The Pretender Chronicles - Oaths Taken (SPOILERS)

_-\' Dining Hall \'-_

This grand dining hall is the scene of many a banquet. It is also where the residents of Farside come to eat on more mundane occasions. Rectangular in shape, you are greeted by three long tables of polished wood, one to your right, one to your left, and one against the wall, directly before you. The floor and walls are made of stone, with colorful tapestries upon the wall to keep out drafts and brighten up the room. Torches line the walls, providing light whether night or day. The ceiling arches up, reaching 20 feet at its apex.

Off to one side are a pair of doors leading to the kitchens, while another door leads to some of the servants\' quarters.

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:

Daytime on Sterday, Day 28 of July.

Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.

Real time is: 19:54:56 MDT on Wed Apr 01 2009.

[Alphros(#31271)]

The great dining hall is largely empty, save for a single man sitting at the head of one of the great tables, near the hearth. It is the Lord Alphros, and he is accompanied only by the usual prowling cats. Before him sits an empty place, and a half-filled goblet of wine.

A pair of guards watch over the entrance.

Ceredir:

\"My lord?\"

It is Ceredir, standing at the door of the open hall and executing a bow once Alphros looks up. \"If it is not intruding, would you have time to speak to...us...?\" With that, he gestures for his wife, the dark-haired woman Nella, to come forward as well.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros looks up from his place, and he nods.

\"Come in,\" he says simply.

[Nelladel(#7905)] Suddenly shy grey eyes peer over Ceredir\'s shoulder as Nella gets her second sight of Lord Alphros. She looks around the room before moving to stand at her husband\'s side. \"Afternoon,\" she says quietly, for once not full of things to say.

Ceredir:

Resting his right hand on Nelladel\'s shoulder as she comes to stand beside him, Ceredir smiles briefly. \"We wished to speak to you. For me, you know the questions I had. And Nella...I know you wished to talk to her, as well. I can leave if you do not wish me here for that.\"

\"But first...\" Ceredir pauses and drops his right hand to begin pushing up his left sleeve to expose a bandage there.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros gazes on the bandage Ceredir reveals, understanding. Then he nods, and gestures to two of the seats near to his own, unworried it seems by being alone in the presence of two Gondorians, with only the guards standing watch at the distant door.

\"Come and sit, then. You may ask your question and then Nelladel may ask hers if she wishes privacy, she may say so.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella looks down at the bandage on Ceredir\'s arm and frowns. Still, she moves to take seat. \"I have nothing to hide, at least not from Ceredir,\" Nella says quietly but resolutely to Alphros. She sits with her hands folded neatly in her lap, gazing around the room.

Ceredir:

\"Tis the Raven and Tree, your emblem,\" Ceredir says, indicating the bandaged arm with a slight tilt of his head. \"I believe that your sister asked for...for the brand to be saved. To be used again, if I heard correctly.\"

He sits only after Nelladel has done so, then goes on. \"My lord..I must ask about..the Enemy again. If I am to bring men to your side in Gondor, this is the question they will want settled thoroughly, yet I realize...open court is not the forum for such a discussion.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros nods to Nelladel and gazes at Ceredir as he speaks. He frowns a little, but then gestures:

\"Then ask your question freely, openly, and plainly while we are alone, so that I may answer it so.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella seems quite displeased, looking at Ceredir\'s arm. \"Used -again-?\" she blurts. Then, with a guilty gaze, she looks down at her hands and says nothing more while Ceredir asks his question.

Ceredir:

\"Of your heritage, I know you will speak to all of us at once, as a group,\" Ceredir nods. \"So I will hold that question. But, explain to me your position in regard to Mordor. What will your policies be toward it?\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros\'s frown deepens. A long silence ensues, and he glances to the side.

