WW XXIIX - Queer Lodgings

[Oddwen]

By the time the wizard had finished her tale and had told of the eagles' rescue and of how they all had been brought to the Carrock, the sun had fallen behind the peaks of the Misty Mountains and the shadows were long in Beornómien's garden.

"A very good tale!" said she. "The best I have heard for a long while. If all beggars could tell such a good one, they might find me kinder. You may be making it all up, of course, but you deserve a supper for the story all the same. Let's have something to eat!"

"She made a lot of stuff up!" squeaked Meneltarbo Baggins, but stopped when Valier stuck out her fake bushy eyebrows at him and scowled him into silence.

"The quintessential adventurer's story," said Thorin Anguirelshield stroking his beard. "You have my thousand thanks for allowing us temporary regenerative repose in your naturalistic domicile, notwithstanding the dubious circumstances of our arrival..."

"Oh no, now we'll never get to eat," moaned Bomburlass. "He'll go on for hours!"

"However, there is something of importance that I feel obligated to tell you Beornómien," said Valier. "While we escaped from the goblin's lair, I fear we may have inadvertantly fallen into something far more dangerous."

"Whatever do you mean?" chorused Nari and Eomi.

Valier, in truth, never minded explaining her own cleverness more than once.

"What I mean is that we are getting rather nearer to the dark abode of the Necromancer. And I, as you no doubt probably did not know, I am highly interested in his movements for secret and important reasons of my own, the reasons for which will no doubt become common knowledge sooner than I would like."

"Indeed, you are farther in than you ever hoped to dare," came a very deep voice. The voice came from a very ancient looking dwarf, whose snow-white beard was looped several times across his shoulders. A gasp came from all of Thorin's company, and they fell to their knees.

"Durin the Deathless!" they cried. "It is an omen, by Mahal!"

"We shall see about that," he said wryly. "It is said that the Necromancer has tried to ensnare dwarves before, and failed. He has slain us, and gotten nothing from it but what was already his. But this time, I fear for the Naugrim."

All the people in Beornómien's house felt chills run up and down their spine.

"Werewolves," muttered Valier.

"Yes indeed," nodded Durin. "This is cursed ground. All who stand upon it are suspect."

"Out of the goblin's lair to be caught by wolves to be rescued by eagles only to be turned into wolves!" cried Meneltarbo, and it became a sig line, but of course he didn't know it yet. "Can't we run away, or eat some medicinal plant, or something?!?"

"There is no cure for Werewolfery," said Valier. "At least, none that even Saruman the White can find. The only remedy for it is death. And we dare not flee - this can be spread."

"However," said Beornómien. "I do happen to know that most people have a strong immunity towards it. I doubt all of us will become lupine."

"Then the only thing that we can do is to wait until tonight," said Thorin. "We will set a watch, who will then alert us to signs of...danger. I elect our esteemable burglar, Master Baggins, to take especial notice to unexpected fangs, hair, and murderous intent during the night, and to take appropriate and immediate action forthwith."

"I'll lend you an axe," said Dori88 kindly.

"No need for such doom and gloom then," said Beornomien leaping to her feet. "How about dinner to cheer us all up?"

But the food only cheered Bomburlass up. The rest of them ate in silence.

"So," began Kathin. "Beornómien...you say you can change into a bear?"

Beornómien glared at her. "I didn't say that. Did anyone hear me say that? I never said that."

"Er," said Dwancing Spawn of Fundin. "Valier did say that..."

"I heard her with my own ears," said Glóanna. Voloin nodded his assent.

"I distinctly heard myself say the same thing," said Valier the Grey, as she stroked her fake grey beard.

"Not a bear," muttered Beornómien. "More...aquatic and avian."

Only Thorin, Valier and Durin appeared to know what those two words meant.

"So...you actually turn into..." said a puzzled Bofgrod.

"A large and fierce penguin," growled Beornómen. "So don't mess with me!"

Runi, Dori88 and Orilin snickered very quietly.

Durin stood up majestically, if a bit stiffly.

"My dear friends," he orated. "We will have a very troubling time of it until we find out if any of us have been infected. I counsel a good night's sleep, for even if we dwarves are the hardiest in all of middle-earth, even we need rest."

The others saw the wisdom of this, and dropped off nearly where they were. But Valier, before she went to sleep, spoke to Meneltarbo.

"Good night, my dear hobbit, and be careful! Wake Bifur Felagund at midnight to take his watch, and wake me first if anything happens, and do not do anything foolish!"

Meneltarbo sat cold and uncomortably, thinking of his dear little hobbit hole. How he wished he was curled up in his own featherbed, nibbling on seed-cakes and half a turkey, while his teakettle was just singing. Not for the last time!

And slowly, slowly he dropped off to sleep...

---------------------------------------

It is now NIGHT one. Wolves may PM, twins may not.
I do not need a name from the Seer or the Protector at this time. The Hunter may PM me a name any time they wish, up until voting is closed at the end of the Day.
The first DAY will begin in 24 hours.

[Oddwen]

It was Beornómien who woke them all the next morning with her fierce roaring.

