Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Imladris · 07-20-2004, 07:39 PM

A grin flashed across Aeron's face. Had the red haired man purpose riddled his speech with strange words because he knew he liked it? Aeron shrugged. The way he could work his strange magic with words was astounding. "How in Middle Earth that was the same thing as fresh shins and trays and chanting with pens, I could not guess. But to answer your question --" he stopped at cocked an eyebrow. How was the best way to answer this question? "I say it for a simple reason. They baffle me." He grinned. "I do not understand why women pine. It is very silly."

Gwyllion's head jerked up and she said, "And I do not understand why men must be like rocks." She twisted her face into a blank sheet and then added, "They plod on the road of life as if they did not feel its...its..." she fumbled for a word "its curves and roots. And women do not pine," she added.

Aeron laughed. Such like a woman to go off on a tangent and then to suddenly veer towards the subject. He punched her playfully on the shoulder and said, "Who keeps on insisting that her father will come back when he left us years ago?"

Her face went white and she bit her lip. "Call it hope, sir."

"Eternal optimism," Raefindan murmured.

"Eternal what?" asked Aeron, grinning.

"Another strange word, Aeron."

"I answered your question I hope?" he asked. Please say I did...

littlemanpoet · 07-21-2004, 02:08 PM

"I answered your question I hope?" Aeron asked.

In a manner of speaking, he had; but it was not the kind of answer Raefindan had been seeking. Before he answered, he studied Gwyllion; what she had said about curves and roots had moved him, like a hand stirring the water of a deep, murky pool that had lain still and cold for a long time. Raefindan turned to Aeron.

"You did. I had been thinking that there must have been some old, hardened ragroot of a man who you often hung about, had used the word, and you had caught and owned it for yourself. But maybe not. Mind you, I am not all rock, myself, and I have been known to pine. Man and woman are not so easily set apart from each other as you might think. Is that not so, Gwyllion?"

She beamed back at him, thrilled that he honored her thought back to her. "Yes, it is so! You are a wise man!"

Aeron laughed. "Only because he agreed with you!"

Raefindan grinned, then stretched and yawned. "It is time for me to turn in. Good night to the both of you."

The bid him a good sleep, and he left them by the fire. Jorje's head came up, and he watched Raefindan walking away. He trotted around the fire and fell in step at Raefindan's heel.

"Good dog."

It had been a long, hard day, filled with trouble. It seemed that Ravion and Mellonin were trying to mend fences, which was good. Raefindan climbed into his sleeping mat, and Jorje huddled beside him; he was glad for the extra warmth. He soon fell asleep.

His dreams were troubled again. He retraced his steps through the mountains, following the path he had trod the day he had hunted for Mithrellas. He came to the cliff edge between to monolithic boulders that joined to form a rough arch. Mithrellas's body was there, as it always was, broken on the rock below as if she had just fallen a minute ago. He despaired. His son and daughter had turned their backs on him in his mourning, choosing to find happiness away from home in Dol Amroth. He could not find joy, never again. He leaned forward, tipped, his knees locked straight, he leaned further, his head dropped below his feet and he fell. The fall was long ... would it never end? The rock strewn gorge sped up to him. The rocks were marbles, then fists, then maces, then battering rams, then boulders, and then contact. He woke up. Was he dead? It did not seem like the floor of a gorge. No, it was very cold. He could see stars above, and the snoring of another. Ravion. He was in the marsh of the Entwash. He shook his head again. He feared that he would dream that dream again. Sleep fled far away for the rest of the night.

mark12_30 · 07-23-2004, 06:37 AM

"You, " she replied, and looked away, "have said nothing to offend me. Yet I see you have much to contend with, and the quarrels and hurt must not go on."

Ravion waited. The cold steel of Mellonin's voice went on.

"Of quarrels and hurt, were I the leader of this group, I should leave the cause of such quarrels behind at the next village. Yet it is my brother we are looking for, and without me you will be hard pressed to know if you have found him or not. My only care, I assure you, is to find my brother. As for the rest save Raefindan, I cannot say what they care for; I do not envy you." Without another glance at him, she returned to the group.

mark12_30 · 07-23-2004, 09:46 AM

Lost in thought, Amroth stroked Echo's nose, and the horse leaned against him as if sensing his weariness.

Nethwador looked on, and spoke in the Wainrider's tongue. "That horse is too tall for you."

Amroth looked at him and smiled. Then yours is too tall for you as well, for you stand no taller than I.

