(Archive) Return to Dol Amroth

Elendor - Thursday, July 13, 2000, 2:44 PM

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Weather: Clear

Time: Dawn

Season: Autumn

Date: Mersday - October 19, 3020

Real Time: Thu Jul 13 11:51:11 2000

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Dol Amroth: Men Ernil(#22197ROto)

The Men Ernil--\"Prince\'s Way\"--is a cobblestone pathway some fifteen paces wide, surrounded on the sides by walls roughly twice a man\'s height. It leads from the Marble Gate at the city\'s eastern edge to the outer bailey of Imrahil\'s Marble Citadel by the sea. There are occasional breaks in the wall--some from age, some intentional one of these opens onto a broader road that leads northwards towards the town of Dol Amroth and the quays that line the Bay of Edhellond to the north.

The sunshine falls here on muted grey flagstones, worn and withered by age far from the splendour of either the Marble Gate or the Citadel of the Prince, this road seems only under nominal upkeep and repair. Often you see mounted Lords, Requain of the Prince wearing tabards of royal blue emblazoned boldly with the White Swan of the city, mail glimmering in the sunshine.

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

Contents:

Lothanis(#29577PVeAc)

Melethron

Obvious exits:

Court , City , and Gate

[Melethron(#29344)] Dawn has come to the Marble City of Dol Amroth, and with it comes the ever present drizzle that drifts in from the nearbye sea. The storm this morning, if it could truly be called such, is nothing more than a mild annoyance, something that will probably burn away in the coming heat of the rising sun. Yet for now the ball of golden life giving light lurks just below the horizon, offering a touch of light for those who have passed even now through the gates of the great city.

With they dawn they come, a small band of people, both man and woman, all riding though some lurk within the comfortable confines of a carriage while others find themselves upon the backs of their mounts. Among this group of riders there is one, a tall figure clad as would a nobleman be, his raven hair damp with the fallen rain, his sable cloak covered in the beads of water. The steam of his horses breath can be seen in the chill of the morning as he raises his hand to call the caravan to a halt.

With a quick show of expert horsemanship, the tall figure whirls his horse about and walks it slowly towards the doors of the carriage, a fine peice of craftsmanship that flies the banners of house Bragollach. Reaching forward his gloved hand raps lightly upon the door, from which comes a lovely young maid, \"Tell the Lady Aearwen that we have arrived once more in the city of Dol Amroth,\" comes the voice of the Bragollach, full and strong, \"Tell her that we are home once more.\"

The grey bleakness of dawn goes unnoticed by the occupants of the carriage as it rattles across the grey flagstones leading into the Marble Gate. The long journey from the Stone city has taken its toll upon the noble woman and her Lady in waiting as they slumber fitfully inside the carriage, the rattle of the wheels upon the stones tossing them too and fro, quickly ending all hope of continued rest.

The loud knock upon the door of the carriage rouses Lady Aearwen, cerulean eyes cloudy with the last vestige of sleep open as she hears the familiar voice of Melethron. Smiling brightly she throws open the door of the carriage and holds one hand aloft, \"Good morning Melethron. How fare thee today?\" Concerned eyes graze his face looking for signs of fatigue before she looks around the area and then inhales deeply, \"Ah! The sweet smell of the Bay of Belfalas once again. How I have missed being here.\"

Turning to her Lady in Waiting she says quietly, \'I shall walk into the citadel and stretch my tired legs. Please have things prepared for whence I arrive.\"

[Melethron(#29344)] Smiling briefly at the exchange between the noble woman and her lady in waiting, the young Swan-Knight speaks once more in answer to her question, \"I cough only a little now,\" he speaks, \"And feel as I did long ago, strong and sure.\" His words stop at this, his eyes looking once more over the city long ruled by the house of Imrazor, \"Too long my home,\" his words pour forth unknowingly, \"Too long has it been..\"

Turning his steely gaze now upon another man in the retinue, he speaks once more, \"Fetch the lady\'s steed,\" comes his order clear and crisp, \"For she will not be walking in this mess.\" Without so much as a word the man turns to follow his order. It is only then that the man Melethron turns back to his lady.

