Elendor
An unexpected meeting
Dwarves travelling through Mirkwood meet ... Dwarves. And an Elf, rather an important one
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Old Forest Road, Grassy Knoll
Game Date: December 3047
IC Time: Evening
Description: Old Forest Road, Grassy Knoll
The Old Forest Road ascends and descends a tall knoll at this point in its longitudinal traverse of the great forest. The winter forest is brown and brittle-looking around you, though the trees thin out around the bald knob of the hill. The midnight air is cold. Below you the earth is snow-covered but still traceable and marked with old foot, horse, and wagon tracks.
Stars are cleary visible overhead through the thin path the road cuts through the trees.
Obvious exits:
SouthWest, NorthWest, East, and West
===============================================================================
Dunland Time and Weather Forecast
===============================================================================
Real Time is: Thu Sep 17 15:13:57 2009
IC weather is: Wind: - Clouds: sparse - Rain: moderate
IC Moon is: Full
IC time is: Midnight
IC date is: Sunday, Day 19 of December in the year 3047.
===============================================================================
The air is cold, and the wind whistles through the trees, filling the air with chatterings and whisperings. The snow of some days earlier has cleared, and the little caravan of Dwarves, Elves and humans has made what progress it may through the unsettling forest. Now, though, it is time to halt for the night. Already the ponies are weary and the wagons slowing - several Dwarves are gathered round one that has a wheel stuck in the mud. Others look for a likely spot to make camp. A grassy knoll open to the sky seems promising.
[Nob(#16122)] Gidon walks near to his father today, the two of them more comfortable around each other. But as the day ends and others begin to set up their camps, he moves off through the little crowd, and ends up near the wagon that is stuck. The boy squats down to watch as two dwarves pry at the wheel with a stick and two more set their shoulders to the back end and shove. A man encourages the ponies to pull, and slowly, slowly, the small wagon moves. A little, at least.
Brev appears at his side. "Yon hill looks promising," he reports to the group in general, jerking his head. Gidon is given a swift grin in greeting. "No sign of goblins that I can see - something wheeled has passed through, but the tracks are old." He twists his head round to regard the rise again. "Suppose if they do come, least we'll have the advantage of height." He does not look convinced - clearly time has not altered his views of the desirability of passing through this land.
[Nob(#16122)] The boy looks up, grinning back, then stands. "Least th'snow's stopped," he says, looking up the incline. One dwarf jams another stick behind the wheel, and there is a chorus of grunts as the wagon moves again. This time, there is a sucking sound, and a jerk as the ponies pull it free. "Up yon?" asks one, coming to where Brev and Gidon stand. "Likely enough spot. Good as any. Right." He gives a decisive nod of his head, and stumps off to tell the others.
Brev glances at the freed wagon, but does not offer to help. The job's done, isn't it?
"You're right," he agrees to Gidon. "Suppose we should thank Kiern for small mercies." His smile is a little forced, and he glances warily at the dark woods closing in on either side.
[Nob(#16122)] Gidon looks where Brev looks, and shakes his head. "This wood is weird," he says, moving a few steps back to be out of the way of the wagon which is now slowly trundling uphill. "I like th'woods, but this one..." He shivers a little. "It don' even sound right."
That statement receives no argument from Brev. "Can't say I disagree. It just feels ... wrong. And where are all the birds and beasts? Seen nothing save a few ugly squirrels, and I doubt they'd make good eating."
He watches the wagon's progress, and falls in behind once it's past. "Your Da said anything more about what you'll do when you reach this Dale?"
[Nob(#16122)] The boy shakes his head, walking along beside Brev. "He don' say much," he tells the man, a little apologetically. "Not never." He is quiet for a while, then grins a little. "Nor me, neither."
At the top, he stops and looks around. "I seen eyes now an' then. In th'night."
[Nob(#16122)] "Did you see that funny light a bit ago? Made th'whole sky go red, most?"
"Mmm." At those first words, Brev eyes young Gidon slantways, almost as if he might speak, but he does not.
The other statement brings a sudden freezing of his shoulders. "Eyes?" He glances to the woods beside them, his expression dubious. "And aye, I saw it. Kiern! Can't say I fancy living in a land where the sky burns."
