[Child of the 7th Age]

Lilac and Andreth:

Hearing Kandel's offer to lead them to his father, Lilac quickly responded, "Your words ring true, but you must give us a moment to speak on this." Lilac glanced towards Andreth who had retreated to the opposite end of the clearing.

Kandel acknowledged Lilac with a shake of his head and then withdrew to a spot several paces distant where he could still see the women, but was out of immediate earshot. Seeing the young man squat down beside the tangled underbrush to wait, Lilac clasped Andreth's hand and pulled her close, speaking in a quiet but determined manner, "Whether you will or not, Andreth Woolthistle, I am determined to do this thing. For, despite the danger, this meeting holds the promise of hope. Yet I will not hold it against you if you turn back to Bree, and leave me here to do what must be done."

Andreth could see there was no sense trying to argue with Lilac or talk her out of what she proposed to do. She looked over at her companion and responded, "We have known each other many a long year. And in all that time, you have stood by my side again and again....first, when I was but a child, then a young bride coming to the Pony, and later when my husband met a violent death on the road and I was left alone with Edmund. You did not desert me through all that, and I will not desert you now. But I pray with all my heart that you are right about these men, for I do not wish to leave my son an orphan."

Lilac smiled soberly and squeezed Andreth's hand, "We are agreed then. Let me do the talking, and we will see if any good can come from all this." Lilac walked over towards Kandel, saying that they would follow him, for they judged him to be an honorable man who would not intentionally lead them into danger. The party slowly made its way towards the camp and the tent that belonged to Lotar.

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Andreth followed last in line, trying to still the thumping of her heart and wondering if she had made the right decision. Her responsibility for her young son weighed heavily upon her head. Perhaps, she was wrong to take such a risk. Yet, how could she turn her back on her friend and their first opportunity to make a difference?

As they made their way through the camp, the sounds and smells of the morning pressed in, imprinting themselves upon Andreth's mind. The first thing that struck her was the incredible crush of human bodies within the clearing.....hundreds of folk crammed into a tiny space, most looking tired and drawn from their long trek on the road. Everywhere she heard the voices of children and the laughter of families reunited, but mixed in with these were less cheerful sounds. For Andreth could also hear the wail of babes, sick and hungry, and the piteous moans of the maimed and injured who lay on the ground looking out with pain filled eyes. Whatever hardship she had seen in Bree these past few months, however many hungry mouths there had been with the drought, it was nothing compared to what she was gazing upon here. She did see armed men here and there, but they were few in number when compared with the vast number of women and children and those who were elderly or injured.

Faced with such obvious need, Andreth turned aside from her path and came close to weeping, but then forced herself to go forward again. Everywhere in the camp she looked, the tired travelers turned their curious faces towards the women, since their well fed frames and respectful clothing seemed to hold hidden memories of a safe and stable world that had been all but forgotten. Groups of refugees stared and whispered to their neighbor, wondering out loud who the two might be or what their errand was.

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Kandel went in first, and spoke privately with his father, then beckoned the two to enter. As the women walked into the tent, they could make out two men seated at the table engaged in earnest conversation. One was a face that neither Lilac or Andreth recognized, but the other seemed vaguely familiar. Andreth glanced over, at first puzzled as she tried to make out the grizzled features of the outlaw who somehow looked familiar despite his too lanky frame and tattered clothing. Then she hastily put her hand over her mouth to cover a look of surprise as she suddenly realized that this stranger was Minastan the Ranger. She felt her body relax slightly, realizing that they had at least one friend in the tent.

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Lotar glanced over at the women, speaking in a voice both tired and stern, "It is a long way for two women to ride all the way from Bree. Why have you come? And what do you want? Are you not afraid to come here into our camp?"

"Afraid?" replied Lilac, staring back at Lotar. "Yes, we are afraid but we fear the scourge of war even more. And we wonder why no one on either side has bothered to stop for a moment and ask to what end this road will lead us. Andreth and I have come to see if there is anything the people of Bree can do to help you and your folk. And the hardship we have seen in this camp makes us think this even more. Perhaps if the leaders of our city were to meet with you and your advisors, some new understanding might come forth that would avoid great bloodshed and sorrow."

"And where do you propose that this meeting take place?" Lotar queried. "For I do not trust your mayor any more than he trusts me"

Before Lilac could respond, Minastan looked over at Lotar and spoke, "Lotar, perhaps there is something the women could do to prove their mettle and to build a bit of trust." He looked over towards Lilac, "We have many sick and injured, especially children. Their mothers are desperate. For if some do not get proper care and herbal remedies, they will surely die. We have no healers here. Only in Bree would there be any hope for these families."

He glanced over at Lotar and lowered his voice, "I beleve the mothers would go to the city rather than have their children face certain death here. Let these Breelanders take the sickest children and their mothers into the town. Then we will see if the mayor of Bree enough heart to reach out to those in great need."

"I will go with them unarmed," Minastan continued. "Send me into Bree as a pledge of good faith. I will speak the cause of the outlaws before their leaders and see if a later meeting can be set up. If I do not return to you, Lotar, within the space of two days, go ahead and launch your attack. Nothing will be lost, other than my arm and shield."

Lilac shook her head in agreement. Both women looked expectently towards Lotar waiting for his response.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:28 AM January 26, 2004: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]