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Marileangorifurnimaluim · 10-07-2002, 03:26 PM

**** Harad/Umbar - in Nurn ****

Strangely, Al-Gareth did not go outside, though the children urged him to play with them many times. He would just shake his head with a grim smile, or he would change the subject.

He told them "You be my eyes and ears. Tell me what you see - leave out nothing!" And he would growl and tickle them like a big bear. They laughed, giggled and ran, and he didn't try too hard to catch them, sitting down with happy sigh.

He turned to their father, "You are rich man. Don't you doubt it for a minute." Their mother smiled.

Under orders they reported everything they saw. He was mostly interested in the people, what they did and said, though he listened to stories of animals and trees, too. And their games changed to ones of being soldiers of the king, carrying out his orders. Al-Gareth wouldn't let them salute him, their mother didn't like it, so they contented themselves with saluting eachother. Which their mother didn't like either, but she couldn't stop what she didn't see.

One day they were playing 'rescue Al-Gareth' - they had their stick 'swords' out to defend their imaginary leader. They were on the alert for attack between the house and the barn, when the littlest starting shouting "save Al-Gareth!" too loud, and their mother came running. She was really angry, shoved them into the house and wouldn't let them go outside to play for the rest of the day. In a shaking voice she told them they were never, never to say his name out loud. When their father came home she closed the door to their bedroom, but before the door completely shut they heard her say "He has to go."

******

After more than a month, Al-Gareth became more like a bear all the time. He helped their mother as much as she would let him, but after he would start pacing. He didn't like the news they brought, because it had too many blackcoats, and there was no news from his soldiers. The children decided they shouldn't tell him about the blackcoats and their men anymore, and left out the part about the new blackcoat with his new fancy badge.

Al-Gareth, as he grew frustrated, saw their faces and gathered them round. He asked them about something else - the trees, other more interesting things. They were very relieved. He began to ask them about the road south. Eager to change the subject, they told about their own secret paths that ran alongside it. They and the other kids had secret hideaways in the pricker bushes, and paths that ran between.

"That's how we can see the blackcoats, but they can't see us!" the eldest spoke up.

They suddenly fell silent, afraid the word 'blackcoat' would make him mad again.

But Al-Gareth was very impressed. And pleased. So they answered all of his questions about these paths, how far they went, how many could travel on them. They were so relieved to see him happy again.

That night, when their father came home from the fields, Al-Gareth and father went into the kitchen and closed the door. They talked a long time. The lantern light flickered under the door long after the children were in bed, so they dozed half awake, listening to Al-Gareth's excited voice, and their father's doubtful concern.

A bustle of activity woke the children before light. Their mother was up and busy, and in a big hurry from the sound of it. They staggered into the mainroom rubbing sleep from their eyes, and saw a soldier they didn't recognize sitting in the kitchen. He had a dirty haggard face. There was preserves and food pulled out from every cupboard, and their mother was hurriedly filling a pack. The soldier was talking to Al-Gareth without looking at anything, as people do when they're very tired, or very sad.

"Al-Ethkeban has taken all but these border towns, somehow brought the other blackcoats under him. We don't know how. But he has a new sigil, and claims he has 'united' the country." Suddenly the children thought of the badges they saw, and felt guilty. "I don't know how close he is, but I believe he has some news of you, else why sweep through these smaller villages?"

The eldest's face fell, and Al-Gareth's eyes lighted on him.

"Do you know of this? Tell me what you know!"

The boy didn't speak, his heart caught in his throat at how he'd let down Al-Gareth, his king. But Al-Gareth told him, "speak quickly! I will need you to guide me along those paths we spoke of yesterday. Soon, if not an hour ago." His eyes glimmered, understanding well what such a task meant to the boy. The words came in a rush.

It wasn't long before three figures rustled into the brush, one quiet and small leading the way.

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]

10-07-2002, 03:26 PM	#175
Marileangorifurnimaluim Eerie Forest Spectre Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction Posts: 798	** Harad/Umbar - in Nurn Strangely, Al-Gareth did not go outside, though the children urged him to play with them many times. He would just shake his head with a grim smile, or he would change the subject. He told them "You be my eyes and ears. Tell me what you see - leave out nothing!" And he would growl and tickle them like a big bear. They laughed, giggled and ran, and he didn't try too hard to catch them, sitting down with happy sigh. He turned to their father, "You are rich man. Don't you doubt it for a minute." Their mother smiled. Under orders they reported everything they saw. He was mostly interested in the people, what they did and said, though he listened to stories of animals and trees, too. And their games changed to ones of being soldiers of the king, carrying out his orders. Al-Gareth wouldn't let them salute him, their mother didn't like it, so they contented themselves with saluting eachother. Which their mother didn't like either, but she couldn't stop what she didn't see. One day they were playing 'rescue Al-Gareth' - they had their stick 'swords' out to defend their imaginary leader. They were on the alert for attack between the house and the barn, when the littlest starting shouting "save Al-Gareth!" too loud, and their mother came running. She was really angry, shoved them into the house and wouldn't let them go outside to play for the rest of the day. In a shaking voice she told them they were never, never to say his name out loud. When their father came home she closed the door to their bedroom, but before the door completely shut they heard her say "He has to go." **** After more than a month, Al-Gareth became more like a bear all the time. He helped their mother as much as she would let him, but after he would start pacing. He didn't like the news they brought, because it had too many blackcoats, and there was no news from his soldiers. The children decided they shouldn't tell him about the blackcoats and their men anymore, and left out the part about the new blackcoat with his new fancy badge. Al-Gareth, as he grew frustrated, saw their faces and gathered them round. He asked them about something else - the trees, other more interesting things. They were very relieved. He began to ask them about the road south. Eager to change the subject, they told about their own secret paths that ran alongside it. They and the other kids had secret hideaways in the pricker bushes, and paths that ran between. "That's how we can see the blackcoats, but they can't see us!" the eldest spoke up. They suddenly fell silent, afraid the word 'blackcoat' would make him mad again. But Al-Gareth was very impressed. And pleased. So they answered all of his questions about these paths, how far they went, how many could travel on them. They were so relieved to see him happy again. That night, when their father came home from the fields, Al-Gareth and father went into the kitchen and closed the door. They talked a long time. The lantern light flickered under the door long after the children were in bed, so they dozed half awake, listening to Al-Gareth's excited voice, and their father's doubtful concern. A bustle of activity woke the children before light. Their mother was up and busy, and in a big hurry from the sound of it. They staggered into the mainroom rubbing sleep from their eyes, and saw a soldier they didn't recognize sitting in the kitchen. He had a dirty haggard face. There was preserves and food pulled out from every cupboard, and their mother was hurriedly filling a pack. The soldier was talking to Al-Gareth without looking at anything, as people do when they're very tired, or very sad. "Al-Ethkeban has taken all but these border towns, somehow brought the other blackcoats under him. We don't know how. But he has a new sigil, and claims he has 'united' the country." Suddenly the children thought of the badges they saw, and felt guilty. "I don't know how close he is, but I believe he has some news of you, else why sweep through these smaller villages?" The eldest's face fell, and Al-Gareth's eyes lighted on him. "Do you know of this? Tell me what you know!" The boy didn't speak, his heart caught in his throat at how he'd let down Al-Gareth, his king. But Al-Gareth told him, "speak quickly! I will need you to guide me along those paths we spoke of yesterday. Soon, if not an hour ago." His eyes glimmered, understanding well what such a task meant to the boy. The words came in a rush. It wasn't long before three figures rustled into the brush, one quiet and small leading the way. [ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ] __________________ Deserves death! I daresay he does... And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?