Castle Maladil - RPG

[Gandalf_theGrey]

* Gandalf stopped short where he guessed he remembered the shadow-boundary to be from his earlier mapping expedition with Holly. Motioning for those with him to stop, he raised his staff as light burst from it. * Why, there's only four castle residents here! There ought to be thirteen! This calls for stronger measures ...

* Reaching into an old weather-stained sack, Gandalf took out several tube-shaped cylinders. One he stuck into the ground. Another, he loaded into the first. Bending near, Gandalf touched off a spark against a small hole in the tubing, then ran back out of the way. The company experienced a crackling flash that careened dizzily upwards before exploding overhead: *



* In the Stately Stables, Daerohil the stable lad leapt up from the middle of a haystack of dead brown grasses he'd raked for himself two weeks ago and had been using to play hide-and-seek in ever since ... only no one had come to find him. Until now? Daerohil ran lightly above the ground towards the source of the loud echoing boom. *

* Maladil, ever alert for attacks against his realm, jumped up from his rotten bed with a trembling startle of fury. Grabbing OrcBane from its resting place leaning against the fireplace mantel, he raced sword in hand to the castle door and stood therein. For his own curse held him faster than the others, keeping him trapped within the building so he could not take a single step outside onto the surrounding grounds. Maladil scowled at the combined light of staff, candle, and lantern assembled before him. *

* The man-at-arms Guilin came forth. And Tiroedrath, the door-warden, left his post upstairs outside the dungeon to come out and see what might befall. *

* Gandalf counted again. Eight, which left five ghosts missing. Well, perhaps they were on their way. Meanwhile, the rods and more music might attract some of these eight closer ... Gandalf addressed the company with these words: *

Each of you, light the tip of one of your rods with the flame of a candle. Like this, watch me! Could Menelduliniel and Estelarion could provide another song, with Hinura accompanying them?

* Gandalf used his staff rather than a candle, and soon the rod crackled like a miniature firework on a stick, sending a harmless color of golden sparks out like a small tree of light. The wizard looked around for Kenelm, wondering if he'd come. *

* Various members of the company busied themselves with the lighting of rods. Poppy Took, who held no candle, lantern, nor any rods, clung tightly onto the sack of gold entrusted to her. *

* The black war steed Midnight backed several paces away from the group, watching warily and wide-eyed, looking in the direction he'd seen Peri go. *

[ February 03, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Aislan waited a moment to light her glow rod, and watched as much of the company lit the rods with a candle. As they glowed, popped and sparked, Aislan noticed that a few of the sparkler holders were tempted to wave the rods around in the air.

Aislan hesitated though, as she noticed Midnight backing away from the group. Hoping not to scare him any further, she refrained from lighting one of her glow sticks. Aislan slowly walked to where Midnight stared wide-eyed at the sky. The last sparks of the bright display were falling.

"Afraid of a little light, Midnight?" Aislan whispered to the war steed as she came to stand next to him. The horse neighed softly in reply. "Just a little fireworks."

Aislan slowly pat Midnight on the forehead, and cautiously laid her other arm around the horse's neck. She hoped the steed would not think her movements hostile. Midnight only grunted, and moved his head in the direction where Peri had been left.

"You're braver than that," Aislan muttered as the horse and human wandered back towards the group.

[ March 22, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Andreth shuddered in the cold night air, and drew her cloak more firmly about her shoulders. Her hand was wrapped tightly about her lighted wand, but she had remembered to bring along several other things. Her family's book was hidden beneath her sash, along with a bottle of water, a few scraps of food, a small silver dagger, and a tiny embroidered piece along with needle and floss that she'd been working on earlier that day.

The girl had watched with disappointment as Bethberry became ill, choosing to leave their group and find her own way on separate forest paths. But, now, as the band drew closer to the Castle, Andreth had suddenly felt strangely light-headed. She pressed her fingers to her forehead, wondering if she would soon take sick. But there was no hint of fever or chills, only a curious sensation that everything about her was not quite right.

When they stood under the wall that surrounded the grounds, Andreth gently extended her fingers towards the old stonework, cleary a thing of great beauty that was now but a half-crumbled ruin. How lovely this place must have been when Maladil and his bride had first made it their home. How much hope must have dwelled here!

The stone felt cold and rough under her fingertips as she stood and stroked it, feeling its texture with the experienced hand of an artisan. Then something happened that Andreth had not expected, and which she certainly could not explain. Her hand was gliding harmlessly along the worn surface of the wall, when suddenly the stone itself seemed to flicker and melt. Her fingertips sunk into the stonework at least an inch or two, much to her shock and dismay. Hastily, she wrenched back her arm, and stared down at her hand, which now appeared to be completely normal.

Her heart pounded rapidly, as she again reached out to feel the exterior of the wall. Only this time, everything seemed perfectly normal. Andreth tried to hide the look of alarm on her face, and wondered if any of the others had just seen what had happened to her, or if they were also beginning to have problems of their own. She could tell that several in the group were nervous and excited, but no one except herself seemed the least bit concerned about the wall.

Forcing her eyes and hands away from the wall, Andreth stared off into the Castle grounds, and, much to her surprise, saw the perfectly clear outline of eight separate ghosts. They were as distinct and vivid as people standing directly in front of her would be. She could see every curve of their skeleton-like bodies, every article of clothing they wore.

Becoming even more alarmed, Andreth tugged hard at Poppy's dress. "Can you see that?" She pointed to the figure standing closest to them and began giving an intricate description of his waistcoat and breeches to the hobbit. Poppy turned around and gave her a very strange look. Perhaps, mused Andreth, I am becoming ill! For, the next time she glanced out and stared across the lawn, the only thing she could see was a series of indistinct lights. All the ghosts, their clothing and weapons and the other things they were carrying, seemed to have totally disappeared.

The girl felt a wave of nausea and disbelief come flooding over her. She reached out with trembling hand to grip the edge of the wall, in an effort to clear her head and keep upright on her feet. But it was all to no avail. Andreth felt her knees give way as she slid helplessly to the ground, while everything around her went grey and hazy. The last thing she recalled before unconsciousness set in was wondering if Kenelm and his sister were among the eight ghosts she'd seen.

[ February 04, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel nodded to Estelarion, who began again, Hinura soon accompanying, as she seemed to know the song.

Ir i'Ithil erin fuin fanui
Síllant or i'cew en yrn dol
Nîn linnedh eraid erib
Echadedh guren dringo bell an avorn
Si istin raden bar nîn na vedui
Le ones nîn rama en thoron
A im gwilathon aen ar linathon aen
Ar ae im gimen i'hûl aew fuin
An i'eryn im gwilen
Ar ned i'fuin raden le an.
Ar yassen meleth vín u-na niben.
U-naid thinid u-methed
Be i’Ithil an i’aeron
Libid vín nai mîn, huin vín nai mîn
Darithon hwest en Ithil o le.

Menelduliniel finished lighting her rods as she concluded the song. She whispered to Estelarion, "Shall we sing again?"

"Let us wait and see what Mithrandir desires," Estelarion whispered back.

"What are those things?" Menelduliniel finally asked of the spirits.

"What?" Estelarion said, completely without knowledge of these beings. Menelduliniel dropped the subject and turned to Mithrandir.

"Mithrandir?" Menelduliniel asked, "What shall we do? What is the plan for us? What exactly are we to do?"

[piosenniel]

‘Hurry up!’ whispered Holly to the others. She ran quickly to where she remembered the garden to be. There was the stone bench, but now no harp hovered over it. And above in the wall of the castle was the window she had seen the shadows move in. It was all dark now, and nothing appeared to move behind the recess of its frame.

The fireworks flew up at the front of the castle. Gandalf at work, drawing the castle’s residents to him. Olo lit a hooded lantern and set it on the stone bench, its soft, subdued light directed on the tangle of the former garden. He took out the small cones of paper he had made for just this and handed them one at a time to Holly, as they searched through the plants now gone to seed. There were herbs grown round the borders of the vegetable garden, growing thick, like wild weeds.

The Hobbit recited quietly to herself the litany of plants that Bethberry had given her. A quill tucked behind her ear, she inspected the plants she found and plucked the seed pods from them or shook the seeds into the opening to the cone. Twisting shut the cone, she wrote a few letters on it, indicating what plant it was.

Volondil stood watch from the perimeter of the garden, while Bird flew to the roof of the castle. An ideal vantage point in her estimation. She could keep an eye on her friends,and watch the fireworks as they lit the night.

[ February 05, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[*Varda*]

Poppy, clinging tightly to the sack of gold she held in her hands, looked at the eight wispy shapes not far ahead of her. Feeling a tug on her dress next to her, she turned and saw Andreth, a look of fear across her face.

As she pointed, describing a figure nearby, Poppy peered into the distance, seeing nothing. What was the girl talking about? But in that moment, Andreth fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Gandalf!” Poppy cried, before kneeling next to her, putting the gold beside her. Andreth’s face was pale, what had she seen? What was this place going to do to them all?

[Gandalf_theGrey]

* The Butler glided in open-mouthed, eyes-bulging amazement towards the sparking rods. Maladil's chief servant reached a hand into a cluster of crackling bits of light waved aloft by an Elf with a flute who didn't seem to notice. Meanwhile, Menelduliniel gasped at the flickering milky-white Elven ghost who had approached so near to Estelarion. *

* When the tiny flashes fizzled out, The Butler then darted back to the Castle to stand at attention by his master's side. Maladil fixed him with a dark glare. The Butler cleared his throat. "Such tricks as these intruders bring cannot harm us. Their light is fleeting, and harps can be broken." *

* Kenelm cringed at the Butler's words, then drifted a short distance away. Without looking at anyone, the ghost-lad softly plucked out a few notes of his own on what strings remained intact on his bent mithril harp. *

* Tiroedrath ran over to an Elf-warrior who stood a little apart from the others, clenching his rod without looking at it. Tiroedrath howled a curt battle cry whose words were fuzzy and run together. Meanwhile, Nardol looked up on hearing the distorted wavering sound to see a dim milk-white figure. The two wrestled with the rod until it went out. Nardol's wrist felt cold where the ghost had grasped, but the chill quickly subsided with no lingering effects. Nardol smiled grimly, for the rod was still in his hand. Tiroedrath retreated to stand beside Maladil and the Butler, bowing as he joined them. *

* Halblung strode out to meet the tiny lights with sword drawn. With a rough laugh, he cleaved in twain one of the lit rods held aloft by a woman wearing a bandage around her waist. Meanwhile, Alearindu pulled her hand back instinctively and dropped the shorn rod stub as the sword wielded by an invisible hand menaced uncomfortably near. Halblung then withdrew to stand beside Maladil, the Butler, and Tiroedrath, bowing as he joined them. *

* Daerohil smiled, laughed, clapped his hands, jumped up and down, sped over to a woman with a harp who stood close by two Elvish musicians. Daerohil grabbed the lit sparkler from her hand and raced with it across the reedy lawn with its hollow stalks. Hinura watched the glimmering trail weaving in and out through the grass until the light winked out like a tired firefly. *

* Cirgon the Cook loped with an unsteady gait over to Gandalf, clutched at the wizard's robes, and cried. Gandalf handed his sparkler to the pitiable ghost with a soothing invitation. "Stand near us, if you like." Cirgon stood. *

"Mithrandir?" Menelduliniel asked, "What shall we do? What is the plan for us? What exactly are we to do?"

