Logs-A Memorable Night!

East Road - Edge of the Chetwood
The ground is flat and lightly forested all about you, except for Bree Hill
which stands just down the road to the west. From here you can barely see
the houses which dot the side of the hill, giving it an almost scarred look.
There is little traffic along the East road at the moment, although usually
it is a bustling throughfare. The moment of peace allows you to enjoy the
serenity of the Chetwood. Just off the road to the north, hidden partially
in the shadows of the trees, lies a wooden building which would appear very
abandoned and very old.

[Monty(#27697)]
A blank darkness covers the realms of Middle-Earth,
shielding the earth from rays of Arien the fierce. Yet even the blanket of
night cannot shelter the world from the light of Tilion the fair, who's
sterling face glows in the midnight sky. Scattered about the bulbous orb
shines distinct pearls of starlight, blinking at each other and the land
below. The Great East Road lies quiet, covered in a terrible silence,
touched only by the hooting of owls and footsteps of small rodents. The wind
is all but active.

Well, this is not quite true. The rumble of a minor earthquake trembles the
earth under the feet of a very large, and very distinguishable individual.
For on this summer's night walks Monty the troll, moving footstep after
footstep, quake after quake, along the Great East Road. "S'not been eating
for eight hours. Me's 'ungry." Such sounds the grumble of the titanic olog,
who's direction lies westwards.

[Ramafaroth]
In the wake of the troll's footsteps, even the owl's earksome hoots fade,
and the rodent's footfalls patter away, engulfing the noisome troll in
utter silence.

Though this summer night is devoid of any general breeze from the mountains
looming like dark spires in the east -- blotches of shadow, obscurring the
moonlight -- a faint wind assails the troll's stone skin, smelling of the
feathered guardians that plague the aforementioned range.

Overhead swoops a formless shadow, swiftly gliding along before falling into
stride with the road's sole traveler.

[Monty(#27697)]
The wandering giant grumbles noisily and kicks a minor boulder across the road.
"N's more cotton-tail fer me. S'gonna starve, poor
Monty is." Hulking quietly (in olog comparrision), the troll falls flat on
his backside, crossing his arms furiously at the prospect of no dinner.

It is then that luck crosses his path. A fat rabbit appears from the bushes,
slowly trampling across the dust-laid road. The olog spots the mammal
despite the heavy darkness, and leans forward to commando-crawl towards it.
"'Ere, weeny, weeny. 'ere flappy." The troll flashes his repellent teeth in
a large smile.

[Ramafaroth]
Not far from the side of the road, another troll stands. Motionless. It's
kness are bent, and its hands grope along the ground for some prey that has
long since escaped; its jaw is agape, hungrily, in anticipation of a meal.

A quiet rush of wind in the darkness hanging above the stone titan --
blocking out the light Ithil and her companions shed -- hurries past. A pair
of massive wings unfurl, suddenly stretching skywards to an imposing
expanse, as the great golden talons of an eagle ensnare the broad shoulders
of the hunting statue.

The majestic bird permits its wingspan to remain flung out for a few moments
in order to further soften its noiseless descent. Its coat of gold and
silver feathers, glimmering in the moonlight, its piercing crimson gaze, set
beneath a fierce silver scowl, and its baneful talons, digging into the
stone perch upon which they rest, create a nightmarish image. "A friend of
yours?" comes a powerful voice, seemingly from nowhere.

[Megan(#26974)]
From the direction of the Chetwood wanders a rather quiet
figure- a female human figure.. One that is trying to be unnoticed- perhaps
afraid of the darkness of the things that lurk therein.. Either way, each
foot is placed carefully, and as she now finds herself at the last of the
trees, she pauses. In her hand is a hat- one that she was wearing earlier
and from this still protrudes the feather...

As she pauses here and remains motionless by a tree-trunk, she peers out
into the darkness ahead, and the unfamiliar lands beyond Bree. Perhaps she
is lost? Perhaps she has come to clear her head (though, even this place is
a long way away...).. Now she starts as the voice comes through the darkness
and, drawing in a sharp breath she slides around the side of the trunk so
she is not visible to anything east of where she stands, and is given an
easy escape route to the west and back to Bree...

[Monty(#27697)] The stoneclad beast reaches for the rabbit, extending a
vigorous arm forwards. Leashing his bold hand for the fat coney, Monty has
naught to support his colossal weight. The olog lands with a great thud, and
a muffled grumble escapes his pested lips. Rubbing his igneous face weakly
in the dust, cold eyes gleam up a the avian, perched majestically on the
troll before him.

