"Saruman, Saruman! Saruman, you missed your path in life. You should have been the king's jester and earned your bread, and stripes too, by mimicking his counsellors. Ah me!" Gandalf |
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Susan Delgado Blue Sky, Night Thunder: The... 07-14-2002, 11:08 AM
Ivy of the Woods It was Ivy who yelled out for... 07-14-2002, 05:05 PM
Guest Lander looked over at the man... 07-14-2002, 05:08 PM
Manelwen This was the kind of... 07-14-2002, 08:28 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin considered this... 07-14-2002, 08:42 PM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel sat in a corner of... 07-14-2002, 08:44 PM
Manelwen Her lips curled in another... 07-14-2002, 08:55 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin watched coldly as... 07-14-2002, 09:19 PM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel noticed two figures... 07-14-2002, 09:24 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin shifted his... 07-14-2002, 09:32 PM
Manelwen Himelilek watched lascivously... 07-14-2002, 09:37 PM
Rosseiliantiel "I don't think I'd have much... 07-14-2002, 09:42 PM
Guest Ollea sat alone at a table in... 07-14-2002, 09:45 PM
Susan Delgado At the newcomer's remark,... 07-14-2002, 09:51 PM
Rosseiliantiel "Find what, exactly?" said... 07-14-2002, 09:53 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin looked around to... 07-14-2002, 09:56 PM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel's eyes lit up.... 07-14-2002, 10:00 PM
Manelwen She tensed, hearing the... 07-14-2002, 10:00 PM
Guest >Very,< Ollea said from... 07-14-2002, 10:01 PM
Guest (oops-i cant keep up with u... 07-14-2002, 10:04 PM
Rosseiliantiel <<OOC: Manelwen: I'm... 07-14-2002, 10:05 PM
Susan Delgado <'overly ambitious theif'... 07-14-2002, 10:08 PM
Manelwen I know, I know...I made a... 07-14-2002, 10:14 PM
Rosseiliantiel <<don't worry about... 07-14-2002, 10:19 PM
Guest Ollea raised an eyebrow at... 07-14-2002, 10:21 PM
Guest Hey! my rank just went up,... 07-14-2002, 10:23 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin was beginning to... 07-14-2002, 10:25 PM
Manelwen Yawning to catch all three of... 07-14-2002, 10:29 PM
Rosseiliantiel "Great, that's just what we... 07-14-2002, 10:34 PM
Susan Delgado Irritably, Thorondruin led... 07-14-2002, 10:37 PM
GreatWarg Khelek ran swiftly through... 07-14-2002, 10:39 PM
Manelwen Himelilek curled her lip as... 07-14-2002, 10:44 PM
Susan Delgado As he stepped outside,... 07-14-2002, 10:56 PM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel was uncomfortable... 07-14-2002, 11:03 PM
Belin Remdil missed it all. His... 07-15-2002, 12:03 AM
Cimmerian The tall, large man stumbled... 07-15-2002, 12:51 AM
Cimmerian Ooc- My previous post takes... 07-15-2002, 01:11 AM
Guest She had seen the bald man in... 07-15-2002, 08:15 AM
Manelwen Her armor was beginning to... 07-15-2002, 08:59 AM
Halbereth Diagona From the direction where she... 07-15-2002, 09:49 AM
Rosseiliantiel As soon as Himeliek was... 07-15-2002, 09:59 AM
Manelwen Himelilek gave the elf a... 07-15-2002, 10:10 AM
GreatWarg Khelek had obviously heard... 07-15-2002, 10:15 AM
Halbereth Diagona "Some call me 'the silver... 07-15-2002, 10:19 AM
Halbereth Diagona >sorry himelilek, got... 07-15-2002, 10:22 AM
Manelwen Himelilek was sitting on a... 07-15-2002, 10:26 AM
