Angmar Bound, Chapter 2: Where Shadows Lie

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali looked at Calion and said: " Then come master Elf, let's get going and get something to put in the crib or on the floor for our good mounts."

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Agreeing with Frali, Calion aided the dwarf in grabbing some hay bales from the inn and moving them to the new stables. After making sure the horses had enough, he brought over an extra bale for the guard house. While perhaps not strictly necessary, it wouldn't hurt to spread some out to spend the night on. If they were going to stay here a while, might as well make it more comfortable.

[Varda]

Fainan:

She nodded to Auros, trying not to comment aloud. Go scout in the fog. That shouldn't be any worse than scouting in Mirkwood mirk.

The top of a building sounded good, like going up a tree in hopes of thinner mirk. These buildings had plenty of faults and junk lying around them, easy to scale. She went up one cautiously, in case some part gave way. This side faced the slight breeze, if one could call that faint air movement a breeze. Slow swirls and obstructions in their movements combined with thinner areas helped. Patience. Wait for clearer spots forming for seconds. Through those came suggestions of narrow roads and the similar height of other buildings. Logic suggested what some might be. Back down from the perch, she stepped quietly along the narrow road, checking those spots that had been uncertain. Some buildings had additional stink to help with identity, but all seemed abandoned. Life kept fairly quiet in the fog, although a few skitterings said some took advantage of being hidden. A few places went underground, so she noted them in her mind to report, not entering alone.

Satisfied that she had a fair idea of the general layout, she returned to those that had spread hay. How thoughtful! They had considered places to rest as well as feed for their mounts. No need to startle armed folk. She tapped the side of the entrance and said, "Mae govannen."

[Eonwë]

Telperos:


The horses had been quickly settled into the stable as the darkness descended, and the group took refuge in the attached guardhouse. It was one room on the ground level, with one staircase leading down to a cellar and another leading up to a room with narrow windows looking northward over the wall. A large stone fireplace was built into the side against the town wall. It was evident from the lack of defacement waged on the walls that, as Telperos had said, the orcs did not spend much time in this building.

As the group began to settle in and open their packs, Telperos stayed their hands as they reached for their rations. "I've a better idea, so that you may perhaps see for yourselves what food our "generous host" has prepared for himself." Seeing the annoyance on Auros' face, he added, "Fear not, Auros. I procurred these directly from the cart they were brought on. The driver and the guards were not particularly watchful that day, and so I absconded with quite a few samples. Alas, I've already enjoyed most of them, but there are still a few options."

Telperos made his way to the fireplace, and pulling an old horse blanket from a corner nearby threw it down. Leaning close, he reached up into the chimney and pulled out a jar. "We have pickles!" he declared as he set the jar aside. "and.. carrots, and some dried meats that look edible," he added, pulling down another two jars. "For something a little sweeter,..." Telperos pulled out a smaller jar, looked at it and said, with a grin, "Sorry, these cherries are mine. Procurer's privilege. We do however have apples. You can have those, Auros. We also have raspberries, blackberries, and..." Pulling out another small jar, he examined it closely and grimaced. "...some sort of fish. Whoever takes this one, I'll throw in something a little more enticing." Reaching one last time into the chimney, he pulled out a small jar of honey and set it on top of the jar of preserved fish.

[Varda]

Fainan:

"Blackberries and honey? Enticing indeed."

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali followed Calion after feeding the horses and entered the guardhouse. "The beasts are fed and now it is our turn" he said cheerily looking at Fainan and Auros . indicating the supplies." Is a clean place here to sit and plates maybe as well?"

[Varda]

Fainan:

"Indeed there is. Feel free to join us on this fine horse blanket over new hay. But plates? That is less certain."

[arienv]

Frali:

"Aye, i doubt they know what plates are", the young dwarf said while he took seat next to Fainan. "Thankfully we Dwarves are not quite as uncivil", he grinned and unfastened his buckler from his back and polished it with the sleeve of his shirt. "There, that will do" , Frali grinned while he helped himself to a bit of the fish that he put on the of the shield. His axe however he put in good reach of himself while he used the back of his dagger as spoon to eat from . "Now .. that is not exactly that what i d call a proper meal but it will do. It certainly would go down a bit easier if you found something to oil the throat with. You know fish must swim." Grinning Frali loooked at Telperos. "Maybe your search was efficient in that respect as well, my lord Telperos?"

