(Archive) The Fellowship of the Sword 29 - Beorning Village

Elendor - Monday, December 18, 2000, 8:57 PM

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[Beorn\'s ZMO(#9968)->Aearwen]

Real time is: Mon Dec 18 19:11:41 2000 - Weather in the Beorning realm is: RAINING

Elendor time is: Nighttime on Sterday of Winter - February 3, 3022

Village Crossroads

You stand at the crossroads of the Beorning township that is situated in this part of Middle-Earth. To the east lies the forest of Mirkwood and all the wonders that lurk within. To the west lies the mighty Anduin River and beyond the soaring peaks of the Misty Mountains jut skyward.

The night air is fresh and the breeze is cool here at the Village Crossroads. The Massive Oak tree tends to obscure the stars and moon from shining down, but many lanterns sparkle and provide ample light to see by. On one corner of the crossroads lies the Great Bear Inn. Sounds of revelry can be heard emanating from within, and the warm glow seen through it\'s windows is very enticing. Opposite the Inn can be found the stables. A lantern hangs upon it\'s door, suggesting that it is still open, despite the onset of darkness. As you gaze to both the north and the south, you can see that much more of the town lies beyond where you stand at this moment.

Rain pours down from the night sky, drenching all around you. The nighttime winter air is cold and misty around you. The moon is waning gibbous.

Contents:

Marusia

Ulrich

Erchirion

Doran

White Pavillion(#19222OeM)

Beorning Caravan

Magnificent Oak Tree

Large Bear Statue

Obvious exits:

Northeast leads to Stables.

Southeast leads to Great Bear Inn - Entrance Hall.

South leads to Southern Village.

North leads to Northern Village.

East leads to Anduin Road, East of Village.

West leads to Anduin East Bank.

[Marusia(#22365)] The door to the Great Bear Inn swings open, temporarily flooding the immediate area with the flickering light of the hearth burning inside. A woman steps out into the light, cloaked in plain grey wool against the rain. She cautiously steps down into the road, not bothering to look up and therefore not noticing the host that has arrived in town. Two steps and she is into the road, when her eyes lift from the ground and she stops, mouth dropping open in surprise.

[Ulrich(#22272)] A short and stout northman emerges from one of the nearby buildings. His face is bloated and covered by red marks that resemble bee stings. The man, known among the Beornings as Ulrich, calmly starts to walk down the dirt path. One looking into his eyes would see more red than white, and by the way that he walks it is clear that he is drunk. The cold rain doesn\'t seem to phase him, and at the sight of the Gondorian host he suddenly halts. A deep frown creases his eyebrows.

[Erchirion(#29344)] A simple nod from Sir Doran is all, before the leader dismounts, his boots making a sloshing sound even as they land heavily in the mud, and looks about him. A smile is given to the newcome lady as she steps forth from what he can only assume is an inn, he nods to her and then begins to step towards her, his cloak billowing slightly as he begins to move.

\"Well met fair lady,\" his voice rings for into the night once more, his face coming into the light of the inn\'s torches, where his silvery eyes glitter in the light, \"I seek aid for my men, and a place to rest for both man and beast...\" he stops there, and smiles, \"Can you assist me and my men?\"

A young woman dressed in a plain gown of spring green with long locks of auburn exits the Inn, her green cloak pulled up over her hair in protection against the rain. Two men accompany the woman as she steps across a mud puddle and makes her way to the Stables. The undistinguishable voice of a fellow Gondorian rings out in the still of the night and Lady Aearwen strides to where the men are and inquires, \"Men of Gondor?\" Peering into the group Aearwen looks to see if any familiar faces are among those present.

Suddenly her eyes fall upon the Silver Swan of Imrazor with a soft upon her lips. Aearwen introduces herself with a curtsey, \"Forgive my manners, Your Grace. Lady Aearwen of Ethring-Bragollach at your service.\"

[Marusia(#22365)] A nod of the head is the only answer at first from the woman, who stares openly at the man addressing her and the company with him. \"I..uh..stables...there,\" she manages, halfway regaining her voice. She turns and stares at the Lady Aearwen introduces herself. \"You know him?\" she asks the other woman, who is also a stranger to her. \"What do you folks want in these parts?\" she finally demands, her voice back now.

[Ulrich(#22272)] Striding swiftly, Ulrich is soon approaching Marusia and the newcomers of the South. That frown still lingers upon his face, and he looks rather annoyed, \"You there!\" he calls out to Doran. Or so it seems, for his eyes are focused on the Knight, \"If a fight is what you want, a fight is what you get! How dare you and your bunch come here like this, clad for war!\" he closes his fists and grits his teeth.

