"... quarrel ... not ... you, warrior. ... unreasonable foe ... measures ... bide time ... reason ... strike." * Maladil sheathed his blade, meeting Nardol's gaze with calm respect. *
* Gandalf turned slightly even as he continued slowly pacing away from Maladil's door. Catching Nardol's eye, he bowed unobtrusively, breathing a smile of gratitude and relief. Once out of reach of Maladil's sword, ... for the Lord of Laurëondo could not step beyond his door, Gandalf gestured with his staff towards the sack of gold. *
Soothly Maladil, the honor of which Nardol speaks applies as well to that alliance you've just now renewed in our hearing. You've seen Nardol's valiance, now show him yours. Your lands are ringed by Orcs who would beset us should we leave now. Thus you see Nardol and I here as seekers of a safe haven willing to fight alongside you, and not against you.
* It being 12:30 a.m., and Maladil enchained in ghastly habit, he scowled, then drifted into the Great Hall and stood before a fireplace. The Butler, bearing the basket of remaining bottles, followed his master. No bottles would remain for long. *
* Gandalf sat on a fragrantly-soft decaying downed log, surrounded by Cirgon, Guilin, Tiroedrath, and Halblung. Setting down the staff in his right hand, he absently reached over with his left hand to massage his right arm. He was bleeding from the Orc spear, and had forgotten until now. Rinsing the wound with water from a leather skin, then tightly wrapping the affected arm with the grey folds of his sleeve, Gandalf looked at Guilin. *
You wish for tidings? You shall have more! Tidings and freedom! Plenty of time to share tales when you reach Valinor. Help Nardol, myself, the rest of us. For 'tis said, "the key to unlock any door lies within your mind and heart." Then you will need not depend on us alone for news of the outside.
* Gandalf asked each ghost his name, then spoke of the doings at Lothlórien, and Rivendell, and Mirkwood ... and o, there were gasps all around from those troubled spirits of the Second Age just learning what had become of Greenwood. He then regaled them with the adventures befallen since setting out from the Prancing Pony with a baby oliphaunt in tow. *
* Gandalf masked the concern he felt now that Maladil had returned inside the Castle. But at least Cirgon, Guilin, Halblung, and Tiroedrath were safely outside the Castle while Menelduliniel, Estelarion, Hinura, Poppy, and Aislan, Alearindu and Andreth were within, looking for the deed that would lift the curse. He'd tell the ghost-warriors all the tidings they wanted. *
[ February 28, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]
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