The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

mark12_30 · 10-29-2002, 06:37 AM

There were seven guards. When they came for Gamba, he simply looked up, numb, and stood, and was almost glad. Already broken, and weary, and knowing the pain that lay ahead of him, he whimpered a little; but he told himself that he could scream all he wanted to, that no one would care, and that soon he would be wherever Esta was.
Phura, horrified, started to interfere, but the Study Guard held him away; Phura stopped with his blade at his throat, and watched through tears as they led Gamba away. Loremaster swept forward to hush the children who had woken and were asking what was wrong.

But when two guards had led Gamba away, the other five turned on the Study guard. His face went white, and he began to weep with fear, but he mastered himself and stopped the tears. Gamba turned, as they hustled him along, and saw him surrender his sword and dagger, and he was brought along behind Gamba.

The horse, Gamba realized. They knew that he helped us, because I rode his horse right back to the gate. It's my fault.

They had almost reached the doorway, when Gamba heard Phura cry out in anguish; he turned, and to his horror, saw Loremaster restraining Phura, and Azraph being escorted out by two more guards.

"Oh, Phura, " he whispered, and the guards hustled him along. "Why her?" he pleaded, as they marched them out.

"Champion at Candlestones," muttered one guard. "Quiet, " said the other, and no more was said.

So it wasn't just Esta's death that was his fault, but now it was to be Azraph and even the guard. They were all there because of him and his stupid Candlestones competition. Gamba's heart sank and sank.

Loremaster released Phura as Gamba disappeared from sight. Phura, stricken, turned to go to his assigned post, and Kesha followed him. Loremaster turned, weeping, to find the other elders, and make adjustments to the plans now that Gamba was gone. In his distress he did not notice that the childrens' beds were now empty. Four small shadows slipped unnoticed after the last contingent of guards.

The guards led Gamba and Azraph and the study guard out past the graveyards, and Gamba looked down at two open hobbit graves that yawned open, ready, and he shuddered. Despair and guilt circled Gamba like hawks, and then he thought of Piosenniel's promise during the meeting that the Lonely Star would rescue the last sacrifices. But would they get there in time? Or would they get there after the first, lethal blow had been given?

Oh, Azraph, he thought, I am so sorry. I did this to you with my stupid game, and if the Lonely Star doesn't get here in time, then you'll die, and Phura will be all alone.

He remembered the torture that Esta had endured last night, and he began to shake.

They were brought to the horse pens, and each of the guards mounted a horse. Each hobbit was carried by a guard, and the Study Guard rode between the five men. They galloped towards the temple, and were joined partway by another group of guards and two more prisoners.

The group halted. "Two?" said the leader of the guards, and looked at the Study Guard. "Then---?"

"Not needed, " replied the other leader in charge of the newly delivered prisoners.

Gamba turned and looked at the Study Guard, relieved for his sake, and hoping that he would be set free. The Study Guard looked relieved too, but he loked at Gamba with a mixture of sadness and cool pity, and then he turned to look at his commander, and lifted his chin.

Their eyes met, and the commander nodded. "Better this way, " the commander agreed, and drew his sword.

The Study Guard dropped his reins and looked up at the stars, and his commander's sword flashed through his throat. The Study Guard toppled to the ground.

Gamba gasped in shock and horror, but then realized that the Guard was grateful to be spared what Esta had endured.

The escort turned their horses, and with a few backwards glances at their old comrade, galloped toward the temple. Azraph tried to be brave, and not knowing what she was headed for, she mostly succeeded. Gamba, exhausted, demoralised and knowing full well what lay ahead, gave in to his fears and regrets, and sobbed.

[ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[ November 09, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

10-29-2002, 06:37 AM	#323
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	There were seven guards. When they came for Gamba, he simply looked up, numb, and stood, and was almost glad. Already broken, and weary, and knowing the pain that lay ahead of him, he whimpered a little; but he told himself that he could scream all he wanted to, that no one would care, and that soon he would be wherever Esta was. Phura, horrified, started to interfere, but the Study Guard held him away; Phura stopped with his blade at his throat, and watched through tears as they led Gamba away. Loremaster swept forward to hush the children who had woken and were asking what was wrong. But when two guards had led Gamba away, the other five turned on the Study guard. His face went white, and he began to weep with fear, but he mastered himself and stopped the tears. Gamba turned, as they hustled him along, and saw him surrender his sword and dagger, and he was brought along behind Gamba. The horse, Gamba realized. They knew that he helped us, because I rode his horse right back to the gate. It's my fault. They had almost reached the doorway, when Gamba heard Phura cry out in anguish; he turned, and to his horror, saw Loremaster restraining Phura, and Azraph being escorted out by two more guards. "Oh, Phura, " he whispered, and the guards hustled him along. "Why her?" he pleaded, as they marched them out. "Champion at Candlestones," muttered one guard. "Quiet, " said the other, and no more was said. So it wasn't just Esta's death that was his fault, but now it was to be Azraph and even the guard. They were all there because of him and his stupid Candlestones competition. Gamba's heart sank and sank. Loremaster released Phura as Gamba disappeared from sight. Phura, stricken, turned to go to his assigned post, and Kesha followed him. Loremaster turned, weeping, to find the other elders, and make adjustments to the plans now that Gamba was gone. In his distress he did not notice that the childrens' beds were now empty. Four small shadows slipped unnoticed after the last contingent of guards. The guards led Gamba and Azraph and the study guard out past the graveyards, and Gamba looked down at two open hobbit graves that yawned open, ready, and he shuddered. Despair and guilt circled Gamba like hawks, and then he thought of Piosenniel's promise during the meeting that the Lonely Star would rescue the last sacrifices. But would they get there in time? Or would they get there after the first, lethal blow had been given? Oh, Azraph, he thought, I am so sorry. I did this to you with my stupid game, and if the Lonely Star doesn't get here in time, then you'll die, and Phura will be all alone. He remembered the torture that Esta had endured last night, and he began to shake. They were brought to the horse pens, and each of the guards mounted a horse. Each hobbit was carried by a guard, and the Study Guard rode between the five men. They galloped towards the temple, and were joined partway by another group of guards and two more prisoners. The group halted. "Two?" said the leader of the guards, and looked at the Study Guard. "Then---?" "Not needed, " replied the other leader in charge of the newly delivered prisoners. Gamba turned and looked at the Study Guard, relieved for his sake, and hoping that he would be set free. The Study Guard looked relieved too, but he loked at Gamba with a mixture of sadness and cool pity, and then he turned to look at his commander, and lifted his chin. Their eyes met, and the commander nodded. "Better this way, " the commander agreed, and drew his sword. The Study Guard dropped his reins and looked up at the stars, and his commander's sword flashed through his throat. The Study Guard toppled to the ground. Gamba gasped in shock and horror, but then realized that the Guard was grateful to be spared what Esta had endured. The escort turned their horses, and with a few backwards glances at their old comrade, galloped toward the temple. Azraph tried to be brave, and not knowing what she was headed for, she mostly succeeded. Gamba, exhausted, demoralised and knowing full well what lay ahead, gave in to his fears and regrets, and sobbed. [ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] [ November 09, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.