Pride and Prejudice
A tale freshly told of the Gondorian
Yildirim of the Haradrim dares to speak with a patrol of men from Gondor, with painful results
Crossing of Poros, N. Bank
The cool and dry South Road cuts into the tall grass of South Ithilien to the north, and leads to a ford across the River Poros to the south. Another small dirt lane heads off to the northwest towards distant Gondor.
The Poros is wide and looks shallow enough for easy passage--though in midstream you see the remains of several wagons which disrupt the flow of the river. The ruins of what was once a great bridge lays tumbled on the banks and in the riverbed, and the remains of the bridge\'s foundation still sits intact on both the north and south banks. Across the river you can see, nestled in among the thin low scrub trees, are many tents and pavillions of the Narakshi tribe.
The sky is clear and the sunlight shines brightly. The late afternoon winter air is cool and dry around you.
Late Afternoon on Highday, Day 27 of January.
Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.
Real time is: 10:52:39 MDT on Fri Jan 30 2009.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
It is late in the afternoon, the sun already well into its descent behind the clouded horizon. The air is crisp, its dry fingers leeching what moisture it can from earth and flesh alike. The Poros\' easy flow and wide girth are all that separate the two war camps as twilight begins, and on either side of the river are eyes, watching the opposite bank.
On the south side, a small trio of Haradrim sit idly on their steeds. One perhaps recognizable from the Parlay before as a corsair for Alphros, the Claimant of the throne of Gondor, though his obvious youth brings into doubt any thoughts of rank or standing. He sits, with his compatriots, his vest and pants billowing with the soft breeze, looking for life and movement on the other bank.
There is movement, of course, on the north bank, as the men of Gondor diligantly patrol, watching their enemy. Among those on duty this afternoon is a man of the Company of Ithilien, by the manner of his dress. Greens and browns he wears, garb that blends well in the wilds north of here.
Pacing the bank of the river, Ceredir now pauses to look across. A bow is part of the gear he carries, though it is unstrung. Still, he seems to be measuring the distance across the river as he looks from the side on which he stands to the south, eyes landing on the mounted corsair as he does so.
[Thaladel(#7905)] On duty with the master scout Ceredir is a young man wearing the colors of the Seven Stones company, a man-at-arms. Thaladel carries no bow, only a sword, but it is sheathed at his side as though he expects no danger right now. Instead of pacing as Ceredir does, Thal stands very still, looking across the river at the mounted group of Haradrim.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Catching sight of one of the patroling Gondorians, the boy, Yildirim, raises a hand in greeting, visible in the clear, dry air. He waves, his mocking smile evident only to those with the keenest of eyes. He turns back to his fellows for some conversation then kicks his stallion forward, it\'s hooves dipping into the poros. He stands there, a yard into the river, his gaze intent on the Gondorians.
Again, Ceredir visually measures the distance across the river, a sneer now answering Yildirim\'s mocking smile, for the Master Scout has good eyes. Moving a few paces, he addresses Thaladel, eyes on the Harad, though.
\"If he comes closer, he will be within bowshot. Yet the Lieutenant-General has not yet given his reply to the enemy that claims Gondor\'s throne. Dare I shoot?\"
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad walks out of the camp towards his brother.
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel squints, trying to make out the features of the boy who waves from across the river. Is that a smirk, or a smile? The soldier decides that he must be mocking them, somehow, and folds his arms across his chest, frowning. He looks over at Ceredir and contemplates. \"It looks like quite a distance for your bow to reach. Can his reply be anything but negative to that claim? And would they really be sorry to see one more of the enemy dead?\"
His hand is already reaching for the sheathed bow strung across his back when the young Corsair wades into the river. Ceredir pauses, then glances at Thaladel and the approaching Thingalad, to whom he nods.
\"This one wants to talk. Let\'s see what he has to say?\"
Not waiting for an answer from the other two men--and trusting for the others on guard duty here to cover him should there be trouble--he wades in.