Nethwador looked at Amroth in surprise, and then considered his own horse. It was true, yet he had always planned to grow tall enough to fit this horse.

Amroth continued. He is red like Echo, and tall, and truly he loves you. Does he have a name?

Nethwador shrugged. Wanderer. He was lost. I found him, and kept him. There was some guilt in the statement, yet Amroth sensed it was at least partially true.

Perhaps others were looking for him as well?

Perhaps.

Amroth laughed long and loud, and both men and elves turned to look at him.

"Come," he cried. "Let us ride! Erebemlin, Nethwador's horse needs an elvish name. In his own tongue, he is named Wanderer."

"Are you not weary, my lord?" Erebemlin asked, as others in the camp hastened to finish packing and mount.

"In body, " Amroth laughed. "Yet my heart is light. I was with her in my dreams, Erebemlin. She is here, somewhere in these lands. And despite dust and death and despair, I will find her!"

His leap onto the tall Echo was awkward for his weariness, but Echo sidestepped underneath him and swung southeast at a steadily increasing pace. Erebemlin hurried to join him as did Nethwador. Taitheneb dallied, til the men-folk joined him, and then they hastened to catch up.

littlemanpoet · 07-25-2004, 06:08 AM

Ædegard wondered what the sudden rush was all about. He urged his mount toward Taitheneb and asked him for word.

"Lord Amroth has been with Nimrodel in his dreams, and is eager to find her. He is light of heart this day." Taitheneb nodded toward the man who had been a youthful blacksmith until a little over a week ago, and Ædegard saw that it was so.

"My thanks, Taitheneb."

Ædegard let his horse slow to the pace of the other humans, who asked what he had learned, and he passed on his information.

"That is well," said Liornung. "Maybe we are close to the end of our quest. I grow eager to drink and sing at the taverns of Edoras again."

Ædegard glanced at Argeleafa. Liornung's words had put a worry into her eyes. Ædegard closed with her until they rode side by side.

"You seem ill at ease of a sudden, Leafa. What ails you?"

She colored slightly and glanced at him. "If this quest is soon over, I must return to my father among the wanderers."

Ædegard could not stop himself. 'It need not be so! Come with me to Edoras!"

Leafa colored more and smiled. She glanced at Liornung, who had been humming one of his tunes; he grinned and winked at Leafa. She went crimson and her smile was covered by her free hand.

"I am missing something," Ædegard said, an involuntarily half smile coming to his face. "Tell me, please."

Leafa met his eyes, the color retreating from her face for the most part. "What would we do in Edoras, Ædegard?"

"We - I - " They were to it. Did he mean to say what he had thought to? Or were there other things that should be said first? He had thought that he might need to go to her father and ask for his blessing first, but that would not be at Edoras. "We could - you could - " Leafa watched him, her lips pursed, a smile in her eyes, expectant. This would not do.

"Hold!" He cried to all the riders, and grabbed Leafa's reins while keeping hold of his own, and slowed their horses. When they were stopped, he dismounted and went straightway to Leafa's mount. The other humans had slowed and were watching him, but the Elves continued after Amroth. He reached up to Leafa and placed his hands on her waist.

"Please."

She leaned and let herself fall into his arms, and he stood her on the grass. He went down on one knee. Their eyes locked.

"Marry me, Leafa."

Aylwen Dreamsong · 07-25-2004, 01:56 PM

Bellyn moved quickly to grab her things and leave with the rest of her human companions. Amroth had ridden ahead, bringing Nethwador and Erebemlin with him while Taitheneb waited patiently for the rest of the company to gather their belongings and bring down camp. Taitheneb explained the reason for Amroth’s rushing, and Bellyn smiled at the thought of Amroth’s lightened heart and happy spirit. All will be well again, for a while…Bellyn thought happily, her face fresh and her eyes smiling though her mouth did not. Then we shall return home.

The thought struck Bellyn for a moment, and she wondered how she would feel at leaving her new friends. Liornung had made such a wonderful friend, musical and joyous, always ready to please and to comfort. Would she ever see him again after the journey ended? And Ædegard had done well to show Bellyn not to judge on first impressions, and ways of the road and of life. Argeleafa had made a grand addition to the troop, and Bellyn had enjoyed her company and their small talks. The two Elves, Erebemlin and Taitheneb, had inspired Bellyn just by being. The Elves were beautiful in some way that Bellyn could not explain, could not say, but she certainly had every desire to depict them as best she could with her art when she returned home. Nethwador, or Mellon (surely no longer Pig!), had shown transformation, for which Bellyn was exceedingly proud and happy of. What would happen when Amroth found his love? Would any of them ever see him again? Would they meet the one lady who had haunted so many of his dreams? Bellyn tried not to shake these thoughts from her mind, for the thoughts of departure and parting from her new friends saddened her more than she had thought they would.

