(Archive) - A Secret Mission — The Red Book of Westmarch

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Weather: Clear

Time: Late Night

Season: Spring

Date: Mersday - March 14, 3021

Real Time: Thu Aug 31 20:58:34 2000

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*Note - log supplied by Drenlyn*

Dol Amroth: Prince\'s Castle - Lower Courtyard

A broad expanse of emerald limned in white greets you when first you set eyes upon the lower of the citadel\'s courtyards. A valley of grass and stands of trees between the terraced wall of the upper courtyard to the west, the land dips down and then up again towards the gatehouse lying distantly eastward. To the north and south gargantuan walls thrust up, their summit nearly lost to sight atop gleaming stone piled ten times a man\'s height, while buildings lie snug against them. Within the walls\' white embrace, simple paved paths meander amid the green hollows, passing south and west towards an archway set in the walls, and again eastward towards the gatehouse.

The stone of the walls reflects a ghostly blue of moon and starlight, but much of the courtyard itself is lost in soft darkness, save for a few small paths picked out by silver-chased lebethron lamps. Crickets blanket the land in soft song, dew clings wetly to grass, boot, slipper, and hem, while windows glow softly in the night. Picked out in torchlight to the north is a narrow stair leading to the upper courtyard, and to the east the gatehouse is likewise flanked by flame.

The stars glitter overhead in the clear Spring sky.

Contents:

Valgrim

Gweneth

Thorondur

Obvious exits:

Smithy , Stables , Archway , Narrow Stair , and Gatehouse

*Note - log starts with scene in progress*

\"Which is?\" Gweneth replies quickly.

Stumbling in the darkness, Drenlyn bumps into Thorondur, dropping the heavy breastplate in his arms. \"Pardon me lord,\" pipes Drenlyn, his face turning red in the lamp light. Bowing low Drenlyn proceeds to pick up his burden.

Gravely, the Lord Thorondur says to the Lady, \"The Isilrim boys will be keeping the Princess Lothiriel company in my stead, and will be on their best behavior. Yet... please, if you could, see that they -- eh?\"

Bumped by Drenlyn, the Knight-Herald chuckles to himself, shaking his head as he finishes his request. \"If you could, my lady, see that they do not miss their various lessons?\"

Drenlyn, now bright red with embarrassment, picks up the breastplate and turning to Valgrim, \"Thank-you sir. I have yet to gain some experience in these night preparations.\"

Now hefting the armor Drenlyn turns to the Knight-Herald fearing some sign of reprieve for his clumsiness.

Valgrim puts his long arm around the young man, relieving the Lord from attending to the squire. Yet his strong arm around the youth seems to signal a sense of brotherhood, of camaraderie. \"Come squire. You must be newly charged indeed. I don\'t believe we have met. My name is Valgrim of House Girithlin.\"

Drenlyn will soon learn, as the other squires have, of the Herald\'s rather... easy manner, with his subordinates. Indeed, one of those other squires -- Valgrim -- catches Thorondur\'s eye as Drenlyn offers his apology, and the Herald takes the opportunity to say, \"No trouble, Drenlyn.\"

\"Have you yet met Squire Valgrim? I daresay the pair of you will become close comrades ere our journey is done.\"

\"I have yet to meet Squire Valgrim outside our present circumstances, but if I keep losing my feet like this, I fear that even my comrades will begin to avoid me,\" replies Drenlyn.

Valgrim chuckles, his mouth widening into a massive grin that seems to nearly envelop his face. His teeth shine bright, almost reflecting the light from the twinkling stars. Patting the squire on the back with a strong slap, Valgrim\'s arm strikes with the force of a few men it seems. \"Nonsense Drenlyn. I myself was quite the clumsy youth just a year ago. Ask the Lady Ivriniel. She has stories to tell.\"

Smiling to himself, a secret look of genuine amusement -- albeit tempered, as ever of late, with unspoken sorrows -- the Lord Thorondur slips away from the squires, leaving them to introductions. Himself, meanwhile, he busies with the last of the supply distribution: only one packhorse has yet to be laden.

Ebon tresses gilt with gold by rising sun, Ninvainiel descends the staircase from the upper courtyard with the sharp rapping of boot-heel upon stone... which falls suddenly silent as she nears the bottom, stepping more slowly and softly.

Her gaze sweeps the courtyard, curiosity in the arched brow upon her forehead.

Drenlyn, taking a stepping forward under Valgrim\'s blow on the back, regains his balance and smiles, \"Indeed I will have to speak to the Lady Ivriniel to make sure that you do not say so for my amusement.\"

\"However Valgrim, a knight awaits his armor and I must depart, but I shall return most swiftly and we shall see what can be done for -my- clumsiness.\" With this Drenlyn turns, and disappears into the shadows.

Dol Amroth: Prince\'s Castle - Smithy

Lined with a great many shelves and hooks, this modestly stocked room has in it a great many weapons, and much armor. Swords of length greater than some men hang idly, awaiting use. Shields, gleaming brightly, rest against walls and helms of all make, both common and atypical, sit on wooden pegs.

Quiet now that night has fallen, this room is yet warm from the earlier day, and the smell of both sweat and smelted steel lingers in the air.