* Gandalf counted again. "Still three missing! We light a second round of sparkler-rods, Menelduliniel. Then come what may, we'll have to continue, even if some of the castle residents do not appear."

“Gandalf!” Poppy cried, before kneeling next to Andreth, putting the gold beside her. Andreth’s face was pale, what had she seen? What was this place going to do to them all? *

* The wizard dropped to his knees next to Andreth, blinking as he peered at her, for she shifted suddenly into half-transparency. Gandalf reached out to ease Andreth onto her back from where she'd pitched face forward onto the ground. But he could not grip her, for there was only an empty chill filling in the trembling outline of her form. Gandalf rose to his feet, backed away from the castle grounds, spoke a spell "Entule cuivië!" Simultaneously he lifted his staff, drew it back, and set it gently down.

* Andreth levitated two feet up in the air. However, she was unable to cross the invisible boundary of shadow, and was forced to remain on the grounds of Castle Maladil, just as if Andreth had been Kenelm. Several minutes later, Andreth returned to consciousness. *

* Gandalf, whose own face had gone ashen with concern, breathed a sigh of relief for small consolations. Then, an idea formed. The wizard stroked his beard, pondering aloud. "But then, this waning of Maladil's heir grants a special immunity … Why Andreth, you may walk through the castle more safely than any other living Elf, Man, or Hobbit here present!" He smiled suddenly, walked over and sat down in the grass next to the girl until after several more minutes, Andreth recovered her strength and could stand again. *

[piosenniel]

The garden had once been large, supplying the once lively and hungry castle residents with fruits, vegetables, and herbs, for flavoring, for pleasure, and for healing. Now those who remained within had all gone past those needs and the garden and orchard crept back to wildness. Still, she could see that someone had made an attempt at times to tame them back.

She and Olo worked steadily, methodically gleaning what they could from the tangle of vegetation. There was athelas, Kingsfoil hidden beneath the shading vines. And little flowers hiding the scented forked roots of ginseng. Lyre-leafed sage, too, and the golden stemmed lauriëtelco. Along the northern edge were the gray-green crescent moon shaped leaves of the moonfern, hidden beneath another planting of lyre-leafed sage. Along the wall’s surface was wolfberry, its pale yellow-green flowers hanging like little trumpets from the clustered leaves. From these she gathered the red, oblong fruits. She gathered up many of these finds, but always left enough to seed another crop.

Along the southern edge, always in the sun, was a familiar plant. Some sort of pipeweed, but nothing like the kinds grown in the Shire. It was more fragrant, and the leaves were larger and of a darker color.

Her last find, beneath the trees of the orchard, was one she could not resist. Amid the decaying vegetation and grasses were masses of glorious mushrooms. Big, fat, tasty mushrooms and small little precious mushrooms of al sorts and kinds. It was a Hobbit’s idea of paradise. These she knew would grow back independent of her actions, and she stuffed as many as she could into the pack on Olo’s back.

Periodically, she would glance toward Volondil, and when he waved her on she continued with her task.

Once done, they dimmed the lantern’s light to a faint glow, and huddled for a brief conference in the shadow of the pear tree. ‘I’m done here.’ She told the others, tucking the last of the seed filled cones in her pack, and latching the flap securely. ‘Shall we go?’ She turned to head toward the small gate in the north wall of the surround.

‘Back it up, Holly.’ said Bird in a low voice. She had flown down from the roof top and stood fidgeting on the Hobbit’s shoulder, a calculating look in her beady bird eye. ‘Gandalf and troops seem to have drawn the attention of the castle creepies. We’ve come this far undisturbed. Let’s go in and have a look-see. Maybe we can pick up a little something for our troubles.’ Holly looked toward Volondil and Olo, both of them indicating they would go in with them, though both made it quite clear their first choice would be to leave the grounds now.

‘In it is, then.’ Holly led they way beneath the cover of the orchard toward the back wall of the castle. They stopped well within the line of trees. She pointed out two doors near the opposite corners of the wall. ‘The stables are over there.’ She pointed to her right. ‘Along that southern wall of the castle.’
She pointed to the door to her left, near the northern castle wall. ‘Let’s try that one. It’s far enough away from the main action.’

They ran quickly to the latched door, passing by the three fresh mounds to their left. Volondil used the tip of his knife to pry the rusted lock from the rotting wooden door. The four of them passed in through the small door.

‘Shine that lantern a little down there.’whispered Holly as the four of them, Bird having now flown down to ride in on her shoulder, crowded into the narrow entryway. Volondil, being the tallest held the lantern up and risked a little more light.

They could see two long, thin corridors angling off from one another, one to the south and one to the east. The light glinted off something on the wall just a short distance down the eastern corridor. It was a heavy iron door, set into the wall on the left and was firmly locked and bolted. Handing the lantern to Holly, Volondil stepped close and attempted to pry the lock loose with his knife as leverage. And when it would not budge, he tried it with his sword . . .

[tangerine]

Hinura's eyes saw only what she fancied to be a wisp of smoke, or a breath on a cold day, but the clear laugh of a child reached her ears as cool, invisible hands snatched the sparkler away from her and danced off among the dead grass. Her face remained set, yet her eyes held a sad smile for that soul, seeking only a little joy and mirth in a dead place.
Her eyes were drawn away from the child ghost's path, towards the castle doors. No forms visible there; yet the very air seemed to visibly shiver in those doorways, and she felt a powerful malice being projected towards them from there. Hinura instinctively held the harp cradled in the crook of her arm more closely to herself, as a mother would shield her child from an unseemly spectacle in the street.
Then another harp answered their music; Clear, pure notes came from a mithril harp with several strings missing, suspended above the ground a little ways from the doors. Immortal sorrow flowed from it's strings. Hinura could nearly make out a hazy outline of the one holding it.
She began to play again; she dimly heard Estelarion's flute weaving it's music into her own as she began to sing once more:

Mis' amuigh air luing a' seòladh
'S mi gun dòigh air tighinn gu
baile
An cuimhne leat an oidhche bha
sinn
'S a' luing bhàin air bhàrr na mara
An oidhche sin a chaidh ar
fuadach
Thànaig a' mhuir mhùr 'na
gleannaibh

She stopped, and closed her eyes, her harp silent once more.

[ February 06, 2003: Message edited by: tangerine ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel watched helplessly as Gandalf aided Andreth. She looked at all the spirits around her, realizing how vast this world was and how helpless she actually was.

Menelduliniel returned to Poppy again, a seemingly steady companion in this journey. Poppy was looking in wonder at all that was happening around them.

"What do you suppose we ought to do?" Poppy asked when she noticed the Elf standing next to her. Menelduliniel shrugged, unsure of these new circumstances.

Menelduliniel lit a second wand and, after Andreth was prepared, followed Mithrandir again. She heard Hinura and Estelarion continue to play and sing, but she also watched the spirits, fascinated by the beings.

She continued on, seeing a variety of spirits, mostly Elves in appearance. She gasped as one passed so close to Estelarion, that if he had deviated the position of his arm holding the flute, he would have touched the shade. Menelduliniel knew not what effect contact with these beings would do, but she did not want to find out. She let out a breath in relief as the ghastly creature moved past Estelarion.

"I pray to the Vala this is not a trick of my imagination," Menelduliniel muttered to herself, so quietly that even Poppy, who walked directly beside her, did not hear her prayer sent out into the abyss for any that could fulfull it.

[{(<*> )}]

Estelarion thought that he saw a wavering of motion in front of him, but he could not be sure if it was just a trick of the smoke coming from the rods. He looked at Menelduliniel, and saw a look of terror on her face whilst she stared in his direction. The Elf warrior quickly looked around, assuring himself there was no visible evil present.

Suddenly, a cold breeze blew by his arm while he played. He looked at Menelduliniel, who had turned quite pale, and wondered what it was that her eyes saw that plagued her so. Many others in the party seemed uneasy, he noted, but many others seemed to be blithely continuing along through the castle.

He stopped playing after he realized that Hinura had ceased her music as well. Even Hinura appeared somewhat alarmed, although she did not show her distress as much as Menelduliniel and some of the others. Estelarion sighed and put his flute back in its case.

As he did so, he thought he saw a fluttering out of the corner of his eye. He spun and could almost see a shimmering. He saw no shape, but there was most definitely something there.

Estelarion felt his blood go cold and he wondered what surrounded this company. Was this what Menelduliniel saw? Maybe she had a talent to see that he did not possess.

Estelarion carefully made his way over to Menelduliniel and Poppy, the Hobbit, carefully watching for another glimmer, not wanting to touch the shimmer, for fear of what would happen if he did so.

"What do you see?" he demanded of the Elf maiden when he reached her.

"You do not see them then," she said, "It is as I thought."

"I see a shimmering, but naught else," Estelarion said, "Tell me what your eyes behold."

Menelduliniel looked around, obviously taking in all that was around her and looking back at Estelarion, her eyes showing the fear that she was seemingly making no effort to conceal.

"There are shades...spirits," she said, finally, "I know not exactly what they are."

"And do you see them vividly?" Estelarion asked, looking around, only now really noticing how many shimmers in the air he could see.

"I can see them fairly well," Menelduliniel responded, "The images are not that sharp, but I can make out faces and the like."

Estelarion saw her look over his shoulder and shiver. He fell into step with her, lifting the flute and beginning to play, as if his music would take the world away from him. It, at least, enabled him to escape mentally from this new danger.

[{(<*> )}]

"I can see them fairly well," Menelduliniel responded, "The images are not that sharp, but I can make out faces and the like."

Menelduliniel looked as a spirit passed by, seemingly trying to touch Estelarion. She shuddered to herself, glad when it passed by him. The Elf was nearly oblivious to the spirits, and Menelduliniel nearly envied him for this. She was not good with the unknown. If only they could interchange talents. Estelarion always seemed to be the more adaptable of the two. Menelduliniel was fairly set in her ways, although she was still young.