The Dwarven wagons (and those folk of other races accompanying them) continue to make their slow way up to the top of the little knoll, where a camp will be set up.
[Neleth(#11788)] At the bottom of the hill that the Bree traveling party (is that a good name for them, indeed?) there are suddenly, almost as if timed with the ascenion of the Breefolk and their traveling partners, many small campfires lighting up. Indeed, these fires make wagons parked on the side of the path much easier to see. There is little room for the wagons to fit on the side of the path, but fit they do, if barely. Between every few wagons is a camp fire now, and the dwarven figures surrounding them are easier to make out. Neleth is one of these dwarves, sitting on a small stool in front of a newly lit fire. Hi head is wrapped in a bandage, which effectively covers his left ear and forehead. He is, currently, enjoying his pipeweed.
There is a shout for a dwarf as the party at the top of the hill is spotted and there is a little ruckus in the camp. Not long thereafter a shout goes up to the hill above from the closes Ered-Luin wagon, "'e, who goes there! Name yerselves!"
[Nob(#16122)] "What d'you think it was?" Gidon asks. "I never smelt no smoke or nothing." He turns a little, looking back the way they have come. There is nothing but darkness. The wind makes the trees sway, but only the nearest can really be seen. "I..." He jerks around at the shout, his good hand going at once to his sling, and as Brev has told him, he sidles sideways, crouching down in the shadow of a bush.
Brev shrugs. Whatever response is forming on his lips dies, though, as the shout comes. Today his spear is slung at his back, and he twists round to free it. When he turns back and finds Gidon gone, he shows little surprise. All along the little line of wagons, Dwarves ready axes and picks.
Then, from the top of the hill, comes a shout from the foremost wagon. "Why, cousins! Tis good to see ye. Brarin son of Tharin am I, and our company is bound for the Mountain. What news from the lands beyond?" The speaker, beaming broadly, hefts his axe in a greeting that is almost salute.
[Neleth(#11788)] It just so happens that Neleth's pipeweed break is cut short as, though the ruckus from the other travelers being spotted did not initially involve him, it he is brought into the ruckus by a fellow dwarf. At first, see, Neleth ignored what was going on. He took a few draws of his pipe, enjoying creating smoke rings while many of the other dwarves arm themselves and move closer the the lead wagons of their encampment. It is when a dwarf by the name of Kamlor comes to him and states, "Amabassador... we may need you. Everyone else is at the other end of the camp who..." Neleth lets out his latest breath of pipeweed in a frustrated way. Neleth does stand, and he sets his pipe on his stool. His helmet, which had previously been sitting unnoticed next to his stool is picked up and donned. "Let's go then, lad." Neleth states to Kamlor, a dwarf who might appear much younger than Neleth if only for the lack of grey in his beard.
Meanwhile, at the front of the encampment, the dwarf who had issued the challenge originally replies in a voice mixed with relief and pride, "Ah! Greetings cousin Brarin. I am Thurvi, son of Korvi, Warder of the Azundelbur! The roads beyond are as dangerous as the ones before, friend - that is all the news I know to share!"
[Nob(#16122)] Gidon stands up and comes back to Brev's side, looking a little embarrassed. There was no need to hide, after all. "More dorves?" he says, surprised. "What're they doin' out here?"
A couple other of the dwarves from their small party drop their tools and leave their tasks to mingle with these, talking happily, slapping those on the back that they know.
"Hah! Let danger come. Our axes have hewn naught but wood since we crossed the Mountains. Time it is they felt goblin necks," Brarin proclaims brashly. Then, looking around at the brightness of the fires, and smelling the homely smells of pipeweed and cooking, he queries with ill-concealed eagerness, "May we join ye, and share news of the road?" The question is almost rhetorical, given some of his companions are already streaming past to greet friends or relatives.
Brev, for his part, speeds his steps until he, too, can see the scene spread out below them. "Kiern! There goes our height advantage," he remarks sourly. And then, "Bloodthirsty folk, aren't they? Personally, I'm quite happy without the goblins." At Gidon's question he shrugs then the corners of his mouth lift in a sudden grin. "No idea. Why don't you go ask them? Seeing as you're the friendly one ..."