[<#32030>]
Catching sight of the situation, Thingalad catches up and calls out, \"
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel is already wading in after Ceredir when Thingalad calls out something in Sindarin he doesn\'t fully understand. Shrugging, Thal continues to wade into the river to meet with their opponent. Still, he keeps a cautious hand on his sword hilt even in the water, betraying his nervousness, perhaps.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Nodding, and seeming pleased, the Haradrim boy glances behind him, signaling to the pair on the beach. They both nod, drawing their blades, but hold fast the boy\'s rescue party readied.
Picking up the pace, he urges his steed forward, towards the isle. His eyes meet Ceredir\'s at first chance, and never leave as he crosses the Poros. His expression difficult to read, a mix of amusement, fear and anticipation.
\"
Then, as he wades out of the water and onto the small isle, Ceredir\'s eyes harden on the boy. \'You speak the Common Tongue?\'
[Yildirim(#24191)]
His accent is deep, but understandable, \"I speak it, and well, northerner.\" Yildirim, pauses a moment, then dismounts. \"First, let me say this is no trap. If I plan to stick my blade through your ribs, I want you to know of it and be prepared first. So, do not let that fear guide you.\"
His eyes leave Ceredir for a moment, falling on Thingalad, \"Second, do not underestimate me. Though I am young and there are two of you, do not think it would be easy to stick me and bleed me out like swine.\"
His eyes turn back to Ceredir, \"I am clear, yes?\"
\"Fear?\" Ceredir barks a laugh, his voice betraying his relative youth. \"Believe me, if it is treachery you plan, then there will be a blade deep in your guts as well, no matter what the outcome.\"
\"But tell me...what is it that prompted you to cross here from the safety of your encampment?\"
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad strangely enough has no weapon.
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel has said nothing yet to the Harad boy, only watching the exchange and standing behind Ceredir and Thingalad in the water. He looks ready to draw his sword at any moment and put an end to this, if the conversation takes a sour turn.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Now that the soldiers of North and South are so near to each other, details begin to emerge. The boy, caked with dust and dirt as he is, certainly less a score of years to him. His armor of leather hides well the bandages visible through a few gouges rent in the hide. Leave his horse, at the edge of the isle, he moves closer, examining the soldiers from head to toe.
\"You three,\" he says, motioning to the three Gondorians, \"Fight in the same army, but this one,\" he motions towards Thaladel, \"Is your patrol\'s leader, yes? And you are his archers?\" he asks of Ceredir and Thingalad.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad shakes his head. \"I am Thingalad, Master Scout of the Company of Ithilien. That is all I will tell the enemy.\" He looks to his two compatriots as if expecting them to say no more than he has already.
It\'s probably an odd sound in this otherwise tense exchange, but Ceredir laughs. \"It seems you know little of Gondor, boy. But if you care to learn more about our ranks and our ways...\"
Cutting off, Ceredir frowns briefly to Thingalad.
\"He does not need to know our ranks or names.\"
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"A scout, yes. This is what I said,\" the Haradrim replies, bemused by the rest of Thingalad\'s words, ignoring Ceredir for a moment.
\"I have two questions for your patrol this day, Scout Thingalad and Scout Cautious Northerner and their armored compatriot,\" Yildirim says, \"The first is I faced two of your men in the battle in which we pushed you from our borders. One was a squire in white and the other,\" he pauses, \"I cannot remember well what he wore. Only that I took his eye from him. I ask, are these men dead?\"
\'And you, perhaps, are a page boy? Or does our enemy always send its children to fight?\' Ceredir snorts.
But the boy\'s question draws a scowl. \"
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad shrugs.
