by Silanglindis » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:34 am
It had been a joyous day for Sil.
A successful hunt throughout the cracked and harsh lands in Gorothlad had led her and her companions upon the tracks of the prey they had been looking for since the early dawn. And after something what she referred to as "Nothing worse than a bit of smithwork at a good hot fire" she had gathered the near unbreakable and polished black scale of the rare kind of drakes that sometimes descend to this area from the further off regions of Angmar, fit to make an armour that would hopefully serve its new owner better than its previous.
Coming back to Thorins halls she was expecting to prolong the red glow of dawn by spending time attending the hotter glowing forge, but already at the gates a young dwarf, eyeing her curiously interrupted her by inquiring her name. Although the reply was the one he had been waiting for (taken by the extraordinary amounts of grunts and mutterings, waiting for since quite a while), one could clearly recognize it was not appreciated by him serving as an errandrunner- and particularly not to a singed elven warrior.
After handing over the note he carried for her his mischief was not diminished by the fact that his leave was aborted due to his hood being fastened to the grip of the elve, discarding the note into her pocket.
"It seems, master dwarf, I will do more travelling today. Prithee take care of my belongings here and carry them to Molda, I know he is not expecting this delivery, but he will know how to treat it. Send him the greetings of Silanglindis Naugrimella and he will reward you for this errand and will tell you a bit that will make you think better of me. Namarie!"
Speaking this she jumped to her horses back and untying the drakes scales she gathered turned about, speeding off to the distance, leaving behind a young dwarf gloating on the scales glowing in the rays of the westering sun as if the fire of the beast they belonged to had been rekindled.
Passing the peaceful lands of Ered Luin- and the soft green meadows of the Shire on her way Silanglindis pondered the simple message sent to her.
This was no invitation to a merry meeting, that much was to be guessed... Sayvara must have deemed its delivery and her appearance worthy paying a messenger, not just placing a simple 'note-by-the-doorstep', although she enjoyed playing her little games by times and delighted in confusing her friend for a giggle. Nah, a call for help? That was no game, this was something not to be taken lightly.
Having sorted out the case and passing the Buckland gates after a very short discussion with the gate keepers (although having to announce that the gate had to be closed ere nightfall, they seemed rather easy with letting a fully-armed elven warrior OUT of the shire) she arrived in Breeland.
She could well imagine the gate-keepers returning to their mugs and plates in the inn with a brand-new rumour for the attentive crowd just now. The evening had just begun and the moon was waxing. Judging that the note had been awaiting her for more than just a few hours, there would not be the time to travel to Bree and see if there was someone of the Thorn about in the Inns for more information, nor for another discussion with gatekeepers- this time on the inside of the gates.
Sighing to herself, she took the direct way to the meeting-point, an island where Sayvara and her had met a few times in the past whenever there was the chance of spending a day away in a prolonged picnic, sharing the tales and songs of their adventures or merely moments of peace and quietness.
As she rode along the deep cleft with the quick stream running towards the lake, suddenly the beauty of the approaching night, the sweet wholesome air and the nightly noises of the animals in the rich grass of the hills overcame her tiredness. Had there been a watcher on this lonely meadow, he might have watched a change in this passing rider from a stout traveller, setting out for a nightly march to that of an adventurer that is setting out to a new days wonders and discoveries.
Tying up her armour to a close bundle and floating it on the lake with a blown-up water skin Sil crossed the lake with strong and swift strides, enjoying the clean , moonlit waters washing away the sulfurous fumes and the last rest of weariness resulting from her earlier adventure- and found the meeting place empty. Startled by this fact she quickly clad herself again- an irony regarding the quietness of the peaceful surrounding. A quick, silent exploration showed her that she was indeed the first visitor of the island on this day ... did this mean her friend was late? Or worse?
After a quick consideration she decided to lay hid and watch the lakeside... anyone who would want to approch this meeting place would either have to breathe water, or give away his approach already from afar. Melting into shadows, soon only the toads and the sound of quiet waves could be heard in the nightly silence.