[Neleth(#11788)] The dwarves group the Ered-Luin group are happy to welcome their cousins that had been traveling with the Breefolk to join them - greetings, hugs and hearty laughs are shared by many. Dwarves do indeed appear many times to be a close knit race. Weapons are returning to their proper places in belts, wagons or strapped to a dwarf's back. Indeed, many dwarves have already tossed more meat on their fires to prepare to hve cousins share stories with them. Thurvi answers Brarin even as he is shaking the hand of a dwarf from the new group, "It would not do well for us to deny cousins or friends! Indeed, we could perhaps even trade a bit of wares! But, that's not for me!" Thurvi's own hammer is slid into his belt. Neleth has only greeted one of the new dwarves. His eyes are set on the wagons above and he is the only one from his camp, Kamlor trailing behind him, to make his way up the hill, towards the Breefolk.
[Nob(#16122)] "Me too," Gidon says fervently, a memory of hot fetid breath and an evil looking sword coming into his mind. Then he turns suddenly shy, ducking his head and mumbling, "Dunno..." And as one of the very dwarves of which they spoke comes up the hill, he edges back so that he is more behind Brev than beside him.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"It is good, then, that your King is wiser than his subjects."
"There will be little news, I expect. For the other end of the road is blocked." The speaker adds, as he emerges from the wood, to the North. "There are things that one ought not wish for."
The speaker is an elf, clearly, his garb is of forest greens and browns, a hood covering his head, and a longbow in his hand, arrow knocked but undrawn.
Brarin laughs at Thurvi's words. "Spoken like a true merchant!" The gleam in his eye hints that he had every intention of trading even before it was suggested. He moves off to find a place to halt his own wagon.
Brev notes Gidon's ducking behind him, and snorts. Then sighs. Newly lessoned as he is in the art of greeting others, he tries to maintain a relaxed stance as one of hte Dwarves comes up the hill toward him. "Evening," he greets in a tone that is deliberately casual.
That changes as a new voice is heard from the woods. The man stiffens, and his hand clenches round the smooth wood of the spear he had not yet reshouldered (though it is neither raised nor readied).
[Neleth(#11788)] The reply to Brev is, on the tip of Neleth's lips before his eyes go to the figure emerging from the forest. Neleth's eyes scan over the elf before his head is inclined. Kamlor's, a few steps behind Neleth, had quickly shot his hand to his axe hilt, but the elder dwarf turns his head to the younger and waves a hand. Kamlor's hand drops as he looks at the elf, his eyes narrowing. There is a moment where Neleth is silent before he turns his head back to the elf and speaks, "You, of course, would know more than we do about this forest, friend." The words are even and checked. Cautious, even.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"You will find ill news, indeed, ere you reach the other side of the wood, if you travel eastward," the newly arrived elf says, "For the Enemy has set its sights upon the lands of Brand, and the Kingdom of Dale."
The arrow remains in its place as well, though its aim is at the ground, a few feet before the elf.
He approaches, nevertheless, turning his attention to the Dwarf, who speaks, "Indeed, I know that it is better for those who are not accustomed to it to linger in it too long."
Amongst those Dwarves that have come from the west, heads are turning. They seem content to let Neleth do the talking, though.
Brev's gaze seems never quite to rest fully on the Elf. He is uncomfortable, clearly. When his amber eyes chance to focus on Neleth's younger companion, one side of his mouth lifts a fraction, but that is all. He glances round, and mutters something sourly to Gidon under his breath, with the gist of 'where are those wretched elves when you need them?' The Breelad moves off, perhaps to search for said creatures - leaving Brev to face what he wishes not. "Where then, would you have travellers go?" The words, delivered in sing-song Common, are tight, slightly hoarse, and the man's knuckles are white.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"Back, if you are wise enough," comes the elf's reply. "Onward if you are bold and foolhardy. But there is no other way then the road, in this wood."
[Neleth(#11788)] One of Neleth's fingers has taken to twirling a braid of his beard, idlying flinging the tight weaved bit of hair lightly a few times. "'tis true. I was there when Gelbard of Dale fell..." Neleth head turns to look at Brev for a brief moment before he speaks again, "Many of us long for our mine again. We have long been in woods now. The trees don't play well on our minds. Make me kind of dizzy looking at them, sometimes. But it is not often an elf of the wood reveals himself... we have forgotten intoductions." this is said with a nod to the elf and Brev, "I am Neleth, son of Kurnar, Ambassador and Smith of the Blue Mountains."