Much to her relief, Estelarion remained close to her and the youthful Hobbit. He began to play again. Menelduliniel saw Poppy relax a bit and she felt herself follow the Hobbit's lead and relax too. She was still somewhat startled by the images that she saw around her, but Estelarion's familiar melodies took her out of this area and back to the taverns where she now felt most at home. Menelduliniel stayed in step with Estelarion, thinking about days gone by, both better and worse and of old companions and old music, long since ceasing in circulation amongst most musicians...

[ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Gandalf had been trying to cheer her up by saying how safely she could walk through the Castle as a ghost. Yet, somehow, that thought did little to console her.

What was particularly frustrating is that one moment she could see and hear the ghosts absolutely clearly, and the next minute she could see and hear precisely nothing. Everyone else about her was saying how they could make out various lights and sounds, but, when Andreth looked out, all she could see were shadowy lights. Then suddenly something inside her would snap and she'd see the ghosts as clearly as if they stood right beside her.

The girl hoped there was some way to keep her shifting from one form to the next. As bad as it was to be a ghost, it was even more frustrating to be continually shifting from one form to another with no control at all. She wondered if this was how young shapechangers felt, and wished that Bird was around to discuss these things with her.

But when she looked about there was absolutely no sight of Holly or Bird or Holly's other friends. They had probably gone around to the back entrance, as they had been discussing the other night. She hoped they were safe and managed to keep out of trouble.

[Gandalf_theGrey]

* It took Volondil three thwacking thrusts of his sword-edge to cleave the lock-and-bolt device holding fast the iron door. At last, the entire knob broke clean off with a clank to the dank floor. Water trickled out from underneath the iron door, wetting the muddy cracks in the mildewed flagstone that served as flooring in this outer portion of Castle Maladil. *

* Volondil heaved the door open. The door exhaled a chill groan, revealing a smithy unused for forging since the Second Age. Holly's hooded lantern dimly showed the smithy's means of production: forge, cracked table, anvils, hammers and tongs, a vise, molds for keys and weapons ... as well as examples of the objects produced: handfuls of spikes, locks and keys, horseshoes, pot racks atop the table, ... cloak racks and unfinished bits of armor moldering away in fetid pools of filth on the floor.

* Rotting sacks festered humbly in dark corners. Stacks of gold pieces lay piled near the sacks, neatly arranged as if carefully counted. The floor dropped away along the back wall into an erratically dug hole reaching shadowed depths unknown and unseen. Just as Volondil, Holly, Olo and Bird were getting the sense that a malevolent living presence had taken up residence here, they heard a sly squish-flap-flip sound. *

* Too suddenly it came upon them ... Clammy fingers knocked the lantern from Holly's hands, then wrapped themselves around her neck and pulled the Hobbit towards the thing's burrowed cellar. *

[piosenniel]

Volondil’s keen eyes had fixed the path and speed of the fell creature as it pulled Holly toward its stinking den. ‘Hold still, Holly!’ he cried to her. Two strides forward, with a swift plea to those who dwelt in the West that with their grace he might deliver a sure stroke, He took one more step, raising his sword arm high. But as the fickle grace of the Valar would have it, he tripped over Holly’s lantern, and his sword severed Holly’s sleeve from wrist to shoulder.

Holly, distracted by the torn sleeve, though the point did no damage to her flesh, grabbed the sharpened quill she had put in her vest pocket and swung widely at the fell creature. She missed her objective, the Mewlips’ eye, but the intensity of her struggles knocked the creature off balance,

His arms swung widely, and he lost his grip on the Hobbit, dropping her. In a rage, he turned on Volondil, and the Ranger delivered him a sinking blow this time. The creature howled in pain and retreated back several paces.

But he was not gravely wounded. Darting around, the Mewlips squish-flap-flipped to the door and closed it, plunging everyone inside the smithy into a semblance of darkness as the Mewlips blew out the lantern-light and cackled to itself.

Olo had already lit the small candle from the stash Holly put in the side pocket of his pack. He stepped forward from the corner to the left of the door and held it up high to see what he could do to help.

Bird, though horrified, kept her head about her. Dropping swiftly to where the gold was stacked, she changed to human form, and stuffed her breeches pockets with stacks of gold coins, retreating quickly toward the now closed door, pulling the gasping Holly with her by the hand.

By the light of the small candle, Olo could see the Mewlips, whose attention had now focused on the thieving Bird. The creature squished toward her in a menacing manner intending to get back his treasure. She took out a handful of coins and flung them hard at the Mewlips face. It stopped, in pain where the coins stung the tender flesh around its eyes.

Bird shoved Holly well behind her and rushed the distracted creature which was only a few paces from her. She began to change in mid stride to her Entish form, her arms reaching round the nasty, squishy body of the foul creature, as she shifted shape. Her limbs grew strong and long and she pulled the creature to her woody chest and squeezed him hard.

With a gurgle and a strangled yowl cut off by a last gasp, the Mewlips died. Bird dropped him down his dank hole in the rear of the room and changed back to human form. Olo, by then, had retrieved the lantern and relit it. The three companions joined Bird at the edge of the Mewlips’ hole, but saw nothing other than a long passage into darkness now stained with the foul, fluid remains of the former occupant.

Holly shivered and rasped, ‘Let’s get out of here! Who knows if there was only one living down there!’

They retreated toward the door, Bird reaching it first,flung it open. Volondil held his blade in readiness as his three companions made their way out the door and into the hallway. He soon followed, and they retreated back west and out the door into the shelter of the waiting trees to regroup.

[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Gandalf_theGrey]

A hush fell over the living and the dead assembled at the front entrance as Maladil roared out, "Whence comes this rabble of marauders assembled before my gates, boldly besetting me and my household with trembling blasts of light and noise before you move against the Castle bent on plunder and destruction? Ware, lest you meet your doom here this night!"

Aislan, Poppy, Menelduliniel heard: " … comes … rabble … marauders … before … gates … besetting … and … household … trembling … of … you … against … Castle … on … destruction? Ware, lest … meet … doom … this!"

Andreth heard: "Whence comes this … marauders assembled before … boldly besetting me … household with trembling … light and noise … move against the … on plunder and? … lest you meet … here this night!"

Nardol, Hinura, Estelarion heard: " … comes … marauders … gates … besetting … household … trembling … against … Castle … destruction? … meet … doom!"

Alearindu heard naught but a horrific caterwauling wail.

Gandalf heard the whole thing. Standing from his sitting position beside Andreth, he gestured Poppy Took to come over with a wave of his arm, then bowed a low greeting. "Hail Lord Maladil, renowned Orc Bane, of Laurëondo! Master Elrond of Rivendell and Lady Galadriel of the Golden Wood send greetings. Indeed, what we seek is more precious than all the combined treasures in your vaults. As evidence of our good will, and in token of the faithful alliance between Imladris, Lothlórien, and Laurëondo, permit me to introduce … "

Maladil interrupted with a bitter laugh. "Messenger of the West, are you? Sent by the Valar, after all these years? Your message fails, unless you seek to mock me, for Adela is not with you. But come, tell me your name Messenger, that I may … greet thee, properly."

Poppy cringed and her knees knocked, but Gandalf pressed a gentle reassuring hand on her shoulder. Aislan, Poppy, Menelduliniel heard: "… of … West, … you? … by … Valar, … all … years? Your message … fails, … you … mock me, … Adela … not with you. Come, … name, … may … greet thee."

Andreth heard: "Messenger of the …, are you? Sent … Valar, after all … ? Your message fails … seek to mock … Adela is not. But come, tell … name Messenger, that … greet thee, properly."

Nardol, Hinura, Estelarion heard: "West, … you? … Valar, … these … years? … Fails … Adela … not. Come, … name, … greet."

Alearindu heard a bitter laugh. Noticing that Aislan appeared to understand part of what was being said, the Ranger asked Aislan to please pass on to her as much as she could of Maladil's speech.

Gandalf swallowed a slight shudder, for Maladil's words yet carried commanding strength enough to set in motion much mischief in Middle Earth. "Some call me Mithrandir, others Gandalf."

"Curse you and your names! You come with fire … Naur dan le, Mithrandir! Wander far from here, and may you perish even as you have shown us, in a blaze falling to darkness! Now depart hence!" Maladil's voice rang raw malice.

All heard enough to get the general idea, though words were missing here and there.

Gandalf would yield no ground. "Not yet! What of your own name, Maladil Orc Bane? I would hold you to it. Who in your household has dealings with Orcs? For Orcs have brought prisoners to fill your dungeon in these days!"

The Butler, white as a ghost, whitened even more.

Maladil turned down his lips in a sneer. "You are mistaken, Old Trickster, for Laurëondo was built with no dungeon. And no Orc would dare approach as close as you are now, lest they meet the same peril facing you."

"Your whole Castle has become a dungeon, Maladil, in which you entrap your own kin and servants! But you may still help free them, even now. It is said there lies a deed to Laurëondo within your walls. Present this deed to us, we who entreat you on behalf of Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel, your friends and allies. The Castle as you know it must cease to exist, for the curse to be lifted. Yet your sacrifice will be a praiseworthy legacy sung among the Free Peoples of Middle Earth, for we seek to build on these grounds a House of Healing." Gandalf bowed.

Maladil snorted. "Will this be before or after you snap up every last ounce of my gold?"

"This Hobbit, Poppy Took standing before me, bears a gift. Master Elrond has entrusted to me a sack of gold to cover any expenses along my road in fighting our common Enemy to the East. A shadow forms, and great woe will come of it should your Castle fall to its influence! Better render the Castle to the wholesome influence of such allies as you extended your hospitality in the Second Age. In token of our goodwill, please accept this present of gold from our Ambassador, Poppy Took. She will walk to meet you in the Great Hall. Promise her your protection, Maladil. Have one of your servants light a candle for her that she may see inside, for she is heavy-laden and carries no light of her own."

Maladil howled with derisive scorn. "You send the smallest and weakest, caring not whether she lives nor dies." Maladil's gaze searched, then fell upon Nardol. "Why not send in that grim Elf-warrior? He, at least, would provide several minutes of sport at the end of my blade." Maladil reached out, pointing to Nardol.

"Poppy Took will not die, nor will she be harmed in any way, Maladil. For I entrust her to your honor. Thus, receive this Hobbit as your guest, and spurn not the hope of those who would see life return here." Bending down to Poppy, Gandalf smiled encouragement. "Go ahead on in, dear Poppy."

"As to the Elf-warrior you mention … I leave him to decide what answer to make you." Gandalf straightened, then turned and whispered the complete translation to Nardol concerning all Maladil had said of Nardol.

[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]

[Belin]

Celumëomaryu was surprised. The singing and the crashing and the booming of the fireworks had caught her attention, and when the castle door opened her mind was made up. This deserved some attention on her part.