When all humans had mounted and proved ready to ride after Amroth and his lightened heart, Taitheneb began to lead the way and they all followed. Bellyn heard talk of the journey ending, going home to Edoras, and things of that nature as she rode on the outside of the group. She did her best not to think of such things even as they were being spoken of. Still, Bellyn could not ignore the sudden cry from Ædegard, telling all within hearing range to halt for a moment. Turning back, Bellyn saw that Ædegard had dismounted, and Argeleafa had followed suit.

Looking to Liornung with confusion, Bellyn’s brows knit in confusion. “What do you think of this, Liornung?” She received no answer from him, for he merely smiled and brought a finger to his lips for silence. Bellyn nodded, and looked back to where the two Rohirrim stood. Shock mixed with some emotion near horror when Ædegard kneeled and grasped Argeleafa’s hand. He’s not…

“Marry me, Leafa.”

Bellyn gasped.

Her mixed horror faded, and soon it was only shock and adoration that filled her face. Such bravery! Bellyn before had only imagined bravery in the battlefields where men died for what they believed in. Now she saw new meaning in the word before her, and she also likened such bravery to the ways and travels of Amroth. Ædegard had done what Bellyn had never done…requested the love of another, requested the life of another forever and eternity. While the Gondorian girl doubted that Argeleafa would refuse, Bellyn wondered at the bravery of Ædegard in the chance of rejection. Then Bellyn remembered the journey of Amroth, and his bravery, risking life for the one he loved. Such feelings Bellyn had never encountered much, and she enjoyed watching the scene unfold and the realizations enter her mind. How she wished she could draw the lovers before her, and the beauty of the simplest moment.

mark12_30 · 07-25-2004, 02:21 PM

Nethwador paced his tall chestnut wanderer half a length behind Amroth, and watched the elf-king. A smile played about the king's lips; a fire gleamed in his eyes. Betimes he laughed, betimes he sang.

Echo seemed to burn with a smiliar purpose, for his ears were straight ahead, his nostrils wide, his eyes bright. Anon he nickered or neighed, or tossed his head and snorted; but ever his stride stretched southeast.

Nethwador knew the fire that burned in the horse, for sometimes it burned in him too; sometimes he could see the King's lady, glimmering, glistening, and as desirable as a joy long lost. He wondered when he met her, if he would fall in love with her too, helplessly, hopelessly.

But no; that place, he thought suddenly, was held in his own heart by lady Bella. He looked over his shoulder to see where she was, and puzzled; they had fallen far behind-- no, they had stopped.

Torn, he looked from the elves to the men; from Amroth to lady Bella. The distance grew. He hesitated. The red wanderer slowed, one ear forward, one back. With each glance over his shoulder, lady Bella receeded from sight.

Guiding the red wanderer iin a wide arc, he turned to ride back to lady Bella; but now his glance strayed to Amroth and Erebemlin. Sworn friendship! Lady Bella had no oath from him; Amroth did.

Gruff thoughts pressed in on his. He will not be angry, Erebemlin assured him.

The rangy red chestnut checked again. Frowning and half cursing, Nethwador turned him in another wide arc to go back the way he had come. Maybe Amroth will not be angry. But he would have a right to be, after all he has done. I will not be proven faithless even for an hour.

Face twisting and twitching in mixed resentment and determination, Nethwador's temper bested him and he lashed his horse with his reins; the burst of speed brought him nearly back to his lord. With a backward glance, Amroth and Erebemlin slowed. By the time he caught up to them, Nethwador felt bad for leaving Amroth, anxious over lady Bella, and anguished that he had needlessly struck his horse.

Amroth knew it, and looked back.

"Once again, I grow careless of my friends and companions. Erebemlin, any king would be disgraced showing such carelessness over his subjects! Let us return."

Now the three riders turned in a wide arc, and rode back to the men. Before long the could see the group of riders, and the two on the ground in their midst.