\"I trust your ride was well?\" his question comes softly, \"For there was much effort placed in the smoothness of our journey, though I wanted most to be here as quickly as we could.\" And with that said, the Knight slides easily from his saddle, landing in the murky mud at the horses feet, holding his hand out for Aearwen as she makes her way down the small set of stairs to the ground.

The soft swirl and rustle of sky blue satin marks the descent of Lady Aearwen from the carriage, her delicate hand held by the strong firm hand of the Swan Knight. A blush softly tinges the porcelain of her cheeks as she admits, \"Truly, the ride was not overly tiring as my own desire to be home as quickly as possible was great.\" Dainty hands lift the hem of her dress from the wetness of the ground as she takes a few steps back and forth and says, \"To have my feet upon solid ground doth feel heavenly, that, I cannot deny.\"

Upon hearing Melethron order her steed to be brough forth she laughs softly as she looks down upon the rumbled gown upon her form and then says, \"A walk into the city would not do anymore damage to this gown than the trip has already wrought. Let us walk. I do wish to stroll through the lower courtyard and smell the sweetness of the blooming flowers.\"

[Melethron(#29344)] Silent for a moment as her words are weighed within his mind, Melethron nods finally, handing the reigns to the man who has returned with the Lady\'s steed, \"Head now for the house of the Lady within the limits of White town, make sure the horses are taken care of and the carriage is placed away and await our return.\"

Turning back now to Aearwen, the smile upon Melethron\'s face is lit by a gap in the stormy clouds over head, \"If you shall walk then I shall join thee.\" And with these words spoken and his arm offered unto her, the Lord of Linhir turns to watch those who entered with them make their way towards the Ladies house within the city, \"Much has changed I imagine,\" he says to her after the group is gone, \"Though I would feel easier when I have learned what these changes are.\" With his smile gone with these words, Melethron looks once more to the castle home of Imrahil and his family, \"Shall we go my love?\"

[Lothanis(#29577)] Silent for a moment as her words are weighed within his mind, Melethron nods finally, handing the reigns to the man who has returned with the Lady\'s steed, \"Head now for the house of the Lady within the limits of White town, make sure the horses are taken care of and the carriage is placed away and await our return.\"

A kind smile is given to the man handling her steed as Aearwen reaches out to gently stroke the mane of her horse, \'Another day we shall ride on the beaches. Throw in an apple as he has served me well.\" Turning back to Melethron her eyes are warm as she slips her hand into the bend in his arm, the other hand reaching across her body to rest upon his forearm as she laughs gaily, \"I cannot wait to see the shock upon the faces of everyone when they discover you are alive and well.\" A frown slips across her brow momentarily and then auburn tresses bounce gaily as she takes a few steps, almost like a child as she views the buildings and then turns to speak to Melethron, a constant chatter of discussion as they begin to make their way into the citadel.

Serious for a moment her footsteps pause as she cranes her neck to look up into the face of her beloved Swan Knight as asks, \"Have you given any thought to the possibility of Imrahil denying our marriage?\"

[Lothanis(#29577)]

An unknown man makes his way through the flow of people coming and going on the Men Enril slowly, acknowledging a merchant, then a street vendor. He stops to chat with a clerk. He points in the direction of White Town, the clerk nods and heads in that direction. The man inclines his head to the clerk and continues on the stone walkway.

He freezes, gazing directly at the woman stepping away from the carriage. His eyes widen as he sees her companion, an obvious Knight of the Swan. The throng of people pushing against him as he stand in the middle of the walk fail to dislodge him from his stance. As quickly as he stopped, he continues his stride, though now his gaint is no longer slow, but fast and purposeful as he approaches the woman whom caught his attention.