[Thaladel(#7905)] \"What does it matter to you, now that the battle is done?\" Thaladel snaps at boy, irritated by the question. \"I hope your other question is more thought out and less tiresome.\"
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"A page boy?\" Yildirim repeats, confusion evident, \"I do not know what this is. And I was not sent here to spill Gondorian blood, but I rode here on my own, to serve the Lord-Steward of my Tower.\"
Then understanding washes over his face, and he laughs, matching Ceredir\'s earlier amusement, \"If I am a child in Gondor\'s eyes, then your wet nurses are a jealous and powerful group. But my reasons are plain. I am young and the battle was my first on a scale such as that. Certainly, on during your first battle you wished to know if any of your foes fell to your blade, yes? And tiresome as my questions may be, no less so than sitting on the banks of the river watching me from afar, no?\"
He grins with boyish amusement, \"At least this way there is conversation, yes, Star-man?\"
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel, used to trying to make jokes in almost all situations, finds himself returning the boy\'s grin for just a brief second. Realizing what he has just done, he scowls at the lad and says more sternly, \"My patience is short. What was the second question, boy?\"
\"Ah...pride. You wish to know if you have slain your first man, little one,\" Ceredir laughs. \"Well...come with us and we shall see, no?\" He grins, though the \'offer\' is made with a cautious glance to the boy\'s guard on the south bank and no move is made toward him.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad grows bored with this and turns to wade back to the north shore.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The boy considers Ceredir\'s offer perhaps more seriously than anticipated, \"Let me think of that offer.\"
He shakes his head, \"Yes, and my second one is simpler and yet not. Why have you not submitted to the Lord-Steward\'s claim? Do you think he is a liar or does it not matter if he was the rightful heir?\" He question is honest and curious, there is no tone of mocking or insult in his words, accented as they are.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Hearing the second question, Thingalad stops and looks back, smirking.
Surprised by the boy\'s answer, Ceredir just raises a brow. There is a moment\'s pause, and then he looks toward Thingalad, even as he answers the Haradrim. \"He is either lying or else he is under the sway of the master of evil in the East. Either way, his claim is false. Gondor will never bend knee to the East. But...my fellow soldier can explain better.\" That is directed to Thingalad again.
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel looks at both Ceredir and Thingalad, wondering if one of the scouts will answer the boy\'s question. Ceredir speaks up, so Thal doesn\'t say anything for a while, listening to the others give their explanation. He nods in silent support of Ceredir\'s answer, but he has a question for the scout, as well. \"Should we really take him to see about the wounded?\" he questions, not bothering to whisper or hide his doubt from the boy.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad turns back to the boy and answers deftly, \"I am well versed in the history of Gondor. The ship-king from whom your pretender claims descent was childless. Even so, claims to the Winged Crown are judged by the Council of Gondor and the Lord Steward himself.
The king of Arthedain, our sister realm in the far North, made claims to the crown after the loss of King Earnur. His claims were peacefully made. If you expect Gondor to listen to your pretenders suit without prejudice when he comes to seize his alleged birthright at the head of an army, then you are sorely mistaken or just ignorant of our ways.\"
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"So blood means nothing then?\" Yildirim says, considering. \"It is a tough thing, to prove one\'s self with blood alone. Look at it from his view. His ancestors were thrust from their blood\'s inheritance and cast out. And now, the father refuses the place of the child.\" His eyes tighten, \"You cannot understand what it is to be held out away from what is yours by blood by your our kin, only because they wish to retain their power. It is intolerable. We do not fight because of the east. Mordor does not lead us this day. We do not fight because of hate, for I know you not. You should know we fight because Gondor turned its cheek left us to slough away. A rich father scorning his only child.\"
\"Peace? Your general offered no council, no word with the Steward. Your actions betray your words, Northerner. There can be no peace because Gondor will not accept what it has done to our people.\" He backs away from them, nodding, \"That is why we war. Do not hate us for it. Do we really have any choice but to chase what is owed our blood?\"
He turns and dashes back to his horse, mounting it easily. He calls to them, \"Think on his offer Gondor, and what it means of you to ignore it. What sort of people you really are.\"
