The Pretender Chronicles- Before the Throne
A tale freshly told of the Gondorian
Alphros bestows parting words and gifts on the men and women of Gondor and extracts a price.
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Throne Room
This room is the embodiment of the power and majesty of Farside. Sunlight shines down through shafts built into the roof above, with a stained glass window above and behind the throne proudly displaying the Tower\'s standard of a black raven with its wings spread against a purple background, the glass sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight.
A roll of thick purple carpet covers the approach to the throne from the west, ending at the feet of the dais where the throne itself sits. Carved from the very same white marble that makes up the floor, the throne is merely an extension of the Tower, simple and elegant. Pillars line the sides of the aisle, standing ten paces apart. Along the walls, Gondorian longswords, each captured in battle, have been mounted in criss-crossing fashion as a display of Farside\'s military might.
The walls are accoustically sound, and both echo and amplify all noise within the chamber so that even the softest whisper can be heard aloud.
[Alphros(#31271)]
Alphros sits upon his throne, with only a handful of honour guardsmen and a few trusted courtiers in attendance. But otherwise the great hall of Farside is in full regalia as if for a formal occasion.
A cadre of guardsmen bring in the Gondorians. Upon his throne, the Lord says: \"Men and women of Gondor, you have remained long within the bounds of my Towers and witnessed from its parapets a city unmade and remade whole. Now the time of your staying draws to a close. Are there any final requests you would make of me ere I fulfill the final promise I have made to you?\"
Among the small group of the men and women of Gondor, Ceredir is in the front, near, predictably, to his wife, as if he does not wish to get very far from her at all now. Indeed, his complexion is a little paler than it has been in the past few days.
Now, though he bows and then shakes his head in reply to the question from Alphros.
[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel stands beside her husband, and she shakes her head at the question. Then Nella offers a smile to Alphros along with her silence as she gives him a graceful curtsy.
[Yussef(#19036)]
Thither, head of the escort, Sergeant Yussef bows at the waist before the throne and then stands aside observing then the proceedings in stillness.
[Alphros(#31271)]
\"Very well,\" says the Lord of Farside simply. \"Proof you have asked for, and proof I shall give to you.\"
Alphros gestures, and a cadre of servants enter bearing various things covered in cloth. The first one steps forward, bows before the Gondorians, and places a small bound package at Ceredir\'s feet. \"A copy of the Sagas of the Children of Azulada,\" says Alphros. \"The Lays of the Children of the Lost Prince, some might call them. Therein you might find a complete history of my family, succoured in Aglarrama since before the time of King Tarannon Falastur through whom I claim my birthright. Guard it closely and carefully though, Ceredir of Gondor, for there are those in your homeland who would deem you a heretic for its mere possession.\"
\"
[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella leans closer to her husband to get a look at the package that he now holds. \"Proof for Gondor,\" she says quietly.
[Yussef(#19036)]
Behind their now frowning Sergeant, one of the guardsmen whispers to the other, just shy of a breath:
\"What do you suppose that lot meant?\" And the answer is just as low,
\"I don\'t know m\'boy. Like as not he professed love \'n service \'n such!\"
\"Fancy speech...\"
[<#31271>] Alphros says in Sindarin, \"My thanks, Ceredir. You prove your loyalty and worthiness with each passing day. Be wary of anyone outside these walls, for there are many who would seek both of our undoings.\"
[Alphros(#31271)]
The Lord of Farside then gestures to the rest of the servants, who bear something much larger between them. Setting it down, they pull back the cloth to reveal... a bunch of stuffed cats, preserved by the finest taxidermy. There are ten in total, nine black and one white.
\"The infamous cats of Queen Beruthiel,\" Alphros says simply, \"Who was Queen to Tarannon Falastur and was sent into exile bearing his unborn child Azulada. Many in Gondor will remember the tale of these feline servants, who served Beruthiel even though she had no love for their kind. And for her lovelessness we of her bloodline now share her Curse, and there are those who are born with it forever.\" He gestures at the cats lingering about him in the room, his ever-presented but unwanted followers.
\'Yes, my lord. Of course.\' Ceredir bows his head. \"UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH.\" Ceredir turns to his wife briefly. \"UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH.\"
Eyes wide at the stuffed cats, Ceredir blinks, hard. \'Ten, sir, yes...though the ship we are on could use two or three live ones for the rats.\'
[Nelladel(#7905)] Ceredir\'s wife nods solemnly. \"I will remember this,\" she assures him. But then...Nella gives a startled, short lived scream when the first of the dead, stuffed cats is revealed from beneath its cloth trappings. She presses a hand to her mouth, looking pale. \"Forgive me- that was unexpected.\" she mutters to Lord Alphros, lowering her hand. Nella steals a guilty glance at her husband- doubtless thinking he will be vexed with her.