GreatWarg Khelek regarded this new Elf.... 07-15-2002, 10:34 AM
Rosseiliantiel It would be wise of her to... 07-15-2002, 10:37 AM
Manelwen Himelilek grunted and yanked... 07-15-2002, 10:42 AM
Halbereth Diagona The stranger paid no heed to... 07-15-2002, 10:44 AM
Manelwen OOC. Halbereth, could you... 07-15-2002, 10:51 AM
Halbereth Diagona >sure, do u have your... 07-15-2002, 10:55 AM
GreatWarg Khelek sniffed the air.... 07-15-2002, 11:06 AM
GreatWarg OOC Why is everyone so EVIL?!... 07-15-2002, 11:12 AM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion, feeling that he... 07-15-2002, 11:13 AM
tangerine (hey, this is navmarien but... 07-15-2002, 11:27 AM
GreatWarg Khelek's tail twitched. He... 07-15-2002, 11:31 AM
Belin Remdil, still wandering about... 07-15-2002, 11:48 AM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel turned white as she... 07-15-2002, 11:56 AM
GreatWarg Khelek looked at Remdil. The... 07-15-2002, 12:07 PM
tangerine As Ollea watched the wolf... 07-15-2002, 02:27 PM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel edged out from... 07-15-2002, 04:09 PM
Susan Delgado <Wow, this RPG has really... 07-15-2002, 08:06 PM
Rosseiliantiel Let's see, whose horse did I... 07-15-2002, 08:11 PM
Susan Delgado No accident that Thorondruin... 07-15-2002, 08:26 PM
GreatWarg Khelek narrowed his eyes. The... 07-15-2002, 08:48 PM
Susan Delgado That's what makes it fun ... 07-15-2002, 09:05 PM
Rosseiliantiel <<OOC: i'm not bad, i'm... 07-15-2002, 09:06 PM
tangerine Ollea sighed regretfully once... 07-15-2002, 09:47 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin watched the Elves... 07-15-2002, 09:59 PM
Cimmerian The tall bald barbarian grew... 07-16-2002, 12:26 AM
Belin Heh, best bouncing of my... 07-16-2002, 03:12 AM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin noticed the man... 07-16-2002, 03:39 AM
Halbereth Diagona Somewhere-though I could not... 07-16-2002, 08:27 AM
GreatWarg OOC Oh, okay, fine fine, I... 07-16-2002, 09:51 AM
Manelwen "I don not think the force is... 07-16-2002, 12:41 PM
Rosseiliantiel Rosseil rolled her eyes and... 07-16-2002, 03:58 PM
tangerine Ollea allowed herself to... 07-16-2002, 05:15 PM
Belin Remdil stared frozenly at the... 07-16-2002, 06:23 PM
GreatWarg Khelek relaxed about three... 07-16-2002, 09:08 PM
Cimmerian "What have we to gain from... 07-17-2002, 12:55 AM
Susan Delgado Giving Himelielek a scowl,... 07-17-2002, 01:30 AM
Halbereth Diagona "Oh, I know many things. And... 07-17-2002, 01:52 AM
Susan Delgado <<Please pay attention... 07-17-2002, 01:59 AM
Susan Delgado The white puppy slunk after... 07-17-2002, 02:09 AM
tangerine <I finally got my rank... 07-17-2002, 08:19 AM
Cimmerian "Har!" grunted the barbarian,... 07-17-2002, 08:36 AM
Manelwen The elf's smile broadened as... 07-17-2002, 09:34 AM
GreatWarg ((OOC Okay, okay fine. I'll... 07-17-2002, 10:43 AM
Kettle of fish Rastus sat on the end of the... 07-17-2002, 11:06 AM
Susan Delgado As Ozracles and Hinelilek... 07-17-2002, 07:55 PM
Manelwen That anticipation bubbled in... 07-17-2002, 09:09 PM
tangerine Ollea's calm fell almost... 07-17-2002, 09:49 PM
GreatWarg Khelek's tail twitched. So... 07-17-2002, 10:07 PM
Cimmerian Ozracles roughly pushed the... 07-18-2002, 12:17 AM
Susan Delgado OOC Sorry, Cim, for some... 07-18-2002, 12:58 AM
Cimmerian Ooc - I thought you addressed... 07-18-2002, 02:26 AM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion watched the... 07-18-2002, 08:24 AM
