Legacy of Traitors RPG

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

"What about Nauraucr?" Roryn said audibly, Atharen glowered at him, but Crystal looked mildly surprised. "Swift Fire...an appropriate name for a horse, don't you think, Atharen?" Roryn grinned, but Atharen still frowned. Even if Roryn had overheard them, he shouldn't have spoken as loudly as he did. Now everyone knew that he and Crystal had been whispering. Although that meant nothing on the surface, he was sure Roryn knew more than Atharen thought.

Carathir scowled and rode to the front of the group. Idruil smirked as he saw the discomfort on Atharen's face that Roryn's simple comment had caused, and Ferethor and Aelimur descended into muttering with themselves again. Roryn jjust smiled, and looked at Atharen with a raised eyebrow. Atharen merely scowled back and turned away...

[Crystal Heart]

Crystal sat thinking. The name came to her swiftly.

"How about Sandrina Critala Heart? It was my mother's name and this mare is just as gentle and kind as she was in life. She was a noble, strong woman," Crystal said softly, her mind drifting to a time when she use to live with her mother.

Sandrina Critala Heart was the one and only person that would have ever really believed Crystal. She would have gone to the end of the earth to prove that she was correct in any thought that she had. She would have done anything to protect her daughter from General Dorian Heart's furry. She had been her only friend and protector.

Crystal believed that she had been poisioned by her father. There was no other logical reason that could have explained her quick "illness" and demise.

"Sandrina was a wonderful woman. I believe that General Dorian, my father, poisioned her. There is no other explanation for her death. She wasn't sick normally and the doctors kept saying that they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, but they had this look of knowing something that they weren't allowed to say," Crystal whispered to Atharen.

A soft sigh escaped from Crystal's lips. She batted away the tears that threatened to flow. After her mother's death her father had killed Arty, leaving her utterly alone in a world that had grown unbearable. The worst beatings she had ever experienced had come after that. Her mother had been the only barrier that had kept the worst of the worst of his lashings.

"Sometimes I hear her in the wind. I miss her greatly."

[Amanaduial the archer]

Atharen paused, knowing the sense of what he was about to say but still afraid it would hurt her. He was still incredibly aware of her arms around his waist, and the suspicion that Roryn thought he knew more than he did.

"To call her by the name of your mother would arouse too much suspicion, Lady," he said softly, his face half turned towards her. "After all, Dorian is a powerful and well-known man.

I mean no harm," he added hastily as she stiffened. "But...you say you hear her in the wind; Windvoice. Sacriheart Windvoice?" he suggested, his voice still soft but not a whisper: Roryn would not tease him or try to suggest anything dishonourable. If anything like that was suggested in connection with his protection of the lady and riding with her, the ranger was not entirely sure he would be able to keep his temper...

[Crystal Heart]

"Sacriheart Windvoice. That's beautiful Atharen. Those words truly sum up my mother. She would have liked you if she had been allowed to live long enough to see you. Thank you for allowing me to name your mare," Crystal said softly. She gave him a small squeeze.

She had wished that her mother could have met Atharen. Sandrina would have liked him, respected him. She was always telling Crystal that she wanted her to meet a man that would respect and admirer her for all times. She had also told her to not make the same mistake she had in marriage. Crystal had understood what her mother had been saying to her.

"I haven't named the stallion that I have allowed Ferethor to ride. Do you want to name him for me as I've named yours?" Crystal asked him softly.

[Everdawn]

Maén kicked Hittai and both horse and rider set off at a fast pace galloping across the dry grassland yards ahead of the rest. To the north east just out of view was the hills of Emyn Arnen, by looks the company had by passed it on the other side of the Anduin, for they had gone very far south. On the other side of the Anduin, the company was still north of Pelargir. She was sure that they would make it to their destination by nightfall, which would mean that they would have to camp, for there was no inn until Jacobe’s Run, a place which Maén was sure that there was another more local name for, though she did not know it.

Reaching the end of the plateau she noticed that only Roryn and Idruil had bothered to match the gallop, as she pulled up. Perhaps too quickly as Hittai reared and snorted. Maén patted the side of the mare’s neck and smirked watching the two others pull up beside her.

“Gentlemen” she nodded “It’s nice to see you finally arrive.”

“Are you prone to bouts of galloping off into the wilderness Lady- I mean, Miss Lahnoro.” Roryn smiled.

“Yes.” Maén said simply. “Open grassland, couldn’t resist.”

“Miss Maén, Do you know where we are going exactly?” Idruil asked.

“Only slightly, im depending upon the rangers for that.”

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Roryn raised an eyebrow and laughed. "I hope Atharen knows then." Maen look exasperatedly at him, but it was hard to remain angry with Roryn for long and she smiled. "Yes...so do I, Roryn." Atharen reached the group, his horse was panting and he himself looked rather disgruntled.

"Good of you to join us." Roryn said with a serious tone, and Atharen's face broke into a frown. "For a retired ranger, Roryn, you certainly are spritely." "Well, you can't live forever." Roryn said with a slight hint of mirth. "Ah Atharen. Don't give me that look."

...

[Crystal Heart]

Crystal sat upon the horse behind Atharen and waited for him to decided on a name for her stallion. He was a fine stallion and she was rather fond of him by now. She was glad she had lent the horse to Ferethor though. He needed a horse much more then she did.

She watched as Maen darted across the open field. She smiled. She remembered one time when she had done that. She hadn't been punished at all that time because she was with her mother in that open field.

Atharen pulled the horse to a run after her and closed the distance rapidly. They rode up besides Maen and stopped.

"Why hello once again Lady Maen. Did you enjoy your run in the open field?" Crystal asked her lightly, her laugh audible in her voice.