"My animals!!" she cried. "My poor, poor animals!"

Their bodies were strewn about all over the garden, and fence, and sides of the building, and the beehives.

Poor Meneltarbo felt very bad indeed - the animals were really delightful things, and he was sorry they were dead.

All of Thorin's company were grumbling, and he noticed that they were glaring at him.

"Burglar!" roared Beornó. "Burglar! More like a Werewolf than a Burglar!"

"Now now now," said Valier. "We can't go accusing without proof..."

The rest of the company snorted with laughter.

The wizard scowled and waggled her fake grey beard in anger at being interrupted.

"Furthermore," she continued. "There are tracks of three Wolves around. It is highly unlikely that a very small hobbit could go around making three seperate tracks - therefore I think we have some work to do to weed these Wolves out."

The rest of the strange company glared suspiciously at each other. What was the world coming to, when a dwarf couldn't trust his own brother? Or sister?

Durin spoke. "I fear that some of you will not live beyond today. Many songs will be sung of this...provided, of course, that we are successful in weeding these Wolves out."

All eyes sprung with tears. For which of them, after all, didn't have dear family or friends in the crowd?

Thorin stood straight and tall, and said in a great voice -

"WE...SHALL...NOT...FALL!"

--------------------------------

DAY one has now begun. Wolves, stop PMing, Twins may start.
I'll need a name from the Hunter before the final votes are in.

[Boromir88]

Dori88 pulled out a piece of paper from his pockets. He addressed the company 'The one thing, I'm sure you're all wondering right now is...are you on the list?'

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Actually I wasn't. . .

Surely you would not consider you friends for wolves? Obviously a dwarf would not have done this! That leaves the burglar, the fake wizard and the big guy. . .

Just look how they are already trying to take the lead of this group, when surely it should be Durin and Thorin making the decitions.

[Anguirel]

Pretty taciturn lot, aren't ye? Pshah. Lurking and holding your peace does not make you wise, my good Dwarves.

I have forgotten whether the Twins amongst you are out for yourselves or working with us. If you be traitors 'gainst your lord and your company - which I seem to recall you are - remember that the wolves are a greater threat to you than we are, for the knowledge is in their hands.

Hrrrm. I have much planning to do, and also intend to check the laws that govern us in this house.

When I have come to a decision, I will order you, as my vassals, to lynch whoever I wish. I am confident you will obey me, loyal kinsmen.

The King Under The Mountain will come into his own.

[Kath]

From what I've heard the Twins are traitors, looking to their own survival only. My ancestors have perished due to their treachery in times not so long ago.

I do feel bad for the death of those animals though. Perhaps I should have been on lookout last night rather than little Meneltarbo, though he has slipped by me before so maybe it wouldn't have done us any good.

I have little to say right now, as there is just so little to make use of yet.

[Farael]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

The King Under The Mountain will come into his own.

Yada yada yada... no King under the mountain or over it will be ordering THIS Durin around. Read my name... Durin the deathless.... you know? that fine fellow whom you owe your allegiance to. And for that matter, all of you do, other than the old wizard, the hobbit and the big guy.

How convenient, three of them, non of them dwarves, and three werewolves. I SAY DOWN WITH THEM!!! I know no dwarf would ever do something like this.

[Anguirel]

Originally Posted by Farael

Durin the Deathless...that fine fellow whom you owe your allegiance to

My lord Durin, I'm sorry to break it to you but you are most certainly dead. I am the only King around here.

Hmmm. Who is our enemy again? The Necromancer. What do Necromancers do? Summon up and manipulate the dead.

I smell a rat, or rather a corpse.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Farael

How convenient, three of them, non of them dwarves, and three werewolves.

And just because of that, maybe a little too convenient? That would be a maddening joke indeed, but as all of this looks like a mad-joke anyway, I wouldn't put it past this Necromancer to make it just like that.

I do not think that we should first run at the non-dwarwes just because of their non-dwarvesness, but if one of them turns out a wolf I might wish to try another one just to make sure...

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

How about you who were keeping watch, didn't you see the beasts? What kind of a watchkeeping is that - unless you were running around the yard slaughtering our host's animals yourself.

Well, three wolf trails equal three pairs of muddy feet, no? Pull off your shoes and socks! At least Meneltarbo's feet look quite muddy. And furry...

Originally Posted by Anguirel

I have forgotten whether the Twins amongst you are out for yourselves or working with us.

With grief I note that your memory does not serve you as well as some 100 years ago, O Thorin.

Originally Posted by Moddwen

I was planning to make them both [twins] goodies

I haven't seen another comment about that, so I assume that they're not as evil as Kath suggests, but a bit like Shirriffs in the Shire.

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by dancing spawn of ungoliant

How about you who were keeping watch, didn't you see the beasts? What kind of a watchkeeping is that - unless you were running around the yard slaughtering our host's animals yourself.

I say we look at that Meneltarbo Baggins fellow, he's been a bit strange and sneaky lately. He's snuck past our watches before, you know.

[Durelin]

Anyone got any porter?

Voloin, brother? Let's away to find some...