Stepping away from the soldier’s campfire, Xandilif turned and looked coldly at Xanderian…”I hope by Elbereth’s knickers ya brought breakfast cause all I’ve had is grog for the better part of a week. About time you crawl to where the action is, ya cowardly bitch…”
The younger Elleth held the saddlebag out wordlessly, simply staring at her sister. The two locked eyes for a moment, their frozen gaze inscrutable to strangers, neither willing to look away first…until finally Xandilif shrugged and opened the satchel roughly as she moved further apart from the rambunctious soldiers to a quiet spot near the cliff side. Squatting on the black earth like a tinker she pulled out coarse bread and good cheese, then a roast fowl with a snort of pleasure. Lastly she drew out a brown glass flask with a smile, noting the brewer’s marks along the neck of the bottle. “Edoras Ruby Ale…not bad, but not to your taste little sister. So that blasted Shieldstrumpet is still holding onto your skirts then, damn her pretty little bridle?” Pulling the cork out with her teeth and spitting it at her sister, she took a long swig of ale before breaking open the wheel of cheese.
Xanderian sidestepped the cork without seeming to move. “Yes. You know very well she is still with me, Banshee. Beyond that we both also know very well that you like her. Must we play this childish game?”
Xandilif shrugged, speaking around a mouthful of cheese. “I’m the one who has been out here shoveling Nazgul shite for the better part of a month Monk, I can play whatever fecking game I damn well please. Ain’t nobody told ta while you were hiding in a green and pleasant land, moaning about Gondorian slatterns gone missing? I’m the right proper Queen of Mordor now. Got the keys to Barad Dur to prove it.”
The Huntress stared, her eyes growing more animated, but whether with pain, amusement or anger no one could tell, maybe not even she. Her voice however was gaining more of an edge. “I have done those tasks I have been commanded to, and I have obeyed my duty and my liege. You know that, you whining fool and if you impugn my courage or honor again I will put an arrow through your eye and out the back of your hollow head as surely as you are standing there. As for being the Queen of Mordor, I am pleased to hear my elder sister has fared so well at love. So when are the nuptials between you and the Dark Lord planned? Which of you will wear the gown? I am sure the wedding night will be a sight to behold.”
The Banshee spat cheese laughing. “Hah! Wouldn’t I have just loved to get ol’ One Eye on his back chained to the bedposts for just a few minutes. Hack his manhood clean off with a broken bottle, wouldn’t I…wait, does...DID he even HAVE manhood? Your fancy books and scrolls ever say how the Enemy was hung, Rian?”
Reaching out to take a bit of cheese Xanderian shrugged. “Perhaps in the Lost Tales, or maybe you can find an illustration scratched into the wall of a latrine here-about.”
Xandilif laughed again and took a bite out of the whole fowl in her hand. “Y’know it is feeling like I have almost missed you little sister…I must have gotten hit harder by that Cargil last night then I thought. Addled my wits. So what other news then…I note the stench of the Deep Ones about you again which does not bode well.”
The Monk grew quiet for a moment, then nodded…”The Lady Arahen came to Bree to find me, taking time from her urgent labors…to remind me of her promises and my oaths, to show me that I am still in her heart and her favor. She extended that grace to me for she felt I was in pain and grief and flew to console me.”
The Champion spat, and took another long swig of Ale before speaking. “I will tell you this, your little mare has got better taste in Ale then she does lovers. As for the Noldo, by Aule’s horny backside how stupid can you be sister. She used you once then dropped you like a hot stone when that haughty bitch in Lorien crooked her little finger. Now here she comes back again? Now what does she need you to do? Don’t you EVER learn?”
“It isn’t as you say…” Xanderian turned away, her voice growing louder. “She asked nothing of me, she only gave unto me…reassurance of her care after my person and of her happiness concerning Cyndwin and repetitions of her promises. She wept with me over Fille…”
Her voice low, Xandilif cut her off. “Wept did she…WEPT? Fine…but did she stay more than a few minutes while you mewled like a babe in her arms? Did she STAY sister mine?”
The Huntress did not turn to face her sister again. “No. No she did not. But she had duties…”
With a snarl the Banshee threw the empty ale bottle against the cliff side where it shattered with an echoing retort. “DAMMIT RIAN!!! The Golodhrim care NOTHING for the likes of us, they never have and they never will. What did your precious Lady, so kind and giving say as she left you crying all alone in the dirt again? Did she look off into the distance and mumble dramatically about seeing portents from the wise of a great disturbance in the whateverthefeck? Did she tell you this was how it had to be? Did she tell you how sorry she was as she rode off?”
Xanderian refused to answer, but her sister continued relentlessly, circling around her like a great cat stalking a mouse. “I thought you learned your lesson in Mirkwood Rian. While the Wraiths crawled through your mind like waking nightmares and the air of Dol Guldar was thick with blood and wargs and Orc swords, where was Fuirgam, eh? Where were Lomdognir and Agorin and the rest of the damn Malladhrim? Hiding in Ost Galadh, that’s where they were! I was the one who was beside you, not your precious Noldor. I WAS THERE while you howled your battle cry and emptied your quiver into the darkness, yet no other aid was at hand. They sent you to do their dirty work just like they always do, just as your precious daughter of Finwe does…and ABANDONED you to your fate. Abandoned US! Just like Elrond did. Just like Mother and Father did!”
Xanderian turned fast and fluid as the north wind, face contorted in rage, backhanding her sister hard across the face as Heartbreaker howled. The blow echoed against the cliffside as loudly as the smashed bottle had.
Xandilif froze, hands balled into fists, blood trickling down her cheek from where her sister’s gauntlet has scored her flesh…then she slowly relaxed. Shaking her head, the Champion pulled a second bottle of ale from the Satchel and twisted the cork out.
“I sure as hell hope you know what you are doing, Rian. Your dainty little Cyndwin ain’t gonna be happy if the Noldo gets you killed on whatever errand she has planned for you…or gets your pretty face all scarred up.” She took a long pull of the ale and passed the bottle to her sister, who also took a sip, still breathing hard. Rian made a face, but swallowed. Then took another.
Xandilif ripped the loaf of bread in half, climbing up atop a fallen, soot covered statue of Sauron. Xanderian followed meekly, the fight drained out of her as she took half the loaf from her older sister and looked out over the fiery vista of Udun, the blasted industrial heart of Mordor, still churning even without its Master.
“Ya see that Rian? Not bad for my kingdom. What say I make us a little vacation cottage over there on that lava flow by the troll nest. We can roast swamp rats right out the window.” The Banshee smirked and the Monk laughed softly despite herself.
Xandilif shook her head softly. “What if the West looks just like this and they never told us, huh? What if it is all just a blasted, sulfurous ruin just like this? Do we know? Do we really know? All we really know about is here and now sister, and all we got is each other….and maybe your Shieldstrumpet. I say MAYBE. Counting on anything else in this world is a fool’s game.”
Xanderian looked at her sister, tears running soundlessly down her cheeks. “A fool’s game maybe…but I am not like you Gawad.” She used her older sister’s childhood name, startling her. “I have to play…I cannot turn away.”
Xandiflif sighed. Moved despite herself she put her arm around her younger sister as they stared out into Mordor together, listlessly chewing grainy bread. “I know Lethril….I know. Maybe I can’t either.”
They stayed like that in silence until the moon rose blood red over the landscape, like an unspoken prophecy.
(OOC - Comments and feedback and RP ideas are more than welcome, feel free to drop me a mail here on LA)
