and is walking with her... And then she stiffens, her eyes going wide, as he jabs something sharp into her back and takes hold of her arm with a powerful hand.
"Come now, Lieutenant!"
Thus speaks the knight as he comes forward, not unkindly, yet disapprovingly. "I will not allow you to dishonor a lady so, and in the open public at that! She is unarmed, as you can see let that be enough to sate your curiosity."
The alleged old man's actions seems to pass him by unnoticed, and too, Tathar's reaction.
Daerthor's eyes narrow suspiciously at the given name... and just as the flash of a weapon hits his eye, he shouts. "You!" And he lunges at the cloaked figure with heated fury, attempting to chop at the arm holding Tathar's.
Daerthor attacks Ceredir with his Longsword, but he misses by an arm's length.
"Sorry, sorry," Corlin says hurriedly, not even looking at who he has trampled over. He finally breaks through the crowd - only to stop. Someone is holding his lady someone else has just attacked her? He stares at Daerthor, and opens his mouth to shout. "HEY! Stop him!"
Looking down at the hooded man the Lieutenant says "I am sorry sir, but you still must be searched" as the hooded man nears Lady Tather, he says "Please remove your hood and open your cloak for inspection, everyone is being searched.. Regardless of.." Seeing the Ladies eyes go wide he readies his spear and says in a loud and angry voice "Unhand the lady and remove your cloak!" Hearing the words of Daerthor and seeing his attack the Lieutenant sidesteps and thrusts his spear towards the Hooded man and shouts "Guards!!!"
Aearon attacks Ceredir with his Spear, but he misses by a hair.
As first Daerthor, and then Aearon attack, Ceredir's hold on the woman tightens--indeed, his arm moves to grab her about the waist and jerk her back against him, pulling them both out of the way of the weapons. And now his dagger comes to her throat, the threat implied.
"You are deceived, Scout," Ceredir tells them all--for it is Ceredir, his hood has fallen off with the sudden movement and his grey eyes glitter. "Your King awaits you and you cannot see. Blinded by hubris and misbegotten pride."
"And now...if you will all excuse me," he grins, keeping Tathar tight against him.
Confusion seems the spirit of the day -- as the two men start swinging, folk find pressing business elsewhere and try to move away, all at once in different directions, and a growing murmur of angered frightened voices rises to a din.
The Swan-knight's hand reaches up over his shoulder, flashing glare fixing on the Lieutenant grasping and unslinging the greatsword from its place of rest even as he with widened eyes moves a pace back to ensure that he is out of the way of Aearon's wild lunge. His glance shifts to the villain and the damsel however, and quickly.
"I knew you for what you are on the Asgar, after all! You are not excused, traitor."
The two-hander brought to bear in readiness, thus the swan-knight follows in step, keeping within the distance of a swing, or near enough as makes no matter.
Tathar is pulled off-balance her arms flailing automatically. "Let go of me!" she says - still not quite aware that she should be afraid. She tries to kick Ceredir - and then there is a dagger at her throat, the sharp edge nicking her skin. The smallest drop of blood trickles down her neck, and she freezes, her eyes going to Aearon and Corlin, and then the Knight.
As the events unfold the guards begin to show, circling the Lady and her assailant, the traitor Ceredir.
Eyes fixed upon the pair the Lieutenant says "Take it easy men.." pausing for a moment he says "Unhand her, and perhaps the steward shall show you mercy.. You will not harm her, for if you do you have no leverage and will thus be dealt with.. What are you plans traitor?"
Slowly the guards begin to close in on the Traitor and his prisoner.
Daerthor pulls his sword back after missing Ceredir's arm. "And to think I used to respect you, oathbreaker," he spits. "Yes, I was deceived - by you and you only!" He steps back into the guard, awaiting orders.
"Traitor to the Steward, perhaps, but then he is traitor to you all," Ceredir says evenly, assessing his chances as the guard around him increases. "I will not kill the lady, no. But it does not mean I will not hurt her. And badly so." And to prove his point he presses the blade deeper into her neck, blood spilling over his hand now.
"I go to the sea." He jerks his head toward the docks. Where Harad's ships are docked.
Seeing the blood begin to flow from Lady Tathar's neck the Lieutenant raises his hand and shouts "Stop!"
The guards circling the pair, stop in their tracks, though their weapons are drawn and their eyes are still upon the Traitor.
Looking upon the Traitor and the Lady the Lieutenant says "Even if you were to reach the ships, do you think they would have you? You are a traitor to Gondor, and they are here under a flag of Truce.." taking a step forward he says "Lower your blade and mercy will be shown.."
Tathar cries out in pain as the blade cuts into her neck, trying to press her head back against Ceredir, away from the dagger. Blood soaks into the cape of her cloak, stains the bodice of her dress, and automatically, she lifts a hand to Ceredir's wrist, as if she would pull it away. There's no way that she can he is far stronger than she.