Upon reaching them, he bows, chancing a quick glance from the Knight to the Lady. \"My Lord,\" he says, \"I could not help but to notice that, not only are you a Knight of the Swan, but you are of House Bragollach. Allow me to introduce myself,\" he continues, \"I am Lothanis, an aspiring Knight and also a fellow Bragollach.\" Lothanis\' eyes fall back on the Lady, and he says, \"M\'Lady, its not often I have the chance to gaze on one of such beauty.\"

[Melethron(#29344)] As the lady poses her question the steps of the Lord pause, and he turns to face her with a look on his face more dangerous than any storm or army that has yet come against the land of stone. \"The Prince will do nothing of the sort,\" he says ominiously, then his eyes soften, \"He is a wise and just man, and would never deny the happiness of another.\" His words come with a smile that could only have been forced upon his lips.

Yet before any reply can come from the woman a new voice sounds, drawing away the man\'s attention to this new comer. Well trained and ever the warrior, the hand of Melethron falls to rest easily upon the hilt of his blade resting there long after the introduction of the man has past. \"Well met my fellow Bragollach,\" he says evenly, no hint of emotion in his voice, \"I wish thee well in thy goals, for they are lofty indeed.\"

He stops for a moment, eyeing the as if sizing his worth and usefulness, \"I am Melethron of House Bragollach, Lord of Linhir and Knight of the Swan in service of the Prince,\" his voice comes again after a moment, the voice of one long accustomed to speaking at court, \"And the lady on my arm is the Lady Aearwen of Ethring, a Bragollach and Master Healer of the House.\" With the introduction past, the Bragollach looks over the man once more, \"And tell me aspiring Knight, what places thee here before us and not within the citadel of Imrahil where in your goals might be furthered?\"

A polite nod of her noble head is given to Lothanis before Aearwen says sweetly, \"Your honeyed words should assure your popularity at court....with the ladies, of course\", a knowing smile curls her lips as she watches the two men, blue eyes dropping to the hand of Melethron as he rests it upon the hilt of his blade. Amusement doth make her eyes dance as she asks of the aspiring Knight, \"From which branch of the family do you heed?\", laughing to herself as she says softly, \"Can the court of Imrahil stand yet another flaming Bragollach in its midst?\"

Whilst waiting for the conversation to continue, Aearwen self-consciously brushes her hands over her rumpled satin gown and tries to smooth auburn curls into some semeblance of order. A sudden voice is heard to the right calling her name and a member of another noble family rushes forth to greet the Envoy of the Prince and her attention is momentarily taken from the two Bragollach men as they assess one another. The melodic sound of her voice drifts back to the two men in bits and pieces, \"Yes...just now. Alive.....Home.....marriage.\"

[Lothanis(#29577)]

Lothanis\' eyes flick to Melethron\'s hand resting on his sword\'s hilt, and relaxes visibly when the Lady\'s hand moves to cover it. Looking back to the great Knight he says, \"In fact, I was on my way to the castle when I encountered you. I am coming back from attending to the affairs of my house in White Town.\" He turns to the Lady and says, \"From your question, I assume that you are also part of our...esteemed...House. And to answer it I say son of Ledruin and second cousin to the Lady Gweneth herself.\" Lothanis turns and nods to a passing weaponsmith. Looking back to the lady he says, \"Our estates could be found in Belfalas in fact, just outside of Dol Amroth proper. But now we, or should I say I, reside in White Town, for my mother haspassed and my brothers have gone to Minas Tirith.\"

Turning back to the two Bragollach men, Aearwen puts her hand on the sleeve of Melethron for a moment and says softly, \"I am going to check on this woman\'s child, she says that he has been hot with fever for days and nothing brings it down. I shall find you later.\" Her soft hand squeezes his arm as her eyes again warm with the love she has for the tall Swan Knight. Nodding her head briefly to Lothanis she says, \"Twas a pleasure to meet yet another member of our -family-. I shall look forward to getting to know you. Perhaps tea one afternoon.\" With that the swirl of blue satin and lace known as Lady Aearwen disappears into the crowd.