"Fr... Freddy?" he stammers, raising a brow and scratching the tip of his
beardless chin with a curious finger and a searching stare.

[Ramafaroth]
"Yes, Fretty," warbles the sourceless voice, harshly pronouncing the mannish
words. There is movement from the statue. The adjoined graven images of a
monstrous troll and massive winged creature perched atop its back shift, as
the eagle folds its wings about its shoulders like a silvery cloak. It then
returns to its nearly motionless state, staring down at the troll with an
impassioned and unblinking gaze, like eyes artfully crafted from stone that
are made to seem alive and full of ferocity.

"A fool, Fretty was. I warned him to go back across the bridge, I tried to
save him, but he stayed, and they caught him. They turnd him to stone. You
see?" to signify his words, Ramafaroth grinds a claw against the stone,
crumbling a chunk of Freddy's shoulder, and Freddy does not retaliate.

[Megan(#26974)]
Brown eyes shine through the darkness, and the Breegirl
shakes timidely from behind her tree (probably much like the rabbit was
before it was dove on by the troll). As voices come from the darkness again,
it seems curiosity finally takes a hold of the young Bree girl, as it has
done so many times before and, causiously she peeks from behind her tree-
trying to see through the darkness that covered the land surrounding... All
this talk of Fretty and being turned to stone puzzles the poor girl, and for
a time she stands, mouthing words to herself with a furrowed brow.

Turning to hide back behind her tree, a scent catches in her nose- pollen, or dust
perhaps, and a sneeze explodes (though not /too/ loudly... loud enough!)
through her mouth and nose with an "Atchoo!".. quickly she ducks again
behind her tree and freezes- eyes wide in the darkness.

[Monty(#27697)]
Monty blinks once. He blinks twice. On the third blink he
scrambles to his feet, lifting his torso whilst supported by a proud beech.
After finally balancing his weight, the troll creeps closer, slowly
tip-toeing towards the eagle, crouching his head in a hunch as he
"stealthily" jets towards the stone statue and the bird atop its back.

"You, er, sayen dem getting Freddy? Das, er, not well, no." Tilting his
head, Monty's gaze surveys the statue, scanning the ridged surface and
inspecting the distinguishable features. "Huh," he says.

ATCHOO! With the speed of a speeding bullet, the troll jumps and rotates his
feet in the air, turning towards the source of the noise. Landing with
imperfect balance, he turns his tilted head from the eagle and towards the
tree. Sniffing loudly, he growls and shouts in a massive roar. "Who's er
snizzling? Come 'at, lil buggers!" The troll rubs his hands in eager fury.
What has upset the troll?

[Ramafaroth]
"No!" exlaims the eagle suddenly -- perhaps over zeaously -- as the troll
swivels away from him. In the wake of its outburst, a small cascade of
crushed rock crumbles down Freddy's shoulder. "Stay back, troll. Stay away
from the sniz--" the word will not form upon its beak, "--stay away from
them, they killed Freddy. It's a trap. Turn the other way; flee across
the bridge!"

[Megan(#26974)]
Megan at least has the sense to say nothing and she does not
move- perhaps she cannot.. it seems she doesn't blink, she hardly breathes
in fact but stays pressed against the drunk of the tree- straw hat becoming
crushed in her hand as she herself thinks to flee.. Infact, if she hadn't
heard the word 'troll', she may well have taken the Eagle's words onto
herself and fled toward the Combe stream, for there's certainly a bridge
there! Still she does not move but focuses on staying still and quiet- tense
and ready to disappear into the forest if the sounds of the troll should
come her way.. Her nose has begun to tingle..

[Monty(#27697)]
Monty swings his upperbody wildly, turning from the tree to
the eagle, and from eagle to the tree. "You's sayen Freddy's been stond by
'em 'at in dere?" The troll peers questioningly at the eagle, whilst a
curious finger sways wildly at the tree where Megan hides. He takes a
fearful step back, raising his arms with a shivering cower.

"I's gotten go over bridge? Yous'd be sure, eh?" A tinkle of panic resides
in his throat as he takes another step back. "I's no wanna be stond. Aigh,
yous'd be helping me, eggle," he adds, keeping his arm hovering in the air,
pointing with determination at the tree. "You's be distracten 'et while I's
be a running, kay?" Both eyes are now open wide, blinking nonstop.

