(Archive) Peaceful Times in Rohan

November 2, 1999

The Estate

The rolling hills of Rohan seem to flatten for a quarter mile surrounding the imposing structure of a keep. Deor\'s Keep was built in 2698 as a staging point to dislodge the Dunlending occupation of Orthanc in that century. It was never retaken but the Keep and town that sprung from it still remain to this day. The long and narrow path reaches forward to the estate of House of Deorlas who have watched over the town of Dunlostir since the first line of Kings. Off in the distance to the west are vineyards. Horses graze in the distance beyond on the lush fields of the Mark. The most prominent feature is the view, rolling hills and the Mesa in the distance to the northwest. More at hand is the estate garrison, a small number of riders in service to the Lord of Dunlostir. A winding road leads to some fine wooden carriage housing to the north used primarily by the horse-breeding families aligned with the Lord\'s house. To the south, the township of Dunlostir sleeps peacefully. However, the lands surrounding the Keep lend itself to defense. There is nothing for enemies to hide behind for nearly a mile in all directions every approach is supremely visible.

Contents:

Erinhaim

Arnawyn

Tiracryl

Shandor

Lodogran

A Camp of Men(#15235Qae)

Yonwin House

Obvious exits: Main Gates and West

The war worn, weary Gondorian travellers arrived at the House of Deorlas, overlooking the town of Dunlostir, thankful to be greeting warmly by Kerowyn, House of Eofor. Taken in by their gracious host and treated to a feast of many delicacies and then shown to soft, comfortable beds for the night, the refreshed men and women of Gondor arise early this day, renewed and cheerful.

Reining her horse as she rides close to those gathered out of doors on this lovely day is Lady Aearwen. Gone are the dark circles that have lined the woman\'s eyes for weeks on end as the combined forces fought the forces of the darkness to the North. Instead, bright blue eyes shine with laughter and happiness, color flushed across her cheeks with the invigoration of her morning ride. Laughter rings out across the yard as her party is heard trying to close in on the woman.

Erinhaim sits upon the wide threshold of the estate of House Deorlas. In his hands there is an apple and a knife, small bladed and sharp. Quietly, the weathered man goes about removing the skin from the fruit. Each rotation of the red globe reveals the tawny flesh beneath and sends another length of ribbon towards the ground. His dark eyes lift at the sound of horse and his features soften somewhat as he looks on Aearwen. Looking up at the sky then, eyes narrowing at the greater brightness of the heavens, the large man inhales deeply and relaxs slightly more.

Jumping from her horse, Aearwen hands the reins to a servant and strides across the great lawn. Brushing a bit of dust from her skirts as she walks, one can hear her singly softly as she glances around at those out of doors. Bounding up the steps of the estate, her eyes spy her friend Erinhaim lounging there with an apple in his hand. Smiling broadly as she speaks to the man, \"Good morn to you Erinhaim! Do you ever recall such a lovely day?\", her enthusiam great as her arms throw open wide to encompass everything in sight.

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"Aye, all days are lovely...\" Erinhaim replies, returning to his apple with a slight smile at the corner of his lips. Again another corkscrew of skin descends, lengthening the long ribbon that remains attached to the surface of the fruit, it is nearly naked now. \"Care for an apple?\" A heavy hand reaches back to retreive one from a pack set behind him. Between a wide thumb and forefinger a crimson orb is offered to Aearwen.

Smiling as she takes the apple, Aearwen polishes it with a fine white hankie that she draws from the pocket of her dress. Glancing around as she polishes her apple to a high gloss her gaze rests on two small children playing in the yard, their shrill voices yelling out as first one and then the other runs around a tree. Sitting down beside Erinhaim, her bright white teeth bite into the flesh of the apple, laughing as the juice drips from the corner of her mouth, Aearwen dabs at her lips as she chews the firm flesh of the fruit, enjoying the sun beaming down on her skin as she relaxes.

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"I have been thinking on the long road down the Long Plains, this whole time upon what it was that the Rohir said in the camp that day.\" Erinhaim finishes the skinning work finally, the rind a coiled pile at his foot. He begins to quarter the fruit now, crunching on the wedges as they emerge from their global confines. He chews thoughtfully on the sweet flesh, reflecting. The pensive thoughts hide behind his eyes even as he speaks them to the open world before the threshold, \"Is it not a breach of decorum to have such familiar friendship, My Lady, with a servant, base born, without rank or title?\"

[Belahir(#28934)] The late morning sun shines brightly upon the fields of Rohan the birds sing, the wind blows, and all seems well with the world. A man strides out of the camp, into the slight breeze and sunshine of this morning. He walks slowly, but silently, without much purpose or direction. He glances out towards the direction the men of Rohan and Gondor have fled from. Seating himself on a stump, he draws his blade and begins to sharpen it. Carefully, he slides a whetstone up and down the shining steel, all the while gazing out across the fields.

