Logs-Another Giant Eagle-Encounter!

The Chetwood: Waterfall(#16939Rnof)
A small stream cascades in a waterfall down among washed stones before collecting into a small pool. The waterfall is no more than ten to twelve feet high, with the landscape rising in a jumble of rocks to reach it. At the waterfall's base, the pool is ringed by small plants, their green leaves leaning out over the water. Set back from the smaller plants are larger trees, their roots running down and into the water, through the shrubbery. The stream that feeds the falls vanishes into the wood to the west. A small animal track that leads to the water, also leads away westward. It is in that direction that the country rises up from the pool.

A morning sun is creeping slowly over the horizon, bathing the land in a pure orange light. The smell of rain fills the air and the land is covered in water from a light rain during the night. For now the land is caught in that peaceful time just before the day begins. A soft wind blows, birds sing quietly and all is calm.
But there is something a little unusual happening this particular morning. In a small glade beneath a medium sized waterfall, birds are gathered around as if they attend a court. They sing and flit around the waterfall as if serving a prince. And fair enough, for there before them is a lord of birds. Sulrannaur, Vassal of Hwestbrand bathes himself in the slow falling waterfall. The water runs off his red feathers, falling in big drops into the rocks below where it rejoins the stream.
From the direction of Archet (north), a curly-headed figure comes picking her way through the woods- pausing a moment and straining to hear, and the continuing on toward the falls... Her shoes are held in her hand and her toes are splattered with mud, yet this doesn't seem to concern her, for the continues on and then- reaching the falls, she draws in an excited breath (more at actually having found the area again than the eagle- for she hasn't yet noticed him...). Megan Tasselberry-Thatcher it is, and continuing toward the stream, she now spies the bird there beneath the falls, and her jaw drops in shock and amazement.. After all, wasn't she called crazy for having spoken of him, and yet here he (or one of his kind, at least) was again! Ever so quietly she approaches- bare feet making little sound (even for a human) on the grass beneath and she seems to hardly breathe...
Sulrannaur continues to bathe, spreading his massive wings so that they reach out to their full span of sixty feet and slowly doing his best to get the water to run along every pinion. For now the approaching human goes unnoticed, the water falling over the feather-covered ears of the eagle dimming the sounds even from the powerful ears of the descendant of Thorondor.
Stepping out of the immediate shadow of the falls, Sulrannaur stoops and drinks before slowly beginning to preen himself. Yet gradually the birds about him begin to fall silent as they sense another presence approaching.
Although not entirely wanting be noticed (for her eyes are wide in fear and awe at her treasure that she has stumbled upon) Megan is almost willing Sulrannaur to look at her, but- one mispaced foot on a rather brittle twig will perhaps do the job for her. Down comes the foot, and, amidst the falling silence, the sound seems rather out of place. Where she stands is where she pauses now, wincing as if the noise had hurt her.. and then she moves- though only slightly, and only enough so that her head is raised and her gaze moves from the broken twig beneath her foot to focusing on the bathing eagle- waiting to see what his reaction to her intrusion will be, and preparing to run and hide if it is one of anger...
The bathing Avian's head snaps around as quickly as the twig itself which was broken. His stormy eyes sweep the surrounding shrubs and tree's till his gaze falls on the form of Megan, "Who disturbs my rest? Show yourself." Words spoken in harsh Westron escape the hooked beak, shattering the silence and sending the gathered birds fluttering. They land on surrounding branches and chirp quietly, but their own voices are interrupted by the Northern Eagle's once more, "If you be another Uruk, then make haste and leave these lands, never to return. Or I will personally take you out."
"I en't hiding!" Squeeks Megan, though, at the invitation she timidely steps her way closer and into a shard of sunlight, and there pauses again- not only allowing the eagle a perfect view of her form, but allowing her to see him closer than before, and better than before, too... "And.. I en't an.. uruk, neither.. I'm Megan.." she says, though still too afraid to speak up too loudly or say much more... Regarding him a moment more, and biting her lip in the meantime she is frozen there still- perhaps awaiting more orders.. Inside, she is exploding with pride- the eagle has spoken to her- Again!!!
"Forgive me, second-born." Sulrannaur bows his head and steps out of the waterfall. He shakes his feathers to remove any remaining water, causing a small storm of droplets to erupt from his body, "Meegan." The word is tried out carefully before being repeated, "Megan. I am Sulrannaur. And I have been having a rough time in this part of the World. Not many of your kin take kindly to us eagles, and none of the spawn of Morgoth ever take kindly to us." Though the human is hardly likely to understand half of what he is talking about, the Eagle does not seem to mind. This is how he talks.
