The night passes freely without incident and in the pre dawn light Tolmen rises with a groan and taking his greatsword proceeds to practice his sword forms in a secluded glade not far from the camp, Hundaquildo seems to have been standing in his spot for quite some time, merely watching Gwingris and the colour of the sun changing around it. on hearing the others rise with the morning sun, Tolmen mops his brow collecting his cloak and strapping his sword to his back, Hundaquildo gives a nod to Tolmen as he returns into camp and catches the tail end of conversation between Tuilerie and Almanulde 'It was grand in the old days... Not as grand as Ost-in-Edhil, but still a testament to our skill.' Tuilerie shakes her head, "That city is no more..."
Almanulde says, 'There are some elves still living in Gwingris. They may have news of the lands further south.'
The company collect their belongings and mount up riding out toward Gwingris, Tuilerie leading notes the boundary change as the party leave the Trollshaws, simultaeniously Hundaquildo says, 'The air smells different.'
Tuilerie nods, 'It smells... hmm... of old memories' Almanulde smiles a little, yet her face appears saddened by the memory "No boundaries there were in the days of old..Not down this path. Untrod it remained and led into the realm of wilderness itself. The Lord of Rivendell was the one to tread this path first." Hundaquildo says, 'The air and sky are the same, though I know not if what would have to be done to mar Manwe's domain. The stones though...their songs changed.' Almanulde says, 'It's song is different..Yet the winds of the Elder King dance over the sorrows as Eregion as they do in the places of greater joy still..' Tuilerie says, 'You can hear it in the wind that plays through the trees'
Almanulde nods "They say the heart of Manwe is ever-burdened with the sorrows of the Eldar" Tuilerie says, 'This road running south to north, was once in a much better shape, and more heavily trafficked' Hundaquildo nods. "The Noldor placed those stones. Of course they are still here, despite everything."
Tolmen says, 'Perhaps it will again.. one day.' Tuilerie says, 'We should follow it to the city'
Almanulde gazes upon the city as they approach "Still its beauty shines.." Hundaquildo seems to brighten a little at the sight, visible only in the brightness of his eyes.
Tolmen makes a sour face as he approaches the ruins, the visions of old battles appear before his eyes and he grinds his teeth at the memories.
The others dismount at the stable greeting the stablemaster and a fellow scout warmly, Tolmen gives a distracted nod after dismounting and surveys the ruins carefully, taking a bottle of wine and the casket of gems Tolmen wanders off leaving the pilgrims in the care of Tuilerie looking at the remains of murals and chatting amongst themselves.
Within the privacy of the ruins Tolmen sets the casket down and opening the lid takes out the diary, turning to the last pages he reads writing in his own hand from an age past 'These last two of my swordbrothers fell guarding the entrance to the central hall, stationed there to slow down the enemy and give the child and I time to escape, their sacrifice will not go in vain! any refugees that live have already left for the relative safety of Imladris we are the last to remain in these lands' Tolmen takes the bottle of wine and toasts his fallen kinsmen then digging a small hole where he feels his fellows fell drops two of the polished beryls into the hollow and muttering a small affirmation before replacing the earth, he finished the bottle and replacing the diary and pouch inside the casket returns to the others dusting himself off as he goes.
Almanulde says, 'Any trouble out there, hir Tolmen?'
Hundaquildo glances at Tolmen with a nod of acknowledgement, and his gaze is quite serious, if warm. "We married in Ost-in Edhil. They would not let me go on patrol even if I wanted to."
Tuilerie stops and looks at Tolmen
Tolmen says, 'No, Lady all is quiet..'
Almanulde nods "Good..Our journey shall remain peaceful then'
Hundaquildo nods. "Let us hope it remains that way."
Tolmen smirks at Hundaquildo at the mention of marriage.
Tuilerie smiles at Inufileg
Hundaquildo ignores Tolmen's look. "Here were the guest houses."
Almanulde bows deeply before Inufileg.
Tuilerie smiles at the elf sat at the fire and says, 'Greetings Inufileg hope you are well, many are those scholars out of the Imladris that come here'
Hundaquildo says, 'They like to study our past and the texts that are so long forgotten, or the relics that could not be saved.'
Tuilerie says, 'I am divided, I think we should leave the past be, yet, there is so much we have already lost.'
Almanulde looks up at the patterns of the dome over their heads "They put a great effort creating each of those..My father told me that each had gems and patterns of their own, carved into its golden swirl..And so when the sun was dancing upon their beauty the sight was unlike any other upon this Middle-Earth. That I remember dearly."
