Daggers and Fists

There is darkness in Osgiliath, broken only by flambeaus and stars there are men in Osgiliath, though most are asleep there is silence in Osgiliath, yet it is about to be, to some extent, broken.

Under the nightly sky, a circle of torches describes a perimeter. Inside it, stands a single man, boots, pants and tunic of brown. And a dagger on his hand.

Gurtir waits.

[Phazganun(#31287)]

The doors leading into the fortification are pushed open, and from behind them steps the Lord Ephalkhir, unclasping his armor as he moves to the edge of the circle. He rests his helm upon the grown, followed shortly thereafter by his chain shirt. He remains clad only in his trousers, boots, and tunic-- just the same as Gurtir.

Stepping into the circle, he tilts his head to the side, \"Have you my dagger?\"

[Zaira(#20676)]

Close behind Phazganun is his daughter, Zaira, wearing a curiously impassive look on her face. Keen eyes watch the men prepare to fight, but not with the enthusiasm that would be considered normal to those who know her. Quite frankly, she looks like she has a lot on her mind.

Gurtir picks a scabbard from the floor and walks towards Phazganun as the Ephalkhir lord enters the circle he offers the hilt of the dagger to the Lieutenant General.

\"Here, sir.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

Clearly something is happening, and the buzz spreads among those who are awake. And on the wings of whispers comes Lady Mormegil from her tent, her hair unbound from sleeping but properly clad and with the red-gold circlet of her station gleaming on her brow in the light of torches. \"What is all this?\" she asks the first person she comes upon--who happens to be Zaira.

[Bor(#30834)]

Yet another issues forth from the confines of the fortification, his boots proving a rhythmic accompaniment to the growing bustle about the two men.

He waits in silence, watching with narrowed eyes.

[Phazganun(#31287)]

Taking the offered hilt, Phazganun shifts the dagger from hand to hand, feeling out its weight. Seeming satisfied, he moves about the edge of the circle and assumes his stance. Motioning the former Ranger forward with his free hand, he speaks.

\"Attack when ready, Gurtir.\"

He takes no notice of any of the spectators, prefering instead to focus on his opponent.

[Combat(#13388)] Phazganun wields Dagger.

[Zaira(#20676)]

Zaira looks at Lirael for a moment before responding, studying the woman for some reason. At last she replies, saying, \"My father is testing Lord Gurtir in his new position as a Captain,\" she finally answers softly. \"It ought to prove interesting, this match between Ephalkhir and a Ranger from one of the Mormegil Houses, yes?\" She arches an eyebrow at Lirael, her expression otherwise unreadable.

Suddenly, she chuckles and looks back to the developing fight.

[Laeraelin(#24692)]

Another lady emerges from her tent - the Master Healer Laeraelin. A heavy cloak is tucked into the crook of her arm as she raises both hands to hastily secure her riotously curly hair into a scarf. She wanders slowly as she does this, towards the small gathering collecting around the two bare-chested men. Coming abreast Lady Mormegil and her niece, she shakes out her cloak and swings it around her shoulders - for a moment, the winds press her dress against her form, revealing her swelling stomach - then the folds of the woolen cloak swing closed.

\"An interesting test,\" Laeraelin observes, her voice neutral.

As Phazganun recieves the dagger, Gurtir steps backwards, describing a circle with both his shoulders, his eyes searching naught outside the perimeter of flames they are in.

Then he adopts his stance: right foot and hand, the later holding the dagger with its tip down level with the Carmayar\'s face, forward chin lowered, hidden behind the right raised shoulder left hand likewise raised in defense of the face. And weight shifting from the front to the back leg.

At the Lieutenant General\'s words, Gurtir starts pacing... and a first slash is attempted, without much conviction, as a manner of scanning his adversary, at the man\'s midsection.

You attack Phazganun with your Dagger...

[Combat(#13388)->Gurtir]

Your attack against Phazganun moderately wounds him!

[Bor(#30834)]

\"Are Faramir\'s judgements no longer trusted by the men of the Hosts,\" says the narrow-eyed man, catching wind of the words that pass between the women. \"He bears the green gauntlets of Ithilien. What more is necessary?\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

Lirael is about to reply to Zaira, brows raised, but the arrival of Laeraelin and her obvious condition draws her attention. \"Laeraelin. I had no idea,\" she says in a voice that is neither censorious nor approving.

Then she resumes giving Zaira a hard look. \"Since when do soldiers of Gondor in -any- capacity duel to prove their worth?\" she asks acerbically, only to find herself echoed by the man nearby.