"Peace lieutenant...." Concern writ on the knight's brow, his gaze fixes for a brief spell the dagger's point.
Then, his posture eases, the greatsword lowered, and he says on level tones sparing now not a glance for the guardsmen nor the scout neither, "The lady has done you no ill. Unhand her, if you are not a craven with shit for honor." Finally, the long blade falls to the cobbles, clattering, and Findon comes forward, his hands raised.
"I will take her place, peacefully. You have my word."
"What!" comes a gasp from the scout, and yet he is powerless to do anything, for what else can be done to save the Lady? His eyes flicker back and forth uncertainly and desperately, to Tathar's blood-soaked clothing, to the Lieutenant, the traitor, and then to the Knight giving himself up.
Doubt flickers in Ceredir's eyes, for just half a second at Aearon's words. Then he narrows his eyes and shakes his head slightly.
"The King will have me. Or I will die in his service, not in the service of wizened old nobles who desperately cling to power in a dying land."
"And yet..." he watches Findon's approach warily, "I would not harm a lady. Your word on this--on your honor?"
"No," Tathar whispers. "Don't let him..." She pulls futilely at Ceredir's arm.
Not speaking the Lieutenant watches as the Knight approaches the traitor and his hostage.. A look of anger can still be seen upon his face, hearing the words of the traitorous scum he says "How are we to trust your word? The word of a Traitorous spy.."
Hands lifted to remove the winged helm, letting it fall to join the discarded weapon. Truly, his mien is writ with wrath, his grey eyes likewise, fuming with restraint -- but his voice is cool, and in check, but grave:
"By the grave of my father, my honor, my life -- I so swear."
A step closer:
"Unhand her."
The lady is white, though the wound isn't much more than a scratch. She watches Findon come closer, starts to shake her head, and stops as her movement pushes the dagger. "No," she says again. "Findon..." But everything looks so strange. Now, she is holding on to Ceredir's wrist more to keep herself upright than to wrest his arm away.
"You do not," Ceredir answers the Lieutenant with a sneer. "You, who are traitors to the King, have to trust me. For once."
A nod to Findon, then several things happen fast: Ceredir pushes Tathar away from him--hard, in fact, toward Daerthor and Aearon, seeking to use her as a human missile. And nearly at the same time he lunges to reach for Findon, dagger still held in his left hand.
It is at the same moment Tathar is pushed away that the Lieutenant also lunges forward, just missing the Lady and going for the Traitor, it is also at this time half the guards lunge at him as well, it looks amess as the Lieutenant and three guards lunge at the traitor, all while he lunges for the Knight.
Aearon attacks Ceredir with his Bare Hands, but he misses by a hair.
Alarmed at the lady being thrown towards him and the Lieutenant, Daerthor drops his sword to catch her yet his arm barely manages to snag around her waist, and the lady's momentum trips him, forcing both of them to the ground. The scout's head hits the cobbled pavement with a loud thud. "M--my lady," he mumbles, trying valiantly to sit up without injuring Tathar further.
You paged Ceredir with 'There's a poisonous plant that causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, depression, breathing difficulties, and comas, but is rarely fatal. How about something like that?'.
A glance weighed with pity is conferred to Tathar in answer to her protests but the guardsmen and Aearon are ignored, if unhindered by the knight -- save by his large body.
It is thus that one guard tackles the knight's shoulder, and Findon's forward step to meet Ceredir is staggered. But the smaller guardsman tumbles away off to the side. Another trips over his comrade. And then, without resistance, Ceredir's hands clasp his coat of arms and meekly does Findon Telumehtar submit, hindering none the knife pressed to his throat above the gorget.
And through all this, he speaks not a word.
Tathar is shoved, stumbling towards she can't see or tell who crashing into that same person and falling. And Corlin is beside her, pulling her off of Daerthor, pressing a cloth to her neck. "My lady!" he says urgently. She blinks at him dizzily, her pupils enormously dilated.
One of Aearon's guards or maybe two, even, manage to grab one of Ceredir's arms. But through luck or confusion or a combination of both, he shakes them off, aiming a series of kicks and twisting free to grab Findon.
"Good. You have kept your word. I will remember that to the King. And now, we walk."
As Aearon missies his mark he Shouts to the other guards, crashing into the ground spear still in hand and a look of rage upon his face. Though he is now upon the ground behind the traitor he raises his spear and with one hand thrusts it at Ceredirs back, aimed for the lower part of his spine.
Aearon attacks Ceredir with his Spear, but he misses by a handspan.
Into the fray comes Calarion, the squire enters down from the mist of the sea wielding his longsword "What is happening here?" he yells over the roar of the Anduin.