She left the dungeon and walked down the stairs, as silently as a ghost can walk, and in the inner courtyard she found her second surprise: this was a large company of the living, of all shapes and sizes, though many of them were outside and she knew them only by their voices, some of which were quite extraordinarily high-pitched. The very fact that the living had come here of their own accord, and that they had heedlessly (and rather rudely, she thought, barbarians that they were) broken into the Castle, and were clearly on their way to the Great Hall, was enough to throw her into wonderment. She remained close the stairs, and was wondering just how visible she was when she had her third surprise, the sounds of violence and unhappy squeals.

Celumëomaryu stood still for a moment, fighting curiosity, and, quickly losing, slipped unseen to the smithy to find some very peculiar strangers, and a Mewlips. She had never seen such a thing before. It struck her as more suited to the distant marshes of which she'd heard tales than the smithy of a castle where she lived. It certainly seemed to have made itself at home, however, and was doing its best to make the smithy a sort of makeshift kitchen.

Celumëomaryu watched the struggle between them, disinterestedly. The intruders were no more out of place here than the Mewlips, and dealing with the victorious would be equally annoying, whichever one it was. Tella would certainly complain, and Anna.. no, Anna wouldn't help at all.

But after all, the poor beast stood little chance against so many. Celumëomaryu stood still and unseen as the lopsided battle continued, and soon found herself surprised again. An entwife, of all things, took the place of one of the women of their party. Celumëomaryu involuntarily stepped back. Clearly these were beings of extraordinary power. Nobody traveled with an entwife.. if that really was an entwife... Why should they trouble with such a place as this?

She smiled bitterly at her own question. Indeed, this place was of little account. She wasn't even certain that she, with no haunt left to speak of, would even bother to defend it.

But Maladil would. Oh, Maladil would, and she imagined that any moment now he could come striding out in his usual state of wrath.

Celumëomaryu moved back against the wall of the castle, into the shadows, hoping that nobody would notice her, and hoping particularly that she would not have to speak to Maladil.

[ February 11, 2003: Message edited by: Belin ]

[ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Belin ]

[Susan Delgado]

Anna and Calimiel had also heard the noises and, unable to think of any explanation other than invasion, had been standing at the barred window screaming for attention for the last ten minutes when Calimiel stopped suddenly and looked around.

"She's gone! Where'd she go?" She exclaimed.

Anna looked around. Celumëomaryu was indeed gone from the area of the cell. "I don't know, probably to investigate whatever's going on downstairs. Let's get out of here before she comes back."

"How?"

Anna looked around. A good question. She'd already tried the secret door and found it blocked. She approached the door to the cell and examined the lock. Could she pick it? She glanced around, but saw no wire or anything else that would help. She tried poking at it with her finger, but that did nothing; it remained firmly locked. She paused to giggle a little at her own folly, then continued her search. After several more minutes, she gave up. There was nothing; the cell was bare.

Calimiel had stood in the middle of the cell watching Anna, and when she saw her friend collapse against the wall with a sigh, she frowned. "Are you giving up? You can't do that."

Anna snorted. "Why not? There's no way out of here."

Calimiel shook her head. "No, no. If you give up now and she comes back, she may never leave again. We'll die here. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be a ghost again. I can see now, and nothing will make me not see again, ever."

Anna smiled at Calimiel's adamancy. "What do you suggest then?"

Calimiel considered, thoughtlessly fingering a strand of hair, which hung past her shoulder. When she realised what she was doing, she frowned and glanced over at Anna. "What's holding up your hair? It's not down, like mine is."

Anna put a hand to her head. Sure enough, her hair was piled on the back of her head. With all the distractions, she hadn't noticed it before now. She felt around and in a moment extracted two long thin metal pins. Her hair swept down to its full length, which when she stood would be just past her waist, but she didn't notice.

She had it! She leapt to her feet and clapped Calimiel on the shoulder before hurrying over to the door. She inserted the pin and after several minutes of struggling, heard a faint click. Success!

Now what? They couldn't just rush down the stairs without knowing where they might meet Celumëomaryu. Anna glanced over at Calimiel, who was still waiting patiently, and had a thought.

"Calimiel, how did you know Celumëomaryu had left the dungeon?"

The girl shrugged. "I just did. It's something I learned when I was blind. I always knew where all the other Ghosts were."

"And you can still do this?"

Calimiel looked evasive for a moment. "Not really, you know, not nearly as well as I could when I was a Ghost."

It was a lie, Anna could see that clearly. She waited.

Calimiel wandered back to the window. She could be as stubborn as Anna sometimes.

They were wasting time! Celumëomaryu could be back any moment! ”Come on, Calimiel, it’s the only way we’ll be able to avoid Celumëomaryu! If you don’t do this, we’ll be recaptured!”

“No! I can only do it if my eyes are closed, and I told you, I will not be blind again!” She came back to the door and stared Anna in the eyes.

Anna sighed. “Having your eyes closed does not make you blind.”

“I can’t see, so I’m blind.”

Unsure what to say in response to this patently ridiculous statement, Anna decided to leave. “Fine. Stay here, then. I’m leaving.” She reached for the door and swung it open. It squealed shrilly, but nothing else seemed to happen. No one approached, demanding they return to the cell, so Anna stepped through and paused, savoring her first moment of freedom since gaining this body. She took a step, and felt Calimiel’s hand on her arm.

“Don’t leave without me.”

Will you help us by telling me where Celumëomaryu is?”

Calimiel stepped back, angry. Anna never stopped! She could feel a scream rising in her throat, the same one Anna could see rising on her face and a moment before it emerged, Anna leapt forward and clapped a hand across her mouth.

“It’s the only way. If you don’t do this, we’ll be captured again, and knowing Celumëomaryu, we’ll probably be punished. Please.”

After a moment, Calimiel nodded and Anna removed her hand. “Thank you. Here, take my hand. Then you won’t need your eyes.”

Calimiel shook her head. “I don’t need them to know where I’m going. You go ahead, I’ll follow and tell you where to go.” She closed her eyes and waited for Anna to step back through the door.

Anna hesitated for a moment, then started down the corridor toward the door leading to the stairs, glancing back every few steps to where Calimiel glided behind her. As they approached the stairs, Calimiel became more agitated and finally laid a hand on Anna’s shoulder.

“She’s standing at the bottom of the stairs. It isn’t safe to go down there.”

Anna paused. Where could they go now? There was no other way out of the dungeon that she knew of. “Wait!” she hissed when she noticed that Calimiel had started back through the door. Was she going back to the cell? No, she wasn’t, Anna saw as she followed. Calimiel was going toward the opposite corner. Why was she going there? “Where are you going?” She demanded when she caught up.

“There’s a door...I saw the floor-plan of the Castle once and there was a secret door marked over here, back when this was the treasury. Ah, here we are.” She led Anna past two cell door and around a corner, then stopped in front of a cell that Anna thought looked smaller than the others. Anna stepped forward and tested the door. It was unlocked and swung open on stiff hinges. The wall Calimiel indicated was bare, but that meant nothing, if the door was hidden. Quickly enough, she found the switch, then, wary of a trap like the one before, she and Calimiel retreated back through the door. Anna glanced around, then picked up a piece of fallen mortar and tossed it through the bars at the stone which hid the switch. It thunked and a portion of the wall moved slightly, but nothing else seemed to happen. They approached cautiously, then slid the door open far enough to slip through. A steep, narrow staircase rose before them.

After ascertaining where the switch to open the door was on this side, the slid the door closed so as not to advertise their presence to anyone who might wander through the dungeon. They ascended the stairs and emerged in a flat space on the otherwise peaked roof. After exploring a little, it became apparent that there were paths around the various roofs of the Castle. Someone had taken great care when building this place. After several minutes, the discovered a hidden balcony which overlooked the courtyard and front entrance to the Castle. They watched the living folk mill around with the Ghosts in awe. What were they doing here? They glanced around, but didn’t see Celumëomaryu anywhere.

[VanimaEdhel]

"Curse ... your names! come ... fire … Naur dan ... Wander ... from here ... and ... perish even ... you ... shown ... in ... blaze ... to darkness! ... depart ...!" Maladil said to Menelduliniel's ears. She heard all of Mithrandir's comments and watched as Poppy was beckoned up to the front.

Estelarion heard only a bit of what Menelduliniel heard, but still realized the danger that they seemed to be in while in Lord Maladil's presence. He felt what he hoped was not a false sense of security with Mithrandir around, however. The tiny Hobbit, Poppy, then stepped up, due to Mithrandir's introduction.

Both Elves looked in surprise at Mithrandir's words and seemingly reckless use of the small, appearingly defenseless Hobbit girl. They wondered what was to this small creature, as there must be some inner strength in her for Mithrandir to place her in such utter peril.

They turned, wondering what was to happen. Both put their hands towards their respective weapons. Menelduliniel's hands stood right above the scabbards to her daggers, wrapped conveniently right within reach around her thighs. Estelarion's hand twitched, preparing to grab his bow at a moment's notice.

Mithrandir briefly noted their positions out of the corner of his eye and gave a small sign to desist their motions. Both quickly obeyed, not wanting to agitate the spirits and mostly not wanting to agitate this Lord Maladil, for both felt an intense fear of this Lord.

They both awaited what Nardol would do, as he seemed to have some choice that they were unaware of beforehand. They looked curiously, wondering what was about to develop in their interesting situation...

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

" … comes … rabble … marauders … before … gates … besetting … and … household … trembling … of … you … against … Castle … on … destruction? Ware, lest … meet … doom … this!"

Aislan frowned as she tried hard to listen as Gandalf and Maladil spoke. She could not hear everything, but she understood enough. Alearindu held a questioning look upon her face.

"I can hear nothing. What does he say?" Alearindu whispered to Aislan.

"… of … West, … you? … by … Valar, … all … years? Your message … fails, … you … mock me, … Adela … not with you. Come, … name, … may … greet thee." Aislan heard the bits and pieces of the conversation.

"Something about the West, and the Valar. He says our message has failed...and that we mock him...and Adela not being with us. Our names?" Aislan seemed slightly confused as she explained to Alearindu.

Aislan noticed Midnight still by her side, and the whites of his eyes showed as he snorted towards the entrance to the castle. Midnight took a few steps back, but didn't go too far. Aislan kept her eyes glued to the scene in front of her. A glowing spirit at the front of the entrance moved little as it exchanged words with Gandalf. Gandalf explained Poppy and the gold, and Aislan heard a scorful laugh fron Maladil.

Before Alearindu could ask what he had said, Aislan began to answer. "He says something of the smallest, and Gandalf cares wether she lives or dies..." Aislan sighed when she realised how ridiculus it had sounded. She hadn't heard everything. The ghost spoke again. "Now he talks of Nardol, and sport at his blade. Maybe he thinks we should send Nardol?"

