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Visionary Spirit
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 633
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A hush fell over the living and the dead assembled at the front entrance as Maladil roared out, "Whence comes this rabble of marauders assembled before my gates, boldly besetting me and my household with trembling blasts of light and noise before you move against the Castle bent on plunder and destruction? Ware, lest you meet your doom here this night!"
Aislan, Poppy, Menelduliniel heard: "
comes
rabble
marauders
before
gates
besetting
and
household
trembling
of
you
against
Castle
on
destruction? Ware, lest
meet
doom
this!"
Andreth heard: "Whence comes this
marauders assembled before
boldly besetting me
household with trembling
light and noise
move against the
on plunder and?
lest you meet
here this night!"
Nardol, Hinura, Estelarion heard: "
comes
marauders
gates
besetting
household
trembling
against
Castle
destruction?
meet
doom!"
Alearindu heard naught but a horrific caterwauling wail.
Gandalf heard the whole thing. Standing from his sitting position beside Andreth, he gestured Poppy Took to come over with a wave of his arm, then bowed a low greeting. "Hail Lord Maladil, renowned Orc Bane, of Laurλondo! Master Elrond of Rivendell and Lady Galadriel of the Golden Wood send greetings. Indeed, what we seek is more precious than all the combined treasures in your vaults. As evidence of our good will, and in token of the faithful alliance between Imladris, Lothlσrien, and Laurλondo, permit me to introduce
"
Maladil interrupted with a bitter laugh. "Messenger of the West, are you? Sent by the Valar, after all these years? Your message fails, unless you seek to mock me, for Adela is not with you. But come, tell me your name Messenger, that I may
greet thee, properly."
Poppy cringed and her knees knocked, but Gandalf pressed a gentle reassuring hand on her shoulder. Aislan, Poppy, Menelduliniel heard: "
of
West,
you?
by
Valar,
all
years? Your message
fails,
you
mock me,
Adela
not with you. Come,
name,
may
greet thee."
Andreth heard: "Messenger of the
, are you? Sent
Valar, after all
? Your message fails
seek to mock
Adela is not. But come, tell
name Messenger, that
greet thee, properly."
Nardol, Hinura, Estelarion heard: "West,
you?
Valar,
these
years?
Fails
Adela
not. Come,
name,
greet."
Alearindu heard a bitter laugh. Noticing that Aislan appeared to understand part of what was being said, the Ranger asked Aislan to please pass on to her as much as she could of Maladil's speech.
Gandalf swallowed a slight shudder, for Maladil's words yet carried commanding strength enough to set in motion much mischief in Middle Earth. "Some call me Mithrandir, others Gandalf."
"Curse you and your names! You come with fire
Naur dan le, Mithrandir! Wander far from here, and may you perish even as you have shown us, in a blaze falling to darkness! Now depart hence!" Maladil's voice rang raw malice.
All heard enough to get the general idea, though words were missing here and there.
Gandalf would yield no ground. "Not yet! What of your own name, Maladil Orc Bane? I would hold you to it. Who in your household has dealings with Orcs? For Orcs have brought prisoners to fill your dungeon in these days!"
The Butler, white as a ghost, whitened even more.
Maladil turned down his lips in a sneer. "You are mistaken, Old Trickster, for Laurλondo was built with no dungeon. And no Orc would dare approach as close as you are now, lest they meet the same peril facing you."
"Your whole Castle has become a dungeon, Maladil, in which you entrap your own kin and servants! But you may still help free them, even now. It is said there lies a deed to Laurλondo within your walls. Present this deed to us, we who entreat you on behalf of Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel, your friends and allies. The Castle as you know it must cease to exist, for the curse to be lifted. Yet your sacrifice will be a praiseworthy legacy sung among the Free Peoples of Middle Earth, for we seek to build on these grounds a House of Healing." Gandalf bowed.
Maladil snorted. "Will this be before or after you snap up every last ounce of my gold?"
"This Hobbit, Poppy Took standing before me, bears a gift. Master Elrond has entrusted to me a sack of gold to cover any expenses along my road in fighting our common Enemy to the East. A shadow forms, and great woe will come of it should your Castle fall to its influence! Better render the Castle to the wholesome influence of such allies as you extended your hospitality in the Second Age. In token of our goodwill, please accept this present of gold from our Ambassador, Poppy Took. She will walk to meet you in the Great Hall. Promise her your protection, Maladil. Have one of your servants light a candle for her that she may see inside, for she is heavy-laden and carries no light of her own."
Maladil howled with derisive scorn. "You send the smallest and weakest, caring not whether she lives nor dies." Maladil's gaze searched, then fell upon Nardol. "Why not send in that grim Elf-warrior? He, at least, would provide several minutes of sport at the end of my blade." Maladil reached out, pointing to Nardol.
"Poppy Took will not die, nor will she be harmed in any way, Maladil. For I entrust her to your honor. Thus, receive this Hobbit as your guest, and spurn not the hope of those who would see life return here." Bending down to Poppy, Gandalf smiled encouragement. "Go ahead on in, dear Poppy."
"As to the Elf-warrior you mention
I leave him to decide what answer to make you." Gandalf straightened, then turned and whispered the complete translation to Nardol concerning all Maladil had said of Nardol.
[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]
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