07-20-2004, 07:39 PM	#1
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	A grin flashed across Aeron's face. Had the red haired man purpose riddled his speech with strange words because he knew he liked it? Aeron shrugged. The way he could work his strange magic with words was astounding. "How in Middle Earth that was the same thing as fresh shins and trays and chanting with pens, I could not guess. But to answer your question --" he stopped at cocked an eyebrow. How was the best way to answer this question? "I say it for a simple reason. They baffle me." He grinned. "I do not understand why women pine. It is very silly." Gwyllion's head jerked up and she said, "And I do not understand why men must be like rocks." She twisted her face into a blank sheet and then added, "They plod on the road of life as if they did not feel its...its..." she fumbled for a word "its curves and roots. And women do not pine," she added. Aeron laughed. Such like a woman to go off on a tangent and then to suddenly veer towards the subject. He punched her playfully on the shoulder and said, "Who keeps on insisting that her father will come back when he left us years ago?" Her face went white and she bit her lip. "Call it hope, sir." "Eternal optimism," Raefindan murmured. "Eternal what?" asked Aeron, grinning. "Another strange word, Aeron." "I answered your question I hope?" he asked. Please say I did... Last edited by Imladris; 07-20-2004 at 08:03 PM.

07-21-2004, 02:08 PM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Raefindan "I answered your question I hope?" Aeron asked. In a manner of speaking, he had; but it was not the kind of answer Raefindan had been seeking. Before he answered, he studied Gwyllion; what she had said about curves and roots had moved him, like a hand stirring the water of a deep, murky pool that had lain still and cold for a long time. Raefindan turned to Aeron. "You did. I had been thinking that there must have been some old, hardened ragroot of a man who you often hung about, had used the word, and you had caught and owned it for yourself. But maybe not. Mind you, I am not all rock, myself, and I have been known to pine. Man and woman are not so easily set apart from each other as you might think. Is that not so, Gwyllion?" She beamed back at him, thrilled that he honored her thought back to her. "Yes, it is so! You are a wise man!" Aeron laughed. "Only because he agreed with you!" Raefindan grinned, then stretched and yawned. "It is time for me to turn in. Good night to the both of you." The bid him a good sleep, and he left them by the fire. Jorje's head came up, and he watched Raefindan walking away. He trotted around the fire and fell in step at Raefindan's heel. "Good dog." It had been a long, hard day, filled with trouble. It seemed that Ravion and Mellonin were trying to mend fences, which was good. Raefindan climbed into his sleeping mat, and Jorje huddled beside him; he was glad for the extra warmth. He soon fell asleep. His dreams were troubled again. He retraced his steps through the mountains, following the path he had trod the day he had hunted for Mithrellas. He came to the cliff edge between to monolithic boulders that joined to form a rough arch. Mithrellas's body was there, as it always was, broken on the rock below as if she had just fallen a minute ago. He despaired. His son and daughter had turned their backs on him in his mourning, choosing to find happiness away from home in Dol Amroth. He could not find joy, never again. He leaned forward, tipped, his knees locked straight, he leaned further, his head dropped below his feet and he fell. The fall was long ... would it never end? The rock strewn gorge sped up to him. The rocks were marbles, then fists, then maces, then battering rams, then boulders, and then contact. He woke up. Was he dead? It did not seem like the floor of a gorge. No, it was very cold. He could see stars above, and the snoring of another. Ravion. He was in the marsh of the Entwash. He shook his head again. He feared that he would dream that dream again. Sleep fled far away for the rest of the night.

07-23-2004, 06:37 AM	#3
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Mellonin Dec. 22 "You, " she replied, and looked away, "have said nothing to offend me. Yet I see you have much to contend with, and the quarrels and hurt must not go on." Ravion waited. The cold steel of Mellonin's voice went on. "Of quarrels and hurt, were I the leader of this group, I should leave the cause of such quarrels behind at the next village. Yet it is my brother we are looking for, and without me you will be hard pressed to know if you have found him or not. My only care, I assure you, is to find my brother. As for the rest save Raefindan, I cannot say what they care for; I do not envy you." Without another glance at him, she returned to the group. Last edited by mark12_30; 07-24-2004 at 11:39 AM.