\"A difficult... sensitive... issue. You understand that Umbar has fallen beneath the shadow of Mordor, and as a Lord in Umbar, I must treat with that shadow out of necessity... To keep it at bay.\" He pauses, and says: \"What I say to you next, I must have your sworn oaths upon that you will never repeat. To a single soul. Ever.\"

\"Make no mistake, for the words I say must not pass beyond these walls or your lips again, lest a terrible wrath come upon you.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella lifts her head and gazes steadily at Alphros now. \"I wish to see you as Gondor\'s King. I will not betray you.\" A look of stubborn determination is on her face, a look that\'s very familiar to any who know her well.

Ceredir:

\"I do so swear,\" Ceredir says, his eyes steady on Alphros. He turns to Nelladel and smiles, but the expression is gone by the time he looks back to Alphros.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros pauses as they give their answers, and permits silence to reign for another long moment.

\"I maintain my alliance with the High Priestess of the Dark Religion out of necessity. She lends me her strength, and I can keep the interests of Mordor at bay while I pay lip service to her unholy faith. But I am a son of the Black Numenorean Lords of the South, not those who descended into the Dark Lord\'s service but those who ruled Umbar and Aglarrama and the lands of the South, who built the statue of Ar-Pharazon\'s defeat of Sauron that stood for so many years.\"

\"I give faith to the True Great Lord, He Who Arises in Might, to whom the Dark Lord Sauron is but a humble servant now risen to the station of tyrant. And so my policy on Mordor? I must treat with its servants, out of necessity, but when I am King of Gondor we we shall have a Reunited Kingdom, which restores our people to greatness and humbles the Dark Lord as the King\'s Men of the West once did. That is my answer.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella listens with rapt attention her eyes don\'t leave the face of this kinglike figure. Her expression is enchanted, even after Alphros has spoken, as if the girl is utterly taken in by his words.

Ceredir:

\"The True Great Lord?\" Ceredir repeats in a voice hushed and full of awe at the same time. \"Gurtir spoke to me. He told me that in your heart you were no servant of Mordor, and I believed him and swore my loyalty to him and to you. But I do not understand this now, my lord. To whom is ...Sauron...\" he swallows at that name, \"a servant?\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"He has many names, though in the tongue of the King of Men he is Mulkher. But that is a name you should whisper softly and secretly the servants of the Dark Religion of Sauron are jealous and fearful, and claim that their Lord is the only True Lord. But once, Sauron was a mere servant to Mulkher, who is now in exile beyond the boundaries of the world but who\'s very essence lives in every stone and tree and icon of gold, all around us. It was he who our ancient ancestors, the Numenoreans, worshipped at the heights of their power, before the False Gods threw them down for daring to rise up against their slavery.\" So says Alphros.

[Nelladel(#7905)] This is all so much to take in at once. \"Mulkher,\" Nella whispers, the name strange on her tongue, and to her ears. She looks to Ceredir, as if hoping for some confirmation of what Alphros has said.

Ceredir:

But Ceredir only shakes his head to his wife, awe and confusion mingled on his face.

\"Mulkher....But in Gondor...the Valar--they are the false gods? We are not told such, not taught such, nor are we taught that the Valar are gods.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"These are the lies spread by the Elf-friends, who are enamoured of the False God\'s friendship. True, you may not worship them as gods or think them as such, but that is the way that they keep you in thralldom, through trickery and the false hand of friendship. And indeed, what have they granted to the Elf-friends among Men save misery and downfall? Was not Numenor at its height during the reign of the King\'s Men who acknowledge our True Great Lord, Mulkher? Where lies Gondor now?\"

Alphros says all of this easily and without pause he knows these thoughts and philosophies well, and deeply. \"This is the truth of our people\'s heritage, long hidden by the false Lords of Gondor. And the False Gods profit from it while they keep our One Great Lord locked away from the world, coveting his greatness.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella, being willing to believe many things about Gondor, nods fervently. \"Despite all that I have read, all the history...it makes sense.\" This is directed toward Ceredir she glances at her husband again.