[Zaira(#20676)]

Zaira almost jumps towards the familiar sound of the newly arrived woman\'s voice as it sounds near her. \"Aunt Laeraelin,\" she breathes out, moving to briefly embrace the pregnant woman. \"Are you well?\" Lirael is for the moment left to wait until family has been properly greeted.

It is then, and only then that she looks back to Lirael, eyes wide and innocent in her youth. \"My Lady,\" she begins. \"I do not ask questions of what the men do. I merely clean the blood from the floor and care for the wounded. Perhaps you ought to ask my father and the Captain-General. This seems to be their affair.\"

[Phazganun(#31287)]

The dagger glances the side of his abdomen, as Phazganun this time proves too slow to avoid the blow. Blood begins to stain his tunic, and the grinding of his teeth suggests at least some level of pain from the wound. He still keeps his movement sfluid, however, steping back toward the center of the circle, and running his blade low as he moves, in an attempt to catch Gurtir with the same wound.

Phazganun attacks you with his Dagger!...

...and he misses!

[Bor(#30834)]

\"A fool\'s errand, this,\" says the narrow-eyed man. He looks aside at Zaira. \"Be not so proud to announce familial bond to such blatant idiocy,\" he adds.

Where Phazganun\'s dagger flashes past, Gurtir is no longer. This, quick footing ensures, as the Carmayar backpedals away from the steel and resumes his pacing, always changing weight between the legs as he goes, always moving sideways as to describe a circle around the Lieutenant-General.

Suddenly, a larger, quicker step.

A slash falls from above towards the Ephalkhir\'s shoulder.

You attack Phazganun with your Dagger...

[Combat(#13388)->Gurtir]

Your attack against Phazganun lightly wounds him!

[Laeraelin(#24692)]

\"Generally, one tells the father first,\" Laeraelin replies, sighing. She touches her stomach. \"But he is at sea and ignorant of the fact. And now it is difficult to be discreet about the matter.\"

She returns her niece\'s embrace, warmly. \"Zaira. I am quite well.\"

The girl\'s reply to Lirael raises a small laugh from Lady Azrabar. She shakes her head. \"Always question, it\'s the only way to learn things.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"It would behoove you to educate yourself in the doings of men,\" replies Lirael with an edge of chill to her voice. \"It is your duty to understand such things.\"

She looks behind her distractedly until she catches the wide-eyed gaze of a foot soldier. \"You there. Go and see if Lord Boromir is to be found. This is folly...\" Then she breaks off, waving the boy away, and looks instead at the man with whom she continues to agree. \"That is twice,\" she observes in some surprise.

She seems to be struck speechless by Laeraelin she smiles and murmurs some words of congratulations.

[Phazganun(#31287)]

As his own strike fails to find its target, Phazganun is again too slow to avoid the strike of the former Ranger. This time it is his shoulder than is hurt, and his tunic begins to turn from an off-white to red as his wounds drain away the liquid that keeps his heart beating.

Moving away from Gurtir, the Lord Ephalkhir plants his feet firmly upon the ground and lifts his dagger as though he intends to hurl it toward his opponent-- and throw it he does, sending the small blade flying through the air.

[Combat(#13388)] Phazganun throws a dagger...

[Combat(#13388)]

Phazganun\'s dagger flies wide, doing no harm.

Phazganun removes Dagger.

Gurtir watches warily as Phazganun backs away, not following. Then his eyes widen a little as the intent is revealed luckly the dagger does not bite him, though it whistles past his ear.

Staring at the Lieutenant-General, the Carmayar lets go of his own blade, again flexing his shoulders and retaking his previous combat instance.

Removed: Dagger.

You drop Dagger.

[Combat(#13388)->Gurtir]

You forego your chance to attack.

[Zaira(#20676)]

Zaira looks at the chilly-voiced Mormegil Lady and smiles, blushing with a maiden-like purity. \"Perhaps one day, my Lady,\" she murmurs. \"I fear for my reputation if I learn too much of men \'ere I am wed. Better if I just learn what I need when I need to. I would hate to intrude where women are not wanted. But if you will excuse me for a moment, I needs must speak to my aunt.\"

She turns back to Laeraelin, the blush gone, and she begins to speak softly to her, taking to the side as she does so. Bor, on the other hand, is just completely ignored having said little of worth.

[<#20676>] Zaira +whispers to Laeraelin, \"... stuck ... ... ... .... The ... ... ... ...? The ... ...? ... ... ... gone ... ... ... off ... him. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ......\"

[Phazganun(#31287)]

Taking a quick break, the Lieutenant-General removes his bloodstained tunic and tosses it up the ground.

\"Not going to take your just advantage, I see? I like that, Captain,\" he states flatly, his chest heaving as he breathes, his wounds still fresh.

