East of Ered Wethrin -- Eithel Sirion
The spires of mighty peaks rise up, piercing the sky with their grandeur, their heights crowned with snow for much of the year. Forests of Pines, Elms, and Alders cover the lower flanks and foothills, their deep greens and browns providing contrast to the rocky greys and frozen, glittering whites above.
Directly to the north, sheltered hard against the rising spires of stone and ice, the glimmering blue of a mountain lake can be seen. It is small, but its waters dazzle the eyes like the sparkling of a sapphire whenever the sun shines down on it, and so deep as to seem to have sprung up from the very heart of the lofty peaks which all but surround it.
Just to the east of Eithel Sirion lies a mighty fortress of stone and iron; strong and proud it seems, with blue and silver banners flying from the topmost spire. Further to the east, the foothills of the Ered Wethrin drop down towards grassy plains that stretch out endlessly like a vast green sea.
The air is sultry for late October as a second summer has a grasp on the Sirion Vale. Many people have taken the chance to get in a last swim in the shallows of the river before winter sets in for good. Rilania is with them, though not swimming. Rather, she sits on the bank playing a tune on a little flute. Dragonflies dart around the seeding cattails and cottonwood puffs drift through the warm air.
Aragant walks along the bank and sees Lady Rilania playing her flute. He stops and listens a bit, then approaches her," Your playing m'Lady is as pleasant as your singing...May I join you?"
Rilania nods to Aragant, but does not stop playing to talk. Her tune is light and slow, but not sad.
Acalewin walks out of the woods and smiles at the sound of the flute. He walks quietly over and does not say a word as he crouches down on the ground to listen. He casts a glance at those in the camp and smiles as most of them are watching the elf maiden play her tune.
Aragant sits near to Rilania and looks at the wild flowers that patchilly line the shore lines...it seems they flow with the sound of the flute...it is almost mesmerizing. Looks up and turns his head and sees Acalewin crouch down, but only smiles as the Elven maiden continues to play. His glance strays to those in the river, and he chuckles to himself for the weather has taken a turn back to the warmth....almost as though it is summer again.
As the tune continues, Acalewin's start to close while it begins to lull him to sleep. He stands up suddenly and takes a pot off the fire. He smell the contents before pouring himself a cup and sitting back down with the steaming liquid. He watches those in the water and continues to keep an ear on the musician.
Rilania continues to play the flute. The music seems to have no particular melody, rather it resembles the seeds on the wind. Sometimes rising, sometimes falling. Perhaps she watches the seeds and sets to music their motion. There is no regular beat or rhythm. It seems to be the music of nature itself.
Aragant leans back and lays looking up at the sky...and the soft powdery clouds that slowly make their way east....the music seems to calm the heart also...an so relaxed is he that he closes his eyes an concentrates on the sound, visualizing her delicate fingers moving with each note.
Acalewin sips his tea as he watches the nature and melody combine. He starts to drift off towards sleep again and sets down his cup and lays back against a log.
Rilania changes the music, and it becomes darker, more ominous. The flute sounds like the echo of a howling blizzard, the sound of torn wind through the bare trees. It sounds like the swirling of snow, the raging of sleet, the torment of ice. The air itself seems to take on a strange chill suddenly as the southerly breeze begins to be less steady and more volatile. At times, a sharp blast seems to come from the north as if sent by Morgoth himself to torture the world.
At the change in the flow of the music a chill runs through Aragant and he opens his eyes and sits abruptly up and looks to Elf..."I was enjoying your tune m'Lady until you changed it." He rubs his arms now and looks to the fire, a cup of hot tea would go nice. He stands and looks to Rilania," Thanks for the music....." he walks over to the campfire now and pours some tea for himself and while doing so he looks to Acalewin," I wonder what caused the change in Rilania's tone and flow of her song...was most relaxing until she started playing this...gave me a chill it did."
Rilania stops playing as Aragant speaks. She says nothing, looking somewhat confused herself, as if she was not aware of what she was playing. She turns and looks to the north and where the earth meets the sky, dark, torn clouds seem to be forming. Far they are, but seem all too close. Though they are at least day away, they seem to cast an icy pallor on the still beautiful day.
Acalewin wakes up as the tune changes and he scowls at the elf, but does not object to it. He turns to Aragant as he approaches and responds, "Yes, this song is a little bit less relaxing, but it is beautiful in its own right." He rubs his arms and pulls his cloak about him before looking around at the people in the river. He turns to the maiden as she stops, "You don't have to stop playing, there is nothing wrong with your song."