Ceredir:

\"I did not know...\" Ceredir says quietly, suddenly introspective as silence fills the room for a moment. \"He is denied what is his by right--denied through falsehoods and lies and deception, denied his birthright.\"

\"I understand this.\" He looks up to Alphros, no longer speaking softly, but proud. \"And when you are king of Gondor, the falsehoods will be washed away. And the righteous will be restored. And Nella and I...we will be openly married and her family will have to acknowledge her. I will have a house and a title and rank.\"

\"But now...what do I say to the King\'s men--the Black Hand?\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"You shall have your proof when all your van are gathered in the throne hall, which you may relate to this Black Hand. And I will see to it that you are granted something to bear in person to them to gaze upon.\"

\"And what of your wife. Nelladel?\" Alphros looks to her.

Ceredir:

\"Yes, my lord. And when will I swear my allegiance to you? In front of all my countrymen that have come here? I...I do not trust them all. I cannot tell if they lie or not, and I was not completely honest with them when I came here, since I hid the Black Hand--my true purpose here--from them.\"

Ceredir glances at Nella. \"I know her mind on this, but she shall speak for herself.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] \"What of...me?\" Nella smiles for the first time since entering the room, though it\'s a distracted smile: she is still mulling over Alphros\' words, it would seem, from her far-off gaze. \"I am here to swear loyalty to you as my king. I...well, I don\'t know of what use I can possibly be to your cause. I would...rather serve you here, than in Gondor.\" Guiltily, Nella looks at Alphros and avoids the gaze of her husband. She adds, \"I have heard the thoughts of your people many times since coming here: that Gondor\'s women are weak. And perhaps it\'s true. But I should like the chance to prove them wrong.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"Let your wife speak, and then we may talk of oaths.\"

Alphros turns to Nelladel, listening to her words. At length, he answers: \"It is more than that, Nelladel of Gondor. Many in Umbar are of the desert tribes, the Haradrim, long filled with hatred for Gondor. Many will hate you, few will welcome you. If you remain here, you will find life to be... nothing like what you are accustomed to. Do you realise this?\"

Ceredir:

Ceredir looks to his wife but says nothing at all.

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella\'s cheeks flush, but she speaks up. \"I do. But some in Gondor hate me already, some my own family what could be a worse feeling than that?\" Nella shrugs. \"But it is not for me to say whether I stay or go. How may I best serve you? If it is by returning to Gondor..well, then I must. But if I may remain here, I would welcome the chance.\" Still, her eyes avoid Ceredir.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros considers this at length. And then he says: \"There is one thing, Nelladel, that you may do. A part that you may play. And by it you must play a trick on your kinsmen -- who I do not think are all come here in truth, as you and your husband -- and do things that lesser men would cow from. If this is truly the path that you seek, then know that it is a difficult one, fraught with peril, but if you triumph upon it your rewards will be great indeed.\"

\"Think carefully before you answer that this is what you truly want.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella looks steadily at Alphros, her pretty face no longer flushed, but solemn and composed. \"Yes, this is what I want. To serve you in any way I can. Name it, and I will do it...or at least die well.\" Nella gives a small smile, then bows her head. \"What is it that you are asking of me?\" she asks, looking up again.

Ceredir:

Still silent, Ceredir nevertheless shifts uncomfortably at this last from Nella.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros rises, and moves to stand before the hearth. He considers something in the fire, then turns to face them. \"You may give your oaths to me now, on your names and ancestors and lives. And know that in the giving of these oaths, you do not sell yourself into slavery and thralldom as you do to the false Lords of Gondor in Umbar, among the true folk who follow the Laws, an oath is a sacred contract. As much as you may swear yourself to me, know that I am sworn to you also through my status as Lord, to guide you and protect you and to do my duty by you. And for all that I may ask of you that is difficult, know that I seek only what is best for you. And I. For all of us.\"

Ceredir:

Ceredir gets to his feet, reaching a hand to tug Nelladel up with him if she lets it--and then he kneels, brushing aside the chairs so that he does so in a clear area. It is a moment\'s pause as he forms his words.