"As to the Elf-warrior you mention … I leave him to decide what answer to make you." Gandalf finished, after assuring that Poppy would not die or be harmed. Aislan watched and wondered what Nardol would say in reply. Maybe he would say nothing, but that didn't seem like the Nardol she had met, even if it was only for a time on the road.

[Mithadan]

Nardol's eyes narrowed as Gandalf whispered Maladil's words to him. His face clouded and he gritted his teeth making his scar jump and writhe. Almost, he made an angry response to the shade's challenge. But he bit off the words before they were spoken and, instead, took a deep breath. He forced his hands, which had balled into fists around the wands, to relax. Then he stepped forward slowly and laid a hand on the Hobbit's shoulder.

Poppy cringed at the touch; the Elf had never spoken a kind word to her. But Nardol smiled grimly down at the Halfling and did not remove his hand. He looked up towards the blur that was Maladil and nodded.

"Mae govannen, mellon," he said in a clear voice. "It seems to me that you have little enough to concern yourself with my sword, so with your leave it shall remain in its sheath. But perhaps you might show some courtesy to one of your kindred? The bag is heavy. Too heavy for the young lady to carry without aid. Might I not accompany her inside? I give you my word that I shall take nothing without your leave. Indeed, if you wish, I shall leave my sword behind, though you have little to fear from such a weapon."

He stood calmly at Poppy's side and raised his chin as he waited for Maladil's response. He made no move even as the dim figure carrying a sword advanced upon him and the Hobbit.

[*Varda*]

"… of … West, … you? … by … Valar, … all … years? Your message … fails, … you … mock me, … Adela … not with you. Come, … name, … may … greet thee."

Poppy trembled as she heard snatches of what Maldil was uttering to Gandalf, and it was not long before she heard her own name mentioned. Hearing mocking laughter after this, she tried to hold her head up high, although her heart quaked deep within her.

She flinched as his gaze searched the others, before settling on Nardol. His words were not optimistic, and the hope that Poppy had had grew smaller with each passing moment.

"Poppy Took will not die, nor will she be harmed in any way, Maladil. For I entrust her to your honor. Thus, receive this Hobbit as your guest, and spurn not the hope of those who would see life return here." Gandalf then bent and nodded to Poppy to continue on.

Before Poppy could move, Nardol stepped forward, and laid his hand on her shoulder. As the pale shape that was Maladil looked at them, Poppy felt safer next to the tall elf standing beside her. He had never spoken to her before, but Poppy instinctively trusted him, as he spoke to Maladil, and offered her aid.

Poppy stood as tall as her small stature would allow her,, and looked up to see the shape approach them, while wondering what his response would be.

[ February 11, 2003: Message edited by: *Varda* ]

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Maladil narrowed his eyes slightly, for the tall grey figure's speech had been easier to understand than the Elf-warrior's. Still, only a few words were missing here or there. He took a step forward to advance closer to Poppy and the protector who held a hand on her shoulder, but was brought up short by an impenetrable invisible barrier that kept him inside the Castle doorway, unable to join his ghostly companions outside on the surrounding grounds. He gasped as though physically hurt.

Nardol heard these words: "Keep … sword … you, warrior. … none … fear … sword, … they brought … fear … themselves. … then … escort … flower … to … ground. That … given … small … task … large … her … on … you, … let … tallest come, … naught … accomplished … your … folly … attempt. … I … accept … offering … Lord … gold, … once … allies … battle, … he … think … honorable. But … offering … is, not … payment! … Adela … price … Castle!"

Maladil turned, still firmly gripping his sword, and strode through the Castle into the middle of the Great Hall, waiting. Tiroedrath, Halblung, and Guilin remained out front standing guard. The Butler became a thin mist and vanished. Daerohil ran through the grasses, racing the night wind, glancing at the strange visitors with candles and lanterns. Lasrain drifted back around the corner on his way to the herb garden for a moonlit walk. The human ghost Cirgon who'd once served as a cook still clutched his spent sparkler as he stood near Hinura, looking beyond the minstrel and the sparkler, to look at nothing at all.

Gandalf meanwhile provided the full translation of Maladil's words for Nardol and Poppy: "Keep your sword as you wish, warrior. For none here now fear the sword, unless they have brought such fear upon themselves. Come then to escort this Poppy-flower low to the ground. That you've given the small Ambassador a task too large for her reflects on all of you, for let the tallest come as well, and naught shall be accomplished but your own folly in the attempt. Still, I will accept this mad offering of Lord Elrond's gold, for once we were allies in battle, and he must think it honorable. But an offering it is, not a payment! For Adela is the price of this Castle!"

"A lantern!" Gandalf added to Poppy and Nardol. "Bring one in with you." Then the wizard crept unobtrusively to the back of the group. To Andreth as he passed her, he coached, "The Book! Careful whom you trust with it." Gandalf smiled and bowed appreciation towards Estelarion, Hinura, and Menelduliniel as he passed. "Fine music!" To Alearindu, "May your scouting skills stand us in good stead for what lies ahead." To Aislan, "Holly's taken Peri, then? I see you've got Midnight, who might have a mind to follow me in through a Castle door now that I've freed him from armor, saddle, and bit. Good luck!"

[piosenniel]

The night had turned cool, or so Holly thought. She sat on the stone bench and shivered. Olo threw his cloak over her shoulders and offered her the skin of water from his pack. No one spoke, and not even the sere leaves on the pear trees rattled in the night breezes to disturb the quiet. There was one sound . . .

Clink . . . clink . . . clink, clink . . . Holly turned her head to the left, and there sat Bird, on the end of the bench, counting out the coins. ‘What are you doing? Trying to attract Maladil out here to see who’s grabbed some of the family fortune?’ The Hobbit’s voice was whispery, though the cool water had quenched the burning feeling, making it easier to talk.

‘Maladil, Shmaladil!’ snorted Bird, scooping the thirty three coins into a small leather bag. ‘He’s busy with the show Gandalf’s putting on out front.’ She laughed as she tied the strings tightly round the bag’s neck. ‘Poor Poppy! She’s the one you should be worrying about. Little git got talked into some glorious scheme of carrying the Elven gold to Maladil. She’s probably the one’s going to end up as gooseberry jam on the parquet floors.’ Bird shook her head, black hair flying in the breeze. ‘If she’d only lis . . .’

The three companions turned to her as one. ‘If she’d only listened to you she’d be in much better shape!’ came their sing-song voices.

‘Well, I can see old Birdie’s wisdom is not appreciated in this crowd.’

Holly’s laugh came out in a series of short harsh barks, ending with a cough. ‘Better shape, Bird? Look at us. I’m sporting a necklace of nasty purple finger prints from that disgusting creature and you’re wearing his innards all up and down the front of you. It’s sheer luck we aren’t all dead!’

She hoped it was only a trick of moonlight and weariness, but as she said the word ‘luck’ a familiar gleam crept into Bird’s eyes. ‘Luck.’ said Bird, caressing the sound with her tongue. ‘Now that is just the word I was thinking of.’ She ran toward the small gate in the northwest corner of the grounds’ wall, calling out to them that she would be right back.

Volondil, leaning on his blade, watched her retreating figure and sighed. His side was beginning to ache, and he was weary from their encounter with the Mewlips. Olo sat down near Holly on the bench, his chin resting on his blackthorn stick, planted before him in the ground. A very short time later Bird reappeared, her hands empty of the leather sack.

‘Well here’s my plan.’ she said in a rush of words. Just another gold find or two like the one in the smithy, and they would be set for quite a while. They would go back in the northern door, but this time they would turn right, down the corridor which headed south. ‘And if we find any more heavy iron doors, heavily bolted we pass them right on by.’ Bird stood, hands on hips, looking at the silent trio.
‘That is your “plan”?’ came the incredulous voice of the Hobbit. Bird nodded her head ‘yes’. ‘And you don’t see any problems with it?’ Holly picked up Volondil’s blade and held it to her chest. ‘Just kill me now. Here, underneath the stars, and get it over with.’

Bird knocked the tip of the blade from Holly’s vest. ‘Don’t be so melodramatic. You said it yourself, that we were lucky tonight. And I think you’re right.’ She hauled the Hobbit up with her hand. ‘Come on. Let’s get going.’

Volondil led, followed by Bird and Holly. Olo brought up the rear. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance we could vote on this, is there?’ he said as they entered the doorway and turned right. ‘Seems like your feet have already voted for you.’ whispered Bird back to him. ‘Just stick close to Holly. Things are going to work out fine.’

It was dark as they turned to the left and stood before a closed door. Volondil tried the handle and it opened easily, giving them entrance to an inner hallway. Olo resigned himself to this foolhardy mission, and opened the hood of the lantern just a little more to see what lay before them . . .

[ February 12, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[*Varda*]

Her hands shaking slightly, Poppy lit a lantern, and gave the gold to Nardol, before she and Nardol stepped forward and into the ominous dark of the castle. The light of the lantern she carried could only provide a little light around them, and Poppy gradually felt more and more suffocated by the heavy darkness, and the eeriness she felt creeping up her spine. More than once she looked back towards the door, longing to flee, but the tall body of the elf beside her kept her walking on.

Ahead of her she saw the Great Hall, and the wispy form of Maladil awaiting them. She remembered his harsh condescending words to her, and courage and determination to prove this ghost wrong, rose in her heart. Keeping this firmly in her mind, she walked into the Great Hall, Nardol by her side, and Poppy felt far safer than she would have been alone. Nothing she had imagined on the journey prepared her for the experience of meeting Maladil face to face, alone or otherwise, and she felt cold.

Maladil advanced towards them, as Nardol placed the gold in front of him, offering it to the ghost.

[piosenniel]

The four entered the inner hallway heading east. Holly and Olo took the lead, Olo holding his lantern before them to drive back the darkness. Bird followed behind, and Volondil brought up the rear. It was silent except for the fall of their footsteps on the dusty wooden floor.

Holly strained her ears trying to hear any noise coming from the eastern section of the castle which lay before them. She knew that the main body of the companions had entered that way. The only sound, though, was Bird muttering about the obvious lapse in housekeeping standards, as she sneezed from the dust thrown into the air as they crept along.

‘Shhh! You’re loud enough to wake the dead!’ admonished Holly, hissing back over her shoulder at her companion. The incongruity of her remark struck her as funny of a sudden and she began to giggle as Bird snorted at her words. ‘Wake the dead! No chance of avoiding that.’ retorted the sniffling Shapechanger.

‘Pipe down! The both of you.’ Came the stern reprimand from Olo. Both women stared incredulous at the authoritative tone of the usually mild mannered Hobbit. ‘He’s right.’ said Volondil from the rear. ‘The dead are too awake in this place. Let’s not advertise our whereabouts and draw their attention to us.’

‘Hmmph!’ snorted Bird, though quietly.