Coming towards the dark and ominous music, Garion comes in from the south and looks towards the fire where the group is. As the music stops Garion steps in and misses Aragant's question. "Well hello everyone."
Aragant looks up from his tea," Well Hello Garion..good to see you..how are you and where've you been?" he sips from the cup and winks to Acalewin, then glances at Rilania still sitting some ways away.
Acalewin looks up briefly at the approach of Garion and returns Aragant's wink with a smile. He turns towards Garion and says, "Hello, Garion. Sit down and have a cup of tea." He smothers a smile with a sip from his cup and says nothing else. The only other thing he does is sit back against the log and look as if he is relaxing.
Dralin stretches as he walks slowly out of the travel party and over to Acalewin, he yawns, "G'day there, seems that I must of slept through most of the trip, you wouldn't happen to be able to tell me where we are now can you?"
Rilania puts her flute away and turns to collect some of the lilies growing by the bank to put in her hair.
Aragant looks west at the peaks of the mountains," We're just east of the Ered Wethrin mountains Dralin." He sips some more of the hot liquid." You slept through the Fens while we were busy getting several wagons unstuck?.....well... we'll be sure to wake you next time. "He chuckles.
Acalewin chuckles softly at the dwarf, "I still don't know how you can sleep on a bumpy wagon. Walking is so much more enjoyable." He looks around camp and says, "How far along on our journey are we? How much long do you expect it will be until we reach our destination?"
Rilania picks some of the cattails and adds them to the lilies she did not lace into her hair. She forms an autumn bouquet from all the plants her finds growing.
Dralin laughs and pulls a flask from his rucksack, after taking a sip his says, "It's not too hard for me when I set my mind to staying away from work."
Aragant chuckles now and looks to Acalewin," I think going over the pass will take some time I think...from what the scouts say...the pass starts over yonder." He points somewhat west.
"All right. I think in the mountains that more people are going to wish they walked. Some of them may have to if they do not wish to overstrain their horses." He smiles, "Then I may have some company on foot." He then takes a more serious appearance, "Have there been any reports of orc from the scouts? And have you lost any?"
Aragant looks to Acalewin," No we haven't lost anyone, and the scouts have not reported any yrch as yet....but that doesn't mean they are not out there...just that they haven't been seen." He looks over to Rilania and the flower in her hair," Most becoming m'Lady...would you care for some tea?"
Dralin sighs hearing he's going to be forced from his nice comfortable cot in the wagon and then suddenly remembers the condition of his boots. He looks down to them and chuckles as he wiggles his toes, "Would anyone know where I could be gettin another pair of boots out here in the, as it seems, middle of nowhere? They don't seem to be in the best walking condition."
Rilania shakes her head at Aragant's offer, "No, thank you." She holds the bouquet in her arms and sits by the river, seeming thoughtful and remote.
Acalewin nods to Aragant, "That is good to hear." He then takes a drink from his cup before turning to the dwarf and looking at his boots, "I don't think you are going to be getting a new pair. If you want I could give you some of the hides of my catches to make something usable or to fix those." His gaze and attention then shifts to the elf and he chuckles softly at her appearance, "Yes, that does look very nice, ma'am."
Rilania does not seem to be paying attention to the humans as she gazes out at the river.
Aragant chuckles at the dwarf," Well I thought perhaps you dwarves didn't need shoes...or perhaps I was misinformed...." and without a word Dralin leaves, Aragant looks to Acalewin, "Was it something I said?"
Acalewin has a baffled expression on his face as he watches the dwarf leave the fire. "I don't know. He seems to be something of a touchy fellow." The hunter turns back to the scout and says, "What do you know of the hunting in this area? It seems to be a nice area. I could perhaps persuade someone to take my pack on their wagon and explore the area during out next move, if that is all right with you."
Rilania stands up and starts to toss her flowers and plants, one b one, into the river and watches the slip away to the south.
Aragant looks to the hunter, "Well..we have plenty of room and would be glad to do that for you." He finishes his tea and stands and looks at Rilania and wonders why she is being distant, perhaps she has something on her mind...but he decides to give here her space for now. He looks to Acalewin as he looks about the area," Well...if yer looking for game in this area stay close to the base of the mountains....that's where we found them the last time we went through here." Anna climbs down from the wagon and moves towards the fire preparing to fill her cup with Tea. She stops a moment as she notices Rilania dropping the flowers into the water not wanting to impose on the firstborn, she moves to join the men, "How is the day going for you to?" she asks as she pours the hot liquid and then moves to sit by Aragant.
Rilania turns around after all her flowers are dropped and hugs her arms to her as she walks toward the fire. It is still perfectly warm, however.
