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Old 02-06-2005, 01:15 PM   #643
littlemanpoet
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Edge of Faerie
Posts: 7,066
littlemanpoet is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.littlemanpoet is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
Silmaril Raefindan

Roy walked toward the fire and the group that had been sitting around it. The two tall Elves had risen first, arrows nocked and ready. One of the young women rose from her seat and disappeared into the darkness beyond the camp; another followed quickly after.

"I'm all right!" he said. "I haven't been harmed."

By now all the others had risen. He watched their faces to see their reactions. Wide eyes met him in one face after another. Some questioned, some rejoiced. One was fierce ... Ędegard.

"Allow me," said Erebemlin, who had Roy stand in place, and looked deeply into his eyes, at his face. Finally the Elf shrugged. "He is well," he announced to the others.

"May I then come among you?" Maegeleb queried from behind him.

Erebemlin again raised his bow and arrow. "Come slowly and with your hands held out to either side. Make any move and you will have an arrow through each eye, I promise you."

"Such vehemence does not become you, my friend," said the swamp elf, who nevertheless obeyed.

"Call us not thy friend, fiend," Erebemlin answered. "You have done us nothing but ill until now, and I wager that will not change even though you are under our eyes at all times."

"Thus am I rewarded for returning your own safely to you," said the swamp elf in wounded tones. He stood one stride in front of the Elves. Erebmlin instructed Erundil to bind the swamp elf's hands behind his back, though not over-tightly.

Roy took no more thought for his former captor, but searched out those whom he knew. Ravion offered him a welcoming smile. Mellondu looked at him mildly. Mellonin folded her arms tight across her middle, the whites of her eyes reflecting some bedevilment of her thought. For all that, her face was whole! The boy Nethwador knew him little, and showed little regard for his return, which was no other than he would expect from a stranger. Aeron looked at him gravely, which was not like him; but then he had lost Gwyllion.

"I am sorry for your loss, Aeron." The lad nodded once; no more.

Roy looked to Ędegard and saw again the fierceness in his eyes. The Rohirric man's lips moved, but Roy found it hard to believe the words that came next.

"Untie him and hand him a sword. 'Tis time for me to fulfill my oath."

"What oath?" Roy asked.

"To exact vengeance upon this swamp elf for the loss of my hand, Leafa's ear, and Gwyllion's life." He looked around him. "Leafa? Where is Leafa?"
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