Bor\'s Folly: Rumours of a Wolf

The stars shed no tears this eve instead, they sparkle impishly as if daring those below to enjoy the comforts of a clear, precipitousless night.

The Lord Bragollach stands out in the open of the camp. He says to Menelglir, \"We should move soon. The weather will not spare us like this often.\"

\"Now? By night?\" Menelglir, poking at the fire with a stick, looks up. Tossing the stick in to the fire with a shrug, he stands. \"I agree. I will rouse the camp.\"

Lominzil, who has been standing watch on the edge of camp, turns back to listen to the knights, his face pale in the dim light.

\"We will make for Edoras,\" says Imrakhor simply. \"The Lady Cwen has business within the city that should serve to quell any suspicions to our real intent.\"

\"Suspicions? The Rohirrim are our allies. Not that there is need to tell them where and why our duties take us, but there is no need to hide, either. Or..\" Menelglir tilts his head a little, \"is there?\"

If Lominzil or Conalmir\'s attentions were not drawn to the road, then perhaps several men breaking from the tree-line on the road on foot, bearing steel tipped long spears, catching the light of the stars upon them. Even in the dark, it is clear they are not brigands, their mail too fine, and their formation too organized. They quickly move to cover the short distance between themselves and the two man guard, \"\" one calls out to the pair, \"\"

\"Imrakhor,\" comes Lominzil\'s voice, quiet but clear, and a little worried, \"people are coming, and speaking in ... Rohirric...\"

Conalmir drops his hand to his swordhilt, but doesn\'t draw it - though he divides his attention between the road and the newcomers. \"We do not speak your language,\" he answers after a moment. \"Do you speak Westron?\"

Imrakhor does not answer Menelglir, his attention taken with the arrival of the Rohirrim. He says to Lominzil, \"Allow them to pass. It is upon their lands that we now tread.\" He walks back to his tent, only to return with brandy.

\"Visitors,\" Menelglir says, stepping toward the fire to add logs to it so that it burns hotter and brighter. He glances toward the camp\'s edge, waiting.

Lominzil nods, looking to the mailed men. \"You are welcome in our camp, sirs,\" he says in Westron, then steps aside and gestures to invite them within the perimeter of the tents.

The one who spoke smirks at Conalmir\'s reply, a hint perhaps of amusement, but his eyes follow his hands carefully. He motions with a hand forward, and his men move to enter the camp. They are dressed as him, long spears in their hands and swords hung from their belts. The gentle clop of hooves on dirt grows ever louder along the road.

\"If you do not speak the language of Rohan, then why do you ride upon its land?\" he asks, not unpolitely in tone, but does not wait for an answer. A nod for Lominzil and he steps past the Squire and follows the men into the camp.

\"Men of Gondor from the sound of you.\" He squints at the mail from Belfalas, \"Far far from your homes.\"

Imrakhor steps forth and says, \"Riders of Rohan! We are a party of the Lady Cwen Ephalkhir, whose cousin is to be wed within the auspices of Edoras!\"

\"Bodyguards, friends, travelers and the Lady herself. Do Theoden\'s servants come to grant us safe passage through his lands?\" asks the Lord Bragollach.

Standing in the circle of flickering firelight, Menelglir simply watches, thougha frown of displeasure briefly crosses his face.

Riders of Rohan? A very awake Calenloth rises from the tent, again stepping over the still figure of Cwen. Out the front of the tent flap she emerges, quietly pacing towards the conversation.

\"We do not.\"

The reply is swift from Eardwul, his eye quickly tracking to Calenloth and following her, \"But there is a chance at the end of our meeting, there will be an agreement of passage allowed.\"

He paces about the camp, nearing Menelglir, \"I am suspicious as the few that travel these parts without carts for trade are, almost without question, bandits and murderers. But your women don\'t have the defeated look in their eyes as theirs do.\"

\"Tell me,\" he asks of the Silver Knight, \"This wedding. Do you know the name of the cousin? And who she is to be married?\"

\"I do not,\" Menelglir replies, his grey eyes steady as he seeks to meet the Rohirrim\'s. \"I travel at the behest of Sir Imrakhor,\" he gestures to that knight, \"indeed, by his request in particular, in order to protect the ladies of this party. The fact that I have been..\" he smirks a little, \"drafted to also attend the wedding, so that they have dancing partners--well, I will do my duty in that respect. But know the names of the cousins and their intended? That is the business of the women. Not mine.\"

\"Lominzil, Conalmir, we are safe for the moment. Join us,\" says Imrakhor.

\"The roads are safe enough if they are traveled by these Riders.\"

Lominzil takes one last look at the dark road and steps toward the warm fire, pulling off his gloves.

Conalmir follows, his new haircut making him actually look tidy for a change.

Calenloth meets the eyes of the stranger upon herself and holds her gaze. nodding. She remains silent as she nears the fire.