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"Gelbard," the elf says, "I had not known of this if the General of Dale has fallen, then the winter is more dire than I knew."
Removing his right hand from the bowstring at last, the elf reaches up to pull back his hood, revealing his face, and the silvery crown of leaves and berries that rests upon his brow, "But this means that you journey westward it was not so long ago that Dain Ironfoot made his promise, that your folk would send word, before traveling the road, so that the ways could be watched."
"If we were wise enough, we wouldn't be here." The words are out before Brev can stop them - old habits die hard. Quickly his head dips - likely it is mere reluctance to look at the Elf, but it passes well as respect. "But the decision isn't mine. And the road takes all or none."
At Neleth's words his head lifts again, and he eyes the Dwarf with a faint frown-line upon his brow, puzzling perhaps the subtexts beneath the words. "I'm Brev," he tosses in his own name when no other is speaking, almost as if it were irrelevant. "And we were journeying east - to Dale."
At the sight of the silvered crown atop the Elven head his gaze drops groundward once again, and he stands taut as any bowstring.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
The laughter of the Elvenking is sudden. It fills the air, and he inclines his head to the Man, "Well spoken, indeed. For the ways of the Wilderlands are not traveled lightly you are neither Daleman nor of the folk of the Anduin, I can see. What land do you travel from, to reach us here?"
[Neleth(#11788)] The elder dwarf's helmet is removed as the elf's hood is pulled back and the crown revealed. Neleth's head is inclined again towards the elf. With the helmet removed, the bandage covering his forever and left ear is visable once more. "I know not of promises between Dain and your people, Master Elf. I go where the wagons go. If we have inadvertantly done something we ougt not t have done, all I can do is assure you of my apologies." Behind him Neleth's subordanate has gotten the clue and removed his own helm, his head inclined for a few moments.
Again he is addressed again Brev must lift his gaze. He does so, jaw set stubbornly, and if he swallows before he speaks, what of that? "From beyond the Mountains. I came with young Gidon there," he jerks his head backward without really looking. "His folk hail from the Breelands." Most of the new-come group would appear to be Dwarves, but there are a few men scattered here and there - broad, short, brown-haired, cheerful. Brev, with his scowls and his swarthy skin and dark curls, is diferent from any.
At the sight of the two Dwarves removing their helms, he blinks, and shoots the leader of the stranger-Dwarves a panicked glance - what should I do now?
[Thranduil(#5440)]
Thranduil steps forward again, the laughter vanished as quickly as it had come. He looks first to Brev, "It is a long, and a dangerous journey, to attempt uncertain of your purpose," he says, frowning slightly, with a cursory examination of the man.
"And yet, it is the journey of the Dwarf-folk here that I would hear of. Your camp is well enough known now, that small fires will not do, though if you intend to survive the night. Build them up tall, to keep the darkness awa else you will find more visitors than only orcs, I think."
[Neleth(#11788)] The apparent leader of the "stranger-dwarves," Neleth, gives the apparent Bree-man a glance, his eyes conveying a short moment of kindness and reassurance as his right hand gives a short wave. He doesn't reply with words, but the gesture could be taken as a dismissive gesture. Take it as one will. At the words from the elf, Neleth turns his head to Kamlor and nods to the camp. Unspoken though the orders are, the younger dwarf understands his elder's intention. He turns and heads back to the camp sites. Within a few minutes the fires of the dwarf encampment will be burning brighter. Neleth's words assure of what his fellow is setting to, "Kamlor will make sure our fires are taller. And I will be sure our guard is increased, of course, though it is always of a good number through the night. Not often unwanted creatures attack in daylight."
Brev does not look at the Elf directly, does not see the frown - though perhaps the words convey it clearly enough. "I knew my own purpose - to see young Gidon safely across the Mountains." His statement is sure, if quietly spoken. "He found what he sought," a sigh, "but the passes are closed now. Might as well go on as go back." The mention of Gidon sees him twisting his head round.
Neleth's gesture is met with clear relief, and for just a moment the corners of his mouth curl up - the flicker of a smile, swift-gone. "I won't interrupt further, nor meddle in affairs that aren't mine. Ought to help build up the fires." With that, he ducks his head in a nod first to one and then the other, and moves away with steady strides.