Obvious exits:

Out , Weapon Smithy , and Armor Smithy

Dol Amroth: Prince\'s Castle - Lower Courtyard

The Sun is rising glorious red and gold in the east, with birds twittering as the early risers greet the day. There is not a cloud in the sky...The sky is clear and the air is cool and fresh...

With a tentative hand Ninvainiel reaches forward towards a squire who passes by, but clenching her hand quickly she draws it back as he sweeps past her intent on his duty. Her lip curls slightly in a frown, and she stands uneasily shifting her weight.

After a time, she steps forward and approaches the man nearest her Valgrim it is who she regards with a sweetly confused smile.

Engrossed in last minute details, Valgrim does not notice the Lady\'s approach at first, his hands busy within the packs at his horse\'s side. Yet finally her rustling clothes and her light shadow cast from the soft starlight stir his attention, and he raises his heavy head. Though surprise glints in his eyes, he still responds quickly. \"Lady. I missed your approach. Can I help you?\"

Returning empty-handed Drenlyn strides through the darkness smiling. Approaching Valgrim Drenlyn says, \"It appears Valgrim that my duties at present are done, and it appears that my clumsiness has abated for the time being. However I wonder if you know of any task that needs doing at the moment, or if you per chance have heard of the reason for these preparations.\"

Seeing a Lady next to Valgrim, Drenlyn bows low, \"Pardon me my Lady, I did not mean to interrupt.\"

\"I am uncertain,\" the Lady Telpekhor begins with a measure of hesitation, even as Drenlyn interrupts. Leaning in closer, she sweeps a gloved hand about the yard. \"What is all this?\" she asks.

A heavy sigh escapes from Valgrim\'s lips, laden as it is with remorse and apology. His eyes close momentarily, the long lashes interlocking like a complex lock. His thoughts hidden beneath the lids for but a moment as he snaps them open again. His voice booms across the grass between the two, despite the short distance.

\"I apologize Lady. I fear nothing I could tell you would be of any use. The Prince has tasked us with a journey. But for what purpose or what length is still unknown to me. The Lady Gweneth asked the same but a moment ago and we suggested she speak to the Prince himself.\"

\"I too was told nothing Lady,\" blinking Drenlyn turns to Valgrim with a confused frown, \"And I was simply sent here by a page, who told me that squires were in need for some preparations.\"

The Lady rocks back on her heels, nodding - an expression of disappointment is writ on her countenance, to be sure, but no surprise. A new question, though, springs to her lips.

\"If you know neither length nor nature of your journey, then how is it that you how to provision yourselves? Is there someone then besides the Prince who directs you?\"

Valgrim opens his mouth, eager to speak the one piece of knowledge he holds in his head. Yet the words of the fellow squire befuddle him, causing an expression of confusion to creep to his face. His eyebrows turned down and his mouth contorted in a pseudo-grimace. Yet the pause passes quickly and his words strike out into the fresh night air. \"Yes Lady. the Lord Thorondur commands us. He no doubt has the knowledge you seek. But he has kept that knowledge deep within his heart until we have left, no doubt for some secret purpose commanded by the Prince.\"

Nodding to the explanation of his peer, Drenlyn\'s face loses the expression of confusion and regains a composure of confidence. \"I care not for these secret purposes, but I will trust the Prince and his Herald, for I do not believe that they would lead their knights and squires to some ill end.\"

Ninvainiel\'s eyes widen ingenuously, sparkling bright in the early morn light. \"A secret!\" she exclaims, clapping her leather-clad hands together softly in the damp spring air.

\"But how exciting! What is the nature of your supplies? Will it be dangerous, do you think?\" her words tumble forth quickly, with girlish animation.

Drenlyn, turning to the excited maiden, says, \"I fear that this matter may not be the kind of -excitement- that you may enjoy. I have spent my time here assisting knights in preparations for some far-away battle.\"

\"However, I have heard rumors of our destination, but as to our purpose it is as dark as the night to me.\"

Clearly not expressing the same childish excitement about the task ahead of him, Valgrim smiles. He nods his head in agreement with the squire\'s words, a number of his raven locks falling down into his eyes, casting the illusion of dyed straw across his face.

\"Yes Lady, I fear our destination is not a pleasant one, nor safe. I am sure danger will be thick across our path. Something that, though I am prepared, I do not welcome.\"

\"Oh, a battle, then?\" Ninvainiel says, a somberness dulling the glinting of her leaden eyes. Unconsciously, her hand goes to her pale throat, fingers tracing idle patterns upon her caracet. \"How mysterious... You certainly do not venture west and north, though, towards...?\"

Valgrim shrugs, his shoulders rising in response to the Lady\'s question. His voice seems laden with concern. Yet before he can speak, a guard from above calls down to the Lady. Concern flashes across her face and she departs with nary a goodbye. Shrugging again, Valgrim returns to attend his horse, inspecting the saddle one last time.

Turning to Valgrim, Drenlyn asks, \"I wonder who that Lady was, and why she held so much excitement for these preparations.\"

I for one am weary of such secret journeys, but I will go, if only to see the familiar coast of Belfalas.\"