Hundaquildo nods a little, trying not to sigh. "Each and every gem was a precious work of art. The Gwaith-i-Mirdith would spend days on carving a single one, alone."
Almanulde looks at Tuilerie "Perhaps our journey shall make you decide whether you wish to leave your memories in the past or no.."
Almanulde nods at Hundaquildo's words
Tuilerie tilts her head to the side, "Perhaps... much must have been buried in the ground, much that remains to be found.'
Tolmen says, 'I'm sure of it...'
Almanulde nods.
Hundaquildo says, 'There are.'
Tolmen watches Tuilerie carefully.
Almanulde gently places her hand upon one of the holly trees and sighs "No songs of the Eldar are heard here anymore. Yet the land is longing for them so dearly."
Tuilerie says, 'Oh!'
Tuilerie bends down and picks up something.
Hundaquildo says, 'They miss our work. Even these remainders welcome our steps, the ones who recognize our kind.'
Tuilerie holds a small clay piece up to the sun and says, 'Ack, broken dreams'
Hundaquildo notes her with interest. "What have you found there?"
Tuilerie drops it.
Almanulde watches her with curiosity.
Tuilerie says, 'It was a small piece of a clay urn, 'Yet there is much that may be found around here, 'Hmm'
Almanulde nods "Few pieces we could carry with us at that time...And fewer elves decided to come back when times became more peaceful.."
Hundaquildo thinks and looks to the old workshop that they came from. "Some great force must have thrown it this far. Or its owner was carrying it away for some unnown reason, and was unsuccessful."
Tolmen says, 'These lands have been laid waste...'
Tuilerie bends down and examines the ground closer scraping away the top soil saying, 'Hmm, ack... Just as I thought'
Almanulde arranges herself upon the soft grass and watches with interest sitting down.
Tuilerie points to the ground, where an old sword hilt is revealed.
Tuilerie says, 'Orcish...'
Hundaquildo takes off a gauntlet to run his bare fingers against the tree. "It cries, yet it heals. It was burned in the chaos by the storms of fire, yet the land slowly heals it all...."
Hundaquildo turns and scowls fiercely at the blade.
Tuilerie says, 'It is old yet it defiles these grounds, and these lands by its very presence'
Almanulde frowns "Then it shall not remain upon our lands. We shall carry it away or bury it as a memory forgotten till the end of Arda"
Hundaquildo says, 'Yrch! Burn it, the foul thing deserves little else.'
Tuilerie bends down and taking a piece of cloth wraps it.
Tolmen says, 'Not bury.. throw it on the fire!'
Hundaquildo's usually soft voice is filled with a low anger, his eyes flashing.
Tuilerie says, 'We shall remove it form here'
Almanulde nods at her words "Indeed."
Tuilerie says , 'Yes, burn its stench away!' and looking closer at the blade 'It is not that old at all?!'
Almanulde says, 'Fire shall not destroy the metal..Only dance upon it in its fierce beauty.'
Tuilerie shows the others the hilt saying , 'I would say it has not been in this ground many years'
Tuilerie looks around saying, 'Where would it come from...'
Hundaquildo scowls deeper. "This does not bode well at all, Clearly some yrch have been too bold as of late, and should be taught a lesson for their impudence.'
Tuilerie says, 'I am a little distrubed by this, there hasnt been any repots on orcs this far south for quite some time.'
Hundaquildo says, 'A scout then, or a spy, clearly. Not from a raiding party.'
Tuilerie says with a nod, 'They have all but fled up the mountains to hide form the sun there'
Hundaquildo says, 'The blade is thinner, meant to carry less weight. No war-chief carried this in battle. A weaker, smaller orc who needed as little to hinder its movement as possible.'
Tuilerie says, 'We must be careful'
Almanulde looks at the hilt thoughtfully "Indeed it is rare for them to wander here.."
Hundaquildo thinks for a moment.
Tolmen says, 'Probably a robber, after any treasures left untended.'
Hundaquildo says, 'Why would he drop his blade, though?'
Tuilerie says, 'Fleeing perhaps? or seeking to hide here?'
Hundaquildo says, 'Perhaps our scouts caught sight of him, and he fled before they could shoot.'
Almanulde points at one of the arches wandering around "This might be the deed of our people. "
Tuilerie says, 'The woods around here are home to wood-trolls, and they are no friend to anyone'
Almanulde points at Sentinel.