The Old Forest Road ascends and descends a tall knoll at this point in its longitudinal traverse of the great forest. The winter forest is brown and brittle-looking around you, though the trees thin out around the bald knob of the hill. The midnight air is cold. Below you the earth is snow-covered but still traceable and marked with old foot, horse, and wagon tracks.
Stars are cleary visible overhead through the thin path the road cuts through the trees.
Obvious exits:
SouthWest, NorthWest, East, and West
===============================================================================
Dunland Time and Weather Forecast
===============================================================================
Real Time is: Thu Sep 17 15:13:57 2009
IC weather is: Wind: - Clouds: sparse - Rain: moderate
IC Moon is: Full
IC time is: Midnight
IC date is: Sunday, Day 19 of December in the year 3047.
===============================================================================
The air is cold, and the wind whistles through the trees, filling the air with chatterings and whisperings. The snow of some days earlier has cleared, and the little caravan of Dwarves, Elves and humans has made what progress it may through the unsettling forest. Now, though, it is time to halt for the night. Already the ponies are weary and the wagons slowing - several Dwarves are gathered round one that has a wheel stuck in the mud. Others look for a likely spot to make camp. A grassy knoll open to the sky seems promising.
[Nob(#16122)] Gidon walks near to his father today, the two of them more comfortable around each other. But as the day ends and others begin to set up their camps, he moves off through the little crowd, and ends up near the wagon that is stuck. The boy squats down to watch as two dwarves pry at the wheel with a stick and two more set their shoulders to the back end and shove. A man encourages the ponies to pull, and slowly, slowly, the small wagon moves. A little, at least.
Brev appears at his side. "Yon hill looks promising," he reports to the group in general, jerking his head. Gidon is given a swift grin in greeting. "No sign of goblins that I can see - something wheeled has passed through, but the tracks are old." He twists his head round to regard the rise again. "Suppose if they do come, least we'll have the advantage of height." He does not look convinced - clearly time has not altered his views of the desirability of passing through this land.
[Nob(#16122)] The boy looks up, grinning back, then stands. "Least th'snow's stopped," he says, looking up the incline. One dwarf jams another stick behind the wheel, and there is a chorus of grunts as the wagon moves again. This time, there is a sucking sound, and a jerk as the ponies pull it free. "Up yon?" asks one, coming to where Brev and Gidon stand. "Likely enough spot. Good as any. Right." He gives a decisive nod of his head, and stumps off to tell the others.
Brev glances at the freed wagon, but does not offer to help. The job's done, isn't it?
"You're right," he agrees to Gidon. "Suppose we should thank Kiern for small mercies." His smile is a little forced, and he glances warily at the dark woods closing in on either side.
[Nob(#16122)] Gidon looks where Brev looks, and shakes his head. "This wood is weird," he says, moving a few steps back to be out of the way of the wagon which is now slowly trundling uphill. "I like th'woods, but this one..." He shivers a little. "It don' even sound right."
That statement receives no argument from Brev. "Can't say I disagree. It just feels ... wrong. And where are all the birds and beasts? Seen nothing save a few ugly squirrels, and I doubt they'd make good eating."
He watches the wagon's progress, and falls in behind once it's past. "Your Da said anything more about what you'll do when you reach this Dale?"
[Nob(#16122)] The boy shakes his head, walking along beside Brev. "He don' say much," he tells the man, a little apologetically. "Not never." He is quiet for a while, then grins a little. "Nor me, neither."
At the top, he stops and looks around. "I seen eyes now an' then. In th'night."
[Nob(#16122)] "Did you see that funny light a bit ago? Made th'whole sky go red, most?"
"Mmm." At those first words, Brev eyes young Gidon slantways, almost as if he might speak, but he does not.
The other statement brings a sudden freezing of his shoulders. "Eyes?" He glances to the woods beside them, his expression dubious. "And aye, I saw it. Kiern! Can't say I fancy living in a land where the sky burns."
The Dwarven wagons (and those folk of other races accompanying them) continue to make their slow way up to the top of the little knoll, where a camp will be set up.