GreatWarg "I didn't tell you to eat my... 07-18-2002, 11:23 AM
tangerine Ollea watched Amanalkarion's... 07-18-2002, 05:24 PM
Susan Delgado "Foolishness indeed!"... 07-18-2002, 07:47 PM
GreatWarg ((OOC um... that's not... 07-18-2002, 07:59 PM
Susan Delgado OOC He was trying to protect... 07-18-2002, 08:24 PM
tangerine Ollea heaved herself on to... 07-18-2002, 09:22 PM
Susan Delgado "Himelilek, Ozracles, help... 07-18-2002, 10:19 PM
Cimmerian Himelilek grabbed the rabid... 07-19-2002, 01:08 AM
Susan Delgado Singing and laughing... 07-19-2002, 01:32 AM
Kettle of fish Rastus lay on the ground,... 07-19-2002, 01:33 AM
Cimmerian The three rogues drank and... 07-19-2002, 03:45 AM
suicidal elf chick <<<Hey, I'm in... 07-19-2002, 04:05 AM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion watched the... 07-19-2002, 08:15 AM
Susan Delgado Ozracles only tried to brush... 07-19-2002, 10:49 AM
Manelwen She hadn't felt like this in... 07-19-2002, 03:09 PM
tangerine The grey horse set a fast... 07-19-2002, 05:12 PM
Cimmerian Ozracles scooped the light... 07-20-2002, 01:20 AM
Susan Delgado <glarg! I wrote a big long... 07-20-2002, 01:59 AM
suicidal elf chick Deciding against another... 07-20-2002, 02:36 AM
Rosseiliantiel Dinen came storming into the... 07-20-2002, 05:03 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin had raised his... 07-21-2002, 12:26 PM
Cimmerian Ozracles grabbed Dinenliel by... 07-22-2002, 12:46 AM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion was still... 07-22-2002, 12:50 PM
Susan Delgado On his way back to his room,... 07-22-2002, 07:55 PM
Lady Death Since her father was too... 07-23-2002, 09:24 AM
suicidal elf chick <<<Greetings from... 07-24-2002, 01:23 AM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion reposted his... 07-24-2002, 03:15 AM
suicidal elf chick "Well then, where is she? I... 07-24-2002, 03:24 AM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion kept staring,... 07-24-2002, 03:34 AM
Cimmerian Loosing interest in the cold... 07-24-2002, 03:48 AM
tangerine Ollea had made it to the... 07-24-2002, 11:39 AM
suicidal elf chick Kalia stared back with... 07-24-2002, 02:26 PM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion shrugged. ... 07-24-2002, 02:40 PM
suicidal elf chick "Ah, makes sense. So who else... 07-24-2002, 02:46 PM
Halbereth Diagona "With me, or that bunch... 07-24-2002, 02:50 PM
tangerine Ollea watched the... 07-24-2002, 02:56 PM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalkarion sensed he was... 07-24-2002, 03:03 PM
suicidal elf chick "I'll come with you,... 07-24-2002, 03:04 PM
Halbereth Diagona "Very well," answered... 07-24-2002, 03:08 PM
tangerine Ollea looked closely at... 07-24-2002, 03:51 PM
Halbereth Diagona > tangerine, I like you,... 07-24-2002, 04:03 PM
Manelwen Opening her eyes, she groaned... 07-24-2002, 04:25 PM
Susan Delgado OOC: Is this "What with one... 07-24-2002, 07:48 PM
Cimmerian Ooc - I was hoping for a... 07-24-2002, 11:32 PM
Belin Remdil's head was still... 07-25-2002, 01:22 AM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin was very pleased... 07-26-2002, 06:01 PM
Cimmerian "You'd best handle that... 07-28-2002, 04:38 AM
Susan Delgado As they rode along the trail,... 08-01-2002, 03:44 PM
tangerine The three of them- Kalia,... 08-01-2002, 09:24 PM
suicidal elf chick Kalia followed Ollea.