A little way down the inner hallway, they could see doorways to their right (south) and left (north) and possibly one at the far eastern end of it. They gathered in a tight group, and Olo opened the lantern a little further to make out better the way before them.

‘Let’s try that one, there.’ said Volondil quietly, pointing with his sword . . .

[Child of the 7th Age]

Andreth tucked the book under her sash, remembering Gandalf's directive to keep it safe from unfriendly hands. She could feel herself slipping in and out, although she had no idea what she was slipping in and out of. One minute she could see and understand absolutely nothing about the ghosts and, the next, all of their actions and thoughts were crystal clear to her. The sensation felt rather strange.

At that instant the moon rose to its highest point in the sky, in token of the fact that the witching time had come, that which the hobbits call the hour of midnight.

Suddenly, Andreth felt her body become very, very light, as she found her feet lifting gently off the ground. All those around her--Gandalf and all her companions--seemed to be drifting off onto another plane, from which she was barred. Somehow, that didn't bother her. This new place where she was going seemed interesting indeed. In fact, for the very first time, Andreth began to understand why there were reasons, even going beyond Adela's death, that someone might like to maintain this form at least for a little while, rather than continuing on to where they were supposed to go.

Her heart felt curiously unafraid, her body totally free. She wanted to leave the front of the house where all those bright sparklers were, for she really did not like them at all. The darkness seemed more inviting. She sped swiftly through the air, intentionally aiming herself at the middle of a tree and hurtling through it to the other side, laughing with glee.

She made her way swiftly to the back of the mansion, and followed the footprints of Holly and her friends, hovering over them in the hallway, and laughing to see Volondil push his sword forward, for she felt quite certain that mere steel alone would not hurt her or the other ghosts.

Feeling quite carefree, she gleefully called out to Holly, "It's me Andreth, perched on the ledge above your heads. If you'd like, I can slip through the wall and investigate those rooms, and let you know if all is safe inside."

She slipped off the ledge and spun downward, hovering directly over Volondil. She felt strange feelings inside her that she didn't understand. On an impulse, she bent close to the Ranger, and ran her fingers affectionately through his hair, wondering if he would respond.

[ February 17, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

The four companions halted in the inner hallway. Volondil whispered he felt a breeze ruffle his hair, and Holly’s brow was furrowed as she heard some sort of buzz in her head but could not make out any words. Olo looked on perplexed, oblivious to anything going on about him other than the presence of his three other companions.

It was Bird, drawing her small frame up indignantly, who spoke to the presence in the hallway. ‘Get away from him, you little git!’ She scowled at a place just beyond Volondil’s right shoulder. Volondil turned sharply and looked behind him, but could see nothing.

Holly, too, peered into the darkness behind them. ‘What is it, Bird?’ she asked, coming to stand by her friend.

‘It’s that red-haired girl. The one all moony over that nasty Elf. The castle’s done something to her.’ ‘Do you think Maladil killed her.’ whispered Olo, his eyes gone wide as he stared into the shadows and saw nothing. Bird snorted at this remark. ‘Wouldn’t have hurt anything if he did, now. Would it?’

Holly nudged Bird out of the way and spoke into the darkness. ‘I can’t hear or see you, Andreth. But obviously Bird can. We’ve already had to fight off a horrid creature trying to kill us. Can you help us out? There are some doors up ahead. One is to the left a little ways from us and then there is one on the right, and at the end of the hallway we can make out another door where the hallway stops. Is there anyway you can let us know what lurks beyond the doors? We’re looking for the deed to the Castle . . . for Gandalf.’

Bird pulled Holly near, one eye on the ghostly girl. ‘Now what did you tell her that for?’ she whispered into the Hobbit’s ear. ‘’Because,’ whispered Holly back to her, ‘I don’t think telling her we’re looking for gold and saleable small items would enlist her to our cause.’

Holly smiled into the darkness, a restraining hand clenched firmly onto Bird’s arm. ‘So, what do you say, can you give us a hand?’

[Child of the 7th Age]

To be truthful, Andreth had forgotten a lot of the reason why she was supposed to be in the castle. She knew it had something to do with her dear departed relations and how they should be packing their things and heading to different shores. But, somehow, being a ghost was so much fun that all of Andreth's common sense had fled.

There was still a tiny voice of caution in the very back of her mind which was issuing a stern warning. If you stay like this too long, you'll never get back to the other Andreth again. And, if you think real ghosts have fun, you'd better think again. The only reason this is fun is that you still have enough life energy and laughter left to run rings around most of the other ghosts in this palace. But all that will fade if you're not careful.

Andreth should have paid closer attention to that voice, but she was having such a good time she had no intention of doing so. Andreth didn't like the harsh sound of Bird's words, even though she couldn't understand their full meaning, so she flew down to her and tugged hard on several locks of her raven hair. The next time you're nasty to me, I'll tie it all in knots!

Then she hovered in front of Holly and did a little curtsey. The problem was she couldn't quite undersatand what Miz Holly was saying. All her words seemed horribly jumbled. Still, she knew her friend intended to explore the castle, and it seemed easier for Andreth to get around quickly without fear of attack. So Andreth thought she might try to go into the rooms first, one at a time, and see if anything interesting or dangerous was there.

She took out an embroidery cloth and hastily stitched a message. "I check rms. U stay." She held it in front of Holly's nose, hoping she could see it. Then she got out her guidebook from beneath her sash and flipped it down to the hobbit, making sure it was open to the page that looked like the back hallway. "Don't know if this is any help, since it's written in Quenyan, but you never know." She didn't think Gandalf would mind if she gave the book to Holly, since he seemed to place a great deal of trust in her himself.

She surged ahead of the group, yelling back a warning for them to stay there, then turned abruptly to the left, going straight through the stonework with ease. She hovered perfectly still in the middle of the room, glancing purposefully from one side to the other, making sure to take in all the sights so that she could report back to Holly.

[ February 17, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Gandalf_theGrey]

* Maladil's cold luminescence drifted towards Nardol and Poppy until he stood inches away, sword in hand glittering, but held down absentmindedly, scraping the red marble tiled floor. Amid flickers of sickly blue light, the Elf and Hobbit representing Lord Elrond could see tatters of cloth hung streaming down where daggers had ripped Maladil's nightrobe. Worse, gash wounds were visible on either side of the ghost's torso, and a ghastly gaping darkness where the heart had been. His hair was a long lank black, eyes of subdued coal-grey sharp enough to cut you down if he gazed at you directly and with purpose, expression a stern searching smolder, posture ready to spring. *

* The Butler followed his master only as far as the door to the Great Hall, allowing Maladil to continue on into the middle of the Hall to meet his two guests. Guilin, a man-at-arms wielding a halberd, drifted in after Maladil and stood forlorn several paces behind his master, with pleading eyes eager to speak, but keeping silent out of fear. *

* Maladil bowed with utmost courtesy, first to Poppy, then to Nardol. He made them no fair greeting, beyond carefully uttering their names until each nodded that they had heard ... "Ammmbbbaaassaadddorr." ... "Mmaaccaarr." Maladil reached out for the sack of gold with his left hand, his right still clutching his weapon, which now looked like a crutch standing to support nothing. *

* Poppy and Nardol returned Maladil's bow in kind. Nardol held out the sack until he was certain it was within Maladil's grip, then let go and withrew his arm again to his side. *

* Maladil spoke: * ... alliance ... old between ... Houses ... Elrond, Galadriel, ... Maladil ... firm. ... Laurëondo ... fight ... Orc ... fell ... Nameless Land ... seek ... come, ... servants ... perimeter ... grounds, myself ... Castle itself. ... two Nameless ..., one ... East, ... other farthest West, ... curses ... you ... brought ... West with ...! Thus Begone Hence!

* Guilin could not bear it! He whisked over to Poppy, meaning to follow her close should she turn and leave. Yes, she must go, Lord Maladil had so commanded. But on the way, she might speak to him. Guilin's halberd clattered to the floor unheeded. * "Tiiidinnggss!" he cried, "Outtt-sssiiiidde ... ww-whattt ... ?"

* Meanwhile, Maladil's sword began to glow blue, with a strong, bright light. *

[piosenniel]

Holly was surprised, to say the least, as Andreth’s book tumbled into her hands. She waved it in the general direction of its descending arc, and shoved it beneath her tunic, tucking it securely into the waistband of her breeches. The piece of embroidery waved before her nose and she read the instructions ‘to stay’. The Hobbit shrugged her shoulders at the words, and led the three further down the hallway. ‘She’s a ghost, she can follow us and tell us anything of interest if she needs to.’

‘Can you see her at all, Bird?’ Holly stepped along quickly heading for the south end of the corridor. ‘No!’ came the low whisper close to the Hobbit’s ear. ‘But if I do I’ll wring her scrawny little neck.’ Holly smirked at this reply, and glanced at Volondil, wondering if he understood that Bird had marked him as her territory. He and Olo strode on manfully after the two women, blissfully unaware of the undercurrents which might at any moment rise and drown them.

‘Well, what can you see?’ pressed the Hobbit. ‘Just a sort of tricksy glimmer, and mostly from the corner of my eyes. Her words I can only catch a few of.’ Bird looked at Holly. ‘You can’t see her at all?’ ‘Not a glimmer!’ replied Holly, ‘And all that I get is an annoying buzz in my ears.’

A wooden, maple door halted their progress. Volondil stepped forward his blade ready, and tried the handle. Unlocked, the door swung open on its creaking hinges. Olo raised the lantern and cast a light into the darkness beyond. ‘Might as well.’ said Holly to Volondil, as he looked back at her and raised his eyebrows in question.

The four stepped through the doorway, and stood just within, taking stock of their surroundings . . .

[Mithadan]

"What did he say?" whispered Poppy.

"I did not catch all the words," replied Nardol. "But it seems he is not pleased that Mithrandir accompanies us and he demands that we leave." He smirked a bit. "Hopefully, Mithrandir will not be unduly concerned about the loss of his gold."

Nardol watched as the guard approached. "Bow again, little one, and we shall take our leave." The two bowed to Maladil, even as the guard came up next to them and said "Tiiidinnggss, Outtt-sssiiiidde ... ww-whattt ... ?"

Poppy looked up at the guard nervously, but Nardol's attention was drawn elsewhere. Maladil's blade began to sparkle and glow with blue fire. "Yrch," he whispered. Then more loudly, he addressed the guard in an attempt to delay their departure. "We have come in peace," he said. "We were sent by Elrond to meet with the Lord Maladil..."