Megan is obviously tense as she eagle approaches- especially after seeing what happened last time they were around.. "Yes, Megan," She repeats, as if talking to a small child.. Of course, she instantly drops her gaze to the floor, before looking back and trying Sulrannaur's own name.. "Sulran-naur? I would say I was pleased to meet you, though it seems a strange thing to say to.. one such as yourself.." she comments, and then- as is predicted, she is lost in his words. "Oh.. well, I don't mind you.. I remember seeing two of your kind outside the gate one day.. and then Mr. Glover threw those rocks, and it was terrible- I think everyone is just afraid." she says, as one trying to sound wise and well-versed in the ways of her people..
"Indeed. Afraid." The Eagle must agree with the girl's words, for he repeats them, "A pity, for they would benefit from our friendship. Yet the second-born have always feared us. Always shot at us as we flew over head. Even in Gondor our alliances are seldom remembered" Sulrannaur catches himself ere he rambles to much and brings his attention back to the human in front of him.
"Are you not afraid?" The stormy eyes rest on the Bree resident, "Most would have run by now, or began to throw things as your friend whom you speak of did. But I judge something different in you. Perhaps not courage... maybe simply curiosity which overwhelms your fear."
"Gondor?!" Megan's eyes alight in a spark of recognition, "I know someone from Gondor, but I haven't seen him in a long time.." she ponders a moment more, but then the thought is gone- for there are much more important matters at hand!
Megan pauses thoughtfully in response to his question- certainly trying to look more grown up than the image her eighteen years have provided her with... "I am afraid," she admits, glancing toward the ground again but- curiosity draws her eyes upward, as always. "But, I think your right- about the curiosity, and, well you don't seem to want to /eat/ me, or attack me at all, so I don't need to run away. If you looked like you were going to attack me, then I would run away. But I wouldn't ever throw anything!" she says; almost as if she wanted to prove her worth to the eagle; her tone honest and open- more honest and open than it is when she speaks with other Breefolk...
"I think... I think perhaps." Sulrannaur pauses briefly, studying the human. But whatever his thought is he refrains from speaking it aloud, moving along a different topic instead, "Perhaps you can help me, Meg.. Megan." An unusual sight perhaps, a Northern Eagle stuttering, but such made up words as names are hard for his beak to master. "I am looking for someone."
Brows are furrowed lightly as Sulrannaur doesn't continue and she shifts her weight onto the opposite foot.. "What do you think?" she asks- though quietly; gently pressuring him to speak whatever it was he was thinking (for she's much too curious and wants to learn all she can while the opportunity is here to just let it pass!).. "Oh, and you can call me Meg, if you'd like. Lots of other people do.. Maybe it's easier for you like that." Bright brown eyes look momentarily to the beak and she seems to lose her concentration, before finally brought back to the task at hand.. "Oh?! I know lots of people in Bree... who are you looking for?"
"He has a few names. The Grey Pilgrim, Mithrandir." Sulrannaur continues on his second line of conversation, leaving what he thinks unsaid, "He is an old man, clothed in grey and bent on his staff." The giant eagle stoops his head, preening a few feathers missed in the earlier bath. "I suppose your people would know him as Gandalf. That is his common name, and the name most men use."
Eyes widen and Megan nods her head eagerly- especially as the name Gandalf is meantioned. Apparently she knows him. "Oh! Yes! Of course I know Gandalf! He came through Bree a while ago- he said he was goin' south.. and I told him about when I had seen two of your kind- outside the gate, like I said before, and he told me not to say anything ever again about it, and I haven't... I remember him, he was nice... But I haven't seen him since he left... " Eyes widen in distress.. "You don't think he got hurt somewhere on the road, or, or he didn't make it to where he was going, do you?!"
A soft rumble escapes the Eagle's chest. Perhaps a laugh? "I highly doubt Mithrandir has run into any trouble he cannot deal with around here. Nothing but witless bandits, so I am told. I do not travel round here much." But Sulrannaur seems to have brightened at Megan's words, "Southwards? How long ago was that?"
Megan has begun to edge has way cautiously toward the eagle, though carefully, and perhaps trying to look as non-threatening as possible (as if she could be a threat)- trying to gain a closer look. "Well, he were old.. I do hope he is alright.. and there en't just bandits, there's been trolls, and orcs around before.." Megan says; nodding sincerely. "He said south, yes.. And it
Sulrannaur watches warily as Megan edges closer, years of mistreatment at the hands of humans making him automatically wary. But for now he makes no move to stop her progress, "Your news is most useful, you have aided me and my kind beyond what you may imagine. You have done service to me, and renewed my faith in the second-born somewhat. Now is your chance to request something back of me."