07-23-2004, 09:46 AM	#4
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Dec 24: Amroth and Nethwador Lost in thought, Amroth stroked Echo's nose, and the horse leaned against him as if sensing his weariness. Nethwador looked on, and spoke in the Wainrider's tongue. "That horse is too tall for you." Amroth looked at him and smiled. Then yours is too tall for you as well, for you stand no taller than I. Nethwador looked at Amroth in surprise, and then considered his own horse. It was true, yet he had always planned to grow tall enough to fit this horse. Amroth continued. He is red like Echo, and tall, and truly he loves you. Does he have a name? Nethwador shrugged. Wanderer. He was lost. I found him, and kept him. There was some guilt in the statement, yet Amroth sensed it was at least partially true. Perhaps others were looking for him as well? Perhaps. Amroth laughed long and loud, and both men and elves turned to look at him. "Come," he cried. "Let us ride! Erebemlin, Nethwador's horse needs an elvish name. In his own tongue, he is named Wanderer." "Are you not weary, my lord?" Erebemlin asked, as others in the camp hastened to finish packing and mount. "In body, " Amroth laughed. "Yet my heart is light. I was with her in my dreams, Erebemlin. She is here, somewhere in these lands. And despite dust and death and despair, I will find her!" His leap onto the tall Echo was awkward for his weariness, but Echo sidestepped underneath him and swung southeast at a steadily increasing pace. Erebemlin hurried to join him as did Nethwador. Taitheneb dallied, til the men-folk joined him, and then they hastened to catch up. Last edited by mark12_30; 08-23-2004 at 10:44 AM.

07-25-2004, 06:08 AM	#5
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Ædegard Ædegard wondered what the sudden rush was all about. He urged his mount toward Taitheneb and asked him for word. "Lord Amroth has been with Nimrodel in his dreams, and is eager to find her. He is light of heart this day." Taitheneb nodded toward the man who had been a youthful blacksmith until a little over a week ago, and Ædegard saw that it was so. "My thanks, Taitheneb." Ædegard let his horse slow to the pace of the other humans, who asked what he had learned, and he passed on his information. "That is well," said Liornung. "Maybe we are close to the end of our quest. I grow eager to drink and sing at the taverns of Edoras again." Ædegard glanced at Argeleafa. Liornung's words had put a worry into her eyes. Ædegard closed with her until they rode side by side. "You seem ill at ease of a sudden, Leafa. What ails you?" She colored slightly and glanced at him. "If this quest is soon over, I must return to my father among the wanderers." Ædegard could not stop himself. 'It need not be so! Come with me to Edoras!" Leafa colored more and smiled. She glanced at Liornung, who had been humming one of his tunes; he grinned and winked at Leafa. She went crimson and her smile was covered by her free hand. "I am missing something," Ædegard said, an involuntarily half smile coming to his face. "Tell me, please." Leafa met his eyes, the color retreating from her face for the most part. "What would we do in Edoras, Ædegard?" "We - I - " They were to it. Did he mean to say what he had thought to? Or were there other things that should be said first? He had thought that he might need to go to her father and ask for his blessing first, but that would not be at Edoras. "We could - you could - " Leafa watched him, her lips pursed, a smile in her eyes, expectant. This would not do. "Hold!" He cried to all the riders, and grabbed Leafa's reins while keeping hold of his own, and slowed their horses. When they were stopped, he dismounted and went straightway to Leafa's mount. The other humans had slowed and were watching him, but the Elves continued after Amroth. He reached up to Leafa and placed his hands on her waist. "Please." She leaned and let herself fall into his arms, and he stood her on the grass. He went down on one knee. Their eyes locked. "Marry me, Leafa."