"I... 08-01-2002, 11:06 PM
Cimmerian "We can get our food from the... 08-01-2002, 11:57 PM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalk turned his face... 08-02-2002, 05:48 AM
tangerine As Ollea watched her horse... 08-02-2002, 02:15 PM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalk saddled his great... 08-03-2002, 08:13 AM
suicidal elf chick >Sorry, short posts... 08-03-2002, 07:38 PM
Halbereth Diagona Amanalk galloped away, still... 09-03-2002, 03:18 AM
Phoenix Solitude Please look at this RPGs... 09-03-2002, 03:41 AM
Susan Delgado As they rode on, Thorondruin... 09-03-2002, 10:31 PM
Cimmerian Just as Carathon struggled to... 09-04-2002, 09:15 AM
Phoenix Solitude Everyone's being mean to me!!... 09-04-2002, 09:59 AM
Belin Gondeithel, head of the... 09-04-2002, 10:41 PM
Rosseiliantiel "Ooh, I'll teach them to... 09-07-2002, 09:33 AM
Susan Delgado As the afternoon wore on,... 09-08-2002, 02:50 PM
Belin In fact, Remdil was... 09-08-2002, 04:48 PM
Rosseiliantiel 'Razawyn' was thoroughly... 09-08-2002, 06:36 PM
Susan Delgado Remdil and Dineniel's... 09-09-2002, 04:48 AM
Phoenix Solitude Carathon chewed hungrily on... 09-09-2002, 10:23 AM
Cimmerian Ozracles smirked at the... 09-10-2002, 01:56 AM
Phoenix Solitude Carathon sat up, rubbing the... 09-10-2002, 09:33 AM
Kettle of fish Livia delicately fingered the... 09-12-2002, 01:39 AM
Kettle of fish Himelilek sneered at the... 09-14-2002, 12:08 AM
Cimmerian Ooc – Your right, Sol. That... 09-14-2002, 02:35 AM
Susan Delgado Growling about disrespectful... 09-14-2002, 03:53 AM
Susan Delgado Remdil watched his wife pack... 09-14-2002, 04:34 AM
Rosseiliantiel Almost immediately after the... 09-15-2002, 06:52 PM
Susan Delgado I'm writing this because I'm... 09-16-2002, 01:33 AM
Phoenix Solitude Carathon looked towards the... 09-16-2002, 08:08 AM
Kettle of fish The boy darted towards the... 09-16-2002, 08:57 AM
Belin <Susan, you're psychic. I... 09-16-2002, 12:40 PM
Cimmerian Hm, he'd probably get his... 09-17-2002, 01:03 AM
Susan Delgado Hey, no smashing the help;... 09-17-2002, 01:13 AM
Cimmerian Ooc - Uh, when did we start... 09-17-2002, 01:42 AM
Phoenix Solitude Cool down you guys this is... 09-17-2002, 08:35 AM
Cimmerian Ozracles was stunned, but... 09-18-2002, 08:44 AM
Cimmerian “Let him be, big man,” she... 09-18-2002, 08:48 AM
Phoenix Solitude Ok, sorry. Argh I did it... 09-18-2002, 08:55 AM
Susan Delgado "Who's out there?" The voice... 09-20-2002, 02:04 AM
Kettle of fish The boy called out as the... 09-20-2002, 09:36 AM
Rosseiliantiel Remdil muttered something... 09-21-2002, 09:53 AM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin rode well ahead... 09-21-2002, 12:16 PM
Cimmerian Ozracles grunted in pain,... 09-22-2002, 02:08 AM
Susan Delgado "Hmmph"
The others turned... 09-22-2002, 02:29 PM
Cimmerian It was almost noon, when... 09-23-2002, 01:46 AM
Kettle of fish The boy could already see the... 09-23-2002, 07:41 AM
Phoenix Solitude Bewildered by everything... 09-23-2002, 08:29 AM
Rosseiliantiel "Are you my mother?"
... 09-23-2002, 02:50 PM
Cimmerian Ozrcles fingered the severed... 09-24-2002, 05:34 AM
Kettle of fish A wave of dissappointment... 09-25-2002, 01:17 AM
Susan Delgado Eolinda felt a wave of... 09-26-2002, 05:08 PM
Kettle of fish The boy looked apprehensively... 09-27-2002, 05:52 AM
Susan Delgado Throndruin looked around at... 09-28-2002, 01:52 AM
Susan Delgado "Wait!" Eolinda called again.... 09-28-2002, 03:12 AM
Kettle of fish The boy looked at the three... 09-29-2002, 01:08 AM
Susan Delgado "Certainly!" Eolinda cried.... 09-29-2002, 01:37 AM
Cimmerian A week was too long indeed,... 09-30-2002, 04:50 AM
Kettle of fish At the Pig's Ear, the boy... 09-30-2002, 07:32 AM
Belin Hithduiniel sat straight up... 10-11-2002, 08:23 PM
Phoenix Solitude Carathon leaned forward to... 10-12-2002, 04:17 AM
Susan Delgado Throndruin rode his horse... 10-12-2002, 02:29 PM
Childlike Empress Lenilos watched the thieves... 10-14-2002, 12:02 AM
Kettle of fish The boy knew not to waste... 10-16-2002, 09:04 PM
Belin Remdil stared at the ragged... 10-28-2002, 08:56 PM
Susan Delgado Peering into her face, the... 10-29-2002, 12:49 AM
Halbereth Diagona >Sorry if this isn't up to... 10-29-2002, 10:45 AM
Kettle of fish "Nobody strange has come... 11-01-2002, 05:05 AM
Susan Delgado Well, it's been a week and... 11-08-2002, 02:23 AM
Halbereth Diagona Carathon bit his bottom lip.... 11-10-2002, 06:37 AM
Childlike Empress Lenilos luged bacwards.... 11-10-2002, 12:06 PM
Halbereth Diagona Frowing, Carathon picked up... 11-12-2002, 09:16 AM
Belin Remdil calculated. How long... 11-12-2002, 09:08 PM
Belin Hithduiniel was attempting to... 11-12-2002, 09:44 PM