\"Bandits or no, I will say to you the roads are not safe. So we ride them. Your guard must be keen and your blades sharp for you, like us, are being hunted.\"

He stands a bit straighter and then announces, \"I am Eardwul, Captain of the East-mark, though these many weeks I am no captain but a hunter.\"

\"Knights of Gondor, escorting Ladies to a wedding. What a life is that.\"

\"I am Sir Imrakhor,\" says the Lord Bragollach in introduction. \"Sir Menelglir,\" he points, in order, \"Squires Lominzil and Conalmir.\"

His finger then moves to Calenloth, \"And that is that Lady Calenloth.\"

\"I believe the Lady Cwen is indisposed at the moment, is she not?\" he asks.

\"Not so harsh duty at least,\" Menelglir says with a quick smile. \"And well met, sir.

\"She sleeps, Sir,\" Calenloth replies to Imrakhor. \"Please do not ask that I wake her. I do not wish to be riddled with arrows tonight.\" Captain Eardwul,\" she greets the Rohirrim. \"Good evening to you.\"

The men of Rohan nod each with the introductions, though their attention has drifted from the camp and turned towards the forest, still their spears at the ready. A group of horses, led by three men finally arrive at the edge of the light cast by the camp fire.

There is some worry on Eardwul\'s face at the mention of Cwen missing, but it eases her whereabouts are made known. Still stoic, he continues, \"None of you but those here? If there are those in the forest, watching in secrecy or out piddling on a tree, call them in now, men of Gondor, ne\'er split your party. Though, the night is better for such things. Oddly.\"

Conal nods in silent greeting as his name is mentioned. His eyes flick often to the darkness outside the camp. \"Your brother, Lomin - he sleeps?\"

\"In a tent,\" says Lominzil, pointing to one of the tents.

\"Our party consists of what you see before you, Captain,\" says the Lord Bragollach. \"Are relations so strained between our peoples that you doubt us?\"

\"Or is the danger so great?\"

\"And Calarion and the healer?\" Menelglir asks, looking to the two Squires now present.

\"I would know, Sir Eardwul--what is it that tracks us and you?\"

Calenloth raises an eyebrow, watching the men through the flickering fire. \"All asleep,\" she offers. I have heard no stirrings in the camp besides the two of you,\' as she gestures towards the two Knights, \"since we had finished supper.\"

\"Sleeping,\" Conalmir echoes the lady\'s words. \"He is on watch later.\" His face becomes stiller. \"The healer also sleeps.\"

\"A wolf? Maybe?\"

Eardwul gives a shrug, \"We have not seen it, only its victims. Usually women,\" he spares an eye for the lady, \"And a mind of evil, or so it seems. The bites left on the corpses are large by any measure, wolf or bear, but the Best does not feed...\" he stops himself, \"My apologies. Perhaps, it is best not to speak openly of it and bring unnecessary terror to your group. The attacks on groups are rare, only in the most blighted times of winter.\"

\"Perhaps you know me not, and Rohan\'s borders insulate you from my reputation. I am the Lord Imrakhor Bragollach, the Dark Knight of Belfalas, Captain of the Black Swan and Hero of Too Many Battles to Mention,\" says Imrakhor to Eardwul. \"Few are frightened when they are within my company.\"

Firelight flickers in Menelglir\'s eyes as Imrakhor speaks., no expression showing on his face other than that he looks to Eardwul.

Lominzil coughs politely, lending his knight a sideways look. \"That is, we are ready and willing to defend our camp, should this hunter you have described approach it.\"

A boisterous laugh announces the group the whole of the forest as it bellows from the Captain, \"Quite impressive friend. But be wary, in Rohan, the woman know that the longer the title the shorter the...uh..\" a look again to the lady and then to the others before he coughs, \"The spirit.\"

\"And I worry little for you, wrapped in steel so. The Beast will not approach you. It hunts for sport, so I swear it. It leaves its catches to be gnawed on by the packs it has dominion over.\" One of the other men of Rohan calls out to the captain and he sighs, \"Yes, I do speak more of the tales of the Beast than what is actually known. Of that, there is very little. Of rumors, there are enough to fill a books enough to dam this stream.\"

Calenloth\'s eyes are steely. While her voice does not quaver, she still speaks softly, asking the captain, \"The women who fall victim - do they travel alone?\"

The slow steady plod of iron shod hooves can be heard coming up the Great West Road from Gondor. The flickering light of the fires, from the Gondorian camp, illuminate the horse and its rider as they come closer -- the rider\'s chain-mail coat gleaming in the darkness. As the rider draws still closer, it is easy to discern that he is one of the Swan-Knight from Gondor. The Swan-Knight wears an azure surcoat that is emblazoned with a white Swan Ship, the sigil of house Imrahil, and the metal shield that hangs from his saddle bears the same markings.