Aearwen pauses in her enjoyment of the fresh fruit and gives thought to the words of Erinhaim. Continuing to watch the children in their play, she gives no answer to his question, silence looming between them as she resumes her enjoyment of the fruit

Finished with the apple, her arm reaches back and lofts it through the air and she wipes her fingers on her hankie before the turns to Erinhaim.\"Perhaps the words spoken by Deorwine, should change my manner of addressing you. However, do you not think my person is familiar and comfortable with those of all walks of birth and station?\" Her shoulders shrug as she continues, \"My father taught me love, understanding and most of all, tolerance for those from every station and I will not change those values with my arrival in Dol Amroth and position there. Many of my duties require diplomacy of all sorts and my friendship with you would fall into that category, as I see it.\" Smiling softly she says, \"Could I have no more respect for you if you were of noble birth, nay, I think not.\"

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"Do you mean by, \'no more respect\' as \'less\' respect or \'more\' respect?\" Erinhaim frowns, as he chews thoughtfully upon his dwindling supply of apple wedges. His dark eyes pause upon Belahir, working at his blade, trying to grind its edge into a razor sharpness. The old man smiles, shaking his head quietly to himself at the irony of it. Weapons of war, children at play, the man at the sword himself almost a child. \"And what if I were of noble birth?\" Comes the sudden question, the large man taking on a mock display of indignation.

Aearwen\'s blue eyes continue to watch the children at play, so carefree and happy as they run through the yard chasing one another. A soft laugh slips out as she notices some of the guardsmen thumping and slapping at one another, pleased to see that their spirits have improved after the hospitality of House of Eofor. Shaking her head in response to Erinhaim\'s words, her own sound a little sharp as she says, \"The station of one\'s birth does not claim a heartfelt show of respect, in my humble opinion. A man or woman gains respect by their actions and the goodness of the heart behind those actions.\" Again her shoulders shrug, \"My father has strong convictions of believing in the valor of a man based on what he does with his life and he passed those on to me.\"

Erinhaim smiles, \"Would that I had such a father.\" Shaking his head, his smile still seems pleasent, but the deep hidden hurt within them makes his eyes seem cold, souring the curve of his lips. An exhalation of breath marks a rueful chuckle. The large man looks upon the children also, watching their innocence, finding wonder in it also, but from another view. Erinhaim looks at his now empty hands. He purses his lips in musing before clapping to remove himself of sticky juices.

Puzzled as the expression on Erinhaim\'s face returns to one of old, Aearwen inquires softly, \"Did the words of Deorwine cut deeply into what you know of your past or were my own words like a knife ripping through you?\" Not waiting for a response just yet her words continue, \"Now that I know of your pain, I would do nothing to remind you of that, consciously. If somehow, my friendship is a source of unhappiness, that can be remedied before the sun rises another degree in the sky.\" Rising from where she is seated, Aearwen smiles softly again as she gazes across the yard at the Gondorian and Rohirrim mingling, talking and working together as one. Her hand reaches over to Erinhaim\'s broad shoulder for a brief second in time, \"My loyalty is a deep as the river Auduin and unfailing to those that are deserving of it Erinhaim.\"

Belahir finishes the honing of his blade and puts away his stone. Testing the edge of the steel with his thumb, he nods, apparently satisfied. With one more longing look back towards the long plains he stands and sheathes his sword. Turning round, he walks past the mingling of gondor and rohan, stopping to speak a few words to some of the scouts that have gathered. Slowly he makes his way in the direction of Erinhaim and Aearwen. As he walks by he nods to them both. \"Good morn to you Lady Aearwen, and to you Sir. How do you fare this bright day?\"

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"Why do you keep calling me \'Sir,\' boy? Am I not worthy of greater respect than that?\" Erinhaim\'s eyes, the color of wet slate, laugh in their twinkling manner. As for Aearwen\'s words, the grizzled veteran disregards them for the moment, putting them aside for the time. However, as for her last, he bows his head silently before returning his attention to the young man just arrived.