[Alphros(#31271)]
Alphros considers the rest of whatever else Ceredir said in silence, and then he nods in simple acceptance and silent thanks. Pursing his lips, he gestures to a servant who retrieves one of the nine stuffed black cats and wraps it in cloth, also placing it down before Ceredir.
\"You may also take this with you to whoever wishes to investigate my claim they can study this cat to ascertain its age and its resemblance to Beruthiel\'s cats of history.\"
The look that Ceredir gives his wife at the scream is one of suppressed humor, though. He reaches to pat her hand, silently, then attention is turned back to the Farside Lord as the stuffed cat is delivered to him.
\"I..uh..yes, my lord.\" Ceredir reaches to pick it up, adding to the bundles in his arms.
[Yussef(#19036)]
The Whispering Guard now looks with ill hidden amusement at Nelladel. \"Cute lil\' buggers, aren\'t they?\" whispers the one.
\"How could she fear those lil\'uns?\" Answers the other.
\"Mistook \'em fer lions perhaps?\" The first produces only a low scoff in reply, upon which Yussef turns a wry glance upon them over his shoulder. The whispering ceases, though the pair exchange glances and look forward in silence, with none too straight faces.
[Alphros(#31271)]
\"You may go now,\" Alphros says simply to the Gondorians. \"Except for Lady Nelladel, who is to remain here as my guest. There are things that I have entrusted to your company -- knowledge, objects, and purposes -- that I cannot leave without check and balance to ensure your trustworthiness. You may each have honesty in your hearts, but I will not risk being played like a fool know that Lady Nelladel,\" he looks right at her, \"Will not come to harm.\" He leaves unsaid what will occur if he is betrayed.
Once more Ceredir bows. He does not protest the order in regard to his wife--indeed, he seems to have more than expected it, from the knowing look he gives Nelladel. But his jaw is also set in a hard line and his brows are furrowed so that his look has darkened quite suddenly.
[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella looks around first at the amused, whispering guards, and then back at Alphros. Paling, she gasps, \"I\'m...what? No!\" She shakes her head and takes a few steps back, one hand on her husband\'s arm.
[Yussef(#19036)]
\"Lord anAzulada!\"
\'Tis Yussef who now speaks thus, coming forward with bowed head, the ironshod butt of his spear striking the floor to punctuate his sentence.
\"May I speak?\"
[Alphros(#31271)]
\"Worry not, if your kinsmen are true nothing ill will come to pass,\" Alphros says simply. Then to all the Gondorians: \"You may go now. You shall be escorted back to a ship which will arrange for your return to Gondor.\" And with that, it is done.
The Lord looks to Yussef, and nods. \"Speak.\"
\"It cannot be changed,\" Ceredir says in a low, quick whisper to Nella. \"Even the brand I took was not enough. Accept your fate and act wisely so as to stay alive. I will be back for you--I swear this.\"
Not yet forced to leave by the guards escorting the party, Ceredir stays where he is, focused on the exchange between Yussef and Alphros.
[Yussef(#19036)]
\"Two things, lord.\"
\"Firstly, a tribesman by the name of Uzay resides now in your guestchambers. He comes with promises from the desert -- and demands upon its tower. And second...\" The sergeant pauses, perhaps in hesitance, glance with starting eyes downcast for a short while.
\"Second, with my command thus ended, I would withdraw from your service. Alphros anAzulada is a gracious Lord, but my heart dwells elsewhere.\" He ends with a bow at the waist, and retains that posture.
[Alphros(#31271)]
Alphros nods at the news of the first in silent consideration. At the second, he does not seem particularly surprised-- but his answer hangs at great length nonetheless.
\"So be it,\" the Lord says simply. \"I will not withhold you from your heart\'s place.\" A pause. \"And you have served well. You may go find your fortunes where you wish, Sergeant.\"
[Nelladel(#7905)] With a shaking hand, Nella holds onto Ceredir\'s arm. \"You know how trouble finds me. But...I will do my best.\" Grateful that he doesn\'t have to leave just yet, Nella lingers beside her husband, also watching the exchange between Alphros and Yussef now.
[Yussef(#19036)]
Straightening, Yussef\'s mien is one perplexed, eyes widened in confusion and brow laden with troubles.
Then, ere a moment, the cares are swept aside, and there a smile brightens his face and narrows his black gaze. He bows again. \"Thank you, Lord Alphros. I will remember you.\"