[ February 18, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Gandalf_theGrey]

* Four weapons missed their mark ... daggers and arrows sailed harmlessly by. But five weapons hit! The members of the company standing just at the border of the grounds of Maladil Castle were under attack! *

* Aislan was pelted by a rock, but took only a stinging glancing blow to her back and little hurt before the rock bounced away. Alearindu was nicked by an arrow, which did minor damage of itself, but opened an old wound, for the arrow struck her already-bandaged middle! Gandalf was grazed by a spear ... but the throw was wobbly and partly deflected by an instinctively-raised staff, such that the thrown missile skittered down into the grass after rending a sleeve to draw blood from his right arm. Menelduliniel was struck more deeply by a spear in the back of her thigh, but the weapon was easily pulled out, and she could still walk. Andreth's horse Whinny took the worst of it, and though only pierced by a jagged rock in the flank, moved with lowering head and stumbly steps. In Aislan's expert opinion as a hostler, Whinny was acting as though poisoned. *

Enter the Castle grounds! * Gandalf shouted. * Horses to the stables, the rest of us into the Castle!

* While retreating, Gandalf launched a firework towards the cluster of approaching red enemy torches. The fiery missile careened in a zigzagging arc, for Gandalf's aim wavered as he stumbled over a dead tussock of brittle grass. Yet the wizard managed to slow three Orcs, who squealed on being singed and leapt to the ground rolling to stop the fingers of fire and smoke rising through their foul clothes. *

* Cirgon the Cook ran alongside of Aislan, Alearindu, Estelarion, Gandalf, Hinura, Menelduliniel, and the horses, as though the ghost considered himself a member of their company. Daerohil ran skipping and leapfrogging to the Stately Stables. *

*******************************************

* Maladil followed Nardol's glance at his sword, understanding, though not hearing any of what Nardol whispered. The Lord of Laurëondo shrieked a bellowing wail. * Yrch! To arms! To arms! Secure the Castle grounds! Guilin, retrieve your halberd from the floor and get out there! Butler, gather all the glass bottles you may, the heaviest sort, and bring them to me at the front door!

* Guilin at first nodded squinting at Nardol's words, obviously having some trouble understanding, but satisfied with what he understood. At Maladil's bellow, the man-at-arms picked up his weapon, bowed once towards Maladil, Poppy, and Nardol, and ran out. *

* Halblung and Tiroedrath darted forth swinging their swords to the edge of their territory, peering now out at the clump of Orcs with torches, peering then at the cluster of Elves and Men with lanterns and candles rushing in ahead. Halblung and Tiroedrath ignored Cirgon and gave free passage to Aislan, Alearindu, Estelarion, Gandalf, Hinura, Menelduliniel, and their horses. *

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]

[piosenniel]

The second she crossed the door sill, the hair stood up on the back of Holly’s neck, and an uneasy feeling crept into her bones. It was cold in this dark place, and uncomfortable. And even with the lantern turned high, the air was murky and thick. Bird’s eyes were wide with barely suppressed panic.

Holly grasped Volondil’s arm and pulled him back through the door into the hallway, the moving mass of their two bodies forcing Olo and Bird further down the corridor and away from the room they had entered. Volondil closed the door as they exited and Holly led them at a rapid pace back down the hallway, heading toward the small door at the northwest corner. ‘I don’t care how much gold there is in this bloody castle, I want out of here.’ Bird only nodded as she pulled up alongside Holly and nudged her friend to a faster pace.

The four companions reached the small door, pausing in the shadows just south of the doorway. Olo had hooded the lantern, and only a small flicker of light escaped it as it hung from his hand. Moonlight poured in through the open doorway, beckoning like a silvery path to the four weary friends.

Holly drew the book that Andreth had given her from the waistband of her breeches, and peering back into the darkness from which they'd come, she whispered, 'Andreth! If you can hear me,' or understand me, 'I'm leaving your book here for you. We are leaving.' The Hobbit wrapped the book in a handkerchief and placed it on the small, dusty table near the doorway.

Volondil crept to the door and peered out. All was quiet. It was the midnight hour and the moon stood high in the dark heavens. The shadows of the trees in the orchard were at their smallest; the three graves stood on the greensward like ghoulish loaves of silvery iced lady fingers set on a green napkin.

The Ranger gave the signal, and like arrows loosed from a bow, the companions shot across the lawn to the shelter of the orchard, pausing where it met the edge of the garden against the wall. Like passing shadows they made their way to the small open gateway in the northwestern corner of the castle surround wall and flew out of it and to the shelter of the trees where Peri stood, waiting.

From their place beneath the trees they could hear the sound of tumult coming from the front entry to the castle. Bird changed to her jackdaw form and flew up to the castle roof for a better look. Less than a heartbeat, and she was back among them, warning them to be quiet and hissing one word. ‘Orcs!’

Peri startled at the word as if he understood it. His nose told him there were no Orcs before them and he pulled on Holly’s sleeve, urging her in a northwesterly direction. She grabbed his lead, and let him take the group deeper into the trees and away from the castle.

They trudged along in silence, stopping only long enough to take a pull on their waterskins or grab a handful of dried fruit to eat. It was at one of these brief respites that Holly hooked her arm through Bird’s and said she was sorry they hadn’t even made it out with any of the gold. Bird laughed and patted Peri’s saddle bag. ‘Where do you think I went with the Mewlip’s coins when I went running out to hide them?’ Holly shook her head saying she might have known Bird would think of contingencies when it came to making sure the loot left with them.

When they were far from the castle, and well into the night, Holly, thinking of Maladil and Adela, and their sad story, began to hum an old tune, then softly took up the words. Bird joined in singing harmony, their voices twining through the verses


Cold blows the wind to my true love,
And gently drops the rain.
I've never had but one true love,
And in green-wood she lies slain.

I'll do as much for my true love,
As any young man may,
I'll sit and mourn all on her grave,
For twelve months and a day.

And when twelve months and a day was passed,
The ghost did rise and speak,
"why sittest thou all on my grave
And will no let me sleep?"

"Go fetch me water from the desert,
And blood from out the stone,
Go fetch me milk from a fair maid's breast
That young man never has known."

"My breast is cold as clay,
My breath is earthly strong,
And if you kiss my cold clay lips,
Your days they won't be long."

"How oft on yonder grave, sweetheart,
Where we were want to walk,
The fairest flower that e'er I saw
Has withered to a stalk."

"When will we meet again, sweetheart,
When will we meet again?"
"When the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and spring up again."

‘Even singing that gives me the shivers.’said Holly drawing her cloak tight about her.

They traveled on for many days making their way slowly back to the relative safety of Eriador. Their feet drew them north up the Brandywine River to Lake Nenuial, skirting the boundaries of the Shire, and across the Emyn Uial to the River Lhûn.

And there their story is lost . . .
___________________________________________
Child Ballads; Volume II; # 78

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel looked at the shimmering forms as they ran. The forms seemed to be preparing to make war. Menelduliniel had a fleeting thought of question as to what the spirits would like like fighting, but then she saw the Orcs advancing, and she turned and followed once more.

**********

Estelarion ran fairly gingerly, as he could only just make out some of the glimmers of shadow that appeared around them. He had considered aiding in whatever battle was obviously to take place, but when he saw Mithrandir run, he knew that his place was running beside Menelduliniel...or rather behind her a bit, as his careful running caused him to fall a bit behind the others...

[Mithadan]

As the shades rushed towards the door, Nardol drew his blade. Then he turned to Poppy, who seemed uncertain whether to follow. "It might be best if you left the swordplay to the larger folk, little one. Maybe you should stay here while I go to the aid of our friends."

If Poppy, was startled to hear the word 'friends' issue from Nardol's mouth, he seemed just as surprised. He shook his head and chuckled. Then he smiled down at the young Hobbit. "It is your choice, but if you follow, take care." With that, he ran out the door.

A quick glance around the courtyard revealed a point where the wall was partially obscured by a tree. He leapt up and perched there, setting his sword on the stone ledge, and pulled his bow from his shoulder. Nocking an arrow, he squinted in the dark at the advancing torches. When he could descry the silhouettes of the advancing Orcs, he let his arrow fly, quickly replacing it with a second which he loosed as well. Then he waited for a clearer target...

[ February 20, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Running with the rest of the company, Aislan worried about Whinny and her wound. Then, Gandalf took a second to look to Aislan and Alearindu. With a graceful sweep of an arm, he motioned in the direction of the Stately Stables. Or, at least the way they supposed the stables were. Both nodded, and with Whinny, Eruntale and Mornen right behind them, turned away from the rest of the company.

“Which way did Gandalf say the Stables were?” Alearindu asked as they ran into the Inner Courtyard.

Aislan shook her head: she didn’t know. Gandalf had read them a description of the Stately Stables from Andreth’s book! Why hadn’t she paid attention? Then she remembered! They were supposed to go right! Or it could have been left.

“Alearindu, did you remember anything from when Gandalf read about the Stables?” Aislan’s voice trailed off as she asked the question. Aislan could see in the grass to the left a bouncing and leaping glimmer. Aislan stared at the form, and Alearindu looked into the darkness, puzzled. Aislan went closer to the shimmering thing, but before she could get to close, the spirit sprinted away.

“Follow it!” Aislan nearly shouted, forgetting that Alearindu couldn’t see anything.

“Follow what?” Alearindu asked, looking around.

“Follow me!” Aislan answered and started to chase after the spirit. Alearindu followed closely, Mornen was right behind, while Whinny tried to keep up with her slight wound.

The spirit thing raced through the grass, running from the left to the right. Aislan kept her eye on the slight glow of the ghost, and Alearindu wondered what on earth she had seen in the first place. Turning left again, the two humans and two horses followed the ghost towards the South Wall. There, the creature bolted into the Stately Stables. The living beings followed it into the Stables. When they entered the stables, the ghost was either gone, or it was hiding.

“Where did it go?” Aislan wondered aloud, meaning the spirit that had led them there. They probably would have gotten lost if Aislan had not been able to see it.

[ February 21, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Andreth slipped out from the darkened room, which seemed to look much like a dining chamber. She came out searching for Holly, hoping to describe what she'd seen. But Holly and Bird and the others were nowhere in sight. She floated along the corridor looking down from above, and finally saw her book sitting on a table near the door. She hastily went down to retrieve it and slid it under her sash again.

There were loud shrieks coming from the front of the castle, so she thought she'd better have a look. Making her way back towards the main gate, she was startled to see Whinney limping along, being led by Aislan and Alearindu. For the first time that night, she cursed her lack of a proper body as she could not even help or comfort her horse. She decided to stay just behind the group as she saw them make their way into the Stately Stables.