[Eonwë]

Telperos:

Telperos had a rueful grin. "Alas, the orcs guarded the libations more closely than the victuals, nor were they particularly mindful of jostling the plates. You are stuck with what you have brought yourselves, for mine was abandoned due to need of haste."

A metal plate flew through the air at Telperos, and he caught it just in time. Auros smirked as he told him, "You know what to do with it when you're done."

Telperos could not restrain his wide grin. The words and tone were instantly familiar. "Ah, now that brings back memories." As he settled into a spot with his share of the meal, he glanced warily over at the door, secured by a large wood bar. "As curious as I am what, besides my rescue, brings you here, I imagine it would not go well with supper, and I would prefer palatable conversation with a palatable meal. Let's see... how are Melëar and Arandil? I know I missed our gathering but they... I see." The look on Auros' face said everything Telperos needed to know. "What about Aldawë? Surely --- him too?" Telperos bowed his head. His head shot up, a faint gleam of hope on his face. "Master Frali! Perhaps you would like to share how you found yourself in this motley group of Elves? If it would not be too closely related to your mission, at least."

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan smiled and drew her own carved wood plate from her pack, having no desire to attempt the scrubbing necessary to trust an orcish plate anyway. She was more interested in how Frali could answer Telperion's question, as the poor Noldo needed distraction from what appeared to be unfortunate news.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Letting the others talk, Calion got comfortable on the hay, and grabbed a thin, less than pristine wooden disc from his pack. It had seen multiple functions, including target practice for his knives on more than one occasion. But it still performed well enough for meals.

Also helping himself to the fish, he nodded gratefully as he took Telperos' offer of some complimentary honey as well as some raspberries. A life in the woods made him keen on varied meals, and the portions he took were small enough to not be unfair.

Sitting back, he too cast his eyes on Frali, hoping not to put too much pressure on the dwarf. Calion could use a good story to listen to.

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali looked at Telperos while he figured out how to open the tin. Then he took a thin chisel of some kind out of his belt pouch stuck it into the tin and hammered it in with the back of his knife hilthe managed to drill peel back the lid carefully, Then he poured out the contents onto his *plate". Satisfied he began to eat and answered ater swallowing:" Oh I literally stumbled into them, Master Telperion. Incidentally I passed the great hall at my lord's fortress at Mount Erebor while Lord Auros delivered his report. I stumbled over some debris on the floor and just caught myself falling, but unfortunately caused some disruption " Frali blushed and felt slightly guilty at this not quite truthful account. He shrugged "My gracious Lord his majesty king Dain saw it then fit to send me along to Imladris with Lord Auros and company, apparently as messenger and to underline the importance of the message." The young dwarf laughed. "As for the continued journey from Rivendell I thought it prudent to offer Lord Auros my axe and my knowledge of stones. And so , here I am."

He mentioned the sword with no word or his connection with it, partly because he didn't want to admit it to himself that he would not want to be parted from the weapon and partly because he wanted to see it destroyed himself if it was truly evil. However, Frali thought it wise not mention it to Telperos, at least not until him knew him better.

[Eonwë]

Telperos:

"Well, isn't that the way of things sometimes. I know many who can attest that sometimes the most interesting adventures are not sought out, but stumbled across." He glanced at Auros. "What of the Greenwood? Er, I suppose it is Mirkwood now. I know... I used to know, rather, people who dwelt in the forest. It has been many years, and they no longer dwell there. How did you stumble into Auros' company? I gather from Calion's remarks earlier it was not Auros' winning personality." Telperos couldn't help but grin wide at the end.

Auros shot him a glare, but said nothing as he turned his attention back to the window, glancing through the gaps as he chewed a piece of dried meat.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan sat up straighter, disturbed by what appeared to be an odd undermining of the patrol leader's authority, but it would probably not hurt anything. Her love of the Greenwood also made her want to speak, but remembering that she should defer to the noble, Calion, she nodded to him and kept quiet.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

After finishing chewing and swallowing a piece of fish, Calion looked up, glanced at Auros, and then turned to Telperos. "Well, it wouldn't do to refuse an assignment from Thranduil's halls, especially when I had not met your friend yet. After that, our missions and goals seemed to align."

Sparing Auros a smirk, he leaned forward to Telperos and spoke in a stage whisper, "In truth, he's starting to grow on me a bit."