A Voice That Gainsayeth
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In that far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 7,431
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Four nights, four dawns
Once again, two dark shadows were creeping in the stony halls. Once again, they trod towards their victim. Penetrating the darkness with their sharp senses, they easily found the place where their prey was hiding.
Once again, they were not the only ones who was awake in the room.
"Step closer and I will change you from the wolf to a hedgehog," said a voice coming from the corner. In the dim light of a suddenly revealed lantern the werewolves saw a dark figure with face covered, holding a long black bow. They have seen that bow before.
"I am not joking," said the person. "And you can bet I can shoot. If that Dwarf didn't force me to break my bow, you will see what is a good bow in the hands of a good bowman. But now you still have the chance. Now, back up! You survived this far, but I can spare you of your victory."
The werewolves hesitated for a moment. There was a possibility that the man bluffed. But the bow they saw was the bow that nearly hit them twice. They did not want to risk anything. Slowly, they retreated back into the dark tunnel.
"Fools," said Andróg, smiling to himself. "What is some Beleg against me?"
When the first rays of sunlight touched the hill, short figure of Mîm appeared in the cave entrance. He was carrying a heavy sack. "Mîm found some roots," he said, dropping it on the ground.
"And that's everything you brought?" asked Rikae. "Where is the one who accompanied you?"
"I am here," said Gil-Galad as he entered the cave. The other outlaws looked at him with surprise: He was bruised, dirty and appeared exhausted. He more fell than sat to the ground. "We did not find much, there were no animals nearby and we were afraid to wander too far into the woods. So the Dwarf decided to bring some roots, he says they are edible."
"Yes, good," nodded Mîm. "The Men may prepare their food now, the sun has risen..."
"What did you do out there so long?" asked Brinn suspiciously.
Gil-Galad looked at her with weary eyes. "Damn wilderness," he said. "The day before I was hunting some deer or what it was – and I hurt my leg. We had to camp outside, because we couldn't return till sunset. And in the morning, I realized that little creature just disappeared!"
"Mîm was searching for some herbs to help the Man," explained the Dwarf.
"Yes," said Gil-Galad. "But I thought the scoundrel left me there to die and..."
"...and so you went home alone with hurt leg, and when Mîm returned, he didn't find you," assumed Macalaure.
"Well, yes," said Gil-Galad.
"So it's just your own fault, then," said Mithalwen. "You should have believed him."
"Mîm spent half the day searching for the Man," said the Dwarf. "His leg is better now, but still it took us long to reach Amon Rûdh. We had to camp out for one more night before we could climb up here."
Gil-Galad only muttered something to himself and laid on the stony floor, completely exhausted.
The inhabitants of Amon Rûdh – dead:
Ibun son of Mîm, killed by a Werewolf on Night 1
Shasta alias Saeros, outnumbered and stabbed on Day 1
Xyzzy the Outlaw, stoned to death on Day 2
Nogrod the old Outlaw, caught off his guard on Day 3
The inhabitants of Amon Rûdh – living:
Mîm the Petty Dwarf
Rikae
Macalaure
Isabellkya
Brinniel
Lhunardawen
Gil-Galad
the guy who be short
Mithalwen
Day 4 begins. Night is over, no more talks in shadow. A new day has risen, start to talk, everyone who is alive in these halls!
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