Then, without warning, Phazganun begins forward at full speed and lunges at Gurtir in an attempt to tackle the man and drag him to the ground.

Phazganun attacks you with his Bare Hands!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You\'ve been injured for N hp\'s by Phazganun\'s attack...

...you have X left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

At one moment, Gurtir was flexing his neck and watching carefully as Phazganun removed his tunic and prepared. On the next, he was on the ground.

Growling, he sends his elbow towards the Lieutenant-General\'s head.

You attack Phazganun with your Bare Hands...

[Combat(#13388)->Gurtir]

Your attack against Phazganun lightly wounds him!

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor is not unaware of the fact that Zaira has ignored him, but he knows she is just a silly little girl so he instead looks back to the impromptu arena.

[Lirael(#24368)]

Lirael inhales through her nose, her expression going cooler still. But she says absolutely nothing to the girl instead she looks at the dagger that has landed close by and seems for all the world to be thinking of throwing it through someone\'s heart. Her gaze lands on Bor and she asks, \"Have you no power to stop this nonsense?\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

The soldier returns from wherever he\'s scoured the camp in search of the Captain-General, and he clears his throat at Lirael.

\"Lord Boromir is off leading the men of the White Tree beyond the eastern city.\"

[Phazganun(#31287)]

His attempt at holding the Captain proves perhaps more troublesome than expected, and when the man sends forth his elbow, it catches Phazganun squarely in side of the head, knocking him back slightly, but not so much that he releases his grip. Shaking off the impact of the blow, he releases a low grunt, not unlike something would expect to hear from an animal.

It is then that he sends not his elbow, fist, or knee at the former Ranger, but rather sends his head straight for Gurtir\'s.

Phazganun attacks you with his Bare Hands!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You\'ve been injured for N hp\'s by Phazganun\'s attack...

...you have X left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

[<#24692>]

To Lirael\'s murmured congratulations, Laeraelin replies, smiling: ‘Thank you.’

That smile fades as she watches the exchange between her niece and Lady Mormegil. When Zaira draws her away, her expression is curious and thoughtful.

The whispered news is greeted with a sharp look. \"... ...?\" she whispers back.

\"... ... not ... ... ... ..., ... ... ... ... ... ...?!\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"But why for, Lady?\" asks Bor, blinking his eyes.

\"I hope only that when it is over, they are both dead. A fitting end.\"

An attack from the head was the last thing Gurtir expected for.

Thus, as he struggles to lock Phazganun\'s limbs or make enough room for another blow... crimsom and black engulf him.

The Carmayar is knocked out, his nose bleeding.

[Phazganun(#31287)]

While it would seem that his blow was successful, there is the bitter reality that it was delivered with such force that Phazganun himself has suffered every bit as much damage as the Captain. He does, however, manage to sit up-- if only for a moment-- as he quickly sways from side to side before falling facedown upon the ground near Gurtir.

[<#20676>]

\"... 18, ... ...,\" Zaira murmurs back with a slumping of her shoulders. \"We knew ... couldn\'t ... ... longer. ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... Lord ... ... quite ... ..., ... ... ... has ... .... ... doesn\'t even know ... name...\" She looks back at Lirael with a slightly guilty look on her face, as if she\'s not quite pleased about something. But it is just a moment and she turns back to her mother\'s sister.

That is, until the fight is over and she frowns, looking at Laeraelin. \'Should we?\' she asks out loud.

Phazganun hits the ground.

Seconds pass.

Lids tremble. Brow knits. Then a blink. Another. Yet one more... Gurtir brings a hand to his nose, mumbling something inintelligible as he ineptly tries to stop the bleeding, sitting up slowly with the help of the other hand.

[Gardirion(#19642)]     Gardirion soon arrives within the fortified encampment of Gondor within the city of Osgiliath, just as the fine ends. Gardirion comes to a halt as he approaches the two pugilists, a brow lofting upward as he watches Phazganun sit up next to the Ranger, and then faceplant with all the grace of a Man of Gondor. With a low sigh, Gardirion slowly looks throughout the throng of onlookers, a grimace touching his features before he looks to his half-empty cup of steaming stew, soon he ceases in eyeing it and the two brawlers, instead opting to simply drink from the soup cup before he finally seems to make comment on the events between Gurtir and Phazganun, and his voice was spoken with what would seem a liberal amount of irritation, \"...what is going on?\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"And there it is,\" huffs Lirael, throwing up her hands. \"And now a warrior or two are taken out of battle trim for several days. How ridiculous.\" That said, she pushes her way to the fore and to her kinsmen\'s side. \"Slowly, Curtir,\" she says as she kneels beside him, linen handkerchief in hand. \"Put this to your nose and pinch, then tilt your head back. What are you idiots fighting about?\" And her voice rings with the authority of Lady Mormegil.