07-25-2004, 01:56 PM	#6
Aylwen Dreamsong The Melody of Misery Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Island of Conclusions (You get there by jumping!)... Posts: 1,147	Bella Reacts...(1000) Bellyn moved quickly to grab her things and leave with the rest of her human companions. Amroth had ridden ahead, bringing Nethwador and Erebemlin with him while Taitheneb waited patiently for the rest of the company to gather their belongings and bring down camp. Taitheneb explained the reason for Amroth’s rushing, and Bellyn smiled at the thought of Amroth’s lightened heart and happy spirit. All will be well again, for a while…Bellyn thought happily, her face fresh and her eyes smiling though her mouth did not. Then we shall return home. The thought struck Bellyn for a moment, and she wondered how she would feel at leaving her new friends. Liornung had made such a wonderful friend, musical and joyous, always ready to please and to comfort. Would she ever see him again after the journey ended? And Ædegard had done well to show Bellyn not to judge on first impressions, and ways of the road and of life. Argeleafa had made a grand addition to the troop, and Bellyn had enjoyed her company and their small talks. The two Elves, Erebemlin and Taitheneb, had inspired Bellyn just by being. The Elves were beautiful in some way that Bellyn could not explain, could not say, but she certainly had every desire to depict them as best she could with her art when she returned home. Nethwador, or Mellon (surely no longer Pig!), had shown transformation, for which Bellyn was exceedingly proud and happy of. What would happen when Amroth found his love? Would any of them ever see him again? Would they meet the one lady who had haunted so many of his dreams? Bellyn tried not to shake these thoughts from her mind, for the thoughts of departure and parting from her new friends saddened her more than she had thought they would. When all humans had mounted and proved ready to ride after Amroth and his lightened heart, Taitheneb began to lead the way and they all followed. Bellyn heard talk of the journey ending, going home to Edoras, and things of that nature as she rode on the outside of the group. She did her best not to think of such things even as they were being spoken of. Still, Bellyn could not ignore the sudden cry from Ædegard, telling all within hearing range to halt for a moment. Turning back, Bellyn saw that Ædegard had dismounted, and Argeleafa had followed suit. Looking to Liornung with confusion, Bellyn’s brows knit in confusion. “What do you think of this, Liornung?” She received no answer from him, for he merely smiled and brought a finger to his lips for silence. Bellyn nodded, and looked back to where the two Rohirrim stood. Shock mixed with some emotion near horror when Ædegard kneeled and grasped Argeleafa’s hand. He’s not… “Marry me, Leafa.” Bellyn gasped. Her mixed horror faded, and soon it was only shock and adoration that filled her face. Such bravery! Bellyn before had only imagined bravery in the battlefields where men died for what they believed in. Now she saw new meaning in the word before her, and she also likened such bravery to the ways and travels of Amroth. Ædegard had done what Bellyn had never done…requested the love of another, requested the life of another forever and eternity. While the Gondorian girl doubted that Argeleafa would refuse, Bellyn wondered at the bravery of Ædegard in the chance of rejection. Then Bellyn remembered the journey of Amroth, and his bravery, risking life for the one he loved. Such feelings Bellyn had never encountered much, and she enjoyed watching the scene unfold and the realizations enter her mind. How she wished she could draw the lovers before her, and the beauty of the simplest moment. Last edited by Aylwen Dreamsong; 07-25-2004 at 01:58 PM. Reason: celebrating the second coming to 1000 posts!

07-25-2004, 02:21 PM	#7
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Dec 24: Nethwador Nethwador paced his tall chestnut wanderer half a length behind Amroth, and watched the elf-king. A smile played about the king's lips; a fire gleamed in his eyes. Betimes he laughed, betimes he sang. Echo seemed to burn with a smiliar purpose, for his ears were straight ahead, his nostrils wide, his eyes bright. Anon he nickered or neighed, or tossed his head and snorted; but ever his stride stretched southeast. Nethwador knew the fire that burned in the horse, for sometimes it burned in him too; sometimes he could see the King's lady, glimmering, glistening, and as desirable as a joy long lost. He wondered when he met her, if he would fall in love with her too, helplessly, hopelessly. But no; that place, he thought suddenly, was held in his own heart by lady Bella. He looked over his shoulder to see where she was, and puzzled; they had fallen far behind-- no, they had stopped. Torn, he looked from the elves to the men; from Amroth to lady Bella. The distance grew. He hesitated. The red wanderer slowed, one ear forward, one back. With each glance over his shoulder, lady Bella receeded from sight. Guiding the red wanderer iin a wide arc, he turned to ride back to lady Bella; but now his glance strayed to Amroth and Erebemlin. Sworn friendship! Lady Bella had no oath from him; Amroth did. Gruff thoughts pressed in on his. He will not be angry, Erebemlin assured him. The rangy red chestnut checked again. Frowning and half cursing, Nethwador turned him in another wide arc to go back the way he had come. Maybe Amroth will not be angry. But he would have a right to be, after all he has done. I will not be proven faithless even for an hour. Face twisting and twitching in mixed resentment and determination, Nethwador's temper bested him and he lashed his horse with his reins; the burst of speed brought him nearly back to his lord. With a backward glance, Amroth and Erebemlin slowed. By the time he caught up to them, Nethwador felt bad for leaving Amroth, anxious over lady Bella, and anguished that he had needlessly struck his horse. Amroth knew it, and looked back. "Once again, I grow careless of my friends and companions. Erebemlin, any king would be disgraced showing such carelessness over his subjects! Let us return." Now the three riders turned in a wide arc, and rode back to the men. Before long the could see the group of riders, and the two on the ground in their midst. Last edited by mark12_30; 08-23-2004 at 10:46 AM.