Megan moves no closer than she feels is necessary and so soon comes to a stop again- licking her lips nervously, though looking as though she will soon burst with excitement at this meeting.. "Oh... I have!? Well, if I see him- I mean, if he comes through Bree again, I can tell him you were asking for him, if you'd like..." she beams- obviously she would be proud to be a messenger between Gandalf and Sulrannaur here! "I'm glad I've done that, then.. Though, I wouldn't know what to request, Mr. Sulrannaur!" she says- slipping into old Bree-habits- though her eyes have already begun to give away hidden thoughts and requests; glancing along his wings.. his back.. "I mean.. I don't know what I would request! Surely what I've said isn't all that deserving of anything too grant..."
"You speak of yourself as if you are unworthy, and that is why you shall receive a gift. There are few among my kin who love the secondborn. It is said that they desire naught but power, and wealth." Sulrannaur blinks once and studies the young girl with solemn eyes "Yet you desire nothing, and for that you shall receive the greatest that my kind can bestow."
The Eagle reaches over onto his back, his neck reaching a position only birds can, as if he is going to preen. Yet when his head returns he bears a bright and red-hued feather which he lays at the feet of the young Bree girl.
"Take this, Megan of the second-born. And know that as long as you hold this that you are counted amongst the rare ranks of Eagle-friend. It is a heavy responsibility, and one that I would not think ill if you did not accept. For you may be called upon by us, when needs are most urgent, and we have use of legs where wings can not go. Yet it is not servitude in the likes you may think. For there will come a time when darkness has fallen, and all hope has faded. All you must do is look to the sky, and you will hear the familiar cry of my brethren, and we do not forget our word."
Along the path there comes another human, Andrick, who is thoroughly self-absorbed, and stares at the floor as he walks, occasionally kicking an errant stone or bramble. He is wearing his shirt-sleeves rolled up, yet still he sniffs. So it is that he does not see the Eagle, nor Megan until he is relatively close. He suddenly looks up, hearing strange speech, and starts; the shock of such a large creature is enough to knock him backwards to the floor. He looks up, and gulps, but otherwise remains silent. His mouth opens wide, and his breathing becomes heavy, as he stares at the eagle, and he still fails to so much as notice Megan.
Megan almost goes to protest her worthiness- but, she's recieving a gift! And certainly doesn't want to complain... As the feather is presented, she draws in a breath and her eyes widen, and for a moment she seems unable to actually move to pick up the feather.. A few moments pass and she reaches down to (very carefully) pick up the feather, though her hands are weak.. "Oh... Oh my... Thank-you! Oh, I shall accept, definetly, and I shall do all that needs to be done- and go where you wish me to go.. and although I can't offer much more than my legs- if you need them, I'm learning to be a healer too, and will help you if you're injured- should you need me to..." she splutters- still much too taken aback by the whole ordeal to gather her thoughts and perhaps respond better than she has... She is yet to notice Andrick and his arrival...Again she speaks to Sulrannaur- cradling the feather in her hands as if afraid to break it: "Thank-you..."
"We will hold you to your word, do not take it lightly." Sulrannaur replies, but he is cut off at Andrick's approach. His gold-tipped head looks up and he hisses quietly, clacking his beak in distrust.
Andrick simply sits for a moment, opening and closing his mouth, staring at the eagle. Megan's speech is enough to attract his attention away from the eagle, and again he receives a shock, though not quite so violent as the last one. He blurts out, "Megan! What...what're yer doin'..." He trails off and nods towards the eagle. Suddenly, however he tenses, then relaxes his muscles, if not his face. He cautiously stands, and looks at the eagle, as he speaks. He can only manage a whisper, now, "Yer...yer was there...outside the gate."
"Oh! I won't! I promise I won't!" Megan says sincerely again- greatly awed by the presence before her..As Sulrannaur is cut off, Megan's head turns quickly to see who or what he has seen- perhaps suspecting orcs or worse things.. "Andrick?" she questions- then looks to the eagle; "Don't worry, he won't hurt you.. he's my husband.. don't leave," she says- reassuring, then imploring.. After all, if Andrick's arrival caused Sulrannaur's departure.. well, she'd never forgive him (Andrick, that is). She glances between the two of them- barely breathing for the second time during that morning..
