Lotar listened to the light murmurings and unease in his camp from the front of his tent. Crouched over a fire he had made, he stared into it sullenly, his thoughts ever wandering to his beloved Feanwe.
The man he had sent to Bree had broken his thoughts as he hurried his way. Lotar quickly asked 'Are they safe'
'They are' he replied 'But they will not come out until we have a resolve of this threat to Bree.’
Lotar was about to jerk up in rage, when he continued 'The Bree leaders and the Ranger who assists them seem to be fair men. The men they lead are farmers and millers and merchants. We have pushed them too far. And now they are angry and threatened by our presence. They have retreated into the safety of their city, and like a cornered badger they will fight us tooth and nail if we attack.'
Lotar quelled his anger at this. He knew in his heart this was teh risk he had to take. But if he had not accepted, the struggle for Bree would have been in vain. He kept quiet as the man finish.
'I spoke with the Ranger who came out to take the women and children in. I told him about you and about the things I have heard you say; how your thoughts are echoed by the majority of the men you lead. He asked if you and perhaps one other would come to the North Gate in two days time. He and the mayor will meet with you on the field beyond the dike and talk about what can be done together to solve both our problems. I am to bring back a message to let them know if and when you will come. What say you to this?'
Lotar took his time before he looked up from the last flickers of flame
'I suppose I have little choice in the matter. I will go, and I will have much to say when I do. They wish to drive us out with small care. I would have them tell me where else I could take ailing women and children. I too would fight tooth and nail if I were in their shoes, and I have been...'
He stood up, and stretched his weary shoulders 'But the greatest trial is yet to come: convincing an old battle horse to lay down his plans for war...'
~*~
Kandel
Kandel's footsteps moved quickly through the crowd of people towards his fathers tent. His day had been spent with the mother and sister of a childhood friend. He had lost his life when Kandel was still a child, and right before his eyes at that. Still bearing much pain, Kandel was overjoyed to find them after he had given up on ever seeing them again.
Erean and her daughter Sil had taken ill with a grave fever, leaving them barely able to walk. It was a miracle that they had made it to outside Bree. He watched as they were helped onto a cart and moved into the city.
'Well now, this change has caught me off-balance' he though inwardly 'And here I was ready to scale the defenses of Bree! I am glad sense came to all, most of all my father'
Standing by the tent, he began 'What would you have me do father?'
'We are to go to Bree and talk with the Mayor there' Lotar said
'I want ye to be there. You are better with words than I will ever be, and Ill need you to stay my temper I suspect'
'Aye, I dont doubt that' said Kandel with a smile. He stood by his father watching the camp sink into silence, and wondering what the next few days would bring.
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:35 AM February 09, 2004: Message edited by: Taralphiel ]
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