\"
\'From whom does he claim descent?\' Ceredir continues, switching to Westron to address Thingalad. \'I heard you say something about Black Numenoreans yesterday, but my knowledge of our history is..lacking.\'
More, perhaps, the Master Scout would say, but the boy is already turning and running toward his horse. Still, Yildirim\'s words seem to have some sort of effect on Ceredir, whose face darkens.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"Remember these words I have spoken, Gondor,\" Yildirim shouts, \"The will echo through your dead and through the tears of your families far off. You chose this path. It may have been a thousand years or ten thousand years that it was first chosen. But you do not stray from it. This,\" he says, turning his horse, \"Is the height of your arrogance and hubris! YA!\" He kicks his horse on and begins his retreat towards the south shore.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad considers these words, \"First, you have not refuted my point about Tarannon Falastur being childless. Therefore I will assume that you grant me that point. Second, since you grant the first point, I cannot reply to any of your other claims about blood. The last time Gondor conquered Umbar, the Black Numenoreans and those renegades of the Kin-strife and others after them that had fled south were wiped out completely, destroying the ancient bloodlines. Third, our general offered no council because your pretender did not ask for one. He told us to submit or face war. Do not bandy words with me, boy and expect me to not remember the events of our parley.\"
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel looks quietly thoughtful when the boy is done speaking, mulling over his words even as the enemy is riding away. Then he shakes his head and scowls. \"Arrogance,\" he repeats. \"Right.\" He starts to wade out of the river, back to the Gondorian side of things.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad looks oddly satisfied at his legal and historical acumen, the boy\'s question answered fully in his mind. \"Their pretender is a fool and a liar.\" He turns then to wade back as well.
Though he follows the others as they wade back to the north bank, Ceredir is a second behind, staring after the boy, and looking angry. Then, when he is already in teh water, he turns suddenly, draws a dagger from his belt, and throws a knife at the boy\'s horse.......
[Yildirim(#24191)]
And the dagger strikes true in the flank of the stallion. It rears, catching the boy off-guard and throws him. Yildirim falls roughly into the Poros, scrambling to his feet. The two riders on the opposite shore do not hesitates and charge as well they can into the river, scimitars held high.
[Thaladel(#7905)] At the sound of the horse rearing and the subsequent splash of the boy into the river, Thaladel quickly turns around and, catching sight of the two oncoming riders, he draws his sword without having yet reached the riverbank.
There\'s some quick calculations on Ceredir\'s part: the distance between him and the boy, and the boy and his guards. Then the Master Scout plunges forward, lunging for Yilidrim, though Ceredir holds no weapon.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad is indeed weaponless. At the sudden conflict between the two boys, he turns back yet again to grab at Ceredir!
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The blow lands hard again the back of the boy\'s head. He let\'s out a yelp, but there is no sound, only his mouth filling with river water. He attempts to set his feet in the mud at the river\'s bottom, attempting to regain his footing and turn to his attacker.
Ceredir, too, is slipping in the mud, but the young man has spent much of his youth in brawls, and he doesn\'t give up, not even as Thingalad rushes back toward him. Another punch is sent, this one aimed at the boy\'s nose, perhaps to try to knock him out before his guards can get there.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The horses leave a mighty wake in their path, as they approach the fight, but their movement is slowed by the water and mud and still a distance off. The boy spits blood as Ceredir\'s punch connects with his cheek, \"I expected nothing less from your kind!\" he growls, finding a rock to catch his sliding feet and weight his punch against.
\"You know nothing about me or my kind!\" Ceredir hisses back now, aiming a blow at the youth\'s jaw. \"There are many things you have to learn about blood, boy, and I plan to teach you!\"
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel, although occasionally looking toward the brawl between Ceredir and the Harad boy, keeps holding his sword aloft and watching the boy\'s guards intently. If they try to intervene, so will the man-at-arms. Otherwise, he is more than happy to allow Ceredir to continue \'teaching\' the lad a few things about fighting.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad pauses. The Haradrim are not intervening and he waits...