[Neleth(#11788)] At the bottom of the hill that the Bree traveling party (is that a good name for them, indeed?) there are suddenly, almost as if timed with the ascenion of the Breefolk and their traveling partners, many small campfires lighting up. Indeed, these fires make wagons parked on the side of the path much easier to see. There is little room for the wagons to fit on the side of the path, but fit they do, if barely. Between every few wagons is a camp fire now, and the dwarven figures surrounding them are easier to make out. Neleth is one of these dwarves, sitting on a small stool in front of a newly lit fire. Hi head is wrapped in a bandage, which effectively covers his left ear and forehead. He is, currently, enjoying his pipeweed.
There is a shout for a dwarf as the party at the top of the hill is spotted and there is a little ruckus in the camp. Not long thereafter a shout goes up to the hill above from the closes Ered-Luin wagon, "'e, who goes there! Name yerselves!"
[Nob(#16122)] "What d'you think it was?" Gidon asks. "I never smelt no smoke or nothing." He turns a little, looking back the way they have come. There is nothing but darkness. The wind makes the trees sway, but only the nearest can really be seen. "I..." He jerks around at the shout, his good hand going at once to his sling, and as Brev has told him, he sidles sideways, crouching down in the shadow of a bush.
Brev shrugs. Whatever response is forming on his lips dies, though, as the shout comes. Today his spear is slung at his back, and he twists round to free it. When he turns back and finds Gidon gone, he shows little surprise. All along the little line of wagons, Dwarves ready axes and picks.
Then, from the top of the hill, comes a shout from the foremost wagon. "Why, cousins! Tis good to see ye. Brarin son of Tharin am I, and our company is bound for the Mountain. What news from the lands beyond?" The speaker, beaming broadly, hefts his axe in a greeting that is almost salute.
[Neleth(#11788)] It just so happens that Neleth's pipeweed break is cut short as, though the ruckus from the other travelers being spotted did not initially involve him, it he is brought into the ruckus by a fellow dwarf. At first, see, Neleth ignored what was going on. He took a few draws of his pipe, enjoying creating smoke rings while many of the other dwarves arm themselves and move closer the the lead wagons of their encampment. It is when a dwarf by the name of Kamlor comes to him and states, "Amabassador... we may need you. Everyone else is at the other end of the camp who..." Neleth lets out his latest breath of pipeweed in a frustrated way. Neleth does stand, and he sets his pipe on his stool. His helmet, which had previously been sitting unnoticed next to his stool is picked up and donned. "Let's go then, lad." Neleth states to Kamlor, a dwarf who might appear much younger than Neleth if only for the lack of grey in his beard.
Meanwhile, at the front of the encampment, the dwarf who had issued the challenge originally replies in a voice mixed with relief and pride, "Ah! Greetings cousin Brarin. I am Thurvi, son of Korvi, Warder of the Azundelbur! The roads beyond are as dangerous as the ones before, friend - that is all the news I know to share!"
[Nob(#16122)] Gidon stands up and comes back to Brev's side, looking a little embarrassed. There was no need to hide, after all. "More dorves?" he says, surprised. "What're they doin' out here?"
A couple other of the dwarves from their small party drop their tools and leave their tasks to mingle with these, talking happily, slapping those on the back that they know.
"Hah! Let danger come. Our axes have hewn naught but wood since we crossed the Mountains. Time it is they felt goblin necks," Brarin proclaims brashly. Then, looking around at the brightness of the fires, and smelling the homely smells of pipeweed and cooking, he queries with ill-concealed eagerness, "May we join ye, and share news of the road?" The question is almost rhetorical, given some of his companions are already streaming past to greet friends or relatives.
Brev, for his part, speeds his steps until he, too, can see the scene spread out below them. "Kiern! There goes our height advantage," he remarks sourly. And then, "Bloodthirsty folk, aren't they? Personally, I'm quite happy without the goblins." At Gidon's question he shrugs then the corners of his mouth lift in a sudden grin. "No idea. Why don't you go ask them? Seeing as you're the friendly one ..."
