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Old 03-14-2003, 01:01 AM   #384
Gandalf_theGrey
Visionary Spirit
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 633
Gandalf_theGrey has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

* The quiet of the Castle seemed even more evil than the stormy raving shouts and crashes of Maladil's latest tantrum in by the fireplace at the Great Hall. Maladil crept up and spied on the people outside in the Inner Courtyard now, from a window at the Inner Entry, right beside the front door. Yes, he'd been weakened by the lightning bolt hurled by his enemy. But the Old Man of the West fared little better, for he appeared to be fighting off sleep, and was favoring an arm in a blood-stained sleeve ... and on top of everything appeared to have gone delirious, for here he was, juggling fireballs of purple, blue, and green. The juggling was choppy and uncertain, but worst of all was how his men ... HIS MEN ... were laughing and applauding the doddering old fool! There they were, the brave Tiroedrath, and Guilin, and Halblung, turned traitor. And the snivelling cook Cirgon with them, heating water in a shallow pan over a make-shift campfire of dried grasses, likely to tend the intruder's wounds. Well let him sail back West and recover there, not on the property of Maladil. Maladil was about to shriek out this piece of rage when he noticed a small form darting up alongside ... *

Stop! * Maladil hissed, straining to maintain a low voice the better to remain unnoticed. * What are you doing?

* Daerohil stopped in mid-stride, striking a comedic pose with bent arms, one flung forwards and the other back, ready to spring forth again to race with all his might, but now looking like the shadow of a statue firmly planted. * Playing hide-and-seek with Andreth and Calimiel and Gandalf.

* Maladil repeated all these three names, questioning in rising tones of shocked horror. *

Andreth ... * Daerohil described matter-of-factly, arms and legs remaining sprawled and frozen where he'd been told to "Stop!" * .... she's our kin, new but one of us. Had a book with her I made her drop. Calimiel I almost didn't know was herself, for her spirit is lost within a depth even when you find it now. Gandalf, I know not who he is, but I expect to find him all the same! Now let me go my way, Master. * With a good-natured laugh Daerohil took off running again ... *

* ... However, the ghostly stable lad only made it several paces beyond the door before being stricken to the ground by the iron strength and full brunt of Maladil's ill will. Daerohil dropped at the feet of the Elf-warrior Nardol and there the lad's spirit lay unmoving, scrunching up his eyes. *

* Dropping the colorful balls of flame, which vanished harmlessly as they hit the ground, Gandalf walked briskly and knelt at Daerohil's side, sheltering the small form within his arms and cloak, staff in hand beginning to glow a soft white. A dull ache hit him as he touched the lad, washing through the wizard's head like the tail end of a blasting wave. But then as Maladil strove to bear down again more fully, Gandalf increased his resistance, concentrated against the invasive pressure, measured his breathing. *

* Guilin, Tiroedrath, Halblung, Cirgon had seen enough. They moved as one to step in between the two prone forms on the ground and Lord Maladil. Daerohil and Gandalf suddenly grew more relaxed. *

* Gandalf nodded softly to Nardol, * Go in if you can.

********************************************

* Calimiel blanched at the sight of Celumëomaryu. The daughter of Maladil looked around at Aislan who offered a horse to ride, and at the bard who had the Key, and at her kinswoman Andreth, and at Alearindu with her sword. * Save Me! You can keep the Key, for all I care! And take your old Book! Please?

[ March 14, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]
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