[Gandalf_theGrey]

* Tiroedrath the door-warden and Halblung man-at-arms drifted to the edge of the Castle grounds and stood in fighting stance with drawn swords appearing to hover at diagonal angles. Missile weapons passed right through the ghosts, who merely gazed out upon their enemy. Guilin, man-at-arms with glittering halberd catching shafts of moonlight, belatedly joined his fellow warriors to guard the boundary line that marked their curse. *

* Gandalf, inside the Outer Entryway and headed towards the Inner Courtyard, stopped in his tracks as Maladil reappeared. As luck would have it, the Lord of Laurëondo stood blocking the very same front door that the company had been running towards! *

* Maladil distractedly glanced around as though waiting for something. Gandalf motioned to Aislan and Alearindu to lead the horses leftwards to the Stately Stables. The wizard then motioned to Menelduliniel, Estelarion, and Hinura to the right, mouthing the words, "Go quickly and discreet now, bards!" Gandalf then lit the end of his staff until it blazed up with a white light, and slowly strode straight ahead to face Maladil. *

* Both of Nardol's arrows flew truly to hit their mark! The first Orc to take an arrow keeled over dead. The second Orc staggered a bit and fell to the ground with heavy groaning, its black blood further darkening the night. Two answering arrows from the Orcs went wide and cracked against the cover of trees. *

* Cirgon the Cook watched Aislan, Alearindu, the horses, Estelarion, Hinura, Menelduliniel. Then Cirgon hastened ahead of Gandalf, having glimpsed the Butler, carrying a basketful of bottles, approach Maladil. "Yes, bottles!" Cirgon cried, "Give some to me, Master Maladil, that I may join your good fighters to defend our Castle!" The cook floated away with an armful of bottles to join Guilin, Halblung, and Tiroedrath. Of the bottles thrown by Cirgon, three hit their target. *

* The Orcs hit by the bottles were not seriously hurt. Even so, no Orc dared cross the boundary of shadow onto Maladil's land, within reach of ghostly sword or halberd. *

* Gandalf spoke to Maladil, who clung uselessly to the sack of gold just presented to him in one hand, his sword Orc Bane in the other, a basket of bottles before him on the ground. * Your bottles will not avail you. Despite the most excellent aim, you cannot throw them far enough to make a difference while trapped within your door. Yet go inside with me, where we may rejoin Poppy Took. * Gandalf fell back a few steps and leaned upon his staff at Maladil's glare. The wizard shook his head as if to clear away a sudden stinging headache. *

* Under cover of the distraction provided courtesy of Cirgon and Gandalf, ... Hinura, Meneldulinion, and Estelarion had managed to slip past Maladil unnoticed and were now just inside the Castle, walking as silently as they could across its cool tiled floors. Soon they found themselves within the Great Hall, looking across at Poppy with her lantern. *

* Inside the Stately Stables, Daerohil smiled as wide as he could, bowing a greeting of welcome to his guests, just as he had in the Second Age. The ghostly stable-lad patted Eruntale, Mornen, and Rustal, hand vanishing straight through their lovely manes. Daerohil looked at Whinny, ghostly Elvish eyes brimming with concern for the trembling horse with labored breathing. "Calimiel ... know ... herb?"

* Midnight stood outside the stables, peering back around the corner of the Inner Courtyard, halfway between Aislan and Gandalf, flicking his ears first one way, then the other. Midnight bent to pull up some grass, but snorted in displeasure at the mouthful of brown weeds. *

[ February 21, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]

[*Varda*]

Poppy looked startled as Nardol ran out to join the battle. The silent elf had changed much over the last day or two, and she was still finding it hard not to be surprised.

But should she go, or stay? She had her small dagger, but that would be no use against the orcs, and surely one so small as her could do little more than stab them in the knee. No, she would be more of a hindrance than a help. Quietly she stood in the Great Hall, the silence almost suffocating her, with only her lantern to hold on to. Where was everyone else? If something went wrong now, what would she do? Poppy’s head swam, and she prayed she wouldn’t be left alone for too late.

Her prayers seemed answered when she heard quiet footsteps on the cold floor and saw Menelduliniel and Estelarion entering the hall, looking over at her. Poppy breathed a sigh of relief, and walked over to them.

“What is happening outside? Is everything alright?” she said breathlessly, looking from one elf to the next. “And what are we to do now we are inside, and they are out there?”

[VanimaEdhel]

"Where do you suppose we should start?" Poppy said, looking fairly dubiously at all the paths open to the three.

Menelduliniel looked around at the doorways. Suddenly, the big maple door caught her eye. She liked that door. Why she liked it, she did not know. Maybe it was because it stood out amongst the stairways and open passages. It looked like it was hiding something. Or maybe it was trying to appear as if it was trying to hide something…Menelduliniel’s head suddenly started to hurt thinking about it.

She looked over and it appeared as though Estelarion and Poppy both saw the obvious door by the southwestern stairway. Menelduliniel went over and tried the handle. It was locked, of course. Menelduliniel felt somewhat foolish for not assuming that it would be.

"Look for a key!" she said, beginning to follow her own command, "But stay in this room!"

The three all went to different parts of the room, Menelduliniel looking in the doorway to the North and the staircase in the Northwest, Estelarion looking around the doorway at the South, and Poppy looking around the maple door and the southwestern staircase. Estelarion, finished searching the doorway to the South joined Menelduliniel in searching the staircase in the Northwest.

"I found it!" Poppy said, her voice echoing a bit. The two Elves ran over to where Poppy knelt on the stairway. She had found a little nook and inside that nook was a key. Menelduliniel looked at it carefully, trying to see if it was the right key or just a key to another part of the castle. Poppy got up and walked over to the maple door, easily sliding the key in and turning it in the lock. She waited for Estelarion and Menelduliniel to come before she opened the door. Menelduliniel drew her knives and Estelarion took an arrow from his quiver. Poppy, chewing on her bottom lip, slid the door open.

All three gave a fairly disappointed exhale once they went into the room. It appeared to just be an ordinary dining room. There was a door in the northwestern corner of the room that appeared to be much like the door they had just passed through. Menelduliniel ran over to that door and tried it again, once again finding only a locked door.

"Do not be so hasty to leave," Estelarion said, looking at her disappointed face, "For appearances may be deceiving. There may be something to find in this room yet...I hope."

Estelarion’s face betrayed him, showing that he, too, was disappointed that they did not find anything of use yet. He seemed to see that his face showed his emotions, however, and quickly busied himself looking around the room. Poppy also began to look around the room. Only Menelduliniel stood, looking fairly melancholy, for a few minutes.

After those few minutes passed, Menelduliniel decided that moping would do her no good right now. She began to look around the room with the others. Estelarion seemed to be poking around the walls around the door that they came in through. Poppy was poking around the big fireplace, looking up on the ledge and just within it. The silver apple and pear of the same substance particularly attracted her, but she did not touch them, for fear of upsetting an inhabitant of the room.

"What are you guys looking for?" Menelduliniel asked, thinking that she may have missed something important at some point. The others just looked at her and shrugged a bit then went back about their searching.

Menelduliniel looked at the table. One of the chairs caught her eye. It seemed to be out of place. It was at a strange angle, diagonal to the other chairs in the room. Menelduliniel put her hand forward to touch it, but drew it back, as something inside of her told her not to touch anything that seemed strange. She had learned the hard way not to touch anything that should not be touched whilst she was on a quest with Mithrandir. Touching anything usually meant either death or near-death.

Menelduliniel looked at the broken wineglass and wondered what struggle occurred in this room and why it was commemorated in such a way? Then Menelduliniel had a thought. She ran to the first door and took out the key. She brought it over to the second door. Both Poppy and Estelarion gave her a strange look as she tried the key. Much to both her and their surprise, the lock clicked and Menelduliniel pushed the door open.

They entered into what seemed to be a sitting room. There was a small mahogany table with ornate legs. Menelduliniel, however, was immediately drawn to a strong odor of flowers. She crossed over and saw lilacs of three colors. She yearned to touch them, but told herself not to.

"I have never smelled flowers that had such a strong odor," Menelduliniel commented.

"Maybe it is the surroundings," Estelarion suggested, shrugging, then commencing his new search.

All three looked around this new room, more fascinated than they were with the dining room. This room, although it was by no means less beautiful, did not have the feeling of mourning and fear that they found from the dining room.

Menelduliniel made her way over to the beautiful armchair that was in one part of the room. She sat in it, under a disapproving stare from Estelarion.

"We should not touch any–" he began, before he stopped, seeing Poppy sit down on the couch and seeing that nothing happened to either of the hasty women. He gave a small snort of surprise, then sat down.

"What do you think we ought to do?" Poppy asked, "Shall we go back?"

"After I collect my thoughts," Menelduliniel said, "I want to go over this room once more."

The three sat for a time, smelling the sweet odor of the lilacs. Finally, Menelduliniel arose and looked around the room once more. She suddenly noticed a small cabinet just to the right of the window. She had not looked in that cabinet, nor did she think that Poppy or Estelarion had done so. Menelduliniel gestured to the cabinet, then turned to Poppy and Estelarion, who both gestured for her to open it. Menelduliniel, finding that it was not locked, opened it.

There was nothing that particularly attracted Menelduliniel. She liked the tea set, yes, but there did not seem to be anything out of the ordinary.

She slumped back over to her chair.

"What do you propose that we do now?" Menelduliniel asked. Estelarion shrugged. Menelduliniel turned to the small Poppy and said, "You seem to hold importance on this quest. I believe that it should be you who decides what we are to do next."

Both Elves looked expectantly at the small Hobbit...

[ February 23, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[*Varda*]

Poppy turned and wandered back into the dining room, not answering Menelduliniel’s question. The odour of the lilacs was overpowering her, as she wondered how they could be so strong.

“There must be something interesting around here,” she murmured to herself. “It can’t be that empty” Her eyes glanced up to the top of the fireplace, which seemed to hold nothing but a few ornaments, gold, and valuable surely, but nothing worth looking at. Not that she was able to reach that high, anyway. The two elves stood in the doorway and watched her, as she sighed.

“Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything here,” she said, gesturing around the room. “And unless there’s some way out of the sitting room, which there doesn’t seem to be, I suppose we’re back where we started. Should we try upstairs?”

Seeing nothing else of interest in the two rooms, and feeling only a strange chill in both rooms, the elves and Poppy walked out into the Great Hall once more, shutting the door behind them. Poppy took the key and locked it.

“I don’t like the idea of leaving it unlocked…” she said to the elves. “We don’t want to show the ghosts everywhere we’ve been, in case we’ve been somewhere we shouldn’t.” Nervously she rubbed her hands together, feeling the cold in the large hall, and looked around. “Where should we go now?”

There was plenty of choice. Two staircases went upstairs, and two open doorways, nothing but heavy darkness beyond them, lay open to them. Poppy looked at the elves, waiting for some signal, some response. Both seemed to be looking to the northwest staircase.

“Perhaps we should try up there,” Menelduliniel offered her opinion. “We are finding nothing down here.” Poppy nodded, and they went up the staircase, the hall lying vast and empty behind them, and uncertainty before them.