\"I, Ceredir, the son of Elenur of Bragollach and Silivrenwen of Anorien do swear my loyalty and my allegiance to the true King of Gondor, Alphros of Farside. I swear to go where he deems I should go, do what he deems I should do, with valour and honesty and loyalty to him and his cause. I swear this upon my life.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella is surprised by the sudden tug on her hand, but she follows Ceredir\'s motions and kneels down, facing Alphros. When Ceredir has spoken, she then begins. \"And I, Nelladel, wife of Ceredir and former lady of Telpekhor House, do swear my loyalty and my life to the true and rightful King of Gondor, Alphros of the Farside. I swear to do all that he asks of me, upon pain of death if I should falter. I swear to him upon my life, and all that I hold dear.\" Nella bows her head again.

[Alphros(#31271)]

When the oaths are given, Alphros gestures for them to rise. \"And know that I have heard your oaths, and shall answer your loyalty with my own, and your faith with my own.\" He reaches to his side, and then hands something to each of them-- small, circular gold disks, no larger than a coin, but with a hole in their middle and ancient script on their side. \"Keep these secret, and safe, as tokens of my promise, and of the Great Lord\'s blessing.\"

Ceredir:

\"Yes my lord.\" Ceredir turns the coin over, examining it curiously before tucking it into a pouch at his belt. \"Perhaps worn on a long chain around my neck, under my clothing.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] The gold disk is reflected in Nella\'s wondering eyes. \"As you wish,\" Nella affirms, tucking the coin into the top of her bodice, rather than the sole pocket she sloppily stitched onto the side of her gown. \"Safer there,\" the dark haired girl laughs for a moment.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros smiles a little at this. \"Nelladel. Firstly, we must give you a new name. That is in the tongue of the Elves, which we do not speak her. Your husband also.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Surprised, Nella looks to Alphros with a half-smile. \"My name...you are right. And so I must choose a name more easily spoken in Haradaic? I do not know your language here,\" she tells.

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"Saibeth,\" Alphros pronounces simply. \"Your name in this land is now Saibeth. And one day you will walk in Gondor freely with it, as Lady Saibeth Gimilkhor, your husband by your side.\"

\"Now, the task that I must give to you. As I have said, and your husband too, there are those in your company who I am certain I do not trust, and nor should you. They have come here seeking things from me, and I am certain that they expect me to part with them freely. I will not. But I must have them hold to whatever contract I impose. In order to make them comply, it is my intention to take a hostage from among your party...\" He looks at Nelladel meaningfully.

[Nelladel(#7905)] \"Saibeth,\" Nella repeats, though with a knowing smile, as if she anticipates that this word being her name will take some time to get used to. The smile fades, replaced by concentration. \"Of course you are right there are those among them I do not like, nor trust. Though perhaps my reasons are more petty..\" the girl has started to talk away when Alphros\' meaningful look finally resonates. Her lips part slightly in surprise, and she slowly points a finger at herself, a questioning glance given back to the future king.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros answers: \"If you truly wish to remain here, Saibeth, and find your place, then you must earn it. And of course in front of your fellow Gondorians you must play the part of the unwilling hostage. And your husband must return to Gondor.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] \"I know, and it will be hard. But I am here, and I am able, and I wish to try.\" Though she was shy at first, Nella has warmed to Alphros enough to flash a bright grin and confide, \"You haven\'t heard me scream yet. I can throw a wonderful fit. Ask Ceredir sometime, when I am not present, and he will tell you.\" She looks to her husband, then back at Alphros again. \"I know that he must. But that pain will subside- we are not sundered in some horrible way. He lives, as do I, and we are fighting for the same cause. We are still together in this way, and once you are King- why, surely then, won\'t we be reunited?\" Her eyes betray that so much of her happiness depends upon that answer.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros nods, a simple confirmation of everything. \"It is the truth.\"

And then he considers. \"We will speak again soon, for I fear your party has remained here for long enough... We shall all gather, soon, in the throne hall.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel nods, \"Then I shall not keep you with my questions and promises any longer.\" She smiles, and gives a little curtsy. \"Simply warn me of when it will happen, and I\'ll be ready.\" She lingers, waiting to be dismissed from the hall.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros nods. \"Farewell, for now,\" and makes his own departure.