Susan Delgado Fool women, Thorndruin... 11-13-2002, 02:54 AM
Susan Delgado Eolinda watched the Elf... 11-13-2002, 02:56 AM
Cimmerian It started to rain again, but... 11-16-2002, 09:00 AM
Childlike Empress Lenilos and Carathon stared... 11-17-2002, 01:15 PM
Belin Hithduiniel followed the... 11-22-2002, 05:36 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin rolled away from... 11-23-2002, 03:13 AM
Cimmerian "Quite Dead!" the elf... 11-25-2002, 09:08 AM
Belin Remdil pressed his horse... 11-25-2002, 06:58 PM
Childlike Empress Lenilos and Carathon were... 11-26-2002, 02:53 PM
Belin OOC: Apologies, Childlike... 12-02-2002, 03:08 AM
Halbereth Diagona Carathon kept his head down... 12-02-2002, 12:11 PM
Susan Delgado Thorondruin watched the... 12-10-2002, 04:22 AM
Susan Delgado Lenilos woke much refreshed.... 12-10-2002, 04:25 AM
Belin The butterfly was light on... 12-10-2002, 03:45 PM
Rosseiliantiel Dineniel was feeling decidely... 12-10-2002, 05:47 PM
Susan Delgado "No."
Remdil was aghast.... 12-14-2002, 04:42 PM
Halbereth Diagona > smilies/frown.gif<
... 12-16-2002, 09:57 AM
Belin Remdil sighed. He wouldn't... 12-17-2002, 01:24 AM
Susan Delgado Eolinda sighed. She saw... 12-17-2002, 03:35 PM
Belin "So the smith went..." Livia... 01-03-2003, 02:38 AM
Susan Delgado "What?"
"How?"
"Dead?"
... 01-04-2003, 02:40 AM
Belin That night, Hithduiniel lay... 01-04-2003, 05:04 AM
Susan Delgado The floor squeaked. He knew... 01-04-2003, 11:34 AM
Belin Remdil felt no need to see... 01-11-2003, 03:12 AM
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01-04-2003, 05:04 AM | #38 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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That night, Hithduiniel lay quietly in the darkness of the room they'd provided her, reflecting on the suprises of the day. Livia's inn was a large and well lit place in the daytime, and she could see the beauty of it, where the architecture had not been defaced by the chaotic events of many rough nights of brigandry. What had they been doing out here, these mortals? Didn't they know enough to guard themselves and their homes from such people? If she had understood the girl properly, they invited hordes of ruffians into this place, fed them, gave them beds, and cleaned up the bodies they left lying about on the floors. Such foolishness.
The stormclouds had passed, and though the wind wound around the inn like a cry of weak despair, there was a strange quietness as she had not heard in the night since the storm had come. Hithduiniel turned over onto one side, half thinking, half dreaming. So maybe it was a dream that she heard, and not the sound of hunting horns and rushing feet. Maybe, after all, the voices of men did not close around these walls with a sound like the sound of the wind, and perhaps they were followed by no flurry of hooves. It was possible that they passed so quickly only because they were creatures of her thought, and that the silence she heard when she started back into full consciousness was the same silence that had lain on the room before. Maybe so. But her mind was full of these sounds, and the search of her eyes that met no object was not unaccompanied by rushing and powerful images in her mind. "Just to see your shadow," Hithduiniel whispered into the darkness, "once, and never more." A long moment passed as she lay under the thick blanket shivering. Did she dare? She dared. Hithduiniel rose quietly from her bed. Nothing to take with her, nothing she needed, only an idea and a long walk. So. She walked silently past the rooms where those content to stay were sleeping, snoring away in their ridiculous mortal fashion, as if there were nothing better in the world. She made her way down the stairs, opened the door without its usual squeak, and suddenly stood breathing in the night. She looked eastward over her shoulder, in a sort of apology to her brother, and started off. There was a light in the stable. It was, of course, no concern of hers. She cared nothing for either the stable or the--whoever was in there. But the sudden knowledge that she was not, after all, alone in the night jarred her. The sounds she had heard had conferred this time on her, and on her alone, and an intruder--well, at least she should know who it was. She peered around the door. Somebody with a very small lantern was leading out a horse without any of the peculiar gear used by the Men, whispering something into the beast's ear. Dineniel, of course. I wonder where she's going. Hithduiniel shrugged the question off. Only another wanderer like herself, then, another rogue in search of something. Hithduiniel nodded to herself, glad both of this kind of kinship between