[Laeraelin(#24692)]

Even as Zaira whispers her answer, the Master Healer\'s attention has returned to the fight. When Phazganun falls over, she picks up skirts and runs towards him, \"Come, Zaira! You father needs help.\"

Their conversation will have to wait.

[Bor(#30834)]

The Knight-Captain steps forth into the circle, spitting distastefully to the ground as he nears the two combatants. A fiery temper so animates him.

\"You would give this man medical care, Lirael? Let him rot.\"

\"Let them both rot.\"

And with a turn, Bor pushes his way through the throng and enters the fort.

[Lirael(#24368)]

Something of Zaira\'s conversation must have reached Lirael\'s ear, for as she aids Gurtir, she says to the girl, in a sharp voice, \"Stop sniveling over the inevitable and make yourself worthy of your fate.\"

[Phazganun(#31287)]

An arm twitches-- then again, and again, and finally Phazganun manages to roll to his back. Gargling the bood that has built in his mouth, he turns his head to the side and spits it out, before managing to sit upright. He spits again and shakes his head, ending my tilting it backward and pinching his nose, much in the manner Lirael suggested to Gurtir.

Smiling wryly, his teeth stained in blood, he speaks in a nasaly tone, \"Nothing of any concern... a bit of training for the both of us.\"

Rising then to one knee, he glances over toward Gurtir and notes, \"As for missing the battle... these wounds will be fine in a matter of minutes. Nothing serious.\"

For the time, at least, he ignores the Knight.

[Zaira(#20676)]

And Zaira is already moving for her father, getting there before Laeraelin does when Phazganun faceplants.

She begins to pull a flask of water out of her apron. Wetting a handkerchief, she hands it over to the man to clean his face with. \"You -will- let me clean it at least, Father,\" she says calmly, \"won\'t you?\"

Gurtir recieves Lirael\'s handkerchief without much thought, idly doing as he is told, a glance cast at Phazganun\'s rising form... then Lirael\'s question. The Carmayar fixes his gaze on her, blinking dully... is reason requied to fight? Phazganun saves him.

Nodding in agreement, he tells his kinswoman, \"Yes, that was it.\", he inclines his head backwards now, relaxing somewhat, \"I am sorry if it was cause of concern.\"

\"And thanks.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"A bit of training.\" Lirael\'s voice is still chilly. She glances at Zaira and her lord father and snorts through her nose. \"I think not. Is it just your head, Gurtir? Fortunately you are better with a blade, or you might have fared worse.\"

[Phazganun(#31287)]

\"I will not,\" Phazganun grunts, waving the girl away and stumbling to his feet, \"I have further business with the Captain here, once he rises-- and that will conclude my night.\"

He ignores the wounds to his shoulder and abdomen, choosing instead to spit another wad of blood to the ground, \"You, Zaira, will cease making trouble and put my armor and weapons away in my tent.\"

Glancing down at the Captain, he motions back toward the fortification, \"Captain?\"

[Gardirion(#19642)]     Gardirion looks between the two, Gurtir and Phazganun, a brow lofting at the mention of training. He smirks a little to himself before he lifts his soup cup once again, and takes a drink from the steaming contents. He exhales a quiet sigh, relishing the heat of the drink before he looks to the pair of healers, and then toward Phazganun and Gurtir once again and quietly remarks, \"Good thing the Enemy is so far away..\", he states as he casts a glance toward the east, \"..wouldn\'t want them to see our new training regimen.\", his tone decidely filled with a dry sarcasm.

[Laeraelin(#24692)]

Kneeling beside father and daughter, Lady Azrabar ignores the man for his injuries. With an expert eye she examines the cuts on his stomach and shoulder. \"They just need to be well cleaned I think and bandaged for a day.\"

Assessment complete, Laeraelin\'s gaze shifts to her brother-in-law. \"By the Valar, training has gotten more dangerous than war. First a man loses his finger and then you two go at each other like young bucks.\"

\"Ahn, I think so, cousin.\", Gurtir replies at Lirael, getting his head up again to look at her and, afterwards, glance at himself, \"A bruise by my belly when he took me down too. Nothing to be worried about.\" He smiles at her comment about his ability with the blade, though it is short-lived: Phazganun\'s words have him rely on the hand on the floor to turn himself around and push upwards.

He stands up.