"I was." Sulrannaur now addresses the male who approaches, his Westron still possessing the same scratchy quality, "And now I am here, for I will not venture near that town again. It is clear we are not welcome, and until now I have had no need to be so close. Though these lands do require some watching."
The Eagle glances at Megan, trying to understand her word, "Mate? He is your mate? And I do not fear him. There is little the two of you could do to me." The Vassal of Hwestbrand ruffles his feathers, as if slightly insulted by the thought that a single second-born could hurt him.
Andrick slowly and nervously stands, and brushes himself down. He takes a few short steps toward Megan, eyes fixed on Sulrannaur. He says, slowly, "I...Aye, I'm Andrick. An', I suppose mate's as good a word as any." He gulps once more, and says, this time quickly and nervously, "And really, no, as Meg says, even if I could 'urt yer, I'd not want to. Not a creature so fine as yerself." He watches the eagle, nervously awaiting his reaction.
Eyes widen slightly as Megan finally realises that this was indeed one of the Eagles from their first encounter..Now she glances briefly to Andrick as he approaches; almost tensing up at his presence..
"I didn't say you feared him," Megan points out- though quietly; not wanting to insult him by highlighting his mistakes... "And I don't doubt there is little we could do.." she says, holding still onto the feather- a symbol of their conversation (one apparently more relaxed and friendly- in her mind anyway) from before Andrick arrived. At all the feather-rustling, Megan bites her lip and cast her eyes toward the ground. "I didn't mean to offend you, and if I did I'm sorry."
Sulrannaur switches his gaze between the two humans, "Your words are wise, Andrick, and you have chosen a fine... mate. Perhaps this is not the word you use? I am used to conversing in my native tongue, not the tongue of men." The Eagle takes a step back and regard Megan, "I am not offended, Eaglefriend. But should you converse with more of my kin in future, which is likely, you would do well to remember we are a proud race. And rightly so."
Andrick breathes a clear sigh of relief, and bows his head solemnly to the eagle. He then says, "The word we normally use is husband, for the man, and wife, for the woman." He looks at Megan, briefly, before saying, "Forgive me..that is...I'm sorry, if it's b'neath my station to be askin' questions of you, but, if you don't mind my askin', why is it that you and your," He pauses for a moment, thinking of the word most fitting, "Brothers are comin' to Bree, now? I ain't...I've not ever seen anything like you in all my thirty and more years, and now you come twice in a couple o' months."
Perhaps a comment made by Sulrannaur sparks off some kind of thought in Megan, for she has fallen unusually silent for a time. "Husband.. that's the word we use... But how can you talk? Other birds cannot talk as you do, or if they can, I've never heard them..." she asks, that spark of curiosity becoming apparent in her eyes again... Perhaps now fearing him bombarded with questions, Megan pauses, then nods her head slightly. "I'm glad you are not offended, then, and I /do/ hope to converse with more of your kind, and I will remember." Another promise and genuine smile is sent in his direction- and Andrick is all but ignored by the Breegirl- the eagle is obviously much more facinating! (though he is spared an excited glance of her eyes or similar smile every now and then...)
"It is a long story, the answers to both your questions." The Northern Eagle replies slowly, turning to Andrick first, "The short answer to your question is that my Lord wishes to speak with Gandalf and Radagast. I think you should be satisfied with that, for I will say no more." Turning to Megan, Sulrannaur's eyes soften, "I could tell you the story of why we speak, but it is a long tale and I fear that you would understand little of it. For the lives of men are short, and they do not remember the days before the fall of Numenor, the days when the dwarves slept beneath their mountain ere the time for their waking was ready."
Andrick looks puzzled for a minute, and mutters to himself, "Gandalf, Gandalf...where've I heard that name before?" He then looks up quickly, and says, "Oh, of course, aye, I'm satisfied, no, I'm honoured, it's, it's...I'm honoured to 'ave a question answered at all, by yourself." He whispers to Megan, "Was Gandalf that old feller what came through, y'know, the one with the pointy 'at an' the fireworks?". As Sulrannaur speaks of Numenor and days before dwarves walked, he looks in fascination, and allows his jaw to drop. He says, reverently, "How old are you?"
"I remember Radagast, too.. I met him when Gandalf was here..." Megan comments and then shrugs lightly. "Though I cannot remember where he was going, he left at an odd hour.. Perhaps it was to the Shire..." To Andrick she nods lightly- distractedly. "It were him, yes..." The Breegirl seems quite lost in the memory for a moment- trying to remember as much as she can, and yet, she fails- already her attention drawn elsewhere and to things she doesn't understand (as predicted). "I think you are right- I would not understand, and I do not know if I wish too... these things seem too complicated for me, and don't make much sense.." she replies, furrowing her brow in concentraition, as if now trying to bring up more memories, and what she knows of history (which is, like most Breefolk, very little...)
