Abduction in Edoras RPG

[Anguirel]

Gurth ceased his strange attempts at song as the Master hailed him, holding up a massive hand in salute. At his feet, Grendel also slowed, panting in a gargantuan manner, its great pink river of a tongue lolling out from between its daggers of teeth. Gurth assumed a solemn...practically noble...expression as Sorn addressed him.

"Good Morning dear Gurth! You were given too much last night, I fear. You should set to the kitchen and get some bread for you and your hound. You look to sorely need it!"

At the sound of "kitchen" and "bread", Gurth nodded gratefully, like a drowning man thrown a line or an invalid offered a cure by a doctor. He yanked Grendel along by the scruff of his neck, who came willingly enough, quite tolerating treatment from his owner which would have been instant death to any...less proportionally sized. The giant shook his head, his yellow locks tumbling back impressively, and he smiled widely.

"Sorn," he remarked amiably as he passed his lord, who returned the gesture with an almost fatherly smile. When the colossal Fool reached the farmstead's pantry, he found a fine breakfast laid out for him; bread, certainly, but also a specially huge flagon of goat's milk and a wheel of goat's cheese, as well as a haunch of ham to be shared between man and beast. As the loyal retainers felt the food settle in their stomachs, they stretched contentedly, knowing that never would there be any such Master to treat them so kindly.

But Gurth was not unaware of the meaning of duty, and once his repast was finished, he set out to the door at the house's left end which led down to the cellar. The time had come for him to assume the guard duties of that weakling sneak Scyld, and protect that strange creature beyond the bars, whose gaze inspired a feeling with which he was uncertain and confident.

It was, did he but know it, guilt.

[JennyHallu]

Torim wandered the Fair rather aimlessly, picking at the roast-pork-on-a-stick creation he'd bought from a vendor. It was steaming hot, and good...but his enjoyment of the event was severely curtailed by the thoughts racing through his head, brought on by the rumors racing just as quickly through the crowds. The Lady Linduial, cousin to the Queen, has been kidnapped. And Torim feared he knew exactly where the young woman was.

He stepped quickly aside as a group of grim-faced guards rushed through the crowds towards the gates, his mind seething with indecision. Should he find who was searching for her, and tell them what he had seen on the way, or should he protect himself and his family and keep his mouth shut?

Sorn was a character whom Torim knew well, at least by reputation. Vicious and amoral, the man never gave up a grudge or forgave, and no matter the slight, punishment was brutal. Torim's personal opinion was that the lord was truly a coward, but a coward in power could be a fearsome thing. Silently he wrestled with his conscience, thinking of his young wife and two small children, defenseless on their farm all too close to Sorn's borders. Sorn is overconfident. He'll make a mistake, and they'll find him on their own. But if Sorn hears you were the one to betray him...

Besides, you don't know who to talk to or anything, and they'll probably hold you for further questioning and all that, and you'll get home late, and everyone will worry...

But they say Linduial is little more than a child.

I'll wait. I'll wait a little while, and then go tell them what I saw, if they're still looking for the kidnapper. Maybe you were wrong, anyway. If they're still looking for the kidnapper before I planned to leave, I'll talk. If they promise to keep my name secret...

~<*>~

Lin shuddered when the giant Gurth plodded down the stairs, with the large dog again at his side. However, her new sense of self-reliance was still with her, and she knew that she needed everyone at her side she could finagle around. Her plate was wet with the juices from her meal, and she nervously tipped it sideways through the bars, moving slowly so as not to startle her guard, and placed it down on the floor.

"For your dog," she said to Gurth, pointing at the plate and the dog, and being careful and distinct with her words, not sure how much she needed to do for the man to understand her. She was thirstly still, though the wine had admirably dulled the pain, and if Gurth seemed less frightening now than he had last night, perhaps she could find the courage to ask him to fill her now empty cup with water.

[Anguirel]

Gurth's eyes grew large and bright when Linduial extended the plate with its meagre remnant of a consumed meal. The vicious Grendel, also, stared brazenly at the captive woman. What did that gaze mean? Anger? Pity? Anticipation?

And then, in the same moment, the creatures' mouths slid open, and as Gurth laughed, and laughed, Grendel barked, and barked, running about in circles, wagging his tail, as Gurth beat his feat and slapped his thighs. It was a stunningly...well, almost majestic...outburst of vulgar mirth.

When dog and master had recovered themselves from their overpowering fit of amusement, Gurth turned to Grendel somewhat sternly, though his eyes still shone.

"Sit, Grendel."

The wolf-mastiff gave a short whine and then a staccato bark of consent, settling itself in front of the cell, its eyes alert. Gurth turned away, striding rapidly out, giving no indication where he was headed. Linduial made an occasional overture to the dog, but without its only friend it was peevish and gave out a low and distinctly discouraging growl in response.

At last there was another clatter against the door, and Gurth entered. (It seemed he was not physically incapable or cripplingly clumsy, for when possessed of the key he opened the door and locked it with ease. He proceeded down the stairs, a deep frown engraved on his features. Grendel caught the giant's mood and growled louder, almost as if he was restraining his every muscle from leaping upon Linduial, smashing apart the bars, and gobbling her every morsel up. The captive noblewoman, understandably, edged back against the wall. She could see that the massive oaf seemed to have a new, and rather larger, club, as well as some indistinct object behind his back. He approached, nearer and nearer...

And then it became clear. Gurth was carrying no weapons, but a quite enormous joint of ham in one hand, and a pitcher of goat's milk in the other. Grendel pranced about, his tongue flapping up and down, though he emitted no noise, relying on imploring eyes for his appeal. Gurth chuckled.

"Grendel", he said, in the tone of a wise arbitrator, rending off one slab of meat and chucking it to the dog, before pointing to himself, saying something indistinct in a low voice, and ripping off another chunk.

"Munch!" he concluded happily, bending down in an awkward position and pushing the remainder of the ham and the jug of goat's milk through the hatch into the cell. He waited proudly for Linduial to react with pleasure, looking tremendously pleased with himself.

[JennyHallu]

Lin looked at the haunch of meat and the pitcher for a moment in confusion. Why had he brought her food? She had been offering...a paltry offer, she knew, but Gurth had treated it as a request. Why?

Her eyes travelled to the empty plate still sitting outside the bars of her cell, and then naturally to the large dog greedily devouring its portion. Grendel...there was her answer. Gurth was simple, that was patently obvious. But though words were useless, he was not entirely incapable of communication. Relief flooded Lin's heart, and she laughed happily aloud. Words were her refuge and her strength: only when communication failed was she truly helpless. And with Gurth the difficulty was merely a language barrier. Many times had Lin watched her father's dogs nosing at their dishes. Lin had pointed out to Gurth her own was empty, and he had filled it, with foodstuffs of the same quality as he gave Grendel, whom he clearly loved.

Cautiously, but with an open smile on her face, Lin crept forward, eyes locked on the big man, alert for any sign of movement. Did she but know it, she looked not entirely unlike a beast herself, for a moment, before she straightened by the food, carefully picking up the meat in her good hand and tearing at it neatly with her teeth. She was not really hungry, having just eaten, but she took a few good-sized bites to show her gratitude before turning to the milk.

A whole jug, all to herself! Lin smiled happily and poured some into her glass, sipping the rich liquid with hearty appreciation. This gift she would savor, and she sat crosslegged to drink it, her eyes still on Gurth, but now thoughtfully. He'd rewarded her as he would the dog, but Lin was not at all insulted. Rather, she was inwardly almost elated. If Gurth thought of her as a pet, as a lesser member of his own pack, perhaps he would feel protective towards her.