Hundaquildo says, 'But we would not have left the sword to lay in the ground.'
Tolmen says, 'Ask your friend at the gate Tuilerie'
Almanulde nods "Indeed.."
Tuilerie nods to Tolmen saying, 'I shall do that'
Hundaquildo shakes his head at the mention of wood trolls.
Tuilerie says, 'At least he must be told of our find.' and wraps the sword and holds it carefully.
Hundaquildo says, 'Indeed, and to be warned to be alert.'
Tuilerie says, 'All I know is that, if there is one, there are many'
Tolmen agrees with Tuilerie.
Tuilerie says, 'I shall walk over there immediately'
Hundaquildo says, 'There always are. Whether they be far behind their scouts, or right upon their heels.'
Tuilerie directs a polite cough at Maedlathron. Ahem! and shows Maedlathron the wrapped sword as she gets his attention.
Maedlathron stares at the sword, "Yrch!! Where?".
Tuilerie tells Maedlathron of the find.
Hundaquildo listens, gaze fierce and dark.
Maedlathron receives the sword and examines it and nods gravely, "Thank you for bringing this my friend. I shall write a report immediately, and send word to Imladris."
Tuilerie nods.
Tolmen goes to his horse, and takes a small casket from the folds of his cloak and slides it into his saddlebag.
Tuilerie says, 'We should be careful from now.. I am sorry, I thought this trip would remain trouble-free this far north.'
Hundaquildo nods as well, though his expression changes little.
Almanulde 's gaze follows Tolmen yet she says nothing.
Tolmen makes a unworried gesture at the mention of orcs.
Almanulde sighs, 'There shall always be a trouble as long as the Enemy torments our lands..'.
Hundaquildo says, 'Tis no trouble. T'would be almost naive that in these days no shadow would befell those who wander so deeply and freely in the wilds.'
Almanulde looks at the horizon "The sun is setting.."
Hundaquildo glances up, a rare bit of a smile on his face. "The stars are coming out."
Almanulde says, 'Perhaps we shall prepare for the night'
Tuilerie says, 'It is gloaming, and Maedlathron has advised us to remain within the confines of the ruins tonight'
Tolmen says, 'Good idea, Lady..'
Almanulde nods "It would be wise advice"
Tuilerie nods.
Hundaquildo nods. "Especially after our find."
Tolmen agrees with Hundaquildo.
Tuilerie says, 'We could settle in the building behind us, the old market house'
Hundaquildo says, 'Indeed, it seems to have been converted into the new guest house of sorts.'
Almanulde nods "It seems to be a fine idea, as it was the one that greeted us upon arrival."
Tolmen takes a long look to the woods at the south.
Tuilerie retrieves her cloak and bow from Maedlathron
Hundaquildo says, 'It is the most intact of the structures left behid, as well.'
Almanulde points something out and says, 'So brightly they shine at night, even as a ruin!, brought to life by our people once again.'
Tuilerie tends to a small fire and sits with Maedlathron.
Hundaquildo nods, smiling just a little. "The stones and metal were polished and made to reflect light. Even in pure starlight, their forms are able to be seen."
Almanulde sits down.
Hundaquildo again sets down his shield, but with his spears and javelins this time too. No less reluctantly or cautiously.
Almanulde arranges her belongings by the fire and pulls out some dried fruits out of her satchel
Hundaquildo sits down.
Tuilerie spreads her bedroll by the fire and places her bow next to her.
Tolmen removes his cloak and sets it on the ground.
Tuilerie says, 'I dont think we need to keep watch. The scouts here have all been told.'
Tolmen carefully lays his weapons on his cloak and covers them over from prying eyes.
Hundaquildo takes some trail food from his satchel. Waybread and dried meats, along with dried fruits and nuts, and a bit of hard cheese.
Hundaquildo says, 'Indeed, though old habits fade slowly.'
Almanulde says, 'Indeed, for a night we can rest peacefully..'
Tolmen sits down rather fast as his leg gives way with an "Oof!"
Hundaquildo glances at Tolmen, gauging to see if he is alright.
Tuilerie lies down and wraps her cloak ar ound her, and Nolandur curls up next to her.
Tolmen gives Hundaquildo a solitary nod.
Hundaquildo nods back, and turns to his wife, offering her some of the food, as well as to the others.
Tuilerie yawns and closes her eyes.
Tolmen declines the offer of food and closes his eyes to meditate.
Hundaquildo nibbles on some cheese and meat, though it is obvious in his eyes he is alert and watchful.