[Ramafaroth]
"Yes, yes, Ramafaroth helps you. I will distract them. I will fight them.
Run, run with all speed!" Though its voice is grim and its words warbled out
in broken rasps, the bird's tone implies great urgency.

Another gust of wind assails the road, blasting loose gravel off to the
sides and bending blades of grass at their roots, though it leaves the stone
giants unmoved. Ramafaroth swiftly leaps into the air, ascending to the
heights with a sole downstroke of his mighty golden wings, and climbing so
swiftly that it would seem he aspires to reach the moon before morning
overcomes it.

[Megan(#26974)]
A large and long sigh escapes Megan's lips (though one a
silent expulsion of air and nothing more) as she hears the troll's words
(though how much of it she actually understands is debatable..).. Still she
does not move, nor say anything but certainly her hands have relaxed their
grip on the hat and she seems to breathe easier- after all, it looks like
the danger has passed now, and yet she lingers still- perhaps she wishes to
thank her saviour.. perhaps she has heard the word eagle and put together
the pieces of the puzzle...The wind, and the sound of wingbeats reaches her
ears and stirs her into action.. Perhaps tonight she will not meet
another... Carefully then (and slowly- as if waiting to see if the bird will
reappear) she slips to the next tree- closer to Bree, and then closer
again..

[Monty(#27697)]
Hurriedly, the troll nods. "Yessy, eggle. You's be helpen
and I's be running." Monty swings his arms wildly as millwheels, as if
warming up for the ologlympics. Muttering loosely under his breath, the
dimwitted giant sets off in a sprint, letting his arms dangle in his trail
as the fly through the wind. The comic appearance of this olog sprinter is
commentated by the heavy thuds of footsteps as he tramples along the dusty
road. Even from afar, once can see what looks like a massive boulder,
rolling down the hill. So disappears Monty the troll into the blanket of
darkness.

[Ramafaroth]
Within a few moments of its initial ascent, the eagle emerges from the skies
and crosses into the reach of human sight, spiraling swiftly towards the
earth with outstretched talons.

Those talons sink into the soil about the roots of the tree that once served
as the Breegirl's concealment, stirring up a cloud of dust, as its wings
snap open at the last second and land the creature much less gracefully this
time. "Have you no more wits than a troll?" a sharp, irritated squawking
sound hisses from its beak following its harsh words, and its crimson eyes
pierce the yet unsettled veil of dust to glare down at the woman.

Its wings fold about its body in a habitual motion. "You are far from Bree,
wandering on the road alone at night, foolish Secondborn.." the feathers
along the eagle's crown, flecked with streaks of silver, ruffle sharply, as
if irritated.

[Megan(#26974)]
Megan lets out a terrified whimper as the Eagle makes its
descent and lands- quickly going to cower at the foot of another tree-
grappling to gain a hold of her hat in an attempt to brandish the feather
that resides there.. "I... All I did were sneeze! I didn't even know who was
there!" Megan replies- definsive but utterly afraid.. "I were upset.. I went
for a walk, and I came too far... I didn't mean to, I didn't want to meet
anyone.. I was goin' to turn back earlier.." she argues, trying to gather
her wits about her. The hat is clutched behind her now- ready to be used
when least expected- brought out when needed..

[Ramafaroth]
In and out visibly the bird's silver chest heaves, as its poweful lungs draw
in a sigh of frustration, "Return to your village then. I will not carry
you, for your own foolish mistake brought you here, but I will see that the
troll does not change his mind and turn around."

A sharp, scolding gaze is locked on the Breegirl, "You would have been
killed. None would have known. Walk here again, and I will be tempted to let
Freddy's friend have his meal."

[Megan(#26974)]
"I will return.. I know it was foolish, and I would not
expect you to carry me! But I thank-you, for saving me, all the same.."
Megan replies- dropping her gaze in respect-her tone sincere, and more
sincere than it is when she is talking with her own people...

Brown eyes glance up again at his last words and she shakes her head
lightly.. "You would be tempted to let a troll eat an Eagle-Friend?" she
questions, trying not to sound too haughty; respectful still, though now the
produces the hat, and the feather therein.

[Ramafaroth]
Though the eagle's impassive eyes display no emotion, it stares for some
moments at the feather in apparent disbelief; the scowl of silver feathers
arching above each of those crimson eyes sharpens, for the source of the feather is
recognized. "For what deed," his voice remains, beyond harsh intonations,
stoic, "were you made a friend of my kindred?"