Nodding her head at the woman, Lady Aearwen responds, \"Pardon me lady. \"Lady Aearwen of Ethring-Bragollach am I.\", waving one hand in the direction of the men she says, \"I have no idea of why these brave men of Gondor are here in your village. Myself, I am here at the invitation of Koribeorne.\"

A soft smile curves her lips as she says, \"I met Koribeorne upon the plains and tended to her wounds after an encounter with a warg. She came to Dol Amroth to visit my home and invited me to visit her in the North. My retainers and I arrived a week ago but have been scarcely seen as we rested from the long journey.\"

[Erchirion(#29344)] For a moment, the stranger turns, waving his men towards the stables were they all begin to head, a small number, but all heavily armed and grim looking. Yet another comes, raising his voice in anger and challenge, and quickly does the leader respond to this, waving the Sir Doran on with the others. Stepping away from the ladies the tall man crosses a part of the distance between he and the drunken man, and there he stops.

\"Hold good friend,\" he speaks, raising a hand to the man, \"We come not in arms, though we surely bear them upon our persons. In truth we come only for rest and peace, for much fighting was there to the south just three days past, near the woods of Lorien, home of the Lady. My men are wounded, and many have spent much of the day riding when they should have been resting.\"

His words halt at this, as his hand falls again to his side, \"Come, the night is cold, and wet, we shall sit and speak, you will tell the tales of this land and I shall tell the tales of mine, and we shall drink the finest ale this place has to offer, and I shall pay for it all, Come friend and let us drink.\"

[Marusia(#22365)] \"Koribeorne invited you here?\" the Beorning woman responds, a look of confusion clearly on her face now. \"I\'m..I\'m sorry then. I\'m Marusia and am at your service.\" She looks back to the knight and to the bee-stung Ulrich, chuckling as the knight offers beer. \"That ought to change his mind,\" she says under her breath.

Ulrich quirks an eyebrow at Doran\'s reply, looking completely confused by the refined manners of the southern knight. At first he remains silent, looking straight into Doran\'s eyes, and then he finally says, \"Oh. Uh. I see. Well, even so you should drop your weapons somewhere. The Beijabar will not like if they see you all clad in chain mail like this. I am not a healer, but I definitely understand about ale!\" he grins wide as he says that, and licks his lips.

[Erchirion(#29344)] The knight smiles, and steps forward, offering his hand to the man in greeting, \"I will do as you say my friend,\" he replies, \"I greet thee this night, for I am Erchirion Imrazor, son of Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth, and my men are his thanes and guardians the Swan-Knights. We come to your land with a grave mission, though we will be here but a short while, but enough of this dismal talk, let us be merry this night, and chase away the chill of the evening.\"

A distant look covers the visage of Lady Aearwen as she nods briefly, \"Tis a pleasure to meet you Marusia.\" Shaking her head slightly she adds in an odd voice, \"Granted, it was some three years past since the invitation was issued.\" Glancing up at the Son of Imrahil, Lady Aearwen, the Envoy of the Prince says softly, \"I look forward to news of Gondor. Come. This rain is not good for the wounded men. Let us get them into the warmth of the infirmary so I may tend to their wounds.\"

Pausing for a moment as she considers the groups Aearwen says, \"I will retrieve my bag of healing supplies and come to the infirmary. Please see that these men get out of this chilling rain as quickly as possible.\" To her retainers she commands, \"Help those that are not able to walk and see to the horses. Have the stableman rub them down and give each mount and remount an extra bit of straw. I shall return shortly.\"

Turning on her heel, the noblewoman strides back across the area, carefully missing as many mudpuddles as possible. The door of the Inn opens spilling golden light into the darkness as her slender form enters the building.

Ulrich extends his own hand to shake Doran\'s, nodding his head as the other speaks, \"My name is Ulrich, and I am one of the guides of the Anduin Village. If merry making is what you seek, you will find it here tonight. Your men can stay at the inn right over there,\" he gestures toward the building behind them, \"and as for ale and music, it depends on what kind of ambience you prefer. There\'s the inn itself and the tavern of the Mad Dog to the...\" but even as he says that the lady Aearwen is already walking toward the inn and with a broad smile Ulrich shrugs, \"Well, the inn it is.\"

[Marusia(#22365)] Marusia grins as Ulrich accepts the invitation for free beer. \"You said you need healers?\" she asks the Gondors, looking from one to the next as if she is not quite sure who said what. \"I don\'t know if any are to be found this time of night, in truth. Though I could try...\" her voice trails off and she starts walking to the inn without awaiting an answer. She falls in near Ulrich and hisses at him: \"What\'s wrong with the Inn? Surely it\'s a nicer place for thes folk than the Mad Dog?

[Erchirion(#29344)] Reaching down, into his purse, the Son of Imrahil pulls forth a coin, glimmering gold in the light of the torches, \"For you good sir, for there is much I must see to before I can join thee at the table, take this and be merry till I may join thee.\" And into the man\'s hand he presses a florin of gold, \"And may the night treat thee well.\"

Turning thus, once more to the Inn, Erchirion strolls forth, hearing the words of the lady, \"Never fear fair one, the Lady Aearwen is quite the healer herself, we have the luck of the Eldar this night for we had no knowledge of her presence here.\"

Walking to the doorway of the inn, the Knight draws open the door, for both the man and the woman, and smiles, \"After you,\" he says, \"For I am but a guest in your home.\"

*Note - at this point Erchirion had ISP problems and could not reconnect*