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"Boy?\" Yildirim laughs a gruesome laugh, blood dripping from his chin, \"Your Gondorian arrogance knows no bounds to think you are so much wiser and older than I.\" He swings towards the man\'s mid-section, \"Are we so different, boy?\" the last he intones mockingly.
A grunt escapes from Ceredir as the boy\'s fist connects with his stomach, but this is followed by a laugh. \"And you name yourself a man? I am surprised you are not still latched onto your nurse\'s teats,\" the Master Scout sneers.
Grabbing for the Harad youth\'s clothing, he tries to hold fast and knock Yildirim\'s head against a river rock.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
\"Do not worry,\" the boy cries as he face drags along the rock face, \"I will see your mother\'s tonight and nurse well!\" He throws a low blow, trying to struggle free of the pin.
His reach longer than the boy\'s, Ceredir simply pushes the youth out of the way, so that the blow falls short. The struggle continues in the river, the two soaked. Another blow is aimed, now at the boy\'s gut.
[<#32030>]
\"
[Thaladel(#7905)] \"Disgusting,\" Is Thaladel\'s reply to Thingalad. He\'s still busy trying to keep an eye on the boy\'s guards with their scimitars while watching Ceredir and the lad at the same time. \"I wouldn\'t want to fight your brother,\" Thal adds to the master scout with a quick grin.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The boy lets out a choking cry as Ceredir\'s fist slams the air from his lungs. He falls to one knee, coughing, his blood quickly disappearing into the river with each drop. Behind him, the whinnying of the Haradrim warrior\'s steeds are distinctly clear, their eyes and the curves of their blades can easily be inspected by the Gondorian party now.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad calls out in the Common Speech, \"You have bested him, Ceredir. Leave it and come back before his guards decide to cut you down!\"
The horses are approaching fast, and Ceredir gives a quick, worried look in that direction, and then a look to Thingalad, along with a nod. One last blow Ceredir then aims at the boy, trying to grab him again by the collar and knock his forehead against the river rocks.
\"My mother...\" he hisses now in reply, putting fury behind the blow, \"I will take you to meet her tonight. I promise this.\"
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The blow knocks the boy out cold, rolling into the water, and begins to float with the current. The riders faces twist with concern, shouting at Ceredir, their voices muffled by the distance, \"Leave him, tark! Or we will stain this river with your blood!\"
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad calls out, \"Come!\"
Heedless of the threats of the oncoming riders, Ceredir reaches down into the water and then drags the boy behind him as he races toward the safety of the north shore.
[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel remains in the river as Ceredir hurries past him, the man-at-arms with raised sword, guarding Ceredir\'s back as he attempts to drag his new prize to shore. He shakes his head, amazed at the scout\'s audacity. Then he, too, hurries toward shore, still holding his sword aloft in case the riders pursue them.
[Yildirim(#24191)]
Surprise is evident in the riders faces as Ceredir grabs the boy, \"L...Leave him! What... leave him!\" They shout, but as Ceredir passes the midway point of the river, they slow, \"He... You... You can\'t take him!\"
[<#32030>]
Thingalad withdraws quickly to the north shore, shaking his head at Ceredir. \"
[Yildirim(#24191)]
The horses slow and come to a stop. Frowning the riders slowly turn, saying nothing more, and return to the south banks.
\"I...\" Ceredir frowns, glancing at the body of the boy now on the shore next to him, the adrenaline of the fight draining suddenly at Thingalad\'s words. \"We can throw him back in the river. Here and now.\" And he stoops to grab Yildirim\'s legs.
[Thingalad(#32030)]
Thingalad shrugs. \"He is yours, Master Scout. Explain him to the captain and the lieutenant-general on your own.\" Despite his harsh words, Thingalad sticks with Ceredir.