\"Yes, sir.\", the Carmayar tells the Lieutenant-General afterwards, ere offering his kinswoman a quick bow of his head and an \"We can talk later.\"-- he follows the Lord Ephalkhir.

As he passes my Gardirion, Gurtir offers the scout a slight frown, \"Afraid of bleeding a bit?\", he asks on his way to the fortifications.

[Zaira(#20676)]

Zaira just looks with some vague amusement at Lirael and her indignation, shaking her head for a moment before she returns her attention to Phazganun and his instructions. She nods and steps away. \"Yes, Father,\" she says calmly. She moves to gather the man\'s armour, lifting it into her arms with only a little awkwardness. With a look for her Aunt, she walks silently away towards Lord Ephalkhir\'s tent.

[Lirael(#24368)]

As she rises, Lirael overhears Gardirion and laughs in spite of herself. \"I quite agree with you,\" she notes, rearranging her unbound to again cover her scarred left ear. \"It is a new training technique that sets us against one another to the point of actual injury. It would seem we are suffering a plague of training accidents.\"

[Gardirion(#19642)]     Gardirion spares a glance toward Gurtir as he passes by and comments, a smirk conveyed, \"Not at all, care to give me some training later..sir?\", he says with a lopsided smile, but despite the smile the words seem quite sincere. He watches Gurtir continue onward, before he then looks back toward Lirael and offers a dip of his chin, a makeshift bow of his head in response, \"Yes..actual injury although, as they have shown, will grant the best sort of training. It teaches you how to respond in the event that you are injured..which is likely in true combat..\", he pauses, a hand lifting to rub his thumb over his scruffy jawline, \"..a warrior may not know how to react during a brawl if he has his nose broken, he make not realise the effects of such..until it\'s happened the first time.\"

[Laeraelin(#24692)]

\"You will get those wounds cleaned before you retire,\" Laeraelin says, rising awkwardly to her feet, her words directed to Lord Ephalkhir. \"If you do not, I will come to your tent and rouse you in order to do it myself. If I am forced to do that, I will be very very angry at you for wasting my precious time.\"

\"Zaira, hold a moment, please.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"Quite.\" Lirael smiles a knowing smile at Gardirion, then turns away from the place of \'training.\' She shakes her head, rubs her eyes, then returns yawning to her tent to sleep away what remains of the night.

[Phazganun(#31287)]

In reply to the murmurs of training, the Lieutenan-General shrugs, \"Oh, this is not standard training-- it was a unique affair. As for any other incidents... I have heard of none. Please feel free to... pass such incidents up, in the future. Now, I bid you all good evening... thank you for your concern, as well.\"

He then begins back toward the fortification, fully expecting the new Captain to follow. He stops but a few paces into his movement, and glances over his shoulder toward Laeraelin, \"Then perhaps you will close your ears, and come clean them while I finish my business with Gurtir?\"

He looks briefly at the recently arrived Scout, though says nothing, waiting for the Captain to catch up.

[Zaira(#20676)]

Zaira pauses just outside the burning ring of fire, looking back towards Laeraelin and Phazganun with a little debate going on behind her eyes. She waits until they sort it out, shifting her father\'s gear in her arms.

Though Gurtir does not turn to face Gardirion, he nods at the Scout, \"Way to become a man.\", as he continues following Phazganun.

[Laeraelin(#24692)]

Smiling slightly, Laeraelin replies \"That is why the master healers typically care for the officers, no matter how minor the injury.\"

\"And if you please, find a man to deal with your gear. Your daughter is not here as your daughter or as your squire. She is an apprentice healer and I have need of her.\"

\"Zaira, please fetch a basin of water, redwort, clothes and bandages please. The war room, I believe.\"

[Gardirion(#19642)]     Gardirion, the Ithilien scout, looks after Gurtir with his words. They weren\'t taken with offense, but instead a wry smile before he looks away, peering eastward once again into the dark of night, a frown touching his features before he finally lifts his soup cup to his lips once again. He pauses with the mention of hauling the gear of war, and then to the healer holding them in her arms. He stares at her for a long, silent moment, a look that could only be his internal debate etched over his features. Finally he exhales a sigh, peering down into his soup cup for a long moment, as if searching the contents for the secret to decision making.

Gardirion sets his soup cup aside, and moves toward the load of weapons, armour, and other sundries of warfare..and Zaira too. As he approaches, he offers in a dry tone, \"Would you like for me to take that burden so that you may do as told?\"

[Phazganun(#31287)]

The Lord Ephalkhir offers no reply to the women, instead casting only a dismissive wave in their direction. To the Captain, he motions forward, \"We are wasting time, here.\"

His pace then quickens, as he shortly thereafter disappears into the fortification.