Another soft rumble, somewhat resembling a laugh echoes in the Avian's chest at Andricks comments, "You learn quickly and speak fairly, second-born. Yet my own memory does not stretch so far back. I remember a back to a mere twenty years before the great Bilbo, and the Dwarf-lord Thorin dared scale the Lonely mountain and face the worm, Smaug." Sulrannaur is silent as he thinks, and listens to Megan's words, "That would make me some... eighty years in the reckoning of men."
The Raptor shifts, watching the sun crawling into the sky, and opening his wings slightly to collect the morning breeze, "All that I know I have learnt from those of our kind who are learned in lore. And we remember much. Perhaps you are right, Megan." The stormy eyes rest on the Breegirl briefly, "Perhaps you do not wish to know the things I know. Much of the history of this world is not happy, and is filled with poor misunderstandings, acts of selfishness, rashness, pride or foolishness for love. But it is good to learn of our past, lest we make the same mistakes in our present."
Andrick nods, in awe at the eagle's knowledge and wisdom, and says so, "I, erm, that's still a long time. My Grandad was seventy-seven when he died, and he was one of the longest lasting folks from Bree ever. Eighty years is longer than most of us men seem to live in a lifetime, and you're still in your prime, or so you look. And you're wise too, there ain't no humans anywhere as wise as you, that I know of."
A hint of jealousy registers itself on Megan's features sd Sulrannaur speaks to Andrick- taking the spotlight off her...This is gone in a flash though, for she certainly doesn't want to appear rude..."Eighty..?" It is hard to tell whether she's impressed (though presumably she is), or not, for her tone certainly doesn't convey much more than the repition of the number...As the Eagle focusses on her again, she shines delightedly.. "Some things would be interesting to know, but perhaps not all things, and I don't have a very good memory anyway- I'd forget everything I learnt.. and anyway, I'm happier not knowin' about all those bad things, I think..And, well, like Andrick said- you're more wise'n any of us!"
"Indeed men's lifetimes are becoming limited, if seventy-seven is considered old in these parts. Your words again are fair, and I can only reply that you in yourself have proved yourself wise because of them." Sulrannaur's beak clacks thoughtfully, and he pauses to sniff the air before replying to Megan, "Some things are interesting, and some things are only a burden to the heart. If we meet again, perhaps I will tell you the tale of Luthien and Beren. For in there lies a tale of sorrow and love. It is a tale which concerns all the inhabitants of this earth, but perhaps it would weigh on your heart. I will try to think of a story more fair and enjoyable. Unfortunetely there are not many of them."
A soft wind blows, and Sulrannaur stretches his wings, "For now I must depart. I am hungry, and I smell some prey on the wind. I bid you farewell Eaglefriend, and to you Andrick, esteemed mate of the Eaglefriend. Pray do not spread this tale about your town, it will bring none of us good. If you see Gandalf again, tell him the Windlord seeks his council."
Andrick bows low, to Sulrannaur, and says, "I'm ever at yer service." He then stands again, and says, "We've a few stories we tell in Bree, surely small fry on those you know, but it might help you take a bit off your mind, as it were, to hear them, if you've ever the time, I'm sure we'd love the honour of telling you them, wouldn't we Meg?" He bows his head again, and says, "I 'ope you have a safe and good journey."
"I would like that.. to hear a story- I do not mind if it is a sad story, or a story more fair.." Megan replies- a grateful smile spreading over her lips as she speaks, and then she too performs a rather clumsy curtsey.. "Farewell, Sulrannaur.. If you ever need my assistance, or my legs, or what I know of healing, you need only find me..I will tell only Gandalf what you have said, if I see him..I hope we shall meet again..Fair winds, on your travels.."
The Eagle's gaze remains steady on the pair of humans before him ere he speaks on last time, "Men like you restore my hope in the second-born. Megan, do not forget my words: 'look to the skies in your time of need, the line of Thorondor will ever keep a watchful eye upon these lands.'"
That said, the great wings fold out, catching the morning sun in a bright splash of earthy red colors. The giant Eagle pushes into the air, his wings beating quickly to get a grip. As he rises, Sulrannaur calls out, "May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks" With that he is gone, up into the morning sky. He circles the area a few times, then is borne away on an updraft of heat, off to wherever giant eagles go.