The Swan-Knight pulls back lightly on his reins, and brings his horse to halt -- a reasonable distance from the Rohirrim and the Gondorians. \"Good evening!\" Celondir calls out loudly to the gathered men. \"Might I approach?\"

\"You do not travel alone,\" Menelglir says low, taking a step so that he stands at Calenloth\'s side. He does not move from this place at the sound of an approaching horse--though clearly he is surprised to see not a Rohirrim, but a Swansman. \"He is,\" he says to Eardwul, while squinting toward the darkness and newly arrived knight, \"one of our brethren, clearly.\"

\"We know little of the way of things. A couple were driven apart by a wolf pack. He escaped the pack but she was not found till the thaw with but a single bite taken from her,\" Eardwul says making a semi-circle on the edge of his ribs.

\"Sometimes we find men as well, Lady, but it is rare. I would stay close to your group and the fire. Most go missing during the winter and during the day. Another thing that disturbs the mind.\"

\"We are hoping to find its lair in the woods, but there have been no signs so far. On the open road, it will be more dangerous I think.\" Eardwul sniffs but says naught to the new Knight.

Conalmir, still on watch duty - though having been pulled in from his position at the edge of camp - steps towards the newly arrived knight to ask formally, \"Who speaks?\"

\"Name yourself, Servant of Imrahil!\" calls out Imrakhor as he too squints out at Celondir. \"Does our liege send you upon this trail as well?\"

\"I know,\" Calenloth says, still softly, but to Menelglir. \"And I shall make a point not to stray from your company.\"

\"Most disturbing,\" she agrees with Eardwul, her voice louder but steady. \"I do hope you track it. For all of our sakes. And we do thank you for your concern and warnings.\"

\"Sir Celondir,\" says the rider deeply, \"of house Telamarth.\" With a touch of his spurs and a slight shift of his weight, the Swan-Knight sets his horse to shift sideways a few steps closer to the fire. \"Our liege has set me upon this road as well, to make sure you had more then adequate aid my Lord, and when I passed through Minas Tirith the men of the Hosts asked if I might ride the Great West Road to see if anything strange might be happening upon it.\" Each word comes out with frost laden breath.

\"Conalmir,\" Menelglir calls to the Squire, \"since you are on watch, wake that sluggard Calarion up and have him see to Sir Celondir\'s steed. How that Squire can sleep through this is beyond me.\"

\"If it is well with you,\" the Captain says to none in particular, \"We will camp just down the road from you. Perhaps in a day or three, we will catch up with you and able to escort you into Edoras.\"

Earwdul takes a last look around, \"And if you are bandits, well then, you waste your talents for your hearts are for the stage. If more you wish to speak on, find me at our camp.\"

He calls out in Rohirric and the men gather themselves together, \"Be wary, men of Gondor. On the best of days, in the best of years, the roads are deadly to the unaware.\"

A sigh.

\"These are not such times.\"

\"Yes, sir,\" Conal replies, turning towards the tent that Calarion is sleeping in. He ducks inside.

A curtsey to Eardwul as his men gather, and then Calenloth looks to the newly arrived Knight. \"Welcome, Sir Celondir,\" she greets.

\"Sir Celondir\'s arrival is a boon. We shall join you in a sign of good faith. It is our women that bring us upon this path for now, and their safety we ensure,\" says the Lord Bragollach, turning back to Eardwul. \"Allow us a day to evaulate the strength and preparedness of our camp for battle. We shall meet you down the road,\" concludes Imrakhor.

\"I shall do what I can, and where ever you ask it of me, my Lord.\" Celondir says with a nod of his head to Imrakhor, after listening to the dire warning offered by the Captain of the East-Mark. The Swan-Knight then slides from his horse, a bay gelding, and takes it by the reins to lead it into the camp. \"Lord Bragollach,\" Celondir offers, bowing his head and raising his fist to his chest in a salute.

Well, with this news, I do not think I shall sleep tonight,\" Calenloth admits. \"I think I will stay by the fire. For now.\" She turns to take a seat upon the bench, happy to remain close to the flames as urged by the Rohirrim.

\"We will heed your warnings,\" Menelglir says to the departing Rohir, \"and double our vigilance.\" As the Rohirrim leave, he turns to the newly arrived knight.

\"I do not believe we have met. Sir Menelglir Telpekhor I am, and your aid is much welcome.\"

Conal slips back out of the tent as silently as he entered it.

The salute is returned by the Lord Bragollach.

\"We should speak,\" he says to Celondir. \"Come. Join me in my tent.\"

The brandy is still in his hand and the invitation seems to include drink.

\"No, I do not believe that we have had the pleasure,\" Celondir says with a shake of his head, an easy smile playing across his lips as he looks to Menelglir. \"It is an honor though,\" he says with a nod, and it appears as if he may say more but he is called away by the Lord Bragollach. \"We\'ll speak more in the morning, I am sure...\" His eyes flicker to the cup of brandy in Imrakhor\'s hand, and the Knight must follow for now. \"Please excuse me...\" With that he passes his horse off to a waiting squire, and then slips into Bor\'s tent.