[Neleth(#11788)] The dwarves group the Ered-Luin group are happy to welcome their cousins that had been traveling with the Breefolk to join them - greetings, hugs and hearty laughs are shared by many. Dwarves do indeed appear many times to be a close knit race. Weapons are returning to their proper places in belts, wagons or strapped to a dwarf's back. Indeed, many dwarves have already tossed more meat on their fires to prepare to hve cousins share stories with them. Thurvi answers Brarin even as he is shaking the hand of a dwarf from the new group, "It would not do well for us to deny cousins or friends! Indeed, we could perhaps even trade a bit of wares! But, that's not for me!" Thurvi's own hammer is slid into his belt. Neleth has only greeted one of the new dwarves. His eyes are set on the wagons above and he is the only one from his camp, Kamlor trailing behind him, to make his way up the hill, towards the Breefolk.
[Nob(#16122)] "Me too," Gidon says fervently, a memory of hot fetid breath and an evil looking sword coming into his mind. Then he turns suddenly shy, ducking his head and mumbling, "Dunno..." And as one of the very dwarves of which they spoke comes up the hill, he edges back so that he is more behind Brev than beside him.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"It is good, then, that your King is wiser than his subjects."
"There will be little news, I expect. For the other end of the road is blocked." The speaker adds, as he emerges from the wood, to the North. "There are things that one ought not wish for."
The speaker is an elf, clearly, his garb is of forest greens and browns, a hood covering his head, and a longbow in his hand, arrow knocked but undrawn.
Brarin laughs at Thurvi's words. "Spoken like a true merchant!" The gleam in his eye hints that he had every intention of trading even before it was suggested. He moves off to find a place to halt his own wagon.
Brev notes Gidon's ducking behind him, and snorts. Then sighs. Newly lessoned as he is in the art of greeting others, he tries to maintain a relaxed stance as one of hte Dwarves comes up the hill toward him. "Evening," he greets in a tone that is deliberately casual.
That changes as a new voice is heard from the woods. The man stiffens, and his hand clenches round the smooth wood of the spear he had not yet reshouldered (though it is neither raised nor readied).
[Neleth(#11788)] The reply to Brev is, on the tip of Neleth's lips before his eyes go to the figure emerging from the forest. Neleth's eyes scan over the elf before his head is inclined. Kamlor's, a few steps behind Neleth, had quickly shot his hand to his axe hilt, but the elder dwarf turns his head to the younger and waves a hand. Kamlor's hand drops as he looks at the elf, his eyes narrowing. There is a moment where Neleth is silent before he turns his head back to the elf and speaks, "You, of course, would know more than we do about this forest, friend." The words are even and checked. Cautious, even.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"You will find ill news, indeed, ere you reach the other side of the wood, if you travel eastward," the newly arrived elf says, "For the Enemy has set its sights upon the lands of Brand, and the Kingdom of Dale."
The arrow remains in its place as well, though its aim is at the ground, a few feet before the elf.
He approaches, nevertheless, turning his attention to the Dwarf, who speaks, "Indeed, I know that it is better for those who are not accustomed to it to linger in it too long."
Amongst those Dwarves that have come from the west, heads are turning. They seem content to let Neleth do the talking, though.
Brev's gaze seems never quite to rest fully on the Elf. He is uncomfortable, clearly. When his amber eyes chance to focus on Neleth's younger companion, one side of his mouth lifts a fraction, but that is all. He glances round, and mutters something sourly to Gidon under his breath, with the gist of 'where are those wretched elves when you need them?' The Breelad moves off, perhaps to search for said creatures - leaving Brev to face what he wishes not. "Where then, would you have travellers go?" The words, delivered in sing-song Common, are tight, slightly hoarse, and the man's knuckles are white.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"Back, if you are wise enough," comes the elf's reply. "Onward if you are bold and foolhardy. But there is no other way then the road, in this wood."
[Neleth(#11788)] One of Neleth's fingers has taken to twirling a braid of his beard, idlying flinging the tight weaved bit of hair lightly a few times. "'tis true. I was there when Gelbard of Dale fell..." Neleth head turns to look at Brev for a brief moment before he speaks again, "Many of us long for our mine again. We have long been in woods now. The trees don't play well on our minds. Make me kind of dizzy looking at them, sometimes. But it is not often an elf of the wood reveals himself... we have forgotten intoductions." this is said with a nod to the elf and Brev, "I am Neleth, son of Kurnar, Ambassador and Smith of the Blue Mountains."
[Thranduil(#5440)]
"Gelbard," the elf says, "I had not known of this if the General of Dale has fallen, then the winter is more dire than I knew."