Brethir steps into the area with his shoulders high and lo: steps into the area shoulders high and looks ready for a fight , looking at ceredir he says "you may have sworn me in but now i know its a lie but i am a scout and you have taken hostage and you sing for blood"
The Lieutenant's thrust grazes the knight's side rasping loudly against steel and mail and is turned in part by Findon's slight movement and too his armor.
"STAY THIS MADNESS!"
The Swan-Knight's command bellows forth akin a storm, and such is the fury on his voice that, for an instant a heartbeat, all the wide open space between the quays is bereft of all sound.
Much quieter: "We walk."
Corlin looks around frantically for someone to help him. "Sir," he calls out as he sees Brethir. "Could you help me with the Lady? She is injured we must get her to the healers."
Brethir i will assit you in carring her
Tathar's eyes widen at the sound of Findon's roar, and she rolls her head to try and look that direction but she can't seem to focus, and the movement of her head makes her moan and turn a pasty green shade.
"Thank you," Corlin says to Brethir with relief.
As Corlin grabs the lady off him, Daerthor pulls himself up painfully, shaking the fog out of his head. He picks up his sword nearby and crosses the short distance towards Ceredir and his hostage, attempting to be useful - he slides between two of the guards that Ceredir throws off, but just as he is about to attack, the booming voice of the Knight stops him.
"You are lucky this time, /sir/," he mutters, his voice dripping with derision. His eyes furious, Daerthor grips his sword tightly at his side an enormous effort to keep himself from attacking the traitor.
Hearing the words of the Knight the Lieutenant jumps to his feet, spear in hand and eyes glaring at the Traitor. Raising a hand to the guards they all halt. Upon his feet he slowly sets the butt of his spear upon the ground and says "What do you hope to accomplish from this Traitor? You will not be allowed to leave our lands alive.."
Brethir picks up tatharand runs for the halls of healing
The chaos continues around them, and all the while Ceredir's blade presses harder against Findon's throat, drawing blood. But he, too, holds deathly still at the Knight's shout, and then, with a slow nod of his head, he begins to walk with Findon.
"We will make a trade," he answers Aearon's query. "Gondor will let me return to the true King, and in return, the Steward will have his Knight. Tis simple."
Corlin smiles at Brethir, as the other man helps him lift Tathar and begin to carry her gently towards the Healing halls.
With a contingent of five soldiers behind him the Lieutenant says "You know that his has broken the truce.. None will be allowed to leave our lands.." Walking a few steps behind the Traitor and his hostage with a disgusted look upon his face.
Through the chaos, Calarion hears the knight's yell. In response he runs over to Aearon, "Lieutenant, how may I be of service? My sword is sharp and my hand is ready to fight for Gondor. I swore and oath to protect Gondor with my life and if I must die to fulfill it, die I will."
Hearing the words of Calarion the Lieutenant says "Go inform your order of what has transpired here.. Inform them that the truce has been broken!"
Calarion straightens up, "Yes, sir." he replies, "I shall go to Sir Gwendion and inform him of what I see before me, and, if my lord allow me, I shall return again."
A trickle runs down the knight's neck, now, a slow stream that seems to increase slightly in width and haste by the moment. A vein protrudes subtly on Findon's creased brow, and his glance for the nonce fixes on Tathar and all the men converging to give her aid -- the glance weighed with pity. Mien ashen, he looks away, in favor now of Aearon.
And again, his glance flicks down to the side, at Ceredir's speach in turn.
He staggers a step.
Sheathing his sword in frustration, Daerthor follows the Host contingent -- and starts when Findon stumbles.
Seeing the Knight stumble the Lieutenant stops and shouts "Surrender yourself and you will be shown mercy, you do not think the Haradrim will keep you safe.. They will turn you away for breaking the truce and dishonoring their words.."
Findon is not the only one stumbling--Ceredir holds the Knight up, but the former Master Scout also trails his only drops of blood as they walk slowly to the docks. They come to a stop in front of the Variyah, Farside's ship. And Ceredir turns to stare at Aearon, as if considering his words, but saying nothing.
A sudden laugh escapes the Swan-Knight then, stark bright and merry, as if at some great jest.
Arched backwards against Ceredir's grip, Findon skips a step, stumbles... but regains his feet. "I fear you have in your eagerness betrayed yourself, Ceredir," He says is voice shaking with lingering boughs of laughter. Though, his gaze is roving, passing Aearon now, and Daerthor, and all the hostsmen that follow. Each time his glance shifts, his head sways a little, now this way, now that. A sigh, then: "Ho boy..."
Then, his eyes turn inward and his neck cranes backwards, and he slumps limp against the struggling once-scout of Ithilien.
They have, though, made it to the gangplank of the Variyah. Blood run downs Ceredir's arm, sticking his tunic sleeve to his arm, but he leans down and grabs Findon by the collar--and breathing heavily, begins to haul the passed-out Knight up the plank.
Knight and would-be traitor are only halfway up the plank.