"I thank you, and perhaps I may take you up on the offer." Acalewin starts, "This is something of a nice area, but I have to be sure not to stray too far while we are moving or I may lose the group or find something most unpleasant that I will not be able to take care of by myself." He shivers at the thought and then changes the subject by looking at Rilania and saying, "Ma'am, is there something wrong or something that I can help you with?" Shifting his gaze towards Anna, he smiles, "I am doing fine this day, m'Lady. How are you doing?"
Rilania says to Acalewin, "I am fine. I was only thinking..." She seems not to finish her thought, letting her voice fade, as if she would rather not tell the humans. She smiles at Anna and says, "Good evening."
Anna smiles at the man, "I am very well thank you." she smiles as the elf rejoins the group. "Does anyone know when we will move on?"
Aragant smiles as Anna joins them, and reaches up to move a small lock of hair from over her eyes. " He looks to the peak, "I don't know...I think the animals need resting before we attempt the pass...so we could be here another day or two..it depends." He looks to Rilania," I don't mean to press m'Lady...is something wrong?..is there something we can do for you...you seem..well distant today." He looks with a little concern.
Acalewin nods at the words of the elf and does not press the issue any further. He turns towards Anna and smiles, "That is good to hear, ma'am." To Aragant, "That is good. I should like to do some exploring here. This is a fine area and something that should not just be passed through."
Rilania says to Aragant this time, "Do not worry about it. I am just concerned for my countrymen, that is all. I heard that the High King was traveling to distant Himring..."
Aragant places a hand near his chin and taps it," Hmm I understand m'Lady, But from what I have heard of your King I don't think there's not to worry about...but if you need anything please ask." He looks to Acalewin," Perhaps before you head out we should do a little works with your sword....that would make me feel a little better if you are to be out by yourself...but then, perhaps I will go with you." He looks to the Hunter for an answer.
Rilania does not seem assuaged by this, but pours a cup of tea and blows on it to cool it.
Acalewin looks at Aragant and chuckles, "Yes. I suppose that would be better then sitting idle here for the moment. And I am in the mood to be beaten." He stands up and says, "When ever you like, tell me. I will be ready."
Aragant looks to a small clearing, not to far away from where they are at, he looks to Acalewin, "Perhaps over yonder...is seems big enough..." he bows to the Lady and as he walks towards the area he loosens Courage in its scabbard.
A horn blares brightly from the west and a cloud of dust can be seen rising from the far side of the river. The beat of hooves is faintly heard as the riders near the bridge to pass through to the guard post.
Acalewin stands and removes his cloak. After setting it on the ground where he was sitting, he walks over to the clearing and looks at Aragant's sword. "I used a borrowed blade last time we did this. I shall have to do the same again, if you have one." He smiles and looks around the clearing.
As Aragant heads for the area he swings by the wagon and enters it when he comes out he is carrying something in a covered cloth...he looks up and hears a horn and walks over to Acalewin and hands him the item for him to see. But still his eye looks to the incoming riders.
Elrandir the tall emerge from the Mithrim part of the camp. He walks past bonfires, around elves sit, and he walk past tents, his way already pointed out. It is obvious that he intends to join the lady by the fire...
The horn blares again, nearer this time. It bears the sweet, pure sound of an elven instrument. They pause at the bridge and have an exchange with the guard. Rilania looks up from her drink, nodding to Elrandir, but looking beyond to the riders approaching.
Acalewin give the riders a brief glance and turns his attention to the item in Aragant's hands. He looks curiously between it and Aragant for a moment before taking it and feeling its weight. As he opens it his eyes widen slightly and he smiles as he pulls the blade out of its scabbard. "It is very nice." He takes a few test swings and says, "Feels right as well."
Elrandir smiles and nods briefly at Rilania, as he takes seat by the fire. First now he turns to look at the direction from where this sound of a horn comes. One rider passes through the gate. Apparently the others see fit to wait on the bridge. The rider approaches the fire, but dismounts his brown horse well before he nears it. The rider is tall and slender, arrayed in the garments of the messengers of the High King. He removes his helmet to reveal black hair and a fair face. He pauses and examines the gathered before speaking.
Aragant looks to Acalewin," I used up some things that were owed me to get you this...tis a good blade...Elven made, though I know nothing about it...may it keep you well." He glances towards the fire and sees Elrandir and waves, then heads to the middle of the clearing, and turns to face Acalewin.
Giving the blade a second look, Acalewin nods and says, "I hope is does as well, but I did not expect you to use up your own resources to do it. I will pay you back, once I reach home." He walks towards the clearing and takes a defensive stance as he faces Aragant. "Who do you want to start this?"
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