[Megan(#26974)]
The hat is lowered slightly- perhaps Megan was expecting a
more friendly response now... A moment more she hesitates from giving the
answer to his question- something causes her to hold back, before finally
(after another brief lowering of her eyes), she continues: "I told
Sulrannaur what I knew of the whereabouts of Mr. Gandalf, and Mr. Radagast,
and promised him that if I should see either of them I would tell them... "
She pauses again now- regarding the eagle warily. "I did not think it
something worthy of a gift, and he said it was because I did not think
myself worthy that he would give me /this/ gift..."

[Ramafaroth]
Moments linger. Ramafaroth gazes steadily ahead (whether at the feather or
at the Breegirl it is hard to discern) while an unflinching yet unreadable
swirl of fiery crimson plays through the slanted orbs of his piercing eyes.
After some time, the bird bows its head in resignation, or perhaps
contemplation, and heaves in yet another sigh -- this time slightly more
subtle.

"Very well," his grim voice utters. In a sudden burst of graceful motion,
the gigantic avian rushes forward and sweeps into flight all at once,
expanding its wings and flapping gently, seemingly on a path straight
towards Megan. With no warning, however, the Breegirl is swooped from her
feet, with a gnarled talon hooked under each arm, and borne backwards into
the air.

[Megan(#26974)]
Megan remains paused and tense; teeth biting at her lip and
she is nervous- quite obviously nervous, for she wouldn't want to anger one
of the Eagles merely days after being named their friend! As he speaks, she
breathes a relieved sigh of her own and lowers the hat again before- as she
eagle rushes her way, she shields her head with her arms and lets out a
startled yelp as she is literally swept off her feet! "What are you doing!?"
she cries- eyes wide. At least with some sense about her, she grabs on
tightly to the talons- not feeling entirely secure, perhaps.

[Ramafaroth]
"Bearing you to safety, Eagle-friend," a slight sneer creeps into his tone.
"Hold tight, I would hate for you to slip!"

Swiftly he climbs, spreading his wings like a canopy over his passenger, and
flapping them more often to bear the added weight, before reaching a height
just above the treetops and gliding steadily. The Chetwood rushes past, a
green blur, and Bree Hill draws increasingly closer by the second...

[Megan(#26974)] "I did not ask you to!" Megan points out, though it is not a
protest so much as a concern, and apparently not only for herself.. "Eagle,"
she addresses; for she does not know how she should call him yet, and it not
well versed in the ways or laws of the Eagles.. "Do you think it safe for
you to come so close to Bree? I do not mind if you set me down in the field,
or.. well, it looks as though we are going to the hill.. I think it will be
safe enough, especially at this hour.." Now looking down as they approach
the hill, she grips on tightly to his claws- tense still but relaxing to
'enjoy' the ride...

[Ramafaroth]
"Safe? No," Ramafaroth tilts his wings into the wind, bending sharply to the
right as he approaches the crest of the knoll. "Yet, be at ease, I will not
harm your friends this eve. I am in haste." Rooftops scurry past below, and
the eagle achieves great height, forcing him to then descend to reach the
top of the hill. Quickly he falls, as if on a collision course with Bree
Hill...

Again his wingspan is spread abroad, unfurld like a golden sail to catch the
wind, and his flight is stalled by a lithe manuever so graceful for such a
large avian that it seems almost magical. For a momet, suspended on the same
"magic", he hovers a few feet above the earth, ere gently setting the
Breegirl on her feet. "Here you are safe. I bid you farewell, Eagle friend!"

Thus is his only parting. His talons never touch the surface of the hill ere
his wings assail it with a departing gust.

[Megan(#26974)]
"Oh," Comes Megan's puzzled reply.. After all, if it wasn't
safe, why was he.. "Well, that's reassuring!" she says, though her tone is
rather startled now by the fact that he could even consdier harming her
friends! She watches her town fly by below and thinks to almost wave at them
from the claws of the great eagle, yet she doesn't have a chance for (the
third time tonight) she is overcome with large amounts of fear, for the hill
is certainly approaching quickly!

And then, she is set down, and seems hardly able to believe the journey she
has just experienced- the whole ordeal rather overwhelming for a simpel
Breegirl like herself.. "Thank-you again, Eagle! Fair winds, and farewell!"
she calls- waving a hand excitedly. For a long time she watches the sky
after his departure, then, with an enegetic spring in her step, she starts
off down the hill- hat swinging at her side. What a memorable night!