Turning her attention to Belahir, a broad smile curves Aearwen\'s lips as she greets him, \"Good morn go to you as well. How fare thee today? Tis a lovely day is it not?\" Her manner turns more solemn as she asks, \"Did you find Lieutenant Galdorim and make inquiries to the where abouts of your brother? \" Cutting her eyes back to the form of Erinhaim for a moment, the woman shakes her head as a puzzled expression crosses her brow. Saying no more, she waits to hear more from Belahir before she speaks again.

Belahir raises an eyebrow to the man before him, \"And what would you have me call you then?\" He turns to the Lady, \"It is indeed a lovely day, but I am afraid I fare not well at all. I have not seen Lieutenant Galdorim at all, and I fear for the worst. I long to search for my brother and time passes swiftly. But I dare not go without permission, that would be a break of my oath and my brother would not have wanted that.\" He shakes his head, \"I can do nothing but wait!\" He utters a curse under his breath.

[Rorgan(#19834)] Limping out of the manor house upon a crutch comes Rorgan, a tall man with greying-blonde hair and the complexion of the local Rohirrim. Out onto the long porch he moves with the step, thump, step, thump, slow gait of a cripple. It is but a short walk to the edge, and he stands there overlooking the camp of the Gondorians spread out as it is on his own brother\'s front lawn. A slight shake of his head and he then proceeds to look about at what people are already about on this day.

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"We must all have patience even for mourning or jubilation,\" Erinhaim replies, \"You would know wisdom to bid your time. Perhaps your brother waits for you, which would be the better doom, but be not too eager. I would not see your young life end so soon, to rush off in the face of darkness without aid.\" The large man grows thoughtful once again, a dark cloud brooding upon his lined brow. \"As for what you can call me, I would give you Erinhaim.\" The old soldier rises easily, holding out a wide and heavy hand for Belahir, \"Please, sit. Ease your mind.\"

Her voice suddenly as icy as the wind blowing across the Misties, Aearwen nods to Belahir and offers these words, \"My wish that you and your brother return to Gondor safely. Galdorim is a fair, just man and will offer sound advice to you on the best course of action.\" A cool tip of her head to Erinhaim and she says, \"Good day to you both\" Just as Aearwen turns to leave the porch, the step of Rorgan is heard. Smiling warmly at the man as she walks closer to him, \"Good morning Rorgan, tis a lovely place that your brother has here. All of us are appreciative of his gracious hospitality.\"

Belahir chuckles slightly as he takes the offered seat, \"Well, Erinhaim, do you think me so young and inexperianced as to walk right through a band of Orcs? I am not among the Scouts of Cair Andros for nothing. I live by my stealth and by my wits, and my wits tell me that I should bring friends to help me along. My dilemma comes in the fact that I could not ask anyone to accompany me on this journey. It is something kin should do for kin, and it will be dangerous. I wish my other brothers were nearer, for they would be great help.\"

[Rorgan(#19834)] Nodding to his friend, Rorgan offers her a quiet word, probably too low for the others on the porch to hear much of, \"What is this about Galdorim that has turned you so sudden cold, friend?\" Then smiling slightly, he raises his voice to a more conversational tone, \"Good morn to you, Lady Aearwen Erinhaim soldier. It has been a long time since my brother\'s house has been host to such a large group, I would imagine.\" He offers each a nod in turn.

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"I know you not well enough, Belahir, to have such thoughts.\" Comes the even reply in Erinhaim\'s gravely, deep voice. He smiles, \"Trust in that there will be those to lend their swords to you even though they be not bound to you in blood. We must all share honor when it is challenged. And is not our family paramount in its preservation?\" The wizzend man looms large, rising to his full height. His eyes find Rorgan to whom he bows his head. Erinhaim reflects, \"I know a Knight of Rohan who would agree with me.\" He scans the field as if to look for him but shrugs in the end. \"Alas, he is not here,\" says the tall man, chuckling.

[Rorgan(#19834)] \"There are many who would find wise council in those words, friend,\" Rorgan smiles as he makes his way to an unoccupied chair. \"But I would know what brings you to such thoughtfulness so early in the day, if it is no trouble.\"

Belahir nods slowly and watches as the man stands to his impressive height. He turns to Rorgan and nods to him, \"Of course. During the battle of several days ago, I entered with my brother, a guardsman, but I was left unconsious by a blow to the head. After I came to, I could not find him, and after the battle was over I could find no sign of him. Neither lying upon the battlefield or in the tents of the healers, nor even with his unit. I have yet to find Lieutenant Galordrim but when I speek to him I will ask leave to return to the field and search for him. But time passes quickly and he could be in need...\"