them and the obvious superiority of her own journey. She turned away, satisfied. "Hey." Curiosity was a curse. She'd been seen. "Yes?" she said softly, turning to face the Elf again. "What are you prowling around here for?" asked Dineniel, in the same near-whisper the Green-Elf was using. "I am not prowling. I am traveling. Why are you prowling?" "I need a horse for my travels, do I not?" The roguish Elf grinned. "Is it not strange indeed that you would travel back without your brother?" "We go to different places." At this, Dineniel raised her eyebrows, drawing out an explanation. Something in this rash girl reminded her of a slightly younger and much more careless version of herself, and this was a bit of gossip she very much wanted to hear. She watched carefully as Hithduiniel shifted her weight, considered, reconsidered, and suddenly, impetuously spoke. "I have seen the sun set. I have heard a hunter's horn. I must-- I go west." Dineniel gaped at her. "What?" she managed finally. Hithduiniel leaned toward her, with strangely glowing eyes. Her whisper was becoming at once louder and more conspiratorial, and Dineniel had a sudden strong desire to leave. "We're Moriquendi, Dineniel," she said. "My people are, they say, more darkened than the others, lesser, smaller, stranger. I did not see the Trees. I did not meet the Sun. Orome who met my people is a stranger to me. The Sea? I've never seen it. But this is no choice of mine. Lenwe led us here, and Lenwe it was who chose to linger among the green trees and lose the sight of the silver and the gold. Some of these things I have heard. And why, O woman of what I may call my kindred"--Dineniel flinched, but Hithduiniel did not notice--"why should I stay upon the whims of a foolish leader, who cannot show me what is my heritage and what the great ones meant me to see? And though the choice was his to turn aside, what choice was mine? Will they keep me here, cooped in a narrow land from tree to tree?" "Hithduiniel--" murmured Dineniel, alarmed. The words... they echoed something, something important. Her mind groped toward it. Hithduiniel was shaking her head, speaking excitedly in a voice that continued to rise. "There they stand in beauty, beauty that is not of Middle-Earth. Shall I sit here wondering as they call us the--" "Shadow-folk," interjected Dineniel. She had heard this, but where? "Certainly, and while they sit where the mountain rises steep to the sky where the stars shine even brighter, and I feel the sea, Dineniel, it comes closer every day. There it stands still and awaits me who was kept from it by the folly that abandoned hope of it. I will go! Let Lenwe keep his forest!" "Feanor!" said Dineniel. "What?" "It was Feanor. Feanor spoke like that." "Feanor?" "Yes! He left Valinor with his sons, don't you know anything at all?" Hithduiniel frowned. "Curufinwe?" "Nobody calls him that, Hithduiniel." She sighed at the other's challenging eyebrows. "They call him the spirit of fire, because he was. And when he spoke like that-- do you know this story or not?" "I know of his sons, the ones that were mad and so pursued the stones that draw madness." "He spoke like that right before bringing on exile from Valinor and really you should be more careful. Don't speak. Act." "Did I start this conversation, or did you?" "That isn't the point. One rogue to another, I tell you, the rule is this: don't become involved anything you can't escape from. Do not make certain plans, do not speak your plans, do not make oaths, and do not set foot in a stronghold. Trust me. It isn't safe." "What's that got to do with me?" "If they let you enter Valinor--if they overlook the banishment because you're Moriquendi, and I don't think they will, do you suppose you'll be coming back? Do you think you're planning anything less than the rest of the time in the world here? And if they don't admit you--" "But it's what I want!" "Are you sure? Do you know what it is, and what you want? This world, you know--when you want something, you know, sometimes you get it, sometimes, but mostly you look and you're bruised and you meet people and lose them, and in the end it turns out to be nothing more than a fool's errand." Hithduiniel was thinking. "As the Garoliners sought their daughter," she said slowly, "as the brigands sought the stone." Dineniel's face changed suddenly. "What?"
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"I hate dignity," cried Scraps, kicking a pebble high in the air and then trying to catch it as it fell. "Half the fools and all the wise folks are dignified, and I'm neither the one nor the other." --L. Frank Baum |
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