Removing his right hand from the bowstring at last, the elf reaches up to pull back his hood, revealing his face, and the silvery crown of leaves and berries that rests upon his brow, "But this means that you journey westward it was not so long ago that Dain Ironfoot made his promise, that your folk would send word, before traveling the road, so that the ways could be watched."
"If we were wise enough, we wouldn't be here." The words are out before Brev can stop them - old habits die hard. Quickly his head dips - likely it is mere reluctance to look at the Elf, but it passes well as respect. "But the decision isn't mine. And the road takes all or none."
At Neleth's words his head lifts again, and he eyes the Dwarf with a faint frown-line upon his brow, puzzling perhaps the subtexts beneath the words. "I'm Brev," he tosses in his own name when no other is speaking, almost as if it were irrelevant. "And we were journeying east - to Dale."
At the sight of the silvered crown atop the Elven head his gaze drops groundward once again, and he stands taut as any bowstring.
[Thranduil(#5440)]
The laughter of the Elvenking is sudden. It fills the air, and he inclines his head to the Man, "Well spoken, indeed. For the ways of the Wilderlands are not traveled lightly you are neither Daleman nor of the folk of the Anduin, I can see. What land do you travel from, to reach us here?"
[Neleth(#11788)] The elder dwarf's helmet is removed as the elf's hood is pulled back and the crown revealed. Neleth's head is inclined again towards the elf. With the helmet removed, the bandage covering his forever and left ear is visable once more. "I know not of promises between Dain and your people, Master Elf. I go where the wagons go. If we have inadvertantly done something we ougt not t have done, all I can do is assure you of my apologies." Behind him Neleth's subordanate has gotten the clue and removed his own helm, his head inclined for a few moments.
Again he is addressed again Brev must lift his gaze. He does so, jaw set stubbornly, and if he swallows before he speaks, what of that? "From beyond the Mountains. I came with young Gidon there," he jerks his head backward without really looking. "His folk hail from the Breelands." Most of the new-come group would appear to be Dwarves, but there are a few men scattered here and there - broad, short, brown-haired, cheerful. Brev, with his scowls and his swarthy skin and dark curls, is diferent from any.
At the sight of the two Dwarves removing their helms, he blinks, and shoots the leader of the stranger-Dwarves a panicked glance - what should I do now?
[Thranduil(#5440)]
Thranduil steps forward again, the laughter vanished as quickly as it had come. He looks first to Brev, "It is a long, and a dangerous journey, to attempt uncertain of your purpose," he says, frowning slightly, with a cursory examination of the man.
"And yet, it is the journey of the Dwarf-folk here that I would hear of. Your camp is well enough known now, that small fires will not do, though if you intend to survive the night. Build them up tall, to keep the darkness awa else you will find more visitors than only orcs, I think."
[Neleth(#11788)] The apparent leader of the "stranger-dwarves," Neleth, gives the apparent Bree-man a glance, his eyes conveying a short moment of kindness and reassurance as his right hand gives a short wave. He doesn't reply with words, but the gesture could be taken as a dismissive gesture. Take it as one will. At the words from the elf, Neleth turns his head to Kamlor and nods to the camp. Unspoken though the orders are, the younger dwarf understands his elder's intention. He turns and heads back to the camp sites. Within a few minutes the fires of the dwarf encampment will be burning brighter. Neleth's words assure of what his fellow is setting to, "Kamlor will make sure our fires are taller. And I will be sure our guard is increased, of course, though it is always of a good number through the night. Not often unwanted creatures attack in daylight."
Brev does not look at the Elf directly, does not see the frown - though perhaps the words convey it clearly enough. "I knew my own purpose - to see young Gidon safely across the Mountains." His statement is sure, if quietly spoken. "He found what he sought," a sigh, "but the passes are closed now. Might as well go on as go back." The mention of Gidon sees him twisting his head round.
Neleth's gesture is met with clear relief, and for just a moment the corners of his mouth curl up - the flicker of a smile, swift-gone. "I won't interrupt further, nor meddle in affairs that aren't mine. Ought to help build up the fires." With that, he ducks his head in a nod first to one and then the other, and moves away with steady strides.
Players: Brev, Nob, Neleth, Thranduil
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- An unexpected meeting